Seraphina’s POV

I struggle to focus on class, my mind spinning with questions about Lucas and what his presence could mean. When the lecture ends, I shove my notes into my bag and rush out the door. I need to talk to someone about this strange turn of events, and there is one person I trust: my best friend, Paige.

As I step out of Cerberus Hall, I turn to see if Lucas has followed unseen, as promised. Though I see no sign of him, I feel a faint stirring of an unseen presence near me.

My legs carry me across campus to the parking lot, where Paige said she’d wait. Rounding the corner, I spot her red convertible and hurry over. “Paige! You’ll never believe what happened...”

We climb into her convertible. She peels out of the parking lot; the wind whipping through our hair.

I recount the day’s strange events as she listens with growing astonishment.

When I finish, she blows out a low whistle. “Whoa girl, how’d you get tangled up with an actual devil?”

I lean back in the seat, still processing it all myself. “Believe me, I don’t know. One minute I was exploring, the next an imprisoned devil was offering me his protection.”

“Well, I’d say you sure know how to find trouble, girl!” Paige punches my arm. Despite my confusing situation, her laughter is contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s not like I went looking for a devil!” I protest with mock indignation.

Paige grins as she steers her convertible down the road. The afternoon sun warms my face, and for a moment, I allow myself to forget my strange encounter, savoring this moment of carefree joy with my best friend.

But my thoughts soon wander back to Lucas. I glance behind us, half expecting to see the devil materialize in the backseat. But we remain alone on the open road.

Too soon, Paige’s convertible pulls up in front of my house. As I unbuckle my seatbelt, Paige turns to me with a mischievous smile. “So, do you think this devil guy is handsome?”

I roll my eyes. “Paige, he’s a literal devil. I just met him.”

“Yeah, but you said he was intrigued by you. And I know you have a devil kink!”

I shake my head, amuse by her antics despite my lingering unease. Sliding out of the car, I lean down to meet her gaze. “All I know is, I want to figure out a way to send him back to wherever he came from. Sooner rather than later.”

Paige shrugs. “Suit yourself. But if you change your mind...” She wiggles her eyebrows.

I laugh and shake my head at Paige’s antics before turning toward my house. As I walk up the steps, I hear Paige’s convertible pull away behind me. Taking a deep breath, I unlock the front door and step inside, but pause as an unfamiliar sensation washes over me. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I feel like I’m being watched.

Turning, I peer into the empty living room but see no one. “Lucas?” I call tentatively.

Silence answers me, yet the unseen presence lingers. I venture further inside, nerves on edge. “I know you’re here. Show yourself,” I say, trying to sound braver than I feel.

A breath of air whispers at my back. “As you wish.” Lucas’ velvety voice sends a shiver down my spine. I whip around to find him sitting casually on the couch, regarding me with fathomless eyes.

“You followed,” I remark, heart still pounding.

“I vowed to protect you.” His gaze scans the room. “But my strength wanes in this realm. Centuries of imprisonment have drained me.”

“Is there a way for you to regain it?” I ask tentatively.

Lucas averts his eyes. “There is... but it may require more from you than I wanted to ask.”

“Please tell me,” I urge. By now, my curiosity is piqued.

Lucas lets out a long sigh. “We derive energy from human vices—wrath, greed, lust. In indulging them, we find a fragment of nourishment.” He meets my gaze once more, and I notice a new intensity behind his eyes. “These feed us ephemeral power, a flicker of what once was.”

My heart pounds as an awkward silence lingers between us. Lucas waits patiently for my response, though a subtle tension ripples beneath his calm facade.

Taking a steadying breath, I sit beside him on the couch. “What should I do?”

“Place your hand over my heart,” he whispers.

I press my hand against his chest, the pounding of his heart a drumbeat that drowns out my racing thoughts and steadies my nerves.

Lucas places his large hand just above my breast, his eyes narrowing with intense focus. For a moment, the world holds its breath. Then, a surge of warmth spreads from where we connect, like a fire igniting in my veins. A sudden, intoxicating pleasure coils low in my belly, stirring long-buried yearnings to life. A soft gasp slips from my lips, unbidden.

