LILITH
“Victoria.”
My name floats on the air, wrapping me in warmth.
“Luke? Where are you?” I cry out, searching the room, desperate to find him.
“Close your eyes, Tori. I’m here.”
“You’re not.” The words come out broken, and I want to stomp my foot and lash out at the weakness those words reflect. “I’m losing my mind, Luke.”
And I am. I’m hearing his voice, but it’s impossible. He’s been locked out, if Nolda is to be believed.
“I’m trying, baby. They can keep me out physically, but our bond is allowing me into your mind, even in Hell.”
“Luke, I don’t have my powers here. I’m stuck in a cell.” I rush the words out, needing to tell him as much as I can while we have this connection, but he shushes me.
I bristle at his dismissal of my words.
“I’ll be there soon. But for now, let me comfort you.” I shake my head, ready to argue. “Victoria, do as I ask. Please. Close your eyes.”
Reluctantly, I do as instructed, wanting more than anything to believe that he’s here with me, if only in spirit.
“That’s my girl,” he praises. “Now, concentrate. Picture my face. Imagine I’m holding you.”
I focus on recalling his features and before long, they spring to life in my mind and a sense of peace washes over me.
The entire scene takes on a mind of its own as Luke’s hands run over my shoulders and down my arms to the hem of my shirt. Without thinking twice, I raise my arms, allowing him to drag the cotton tee up and over my head.
His wicked smile sends goose bumps racing across my body as he flings the shirt over his shoulder.
“You are magnificent, Victoria,” he says, running his tongue over his bottom lip as he takes me in. “I’ve waited so long to have you in my arms. In my bed.”
“Please.” The single word is breathy and pleading. “Please, Luke. Touch me.”
His smile turns sinful, and his eyes blaze red, but only for a moment. It’s not frightening but completely erotic.
He wants me and I want to give myself to him.
It’s always been him.
“Victoria,” he groans. “This … is only in our minds. When I have you, it’ll be the real thing. I’ll savor every inch of you. For now, this will have to be enough.”
His hands caress my breasts and I lean into his touch, shoving myself deeper into his palms.
“Yes, Luke. This … yes.”
My words are becoming unintelligible to my own ears as pleasure and desire threaten to pull me under. I want them to. Need them to.
He removes one hand, lowering his head and taking one nipple between his teeth. He bites, just hard enough to draw a whimper from my lips, then runs his tongue over the peaked nub to soothe the minor sting.
It feels so good.
Too quickly, he moves away from my body, a pained expression on his handsome face.
“Someone’s coming. I don’t want them to see you like this.”
“Like what?” I pant.
“Jesus, Victoria. You need to pull yourself together.” His eyes are slammed shut. “Nolda can’t know I’ve found a loophole.”
“Don’t curse, Luke,” I scold, because I’m warring between embarrassment at how much I want more and anger at being told no.
He chuckles. “I promise you, love. I won’t stop next time.”
Inhaling and exhaling to calm my frayed nerves, I nod, understanding that lust in Hell can’t do anything but cause more problems for me.
“When will you come to me again?”
“As soon as I can.”
He leans in, brushing his lips over mine tenderly, and disappears.
When I open my eyes, I’m alone in the room. Even the shadow demons from before are absent.
Why did Luke think someone was coming?
Days have gone by and nobody has come to torment me or otherwise. I’ve been practically crawling the walls of this tiny prison, desperate for any sort of conversation, wondering how long I would be forced to remain here. The thought of eternity in this place is worse than ultimate death.
Luke will find a way. He said he would, and I know he will.
He loves me and I love him.
Despite everything, I could feel the truth in his words the first time he spoke them. I felt it just now in the way he touched me.
He will come for me.
“Still on that dead-end road, Victoria?” Nolda singsongs, walking through the door. “He’s not coming here. He still can’t gain access. Believe me … he’s tried.”
He strolls in wearing his deceptively good-looking glamour. Dark hair, hazel eyes, full lips … too bad it isn’t real.
“He’ll get in. I know it.” There’s no doubt in my voice, and Nolda simply rolls his eyes back into his head.
“Well, no matter. Someone is here to see you.”
I sit up on my knees, head nearly hitting the top of the cage.
A raven-haired beauty practically glides through the door.
She’s opposite of me in every way but the eyes.
Her brilliant blue irises practically glow, drilling into me.
She’s tall, but not quite as tall as me from what I can tell.
Her black, form-fitting leather getup molds to her curves like a second skin.
