27. Maeve
27
MAEVE
I ’m exhausted. After a weekend with barely any sleep, with so much panic and uncertainty weighing me down, I’m completely drained. My body aches with fatigue, my mind feels foggy, and I swear, if I don’t get some sort of break, I’m going to snap.
So, spending my entire afternoon locked in an office with Atticus, my potential new alpha, and Lucifer, a dark, twisted, and psychotic imp, has been hard. Harder than usual, anyway.
Their voices grate on my nerves, my knee has been bouncing under the table restlessly, but I’ve kept it together— barely . I’ve been a bundle of nerves and aggression, but I’ve got no outlet whatsoever to unleash it.
Atticus and Lucifer argued a lot over the details of this contract, and weirdly, Atticus relented on the security team size. Lucifer is going to bring in one of his own men for my detail, and that is it.
I’m intrigued.
Although, I don’t like the idea of another one of him floating around.
He’s a little… mentally fucked.
And not in the same way I am. I think he was just dropped on his head a few times.
A few hundred times.
“I don’t want to go to dinner with you,” I repeat, glaring at him. He’s decided that we need to go to dinner together because he’s hungry.
Personally, I don’t care if he starves. It won’t kill him, and the hangry feelings might make him that much more testy when someone inevitably pisses me off.
“But how else are we going to get to know each other properly?” he asks, his eyes lighting up in pure excitement, his manic grin flashing as he turns his head to face me instead of watching the road.
With honey-toned skin and blonde hair, Lucifer really doesn’t give off the devilish vibes his name suggests. He’s tall but lean like he’s built more for speed than brute force.
His icy blue eyes seem to cut through to my very soul, sharp as a blade, leaving me feeling exposed in a way I hate admitting. The only thing more intimidating is the pure black eyes when he’s showing off his imp side. There’s neatly shaven stubble across his face, just enough to make him look like he’s been up to no good.
Which, let’s be honest, is all the time. He’s dangerous, that much is certain.
I don’t know why I vibe with it, why I haven’t told him to go fuck himself. It’s not like me, and I’d never hesitate to throw someone like him out of my life, but… he just has a manic energy that I find quite… soothing.
Maybe that’s why I can tolerate him. He’s chaotic, and that chaos somehow matches the turmoil inside of me.
“I don’t really care about getting to know you personally,” I say, looking out of the window at the rapidly moving trees. “I do, however, want to know how you got yourself disinherited.”
“Wanting some of that life for yourself?”
“You’re teasing, but I absolutely want that life for myself.”
His grin widens. “Perfect. It’s really, really easy.”
“It can’t be that easy. I’ve done everything in my power to manage.”
“Oh, no, princess, I mean it’s easy for me ,” he replies. “I’m the fuck-up of the family. Why do you think they called me Lucifer?”
“Is that not your legal name?”
He flashes me a dark grin. “It is, but I was meant to be called Jacob until the day I was born an imp.”
I gasp, genuine horror filling me as I take in his far too cheery demeanour. “No.”
“Oh, yes. I was the devil to them from the moment I was born,” he says.
“How were they not expecting it? Nobody in your family is an imp?” I frown.
“My grandfather on my father’s side was an imp, and we’ve got multiple people on his side of the family who are,” Lucifer replies. “My dad took after his mum—a white stag.”
“And is your grandma and granddad mates?”
He nods. “Yep, and my dad no longer talks to his parents.”
“Well, shit. That’s messy,” I say, and he groans but nods. “What is your mum?”
“A pegasus like the rest of them.”
“The rest of them?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“My mum and both my aunts. Tarun’s dad is an elephorian, of course, but Julian’s dad was so perfect and was a pegasus, too.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat, the leather sticking to my thighs, my chromius tensing slightly as if sensing something in Lucifer that I’m not catching onto. Lucifer’s gaze darts to mine.
“What’s wrong, pretty princess?”
“Don’t call me that,” I mutter. “But also, don’t you think it’s a bit weird the way you’re describing these shifted forms, as if some are good and some are bad?”
