Chapter 51

**The Afternoon of Realization**

Athena Pov.

Lucifer and I had spent the entire afternoon together, and it was… perfect. The more time I spent in Egnand, the more comfortable I became with my powers, and with Lucifer, things just seemed to click. It wasn't just the way he looked at me — though, let's be honest, his gaze could melt glaciers — it was the way I felt around him. Every word, every touch, sent a current through me that was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

We walked through his garden, the dark foliage and strange, otherworldly plants twisting in intricate patterns. It was beautiful, in its own eerie way, just like him. He had an arm loosely draped around my waist, guiding me along the narrow paths.

"You're learning fast," Lucifer said, his voice low and smooth. "Faster than I expected."

I glanced up at him, smiling softly. "I guess I have a good teacher."