I sat at my desk, working on some documents while Enzo lounged on the couch, engrossed in a thick, ancient-looking book from his world. His fingers flicked through the delicate pages with a kind of reverence I'd never seen in him before. For once, the atmosphere was quiet. I decided not to disturb him; it was rare to see Enzo so focused on something other than teasing me or complaining about being stuck here.
But as the hours dragged on, my patience wore thin. It had been over a week since I last saw her-Amara. No visits, no cryptic messages, nothing. The silence was maddening. Finally, I couldn't hold back any longer.
"Why doesn't she come here?" I asked, breaking the silence. Enzo didn't even look up from his book.
"Because," he said casually, as if stating the weather, "she thinks she'll go soft if she comes here. Not that she'd ever admit that out loud."
His words piqued my interest. La muerte? Soft? The idea was almost laughable, but the thought of her fighting some internal battle intrigued me even more. I leaned back in my chair, letting the information settle.
"So you really don't like her?" I asked, watching him closely. "And you're okay with me liking her?"
This time, Enzo did look up, closing his book halfway with a finger marking his place. "No, I don't like her," he said firmly. Then, with a dramatic shiver, he added, "If she ever got to know that I liked her in that way, she'd bury me alive in lava. And no, I don't have a problem with you liking her."
"Then why'd you glare at me all the time before?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Enzo smirked. "Because you always glared at me first. You're not exactly the easiest person to like, Lucifer."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "And now?" I teased. "Do you like me now?"
He rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Not in this lifetime, buddy."
We both laughed-a rare moment of camaraderie. For someone who was once nothing more than an annoyance, Enzo had somehow wormed his way into being... tolerable. Maybe even a friend, though neither of us would admit it out loud.
The laughter faded, and I asked the question that had been gnawing at me for days. "Do you have any idea how I can make her come here? Or any way I can meet her?"
Enzo sighed, finally closing his book and setting it aside. "You can't get hurt again," he said, pointing a finger at me. "If you do, she'll kill me in the worst possible way. And the only other way to make her come? Make her angry."
My eyebrows shot up. "Angry? After all that talk about her wrath, you're suggesting I make her angry?"
"It's the only way," he said, shrugging. "But you have to be ready to face the consequences. Her anger isn't just throwing a tantrum; it's like every volcano on Earth erupting at once. Even demons are scared of her wrath. She's the Goddess of Death, Lucifer. You know that, right?"
I nodded, but his words only made me more curious. "What exactly makes her angry?"
Enzo thought for a moment. "Honestly? Everything she doesn't like. She has a short temper. But the fastest way to rile her up is jealousy."
I couldn't help but laugh, albeit nervously. "So your grand plan is for me to make her jealous? Do you have a death wish for me?"
He chuckled. "I'm just saying it's an option. If she gets jealous, she'll come. Though there's no guarantee you'll survive her wrath afterward."
The idea was insane, but I couldn't deny that it intrigued me. "And how exactly am I supposed to make her jealous?"
Enzo smirked, picking up his book again. "Simple. Flirt with someone evil."
"Evil?" I repeated, frowning.
"She's the Goddess of Death," he explained. "She won't hurt innocent people, but if it's someone with a dark heart? All bets are off. She won't hesitate to... well, let's just say she'll deal with them. But you have to make it convincing. If she can't hurt the girl, she'll definitely come after you."
I stared at him, incredulous. "You're actually suggesting I sign my own death certificate."
"It's the only way," he said with a grin that was far too smug for my liking.
I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the absurdity of his plan. "And where exactly am I supposed to find this 'evil woman'?"
Enzo opened his book again, flipping through the pages with an almost theatrical flair. "Don't worry," he said, smirking. "I'll find one for you."
As he sifted through the ancient text, muttering to himself, I leaned back in my chair, half-amused and half-terrified. This was either going to work spectacularly or end in disaster. And knowing Amara, disaster seemed like the safer bet.
But as insane as it sounded, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. If this plan worked, I'd finally see her again. And for that, I was willing to risk everything-even her wrath.
The air was thick with tension as I stood in the room, observing the scene I had orchestrated moments earlier. Lucifer had attempted to rile me up, to provoke me, and now it was my turn. My smirk widened as I stepped back, my eyes scanning the room. The faint sound of murmured conversations eoed around me, but I tuned them out. My gaze flickered toward Lucifer, whose jaw clenched visibly as he stood frozen in place. His confusion was palpable, and I relished the moment.
With a flick of my wrist, I used my powers to render him immobile. His eyes darted to me, his frustration barely contained as he realized what I had done. Resuming time, I turned my attention to the man across the room-a charming yet arrogant playboy whose reputation preceded him. He would serve my purpose perfectly.
I strolled toward him, my hips swaying with deliberate intent. His gaze locked onto mine, a smirk playing on his lips as I approached. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice oozing confidence. "To what do I owe the honor of your attention?"
I tilted my head, letting a coy smile tug at my lips. "Perhaps I was just curious," I replied, my voice soft yet dripping with allure. I leaned closer, letting my words brush against him like a whisper. "Curious about what makes a man like you so... interesting."
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lucifer's shoulders tense. His eyes burned with barely concealed fury, and he was clearly straining against the invisible hold of my power. I ignored him for now, turning my full attention to the man in front of me.
The playboy chuckled, his confidence swelling. "Interesting, huh? I'd say it's mutual. A woman like you... you're not the kind that goes unnoticed."