“Oh, baby, didn’t you get the memo about the Graves?”
“I’ve probably thought worse than whatever you tell me.”
He cackles, smoothly taking the corner without jostling me at all. That, at least, is a comfort—he might be a lunatic, but he’s a good, safe driver. I have no doubt he could crash us on purpose if he wanted, so the fact that he’s being extra careful is oddly comforting.
Ugh. I really want to hate this man, but he’s going to a really extreme effort to get me to feel otherwise.
“We’re the elite, Maeve. The best of the best, and people like me are just a stain on the family name,” he says so joyfully.
I groan. “You know what the worst part is? I genuinely get those vibes from Julian.”
At least, kind of. He wasn’t as bad that last day in the office together.
“In some ways, Jules has had it the worst,” he says with a heavy sigh. “But he also is the worst, so it’s some kind of cosmic karma.”
“But back to me?—”
“Unsurprising,” he says, and I shoot him a dirty look. “What? I’m not judging. I’m, too, a self-centred asshole. All the best people are, princess.”
I flip him off. “How do I get myself disinherited?”
“Oh, it’s going to be so much harder since Adrian’s counting on your mating with his precious little light pegasus Julian. You could find yourself someone awful to mate with.”
“What, like you, the devil himself?” I snark.
He waggles his brows. “Oh, baby, I’d only be so lucky.”
“Course, you would. Little Miss No Touch and Mentally Fucked Up is the real prize you want in life.”
“No.” His tone is hard and cold, all evidence of his teasing and easy demeanour gone in a flash. The air between us thickens instantly, and my chromius bristles, her reaction to Lucifer’s sudden mood shift making my skin crawl.
“I’m sorry?” My body chills, my chromius tense.
“Good girl,” he says, relaxing. “We don’t insult ourselves. I made a vow to kill, I mean not kill , the people who violate you. I can’t exactly not kill you, can I?”
A dark heat unfurls in my chest at his words, and it’s not exactly fear . It should be, but instead, there’s something… unsettling in the way he says it.
“You don’t get to decide what I say about myself.”
“If I have to hear it, I do. Trust me, you might not like the consequences.”
My chromius flares, reacting to the unspoken threat in his words with an intensity that nearly makes me shiver. I am more confused than intrigued.
“I don’t understand why you care.”
“Well, since you chose not to accompany me to dinner, you’ll never find out,” he says, a smirk back in place. “Such a shame.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
He snorts, and the sound sends goosebumps across my skin. There’s no doubt in my mind that letting Lucifer in would be a disaster. I don’t care how much he grins or teases, I’m not going to let myself get tangled up in his chaos.
Not now.
Not ever.
My mood sours, which he picks up on, so in a desperate bid to change the subject, I ask, “Want to do me a favour?”
“I’m not an errand boy, princess. So, unless it’s not killing your enemies?—”
“No. It’s not about killing my enemies.” I roll my eyes. “But you could tell the siren that I hate that he was fired from my security because you’re better than he is. Maybe intimidate him a little.”
Lucifer hums. “Why don’t you like him?”
“He’s always watching me. It’s creepy.”
Lucifer’s eyes dart to mine before returning to the road with a heavy huff of air. The change in his mood is subtle but unsettling—gone is the playful teasing, replaced with something darker.
“I wish Atticus added murder into the contract.”
“Do you need permission?” I ask.
“I like your thinking, princess, but that would just be rude.” He smirks, his tone light, but the underlying malice sends a chill down my spine.
Every time I think I’ve figured part of him out, he goes and undoes it all.
“I have no issues with being rude.”
“Trust me, baby, I’ve noticed.”
I squirm in my seat, instantly regretting it as my sweaty legs are sticking to the leather seats. The air con isn’t doing anything to help, and I’m suddenly hyper-aware of Lucifer’s presence beside me. It feels too close, too intense.
My stomach tightens anxiously, my chromius whining at my shifting mood.
“Yes, like continuously using pet names that I’ve said to stop using isn’t rude.”
