Chapter 34

Athasia's breath hitched, and her pulse pounded in her ears as she stared at Zamiel. The mark on her neck burned—not painfully, but in a way that made her skin hyperaware of his presence, like a brand tethering her to him. She could still feel the warmth of his fangs sinking into her flesh, the way her body had betrayed her by responding to him.

Her fingers trembled as she touched the rose-shaped mark now imprinted on her skin.

"Why did you mark me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of her emotions made it sharp. Then, as realization dawned, her voice hardened. "No… you're not human, are you?"

Zamiel chuckled, the sound deep and rich, dripping with amusement. He moved closer, the air between them growing thick with something suffocating, something inevitable.

"Let me introduce myself to you properly," he murmured, lifting her hand to his lips. His fingers traced lazy circles against her skin, his breath hot against her knuckles before he pressed a lingering kiss there. His gray eyes gleamed like liquid silver, watching her, studying her, consuming her.

"I am Asmodeus," he continued, his voice dark, deliberate.

Athasia's body went rigid.

"The one and only Devil, ruler over all demons." His smirk deepened as he leaned in, his lips grazing her ear. His next words came out in a slow, deliberate whisper.

"It's a pleasure meeting you… Lilitharia."

The world tilted.

The moment that name left his lips, something inside her broke open.

The air was sucked out of her lungs. Her heart twisted violently, her mind splitting apart as a memory she had long forgotten came rushing back.

She was six years old.

A dream—no, a vision—had haunted her that night, but she had never spoken of it to anyone.

She had stood in a vast, endless void, surrounded by nothing but darkness. It wasn't terrifying—no, it had felt right.

Then, a voice had called to her.

Deep. Ancient. Possessive.

"Goddess… He is yours. The world is yours."

A shadowed figure had knelt before her, his eyes burning like silver flames in the dark.

And then he had whispered her name.

Lilitharia.

A name she had never heard before, yet it had settled inside her like it had always belonged to her.

Athasia's breath hitched as the vision shattered, snapping her back to reality.

Her hands trembled.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

She looked at Zamiel—at Asmodeus—her expression a storm of confusion, disbelief, and something dangerously close to realization.

"You…" she exhaled, voice unsteady.

Zamiel smirked, watching her fall apart under the weight of the truth. His gaze was dark, unwavering, filled with centuries of waiting.

And then, with a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he whispered—

"I told you, Fenice Oscura. You are mine."