Seraphina’s POV

Steam rises from the heated pool, drifting into the cool night air like pale ghosts escaping the water’s surface.

The backyard glows under soft golden lights strung along the fence. Somewhere beyond the trees, crickets sing their endless rhythm, and the moon hangs heavy and silver above us.

For the first time all evening, I almost feel normal.

Paige nudges me with her elbow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“Okay,” she declares dramatically, “last one in is a rotten egg!”

Before I can even respond, she bolts.

“Paige!” I laugh as she sprints across the patio.

She leaps off the edge with zero hesitation, plunging into the pool with a wild shriek that echoes through the quiet night.

Water erupts upward.

I shake my head, smiling despite myself.

Some things about Paige never change.

I jog to the edge and slip into the pool, the warm water wrapping around me instantly. The contrast between the cool night air and the heated water sends a wave of comfort through my body.

God, that feels good.

I push off the wall and glide toward the center of the pool where Paige is treading water, her blonde hair slicked back and dripping down her shoulders.

“You’re the rotten egg!” I declare, splashing her.

She gasps dramatically. “Rude!”

“Accurate,” I correct.

Before she can retaliate, a voice calls from the patio.

“Watch out girls!” Beau stands at the edge of the pool, grinning like an absolute menace. “The biggest egg is coming in!”

He doesn’t hesitate.

He launches himself into the water with a massive cannonball.

The explosion of water is ridiculous.

A tidal wave crashes over us.

“BEAU!” Paige shrieks, wiping water from her face as she bursts into laughter.

When Beau surfaces, his dark hair is plastered to his forehead and he looks far too pleased with himself.

“You beast!” Paige laughs.

Beau swims toward her in a few strong strokes before grabbing her around the waist and lifting her clean out of the water.

Paige squeals. “Beau!”

Her legs kick wildly as she dangles above the surface, shrieking with laughter.

I float nearby, watching the chaos with a soft smile.

The warmth in my chest surprises me.

For a moment, everything feels simple.

Normal.

Beau lowers Paige back into the water before turning toward me with a grin that immediately puts me on edge.

“Oh no,” I say.

“Okay Sera,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows. “Your turn.”

I immediately begin backing away. “Nope.”

“I promise not to splash as much.”

“That’s not comforting!”

“Come on,” he teases. “Don’t be a scaredy cat.”

Before I can react, his hand closes around my waist. “Beau—don’t you—!”

Too late.

He lifts me straight out of the water.

I shriek as my legs kick uselessly in the air.

“Babe!” Paige laughs. “Put her down!”

But Beau just grins. “Alright, alright.”

He lowers me slowly back toward the water—

Then suddenly lets go.

I plunge beneath the surface with a dramatic splash.

When I resurface, coughing and sputtering, Beau is doubled over laughing.

“Your face!” he wheezes.

I try to glare at him.

I really do. But within seconds I’m laughing too.

The shock of the cold splash fades quickly, replaced by the soothing warmth of the pool again.

Beau climbs out first, water streaming down his muscular arms as he grabs a towel.

He offers his hand to Paige.

She takes it, smiling as he helps her out of the pool.

I float on my back, staring up at the stars as their laughter drifts over me.

The gentle hum of the pool filter fills the quiet. Crickets chirp in the distance. The night feels peaceful.

But my mind refuses to be still.

Lucas.

The memory of his kiss burns across my lips like a phantom flame.

The intensity in his eyes, heat in his touch, and promise lingering in his voice.

My chest tightens.

What lies between this devil and me?

I don’t know. And somehow… that terrifies me.

A soft giggle pulls me from my thoughts.

I tilt my head toward the patio.

Paige stands close to Beau now, her fingers brushing lightly along his jaw.

He leans down. They kiss beneath the moonlight.

I quickly look away.

Some moments deserve privacy.

I stare back at the sky, trying to quiet the storm inside my chest.

But Lucas’s keeps surfacing in my mind.

His eyes. His voice. The way he says my name.

A sudden chill crawls down my spine.

My eyes snap open.

The pool water ripples.

Something moves in the darkness.