“Well, I’ll practice my manners when you introduce me to your delightful roommate,” he says, pulling into the flats. “I’m going to have to see about getting myself roomed here.”
“Did Atticus not offer you somewhere to stay?”
He shakes his head. “Punishment, probably. He wouldn’t care if I slept in the bushes outside your place.”
“This is a really high end place,” I say, teasingly. “I think they might take offence to that.”
“Well, shit. Up for a third roomie?”
He shuts off the engine, turning to give me his full attention. His icy gaze locks on me, and it feels like I’m under a microscope, the weight of it pressing down on my chest.
I don’t want to fight it… but at the same time, I won’t let him in.
What the fuck is wrong with me these days?
“No. I don’t care if you sleep in the river and drown,” I say, winking at him as I get out of the car.
He groans, locking the car and falling into step with me. “You’d probably kill me in my sleep, anyway.”
“With that blood kink of yours, I think I’d just poison your food instead.”
We enter the building, and the security guard immediately rises from his podium, a wary look in his gaze.
“We’re fine,” I say, giving him a wave. The guard’s eyes narrow, but Lucifer just waggles his brows, his smirk full of dangerous mischief. His entire body language shifts, the air thickening with the barely controlled violence he seems to keep in check.
I don’t hate it.
What I do hate is that as we reach my front door, Caspian is standing there with disappointment etched into his face as if he has the right. He stiffens the moment his eyes land on Lucifer, and his siren comes forth as if they’re readying for an attack.
Lucifer’s body goes still beside me, his earlier playful demeanour evaporating in an instant, and I feel the change ripple through my chromius—alert, watching, waiting.
Lucifer steps forward, placing himself between me and Caspian. This is Lucifer’s chance, and I’m willing to hand him the stage to see how he performs.
“Who are you?” he asks, his voice low and full of venom, but he’s not really waiting for an answer. The weight of his presence presses down on Caspian, who visibly flinches, taking a step back.
Lucifer clicks his fingers, his grin growing wider and more sinister. “Oh, yes, you’re the fuck-up I was hired to replace. The one who can’t do his job properly because he spends all his time watching his charge, right?”
Caspian’s face pales, his mouth opening and closing as if he’s trying to find the words to explain himself. Sweat beads on his forehead, his fingers twitching at his sides like he wants to defend himself but can’t muster the courage.
I look at Lucifer in surprise that he can elicit such a strong reaction from a strong shifter. My chromius and I don’t even feel uncomfortable under the dangerous aura he’s emitting, but Caspian’s clearly shaken.
“Lucifer,” I murmur, but I don’t move from where he’s kind of shielding me. This is Lucifer’s moment, and there’s no part of me that wants to interrupt it. I feel a twisted sense of satisfaction watching Caspian squirm.
Lucifer doesn’t turn to acknowledge me. His eyes are locked on Caspian, and there’s a gleam in his black orbs that sends a chill down my spine.
He leans in slightly, his voice dripping with malice, his smile wide and predatory. “Go away, little siren. Leave Maeve alone or I’ll make your life as miserable as you’ve made hers.”
Caspian’s gaze flicks to me, a brief, almost desperate plea for me to listen, to understand. Lucifer takes another step forward, and I swear, I see Caspian’s knees buckle just slightly.
My heart pounds in my chest, and a small, wicked grin spreads across my face at seeing the Devil at play.
“I’m sorry, Maeve,” Caspian says. His eyes are wide now, darting between Lucifer and I as he works something out in his mind. “I hope that one day it all becomes clear.”
“And with that ominous note, fuck off, you cunt,” Lucifer snarls, his voice dropping even lower.
Caspian doesn’t argue. He turns on his heel and stalks down the corridor, his shoulders hunched.
Lucifer watches him leave, his smirk slowly fading into something darker, more dangerous, as his eyes return to their usual icy blue.
My heart is still racing, but there’s a strange thrill in it—a mix of fear and exhilaration. Lucifer’s clearly cut out for the job, and I’m impressed.
