Chapter 26 : A Tempting Darkness

The air thickened with a sense of foreboding as the car continued down the winding path, and Luna felt her heart constrict painfully. They were close now—so close she could almost feel it in her bones. A dark unease settled between them, mingling with the anxiety that had lingered unspoken since morning. The realization hit them both at once as they exchanged a brief, tense look. They were near their destination: Davina and Lucifer's place.The sky outside had shifted from the warm hues of sunset to the deep indigo of night. Stars were nowhere to be seen, shrouded by an ever-growing fog that seemed to seep from the very earth, twisting and coiling around their car like ethereal fingers. The road was quickly becoming invisible, swallowed by the thick mist that stretched out endlessly in every direction, making it almost impossible to see anything beyond a few feet.Luna leaned forward slightly, squinting through the windshield, but there was nothing to see except the oppressive white veil that smothered the road. She glanced at Alex, his face set in tense concentration as he guided the car slowly through the dense fog. Her heart clenched painfully as the sinking weight of inevitability settled over her. Their journey was almost over. And then, as if responding to their unspoken dread, the car came to a sudden, shuddering stop."What the—?" Alex muttered, his voice tight with tension. He twisted the key, but the engine refused to respond. There was no sputter, no hum—just silence. He cursed softly under his breath, throwing a wary glance outside. The fog seemed to pulse, almost as if it were alive, shimmering faintly in the darkness.Luna's heart sank. "We're here.""Stay inside ," he ordered, his voice low but firm as he reached for the door handle. The words left no room for argument, but Luna, already unbuckling her seatbelt, ignored him."Alex, I—""No, Luna. I'm serious," he interrupted sharply, giving her a hard look. "I'll check it out. Just... stay put." Without waiting for a response, he pushed open the door and stepped out into the swirling mist.Luna watched him for a moment, her mind churning. Stay in the car? Like hell. Without a second thought, she slipped out after him, ignoring the way the damp chill of the fog clung to her skin. Alex turned sharply, his eyes narrowing in question."What part of 'stay in the car' didn't you understand?" he growled, his voice a rough whisper.Luna lifted a brow, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I understood perfectly. I just didn't care."He glared at her, jaw clenched, but she could see the flash of something else in his eyes—something deeper, more conflicted. A muscle ticked in his cheek as he struggled for control, and for a heartbeat. Despite the tense situation between them, Luna didnt wanted their farewell to be on bad terms , So she pushed her resentment , anger aside and masking a smile - she felt the urge to tease him, to say something that would shatter this tense silence between themBut when she spoke, her voice was softer, laced with an unspoken farewell. "Besides, if this is the last time I get to ignore your orders, I might as well make it count."His expression tightened, the words hitting him harder than she'd expected. He opened his mouth, as if to argue, but then his gaze shifted past her, into the darkness beyond, and his eyes widened."Luna, get back—"Before she could react, the fog seemed to thicken, a cold, suffocating presence wrapping around them. And then, faint at first, a whisper drifted through the air."What are you hiding from him, Luna?"The voice was soft, seductive, and unmistakably male. Luna stiffened, her eyes widening as she glanced around wildly. But there was no one there. Just the fog, whispering around them like a living thing.Then, just as suddenly, a different voice murmured near Alex's ear."And you, Alexander. Why do you deny what you feel for her?""What the—?" Alex growled, his gaze snapping to the empty space beside them. His eyes darkened, and then another voice—different this time, feminine and dripping with venom—slid into the air. - "Desire, Alexander... you crave it.""Luna, how long will you pretend?" A shiver ran through Luna. The voice—these words—they were like a needle piercing through her thoughts, unraveling the delicate threads of her control. She looked at Alex, her breath hitching as he took a step back, his face pale."What are you hearing?" she whispered.But before he could answer, the whispers multiplied, becoming a chorus of disembodied voices. They seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, slipping into their minds, twining around their thoughts, each one soft and insistent, weaving a web of desire and temptation."Touch her, Alex... Don't you want to?" "Kiss him... you want to, don't you?"Her heart slammed against her ribs, heat flooding her chest. She tried to ignore it, to shake off the pull of the voices, but they were relentless. Each word was like a blade, slicing through her resolve, leaving her raw and exposed."She is yours, Alexander. Take her. Take—""Alex's breath was coming fast, his eyes darkening as he stared at her. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, as if he were fighting a losing battle against himself.

She saw it in his eyes—the same battle raging, the same struggle to hold on to control. But the whispers knew, they knew, and they were relentless. Her lips parted, the air between them thick with tension, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum.

