Lucas

Warmth.

It’s the first thing I notice when consciousness returns.

Not the faint gray light bleeding through the curtains. Not the distant creak of the old house settling around us. Not even the storm brewing somewhere far beyond the depths.

My gaze drifts downward to the sleeping form curled beside me, her head resting against my chest as if my heart were something steady enough to trust.

Seraphina.

Even in sleep she looks troubled, her delicate brow furrowed by dreams that refuse to let her rest. A faint crease sits between her eyebrows, as if her mind fights battles even while her body surrenders to exhaustion.

I hate that.

She shouldn’t carry the weight of this war.

Not yet. Not ever.

My fingers move before I realize it, brushing a loose curl from her cheek. The strands are warm against my skin, silken and impossibly soft. My hand lingers there, hovering near the curve of her face as if touching her might break something sacred.

She looks almost unreal against the tangled sheets. The morning light catches in her hair, turning it into threads of molten honey.

A fragile angel caught between worlds.

My angel.

The thought hits harder than it should.

I swallow.

Devils are not supposed to feel this way. So, possessive, protective, and terrified to lose a human. But every time I look at her, something inside my chest tightens.

And for the first time in centuries—I’m afraid.

Seraphina stirs beneath my touch.

A sigh escapes her lips, soft and sleepy, and her lashes flutter open. Those honey eyes—liquid gold and dangerously perceptive—lift to meet mine.

For a moment she simply watches me.

Then her voice breaks the silence. “Lucas?”

My name falls from her lips like a prayer.

I clear my throat. “Yes, angel. Did I wake you?”

Her gaze sharpens slowly as memory returns.

Everything we learned.

Everything is waiting for us.

Her fingers curl into my hair as she shifts closer, studying my face as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.

“No,” she murmurs. “But… When do we start? The demon said we can’t waste time.”

There it is. The storm inside her.

I sigh, letting my thumb trace the line of her cheek.

“Soon, Sera.” I try to smile, but the weight behind it drags the expression down. “Charging into Hell half-cocked won’t help anyone.”

Her lips press together. She's so determined, stubborn, and goddamn beautiful.

“I’d fight Hell itself to keep you safe,” I add softly.

Her cheeks flush. She huffs in irritation and pushes herself up onto one elbow.

“You can’t protect me from everything, Lucas.” Her voice sharpens. “I’m stronger than you think.”

A faint smile finally breaks through.

I take her hand, threading my fingers through hers. “I know you are.”

That’s exactly what terrifies me.

“That’s why you need to let me stand beside you. No heroics.” I squeeze her hand. “We do this together. Or not at all.”

She rolls her eyes. “Arrogant devil.”

I lean forward before she can move away. My lips crash against hers.

The kiss is fierce—possessive—hungry with emotions neither of us has the language for yet.

Her fingers tangle in my hair. My hand slides along her back.

When we finally break apart, her forehead rests against mine.

Her breath trembles. So does mine.

Downstairs—Laughter erupts.

Seraphina groans as reality crashes back in.

“Well,” she mutters, climbing out of bed. “Guess the world hasn’t ended yet.”

“Give it time,” I say dryly.

The kitchen smells like coffee and rench toast.

Paige stands at the counter in an oversized hoodie, hair a chaotic mess that somehow suits her decent.

She looks up the moment we step in.

Her face lights up like a firework.

“Finally!” She throws her arms wide. “The lovebirds are awake!”

Before Seraphina can protest, Paige tackles her into a hug that lifts her completely off the ground.

“Paige!” Seraphina squeaks.

I lean against the doorway, watching them with a faint smile.

Then Beau’s voice cuts through the room.

“You two gonna tell me what happened last night?” He sits at the table with a mug of coffee clutched in one hand like a lifeline. His eyes flick between us. “Or do I have to guess?”

Seraphina glances at me.

“Well,” I sigh, dragging out a chair. “Are you sure about it?”

Beau snorts. “Try me.”

So, I tell him the truth about what I am.

I describe the war raging between heaven and hell—the Furies demands, and the road that runs straight into the heart of the abyss.

My Hell.

By the time we finish—Beau’s jaw hangs open. “You can’t be serious.”

He rubs his face hard. “Lucas… you’re a—” His voice cracks. “And Sera, you’re… what? An angel?”

His eyes darted between us. “Since when do angels hook up with devils?”

I smirk. “Since heaven and hell started falling apart.”

Seraphina steps forward. Her voice is steady. Even if her hands tremble.

“We don't know everything. Just that… there’s a reason for all of this.” Her fingers wrap around my arm. “Lucas and I are bound together.”