Maybe he doesn’t need murder in the contract to handle all my problems—he clearly just needs to threaten people.
“Going to let me in?” Lucifer asks so cheerily, I startle. His voice is back to that casual, easy tone like he didn’t just send someone running for their life. The contrast is so jarring it leaves me unsettled.
Even my chromius doesn’t know what to make of it.
“You’re mentally insane.”
“I’m sure if my parents loved me, they’d have had me tested.”
“You’re not the only one who wasn’t loved by their parents,” I tease, opening up my front door. “You’ll get no sympathy from me.”
“Ari, I’m home,” I yell, my words echoing through our flat. “And I brought the Devil with me.”
She shrieks, rushing through the flat, and comes to a stop at the end of the corridor, true panic on her face.
“Oh, shit,” I say, shaking my head rapidly. “I meant I brought Lucifer .”
She sighs in relief.
“Who is the Devil?” Lucifer demands, following me inside.
Ari and I exchange a look, and mutter, “Tarun” as one.
Lucifer bursts into laughter, and something in me relaxes. It’s unsettling how much I enjoy this psychopath’s presence, how his laughter, his unpredictability, can make me feel safe.
Or why he, sometimes, manages to make me smile.
“ B reathe, girl,” Ari says, tapping her fork gently on the side of her plate, startling me out of my mind. I blink, realising I’ve been zoned out, my mind looping around everything and nothing.
“Are you good?” she asks gently.
“A little nervous about work today,” I murmur, feeding her a half-lie. I slept quite well last night, a solid four hours before waking up, and I managed to get myself back to sleep.
But, this morning, I’m just a bundle of nerves, and I don’t know why.
“I can imagine, but you’ll be amazing.” She grins at me. “Knock ‘em dead—literally if you must.”
I snort, the tension easing off my shoulders a little as I let Ari draw me into a conversation. “I wonder if Atticus will give me a weekly murder pass.”
You know, since he refused Lucifer carte blanche on killing anyone he wants. It’s a bit rude, honestly.
“Could you really manage to kill someone?” she asks, scrunching her nose up in distaste.
“I can at least hire someone to do it for me,” I say after debating it.
She boos me, and I giggle. “We’re not all rich girls, Maevey Baby. But I do know where I’m coming if I need a hit taken out.”
I shovel a forkful of eggs in my mouth just as the doorbell rings. I let out a groan. It’s Lucifer, of course, coming to do another sweep of the flat before he takes me to work.
He’s been my security for less than twenty-four hours, and he’s already taking it to the extreme.
I don’t know why I don’t hate it.
“I’ll get it,” Ari offers, but I shake my head, swallowing my scrambled eggs before moving through the flat. I wrench the door open, and as expected, Lucifer is standing there.
He’s wearing a black T-shirt that says ‘Fish are not friends. Eat them’ with a shark on it, and a red baseball cap.
“Morning, princess. All good overnight?”
I shrug. “Ari was murdered, but I just left the blood for you to get off on.”
His grin spreads wide, a little too wide, and despite myself, I feel a flicker of amusement in my chest.
“That is why you’re my favourite, pretty princess,” he says. “I want to have a look, through, and then we can head off whenever you’re ready.”
“Can’t wait.” I fake enthusiasm. “Another horrid ride in your car to the place where I’m forced to work.”
“What’s wrong with my car?”
I wave him off, opening the door wider so he can enter.
“No, seriously, what’s wrong with my car?” he demands, not taking a step inside.
“You’re relentless,” I mutter, and he grins. “I did not mean that as a compliment.”
“Well, I’m not moving until you tell me, and you’re the one who will be late to work. Unless you jump out the window and manage to not die.”
I groan, knowing full well he is going to out-stubborn me, and relent. “I’ve got a thing with sensory stuff. I don’t like your car seats.”
“What kinds of fabrics do you prefer?”
“Oh, my days, fuck off,” I groan, walking away from the door. “Go have your spy whilst I finish eating, then we can leave.”
