Chapter 67

**In the Heat of the Night**

Lucifer Pov.

The silence in the room was thick, holding every word unspoken between us. Athena's gaze was steady, filled with the same determination and fire I'd come to recognize, but tonight there was something more—a soft vulnerability that tugged at a part of me I thought had gone dormant centuries ago.

"Athena," I murmured, stepping closer. She met my gaze without flinching, her breath barely a whisper in the dim light. The thought crossed my mind that this was her choice as much as it was mine; we were equals in this, bound by something deeper than words.

Her hands lifted, resting gently on my shoulders as she let out a soft laugh, her eyes shining. "You know, I thought I'd feel nervous," she said, voice low. "But I don't. I just… I want to be here. With you."