Then—He’s there.

Lucas rises from the water behind me like a creature born from shadow and flame.

My breath catches.

His blonde hair clings to his face, droplets sliding down the sharp lines of his jaw. His lean muscles glisten beneath the moonlight as he treads effortlessly in the water.

His eyes burn with amber and lustful.Focused entirely on me.

“Did you miss me, little angel?”

My heart slams against my ribs.

“Lucas!” I whirl toward him, nearly losing my balance. “You scared the hell out of me!”

His smirk deepens. “Oh, the irony.”

I narrow my eyes.

“How do you do that?” I demand. “You just—appear.”

Lucas drifts closer through the water with predatory grace.

“I have my ways,” he murmurs.

His gaze drags slowly across my face. “I’ve been watching you.”

A shiver slides down my spine.

“You’ve been watching me?”

“Oh yes,” he says softly. “Ensuring you’re behaving.”

His voice lowers. “Being a good girl.”

Heat blooms in my chest.

“You devil,” I tease.

His smile sharpens.

“And I’ve decided being good is overrated,” I add lightly.

His eyes darken. “Perhaps you need a little devilish influence.”

He moves closer. Too close. “Are you sure about this?” he whispers.

His breath brushes my ear. “I could make you forget all about being good.”

My pulse quickens. “You’re vicious, Lucas.”

“But you’re not afraid.” His voice drops. “You’re drawn to the darkness.”

His fingers brush lightly against my arm. “Just as I’m drawn to your light.”

My breath catches.

I glance toward the patio.

Paige and Beau are still wrapped up in each other.

“Lucas, we should—”

His lips crash against mine.

The world disappears.

His kiss is intense.

Possessive.

My fingers tangle into his wet hair as heat floods through my veins.

Lucas pulls me against him, lifting me effortlessly. My legs wrap around his waist.

The water ripples around us as his arms hold me firmly against him.

One hand press against my back. The other tangles into my hair.

I’m completely surrounded by him.

The burning heat of his touch.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless.

His eyes blaze. “You drive me mad, little angel.”

My voice trembles. “Lucas…”

He whispers my name like a secret. “Sera.”

Then—A scream shatters the night.

Terrified.

Lucas and I separate instantly.

My heart drops into my stomach.

Paige thrashes violently in Beau’s grip.

But something is horribly wrong.

His arm locks around her throat.

And his eyes—They’re completely black.

“Beau!” I scream, stumbling out of the pool.

Lucas launches from the pool beside me. Water pours from his body as he lands on the concrete.

Beau growls. The sound is inhuman.

“Seraphim… we meet at last.” The creature inside Beau rasps.

My blood runs cold.

Paige claws desperately at the arm crushing her throat.

Her breaths come out strangled.

“Let her go,” Lucas growls.

The demon laughs.

“If you move,” it says calmly, tightening its grip, “she dies.”

Paige wheezes.

“What do you want?” I demand.

“I bring a message from the Furies.” Its black gaze locks onto me. “They know what you are.”

My heart pounds.

“They know the power inside you.” The demon’s smile widens. “And the devil who protects you.”

Lucas shifts slightly.

The demon tightens its grip. Paige gasps. “Stay where you are,” it warns.

“Our lords will unleash hell upon this world.” Its voice echoes like gravel scraping stone. “But the Furies offer a bargain.”

Its eyes flick between us. “Return to Hell immediately.”

Its smile twists. “And bring the seraphim with you.”

My stomach drops.

“Do that…” The demon leans closer to Paige. “And the girl lives.”

Lucas and I exchange a glance.

We both know.

There is no choice.

“Release her,” Lucas says firmly. “I’ll return.”

The demon grins.

Without warning—It throws Paige aside like a broken doll.

She slams across the concrete.

My heart stops. “Paige!”

The demon releases Beau.

His body collapses lifelessly.

Black smoke pours from his mouth—the demon reforms nearby.

“A bargain well struck,” it rasps. “Make haste, devil.”

Its glowing eyes lock onto mine. “Before our numbers grow beyond your control.”

And then—It vanishes.