Chapter 24 Chapter 24

My eyes fluttered opened, my vision still? blurry from my sleep. I had woken just in moment when the door opened and the striking man that was my tormentor, walked in. He was quick to be on my side as he helped me sit up.

By time time, sleep was gone, I realised that I was naked. Self-consciousness engulfed me and I immediately tightened the hold of sheets around me.

I looked up at him and my breathed hitched. His gaze was lingering on me, but today something was different. And then I remembered last night's events. He had confessed his feelings, he let me saw his heart. A warm smile created on my face as I looked up at him.

"How are you?" His voice thick velvet, laced with tenderness. I just couldn't believe, this man, the one who wanted me to suffer, was being gentle with me! My happiness was in seventh cloud. I couldn't explain my emotions.

"I-I-" I cleared my throat and continued. "I'm fine." I managed to let out. But his eyes were trained on my face, taking my every feature, without even touching me. He was close, too close but his hands were rested on either side of my hips and his towering figure was hovering over me.

I jumped when he raised his hand, and tucked a stray strand of my hairs behind my ear. "What you wanna do today?"

I looked startled and wide eyed. He was asking ME, what I wanted? Was he being serious? The almighty Lucifer Ximen Celeste was asking ME?!

"I just," I hesitated, afraid to continue. "Probably roam in garden...with Elijah."

My choice of words were wrong because next moment his hands were clenched and his jaw twitched as he closed his eyes.

"Elijah," he mumbled, the distaste was there, and anger was blooming inside him. I carefully placed my hand on his clenched fists and he snapped his head towards me.

"You're jealous," I hesitated to speak my words but the instant his eyes glowed with wine colour, I knew he was unhappy. His fists clenched further and he blinked his eyes.

"Of course, I am jealous!" He growled lowly, making me jump. I swallowed hardly. Angry Lucifer was better than Jealous Lucifer.

"Is that so. How about you accompany me to garden today?" I asked cautiously. No matter how much he loved me, he wanted control, his alpha nature could never let me hover over him. My words seemed to work their charm as his eyes went back to their original ttcolour. I smiled brightly up at him.

"That sounds great." He stared down at me and I sensed the monster inside him struggling. He wanted to hurt Elijah, only because he was friend of mine. He was possessive, and he wanted to mark his territory, cage me in with him for eternity, away from everything.

I had to change him. If I wantead a life, I had to work for that, I had to use his love for me to my advantage.

I smiled up at him and he seemed too shocked but his shock was for a instant as he pulled me forward slightly and secured his arms around my waist.

I gasped.

"What're-"

I parted my lips to say something but he bended his head and possessed my quivering mouth with his with all the violent hunger he had. His hands slided into my hairs, holding my head still and swallowed my shock.

My body arced against him as he pulled me closer and devoured my mouth. It wasn't forceful yet it was deep, and at the same time it felt so strong. He had kissed me with such fervor, that I could feel the passion dripping down him in lustful waves. But I wasn't going to expect something, he was unpredictable, a ruthless beast.

"I love you." His voice as hard as ice but the depth of his words warmed my heart over again.

His eyes held sincerity, his face was stoic though, his hands still in my hairs as he looked down at me.

His other hand gently descended down my naked chest as he stopped near my protruded belly and gently caressed. "You both are my everything." He whispered as he leaned in and pecked my forehead. His hamd still rubbing my belly and I felt ecstatic.

Maybe the arrival of our child would change him for good.

~

The sun had finally taken over the bright blue sky by the time Lucifer and I reached garden. I was captivated by this place.

"My mother loved this." His voice had me snapped my head towards him. He was walking beside me, wearing his leather armored like shirt and dark pants, his biceps flexing with every movement, and his tall and huge frame towered over my petite one.

A small smile danced on my lips as I glanced up at him.

"Tell me more about her." I said. Lucifer chuckled, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, and turned towards me.

"She loved flowers...this garden was gifted to her by my father." He said, eyes trailed on me as we both stopped walking.

"She sounds...wonderful." I gave him my warm smile as his face withered and he averted his eyes from me and stared in distance, sorrow glistening in his arctic blue eyes.

"....She was wonderful..." He sounded quite for a moment. But then he continued. "A sympathizer, is what she was. She couldn't handle pain of others, a pure heart she had. A true definition of a Queen."

"But-Aphrodite, how-"

"Father had two wives, one vampire and other a witch. My mother was his first wife, a true heir to her kingdom....Greed is a sin, and that's what Everett grew in himself." He was still not looking at me and I gave him a confused look. I knew Everett was Nora's brother but why?

Sensing my confusion, he continued as he led us towards the small wooden bench in middle.

"Everett and my mother wasn't related by blood though they shared same father. Everett wanted to be a king and in order to achieve his goal, he fucking killed his own father and arranged a marriage between werewolf ruler and my mother." Now it made some sense, why Everett hated Nora and Lucifer.

"My mother realised his evil intentions late, they called that an alliance but it was a play of chess." We sat on bench as he pulled me towards him, his arm rested on my shoulder and other hand was gently caressing my stomach.?

"When I was born, my werewolf side was dominated by my vampire side. And my father hated me for that. He wanted his heir to be a pure shapeshifter." I had seen his nightmares, Kendrio was a cruel father. The warmth of his body was seeking in me.

"So, he married a witch. Aphrodite, and when she birthed pure shapeshifter blood, Falcon and Angelina, my father started hating me more. Falcon was loved and cared for, and I hated him." I understand his situation, he needed love and appreciation, but his own father rejected him. I didn't knew how it felt, bit I knew how lonely he felt.

"So, you mean to tell that your father hated you." It was obvious. But I still couldn't believe how a father cpuld hate his only child.