She purses her full lips, narrowing her cat-like eyes at me, sniffing the air and narrowing her eyes as if she knows what just occurred.
“This is her?” She sucks in one cheek. “Interesting.”
My eyes bounce between the demon and newcomer, waiting for one of them to let me in on who the visitor is and what exactly she finds so damn interesting.
When neither of them says anything more, I speak up. “Who are you?”
The woman quirks one perfectly shaped brow. “Who am I?” Her dainty hands rise to her chest as if I mortally offended her, and that’s when I know exactly who she is.
Lilith.
“Am I supposed to know you?” I purse my lips, studying her sharp features and deciding to have a little fun with her.
I don’t need to have my angelic abilities to know I’ve bruised her fragile ego. Anger radiates from her, smelling sour and all wrong. Exactly what I hoped for.
Her eyes smolder indigo, shifting with her mood. “I’m queen of the underworld, darling.”
That title threatens to double me over. I know all about this creature and what she means to the underworld.
What she means to Luke. My Luke.
No, I shake my head. Not Luke … Lucifer.
They may be one and the same to most, but I know better. Luke is the real man hiding behind the facade he’s forced to wear.
This woman only knows the fake persona. She’ll never know him like I do.
She thinks she’s shaken me—and she momentarily had—but I refuse to let her rattle me any more. Instead, I decide to toy with the “queen of the damned” a little more.
I raise my brow to match hers. “Persephone? Is that you?” I say in mock surprise, trying and failing to hide my smirk.
Persephone is a legendary god created by humans, and by the anger radiating off the woman, I’ve managed to piss her off by insinuating otherwise. Knowing I’ve affected her, I allow the smirk to show.
“I see it now,” she says, drawing closer.
“See what, Lilith?” I practically spit her name back at her, allowing the disdain to seep through.
“Ah … so we’re done playing games then? Good.” She circles the cage like a cat, sizing up a small defenseless mouse. But I’m no mouse, and I’ll never cower to her. “You and I share so much.”
“We share nothing,” I snap.
“Oh, but you know that’s not true. I can smell your desire wafting through this room like a thick cologne. It’s suffocating.”
I can’t help the full-wattage smile that spreads across my face. Her tone gave away the jealousy, and it’s like a symphony I never want to end. Any sort of distress I can bring to her will be my new goal.
“We both own the affection”—her smile melts into a deep frown—“of my lord, but it’s me who’s had every piece of him.”
She’s intimidated by my presence. The thought of Lucifer having real feelings for someone else, when all she’s ever been is a concubine—a sexual object for his amusement—hurts her. This evil woman is actually wounded.
Good. Now we’re really going to have fun.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Lilith. I have his heart. Something you’ve never had.”
She growls. “You don’t know anything!” The cage shakes with the force of her anger.
“You’re here with him,” I jab my finger toward the hallway where Nolda slunk off to do whatever he does. “Lucifer could never love you for that betrayal alone,” I snarl. “It’s me he loves, Lilith. Whatever affection you think he has for you isn’t real.”
A slow, merciless grin spreads across her face. “You don’t know him at all. He’ll throw pretty promises your way. Anything to convince you to give yourself to him. Like before.”
I internally cringe at her mention of Luke’s deception the first time around. Of course this vile woman knows. I’m sure she got quite the kick out of watching me crumble.
“Then … once he’s had you,” she says, wrapping her hands around the cage bars, leaning in close. “He’ll toss you aside, just like he does all the others.” She bites her lip. “Then he’ll run back to my bed. Like … Every. Single. Time.” She shrugs one shoulder. “I have something you never will.”
“Loose morals?”
She narrows her eyes. “Lucifer’s devotion.” She licks her lips. “His touch. His lips. His tongue. His body. I’ve had it all. For millennia.”
A chill seeps into my bones, burrowing deep inside. The thought of everything this creature has enjoyed with Luke affects me far greater than anything I’ve experienced since arriving in Hell.
She’s been with him in every sense. Their connection is far greater than anything we ever shared. And that just about kills me to think about.
She knows just how badly that reminder hurts, and she’s reveling in it.
“Anyway … I just came to see what his latest conquest was like. I might have a slight obsession with his toys.”
“Liar. You know I’m different. You said so moments ago. You’ve never bothered with any of his ‘conquests.’ You and I both know that when he comes for me, and he will, you’ll be tossed aside for good. After he has me, he’ll never be able to stomach you again.”