"Luna," he rasped, his voice low and hoarse. He took a step closer, his body leaning toward hers almost of its own accord. The fog seemed to press in around them, isolating them in a world of shadows and whispers."This is what you want, isn't it?" the voices purred, a chorus of dark promises and forbidden temptations. "Let go... just let go..."Luna bit down hard on her lower lip, tasting blood, but it wasn't enough to drown out the dizzying swirl of emotions the voices were dragging to the surface. She stared at Alex, caught in the grip of something wild and reckless. His gaze met hers, fierce and desperate, his chest rising and falling rapidly."Alex—" she began, but her voice broke, caught between a sob and a gasp. She reached for him, her fingers trembling, and he flinched, as if her touch would shatter him."Touch him, Luna. Feel the strength in his hands as he pins you down."A sharp gasp escaped her, and she jerked back, wide-eyed. "I—" she started, her voice trembling. But the words died in her throat as Alex's hand shot out, gripping her shoulder."Luna, don't," he ground out, his voice strained, almost unrecognizable. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide as he leaned in, so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. "Don't listen to them.""Liar. your body screams for her touch..You're hard for her, and you know it."The murmur was right in his ear, a wicked, taunting lilt that seemed to push him closer. Luna sucked in a breath, trembling as Alex's fingers tightened, his grip bruising. His gaze dropped to her lips, and for one agonizing moment, everything else disappeared.Luna let out a shaky breath, her body trembling from the sudden loss of tension. She looked around, her heart still racing, and then froze.The voices laughed, dark and mocking, their tones laced with cruel amusement."You can't hide it... you want her... just take her..."A low growl rumbled in Alex's chest, his eyes blazing as he fought to hold on to the last shreds of his control. His hand lifted, trembling, to brush her cheek, and Luna's breath caught, her heart pounding so hard it hurt."Luna," he breathed, his voice low and rough, thick with something dark and desperate. "Tell me to leave. Tell me to stop, and I will."But she couldn't. She couldn't force the words past her lips, couldn't summon the will to push him away and just as his fingers grazed her skin, he jerked back, his face twisted with pain."No!" With a low, guttural snarl, Alex wrenched himself away, turning his back to her abruptly. The fog seemed to shudder, then slowly, it began to recede, the voices fading into silence.And then, as if responding to his command, the voices fell silent.The fog began to thin, receding slowly, and the world shifted back into focus.The palace. She had seen it countless times before, yet she'd never truly looked. Back then, when she'd been a goddess, the grandeur of the demon lands had seemed insignificant, a dark fortress that served only as a backdrop to Lucifer's endless schemes. But now, in her human form, everything was different. More vivid. More... overwhelming.Lucifer or Theo . Luna didn't knew what to call him at that moment He stood tall, his dark hair and sharp features thrown into stark relief by the flickering torchlight. Beside him, Davina hovered nervously, her gaze shifting between Alex and then to Luna ."Welcome," Lucifer called out with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I apologize for the... greeting. Some of my demons can be a bit unruly, despite my best efforts." His gaze shifted to Alex, then back to Luna, his expression thoughtful. "But, perhaps, it wasn't entirely their fault."Luna's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" she demanded, her voice sharp.Lucifer shrugged lightly, his smile widening. "It's your thoughts—both of yours—that stirred them up. Desires can be... tricky things." He glanced at Alex meaningfully. "They have a way of manifesting when you least expect it."Davina smacked his shoulder lightly, shooting him a look that was equal parts exasperated and affectionate. "Stop it," she hissed. Then, turning to Luna and Alex, she offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. We... weren't expecting you so soon."Luna's gaze shifted to Alex, her pulse still racing, her body still trembling with the aftershocks of whatever had just happened. She forced herself to look at Lucifer—at the friend she had once known—and swallowed hard."Neither were we." Luna whispered softly . "Luna," Lucifer called, his voice breaking through her thoughts. He smiled wider when she met his gaze, though there was something careful in the way he looked at her, as if gauging her reaction. "It's been a while.""Yes," she replied stiffly, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "It has."An awkward silence settled between them, the air heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Luna turned away sharply, not trusting herself to respond as she had question for him like -Did he betrayed her too ? if not then why was he there in that room filled with people who decieved her on his own wedding night ? but she knew now is not the right time for these question . She felt Alex's presence beside her like a solid wall, his silence echoing louder than any words. He had been tense since they arrived, his gaze flickering between Lucifer and Davina with a look that Luna couldn't quite place.But she knew what he was feeling. She could see it in the rigid line of his shoulders, in the way his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. His wolf was restless, agitated by the sight of Davina here, with Lucifer—her hand in his, her eyes alight with happiness.Davina had been his mate once. The one he had loved. And seeing her now, so at ease with another man—the demon king - The Hell Lord, no less—was tearing at something deep inside him.And Luna hated it."Alex," Davina murmured softly, her expression conflicted. She stepped forward slightly, her gaze searching his. "It's... good to see you. Really."He forced a smile, but it was strained, his eyes not quite meeting hers. "Yeah," he said gruffly, his voice low. "You too."The tension between them was palpable, thick and suffocating. But Lucifer merely watched them with a curious, almost amused look, his arm slipping around Davina's waist as if to silently stake his claim. Davina blushed, her eyes darting to Luna and Alex, then back to Lucifer, but she didn't pull away.Instead, she rested her hand gently on his chest, leaning into him with a soft smile that spoke volumes. They fit together seamlessly, their movements perfectly in sync, as if they were two halves of a whole.They were... happy."We're here for a reason. Let's get this over with." Davina said sharply, stepping forward.Alex followed, his eyes lingering on Davina for a fraction of a second longer before tearing himself away. Davina just offered a gentle smile as she walked inside with Lucifer .They walked inside together, the picture of a happy couple.But behind them, Luna and Alex moved in silence, the tension between them now sharper than ever.