She glances up at me. “And the Furies made one thing clear.” Her voice lowers. “Our path leads straight to Hell.”

Paige laughs weakly. “That sounds like the worst road trip ever.”

I lean back in the chair. “They didn’t leave us much choice.”

Silence fills the room.

Then Seraphina turns toward me. “Where is your gate?”

The question settles heavily between us. I remember it. A place that's forgotten, rotting, yet sacred.

“My gate,” I sigh heavily, “is within a sacred church, deep in the heart of Elaris.”

Seraphina’s eyebrows shoot up. “A church?”

I nod. “The perfect hiding place.”

I have walked those halls centuries ago, observed humanity and learned from them.

I wanted to be like them but never belonged.

“Behind the altar,” I continue, “there’s a gate carved into the stone.” I hesitate. “The problem is—”

Seraphina’s eyes narrow. “—It’s sealed by your siblings. So, they’re expecting you?” She asks.

“Or daring me.” I stand. “There’s another complication.”

Everyone looks at me.

“Every Lord of Hell has a gate.” I meet Seraphina’s eyes. “And each one is guarded by a hellhound. Mine… might remember me.”

Seraphina studies my face. “Then let’s try.”

My chest tightens. “You’re sure?”

Her hand finds mine. “Lucas, we’re running out of time.”

The drive is silent.

Clouds blanket the sky like bruises across the heavens.

My knuckles whiten on the steering wheel as I watch the road disappear beneath the tires.

Every mile brings us closer to something neither of us can fully comprehend.

At last, the church emerges—a pale, timeworn silhouette threaded between gnarled trees, its steeple skewering the sky.

I shut off the engine.

We drink in the scene before us, then, almost in unison, push open our doors and stand motionless in the hush.

The church groans when we push the doors open. Our footsteps echo down the aisle. Every creak of the floorboards sounds too loud.

Seraphina squeezes my hand. “This place is creepy.”

I smile faintly. “It used to be my sanctuary.”

She glances at me. “You hid a gate to Hell in a church.”

“Yes, why not?”

“That’s… extremely ironic.”

We reach the altar. Then—The ground trembles.

Dust falls from the rafters. A low growl fills the room. Stone cracks beneath the altar. Something massive moves beneath it.

Seraphina steps back. “Oh my God.”

The creature rises from the darkness. Three massive heads. Eyes burning like molten fire. Teeth the size of daggers.

My hellhound.

“Cerberus,” I call carefully. “It’s me.”

The beast snarls. Its massive body shakes the church walls.

“He doesn’t recognize you,” Seraphina whispers.

Cerberus lunges. I dive aside.

Stone shatters where his jaws slam shut, the impact echoing through the chamber.

Light erupts behind me.

I turn—and freeze.

A blade of white light burns in Seraphina’s hand.

A Lumivyr.

The sight steals the breath from my lungs.

How…? How did she manifest one?

She moves without hesitation, bringing the blade down in a blazing arc.

Cerberus twists, narrowly evading the strike.

I step in front of her before she can attack again.

“Sera, no—”

As the beast charges, I summon Ashguard, conjuring a veil that envelops me just as Cerberus collides with it.

The force hits like a collapsing mountain.

I’m hurled backward, skidding across the stone as pain detonates through my ribs.

“Lucas!” she cries.

“I’m fine,” I pant.

Cerberus prowls closer. Venom drips from his fangs. But beneath the fury—I see something else. He thinks I abandoned him.

I kneel. A devil kneeling.

The act feels like tearing my own pride from my chest. But Cerberus was never just a beast. He was my companion.

“I didn’t leave you,” I say groaning. “I was banished.”

Cerberus hesitates.

Seraphina steps forward and kneels beside me. Her hand slips into mine.

Cerberus sniffs the air.

“Shadow,” the first rumbles.

“Light,” the second murmurs.

The center head tilts slightly, studying us before speaking.

“Bond,” the third growls.

The three heads exchange silent understanding. And the massive beast rears back.

Seraphina gasps. I tense as Cerberus slams down— Bowing.

Relief floods my chest.

Seraphina breathes out shakily. “Holy hell…”

I laugh weakly. “Only kind of.”

Cerberus steps aside.

The altar cracks open. Golden runes glow across the stone revealing my siblings’ seal.

I reach forward and the runes shatter at my touch. Darkness swallows the light.

Seraphina squeezes my hand.

I look at her. “One last chance to run.”

She smiles. “Not happening.”

Together, we step forward.

And Hell swallows us whole.