“I’ll spy if I want to spy.” He strides through the flat, shutting the door behind him, and moves over to my bedroom.
I don’t care what he’s doing in there and go back to join Ari at the breakfast table.
“You know, he really annoyed Caspian,” she says, and I giggle, thinking about his face. “You’re being a bitch.”
“I told you I never liked Caspian. If he wants to cry that he got sacked, he should’ve been less creepy.”
Ari watches me closely, her eyes softening with something I can’t quite read.
“Maevey Baby, it’s really hard to not be drawn into you, you know,” she says, and I snort. “I’m not kidding.”
“Plenty of people manage to not sit and stare at me all day. He’s a powerful siren and should be more than capable of resisting my ‘mythical allure’.”
“I mean, I’d argue that you’re also gorgeous, but he is mated, so won’t really care,” she muses.
“Oh, wow. Am I meant to be flattered that the creepy old man would stare at me whether I was pretty or not?” I fake gasp before rolling my eyes. “I don’t give a fuck.”
“You’re so sassy this morning.”
“And you’re far too cheery,” I counter, taking in her bright eyes and rosy cheeks. She’s far too refreshed, and it’s making me irritable. “What are you doing today?”
She shrugs at me. “Nothing. Yet.”
“Oh, I?—”
“Time to go, princess,” Lucifer says, barging into the kitchen without a care in the world. He stops and nods his head to Ari. “Morning, Ari.”
“Morning, Lucifer. Help yourself to food, I’m going to go take a shower.” She blows me a kiss, amusement dancing in her eyes. “See you later on, Maeve.”
“You’re the bitch.” I don’t return her wave.
Lucifer raises his eyebrows. “What was that about?”
“You’re a dick who shouldn’t be seen or heard.”
“I’m not a woman in the sixteenth century, princess,” he counters, and I sneer at him.
Uncaring, he grabs a bread bun and puts in the last sausage, the last four bits of bacon, and a handful of the scrambled eggs. He leaves the tomatoes and mushrooms before biting into it like a savage.
“Let’s go,” I say, popping my plate to the side of the sink. Ari will wash them before work, and I don’t want to upset her by putting it in the sink.
The walk to the car is quiet, Lucifer clearly distracted with his stolen breakfast, but the tension in the air thickens again the moment we get in.
“So, where did you sleep last night?”
“Would you believe me if I told you a lake?”
“I said a river,” I say, and he laughs.
“I managed to secure a flat in your high-end building,” he says, waggling his brows. I roll my eyes. “I’m on the third floor, and I had to sign a document swearing I wouldn’t come to the building covered in blood.”
“Covered, or?”
“Any blood,” he groans. “But, hey, that doesn’t mean I can’t fill my place with blood. Got any spare?”
“Not for you.”
He grins, very cheery this morning. Too cheery, almost like he’s trying to keep something at bay. “You’re a bit off today.”
“Am I?” I frown, not sure how he’s noticed, considering I wasn’t really on the top of my game yesterday.
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“At the risk of sounding dramatic, nothing and everything all at the same time,” I mutter, turning to look out of the window so I can avoid his knowing, intense gaze.
“I fucking despise the life you’ve lived, pretty princess.”
I shrug, not letting the tears that have welled up fall. His words shouldn’t touch me, shouldn’t reach the aching part of me, but they do. Somehow, he seems to understand.
“Life would be easier if they were all dead,” I snap.
“Could you do it?” he asks me. His tone is so serious, so deadly, that it sends a chill down my spine.
“Could I do what?”
“Could you end them? Could you really kill them?”
Tears fall down my cheeks, and I shake my head. The weight of everything presses in on me, suffocating, and I can barely breathe under the pressure, under the rush of flashbacks.
“No.”
He hums, low and soothingly. “But you want them dead?”
Fire burns my veins as I turn my head to look at him properly. It’s a dark, twisted truth that I’ve never admitted to anyone, and it frightens me how easily it comes to the surface now.
“More than anything that I’ve ever wanted before.”
“One day, baby, I’ll grant you that wish.”