"He hated me not because I was a hybrid, but because I was a threat, yo him and his kingdom, the domain he had labelled as his." His eyes glowed with fury. "You don't know but a hybrid's blood is a nectar in our world. A single drop can give you life and a single drop can take your life too."

His eyes moved towards me.

"So, you mean to say that your father wanted to use your blood? For what?" A dark chuckle escaped his as his hands raised and tucked a stray of hair behind my ears.

"For creating an army." His voice deep and hard. My ears shot up. Army? Army for what?

He must had sensed my confusion cause next moment he answered my unspoken question.

"To destroy. To take over this world. I was a weapon, his perfect warrior. Hybrid's blood can activate the vampire genes in a normal werewolf and vice-versa. He had planned to use my blood to had his own hybrid army." The distaste was there. He sounded disgusted by his father. So, Kendrio was really a evil father. Using his own son to destroy lives of thousands.

"Then how? I mean how- this situation got under control?" I asked cautiously.

He rubbed my shoulders before answering.

"I fled from my home. And spent hundreds of years away from my mother. And the day I decided to come back...she was killed in front of my eyes." His eyes held hurt, that pain, anguish of losing someone. I felt...pity, sympathy. I knew it was my mistake to do that because Lucifer was someone who could haunt a beautiful dream but then again...devil was once an angel.

I cautiously and gently placed my free hand on his as his head snapped towards me. His blue eyes stared down at put connected hands as I felt him swallowing hard before he opened his mouth to spoke.

"You're just like her.." he said and I gelt my body tingling when his eyes gazed at me with intensity I had ever seen. "Beautiful and kind.." his voice raspy and hard. It was strange how addictive it was.

His mother's death had unleased a monster inside him and it still roamed free.

His hands tightened under mine, as he looked away but I knew he could feel my gaze on him. The mere thought of his mother had me fill with such agony for a one heartbreaking moment. I understood what drived him like this.

I didn't excuse it, but I understand it, and pitty battled with terror iny heart.

Lucifer was made to b lieve that my father was the murderer and he had no choice but to went after him. That much was obvious to me.

And eye for an eye.

Words flowed out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Do you still love...Melissa?" His body tensed suddenly, I felt his knuckles twisting.

For a movement, I thought this was a bad question but soon he relaxed and gave me his blue stare.

"My hatred for her is more than the love I felt." He muttered under his breath, looking at certain distance, like he was relieving the memory.

Love was love. What made him ahte her so much? Was that the reason taht she killed our unborn children? Lucifer didn't loved me at that time? Then why?

"So, you are admitting that love is still there, overpowered by your hatred." I mumbled. He didn't looked at me, instead gave my hand a squeeze before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"The time she killed herself...she was pregnant with my child."

~

"Where's the Highness?"

"He's busy. He'll be back in evening."

"What was so important than me?"

Zahara said lowly, poking her egg with the fork, her mind elsewhere.

"There are duties that he need to complete, Zahara." Draven said adding little chocolate syrup on his pancakes. He looked at Zahara who hummed in response. He could feel her eyes on plate but her mind was wandering.

"Of course there are." Nicholas interrupted, eating his own breakfast. Everyone was having their food when Lucifer entered the dining hall. His long strides taking him towards the table, his muscles flexing with each movement and his blue eyes starring at table. The atmosphere suddenly became more haggard, but Zahara immediately squealed and rushed towards him.

"Zahara!" Nicholas snarled but Zahara had already threw herself in Lucifer's arms. He caught her.

"Thank goodness, you're here! I was missing you!" She pushed her face in his chest as Lucifer pried himself away from her.

"Stay in your limits, Zahara!" He growled angrily, slightly pushing her away. She gave him a look and swallowed.

"What ha-"

Before she could say anything, Lucifer was already walking towards Draven, who was watching everything with amusement.

"Come to my office, NOW." He said and didn't waited for his response as he walked away with confident strides.

Draven quickly made the roll of the pancake and rushed towards where Lucifer went.

"What the fuck?!" Nicholas snarled when there was no one. He stood up and strode angrily towards Zahara and clasped her arm tightly in his hand.

"What were you thinking, huh?! Throwing yourself on him, won't make you have your revenge?!" He growled angrily. Zahara rolled her eyes.

"Let go." She said. But Nicholas tightened his hold more making her wince.

"Listen to me Zahara and listen good-"

"I smelled her on him." She said and Nicholas froze.

"Wh-"

"Sarah, I smelled her on him. He was with her and my magic can't sense her here, in this castle." She said.

Nicholas gritted his teeth.

"He is preparing for war."

"Indeed, he is."

"Where the fuck is he?!" Lucifer growled slamming his fist on table.

Draven stood there tensed, his body shaking with anger and fear.

"I swear to God if they had done something to him, I'll fucking kill them with my bare hands." Draven said gritting his teeth, his whole body tensed.

Lucifer ran his hamd through his hairs as he inhaled deeply.

"I have send her away. And I don't fucking know where that nuisance brother of yours is. For the first time, I want him with her." Lucifer paced in the room when suddenly the door of the room suddenly was banged hard. Lucifer and Draven both turned towards the door as Alatar's shaking body rushed inside.

"M-My Lord, pardon my ignorance b-but th-there's-"

"Fucking say Alatar!" Draven growled.

Alatar looked up when Lucifer noticed tears running from his eyes as he fell on his knees.

"H-he's dead!" Alatar cried when the room become claustrophic for him. He couldn't believe what he had saw in forests of this kingdom. His eyes were still shedding tears as he cried for loss.

Draven stumbled backwards with wide eyes, when his back hit the wall. Unshed tears formed in his eyes as an agonising scream rippled through him.

Lucifer didn't knew what should he do. His mind stopped for a second when again the harsh reality slapped him.

Elijah was dead.

The war had started.