I let my fingers trail along the edge of his collar, my touch featherlight but enough to send a shiver down his spine. "Noticed by the right people, perhaps," I murmured. My voice dipped lower, intimate enough to make him lean closer, as though he didn't want to miss a word.
Lucifer's growl was barely audible, but it sent a thrill through me. He was losing control, exactly as I intended. I leaned in closer to the playboy, my lips just a breath away from his ear. "Tell me," I whispered, "how often does a man like you get what he wants?"
"Almost always," he replied confidently, his voice hitching slightly. "But I'd say tonight might be a lucky night."
I chuckled, a low, sultry sound that made his eyes widen. But my attention wasn't fully on him anymore. I could feel Lucifer's fury building, his energy crackling against my hold. His determination was overwhelming, and before I knew it, he broke free-an act that shouldn't have been possible.
My blaze heart. Of course.
Before I could react, he was across the room in a flash, his hand gripping my wrist tightly. The playboy stepped back, alarm flashing across his face as Lucifer's menacing presence loomed over him. "Leave," Lucifer snarled, his voice a dangerous growl. The man didn't need to be told twice and practically bolted from the room.
Lucifer's grip on my wrist didn't loosen as he dragged me through the crowd, ignoring the startled glances of those around us. I let him pull me, curious to see how far his temper would take him. He pushed open a door, leading us into a dimly lit corridor. The air was cooler here, but it did little to temper the heat radiating off him.
He slammed me against the wall, his hands braced on either side of my head, trapping me. His face was mere inches from mine, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and something else-something far more primal.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded, his voice low and rough.
I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What was what?"
"Don't play games with me," he growled. "You know exactly what you were doing."
I smirked, leaning in just enough to make him flinch. "And what if I do? Are you upset, Lucifer? Jealous, perhaps?"
His hands clenched into fists against the wall. "Upset doesn't even begin to cover it," he muttered.
I tilted my head, studying him. "Why? Did it bother you that I gave someone else attention? Or is it that you're not used to someone playing your games better than you?"
His patience snapped. In a swift movement, his hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me closer until our lips collided in a searing, angry kiss. The intensity of it stole my breath, his frustration and need pouring into every movement.
I didn't push him away. Instead, I let him take control, curious to see just how far he would go. His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him as his lips moved against mine with an urgency that made my head spin. For a moment, the world faded, leaving only the two of us and the electricity crackling between us.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his forehead resting against mine. "You drive me insane," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
I smirked, still catching my breath. "Good. Now you know how it feels."
I was still pressed against the wall where Lucifer had pinned me. The fire in his eyes was unyielding, a smoldering intensity that made it impossible to look away-until I did, as the realization of his kiss earlier crashed down on me. My heart, which shouldn't even be capable of such mortal sensations, felt like it was racing.
He kissed me. He actually kissed me.
And then, as if to reinforce the storm inside me, he smirked. A dangerous, knowing smirk that made me both infuriated and... something else I refused to name. Before I could react, he leaned in again, his lips brushing against mine-softer this time, almost gentle, like he was savoring the moment. My traitorous body responded instinctively, my fingers gripping his shoulders for balance, and my eyes-my damn eyes-fluttered shut for a moment.
When he pulled back, I forced myself to glare at him, though I felt the heat rising to my cheeks. Lucifer seemed to notice because his smirk only grew more devilish. "I'm sorry," he said, though the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed how insincere his apology was. "Sorry for making you jealous," he clarified, his voice low, dripping with amusement and something deeper. "I just wanted to see you."
I refused to meet his gaze, staring somewhere over his shoulder, my lips pressed into a thin line as I tried to regain my composure. Why does he always manage to unnerve me like this?
But he wasn't done with me yet. His hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer until there wasn't even a breath of space between us. My body betrayed me again, leaning into him despite every warning my mind screamed. I kept glaring at him, trying to assert some authority. But he just chuckled, brushing a feather-light kiss across my nose, a gesture so infuriatingly soft it made my chest tighten.
"Lucifer," I warned, my voice low and threatening.
His lips hovered near mine, close enough that I could feel his breath against my skin, but he didn't close the distance this time. He was waiting. Waiting for me.
And against all my instincts, I gave in.
I closed the gap, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that was fierce and unyielding. He stilled for a moment, seemingly surprised, but then his arms wrapped around me, pulling me impossibly closer. This time, I led, pouring every ounce of frustration, confusion, and something dangerously close to longing into the kiss.
Lucifer didn't just follow; he matched me, his intensity growing with every second. His hand tangled in my hair, pulling gently but firmly, forcing me to tilt my head back as he deepened the kiss. He let out a low growl against my lips, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but smirk against his mouth.
He pulled back slightly, his eyes dark and filled with something primal, and his voice came out low and gravelly. "You're dangerous, you know that?"
I raised an eyebrow, finally regaining a sliver of my composure. "And you're just figuring that out now?"
He chuckled, a deep, throaty sound that made my knees feel weaker than I'd like to admit. "No. But I think I might like it more than I should."
I shook my head, trying to hide the blush I knew was spreading across my cheeks. Lucifer, ever the opportunist, noticed and leaned in again, brushing his lips against the corner of my mouth before pulling back completely, leaving me both relieved and oddly disappointed.
For a moment, we stood there, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words and lingering tension. I straightened, forcing myself to regain the upper hand.
"You're lucky I didn't kill you for this," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.
He grinned, clearly unbothered by the threat. "And yet, here we are."