His lips twist into a faint smile. Heat radiates from his touch, sending shivers up my spine as a torrent of emotions floods through me—not just desire, but a profound curiosity and compassion for this devil’s plight.

Images flare to life in my mind, creating an intimate scene of us. Lucas inhales sharply, his eyes fluttering shut as if he’s drinking in the vision. His expression grows intent, attuning himself to the vibrant echoes of my innermost thoughts.

But then, a shadow crosses his features; his brows knit together with a sudden, deep concern. He abruptly pulls away as if my hand burned him.

I frown, a new question gnawing at my mind. “When you fed, did you see... anything? Any memories?”

Lucas hesitates, his eyes drifting away like a reluctant confession. “I glimpsed shards of your memories and thoughts,” he admits, his voice barely a murmur. “The ones that broke you and the ones that made you pleasure.”

My pulse races as I avert my gaze, unwilling to relive those memories. Yet, a part of me is curious about what Lucas might have witnessed—how deeply his power can penetrate another’s mind.

“Hmm.” I tilt my head, curiosity rekindling. “Earlier you said feeding on sins empowers your kind. What exactly does that entail?”

A wry smile touches his lips. “You inquire too much into devilish matters, Seraphina. Though I suppose a small explanation couldn’t hurt.”

Lucas leans back against the couch, eyeing me thoughtfully. “Each of the seven deadly sins fuels a different aspect of our power. Lust, for example, heightens our seductive abilities and regenerative powers. Wrath increases our strength and resilience in battle. Greed amplifies our domineering presence and mental prowess. And so on.”

“So, when you fed just now, which sin did you draw from me?” I ask, unable to keep a hint of playfulness from my tone.

He chuckles softly. “Ever curious, aren’t you? Let’s just say your compassion satisfied my need for the moment.”

I raise a skeptical brow. “Compassion is a sin now?”

“In hell it is,” Lucas replies with a roguish grin.

I shake my head with a small smile, truly mystified by the devil’s strange logic. Yet I find myself more intrigued than afraid by this dark creature from another realm.

“Well then, devil, I hope my compassion nourished you well,” I say lightly. “But now I’ve homework to do, and things to attend to.” I stand up from the couch, stretching my limbs.

As if on cue, I hear the front door open.

“Sera, I’m home!” calls my mother’s voice from the entryway.

My eyes widen as I turn to Lucas in a panic. He stands swiftly, grasping my arms soothingly. “Do not fear, I will hide myself. Just go to your mother.”

I nod nervously and walk on shaky legs to greet her. “Hey Mom, how was work?”

She sighs tiredly, setting her purse down. “Busy as always. I’m just glad to be home.” Her eyes flick around the living room. “You have company?”

“No, just studying alone,” I reply, a bit too quickly. She raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further.

“Alright, well, dinner will be ready soon. Continue with your work.” With that, she disappears into the kitchen.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

That was too close.

I turn back to thank Lucas, but he’s already vanished without a trace. His stealth, both amazing and unsettles me.

Shaking off my unease, I retreat to my room to begin my homework. However, concentration eludes me as my thoughts keep drifting back to the devil I encountered. My phone buzzes with a text from Paige, its bright screen starkly reminding me of the world beyond this unsettling cocoon. I unlock my phone to read Paige’s message.

“Girl, you won’t believe what I just heard! Some seniors are throwing a bonfire down by the lake tomorrow night. You should come!”

I smile, thankful for the distraction, and text Paige back: “A bonfire sounds amazing! But there’s one condition- you have to help me forget about a certain devil for the evening.”

Paige replies immediately: “Deal! We can dance around the fire, roast marshmallows, and I definitely won’t let you think about your tall, dark, and handsome problem, even for a second.”

Her response draws a laugh from me, lightening my mood. For the next hour, we exchange increasingly ridiculous texts speculating about the seniors throwing the party. By the time I emerge from my room to eat dinner, I feel much better - anchored once more in the familiar rhythm of my life before certain strange events upended it.

As I help my mother in the kitchen, my thoughts drift back to Lucas.

What do I do about the devil now under my roof? Sending him back to wherever he came from seems the wisest choice. But how can I do that when even he doesn’t know how to return?