Page 1 of Falling for the Devil
Chapter 1
Let the Games Begin
Several Millenia Ago in a Realm Faraway
The clashing of steel reverberated throughout the arena. To Diana, it brought an odd uptick in her heart. She was the goddess of wild animals and the hunt, the moon, fertility, childbirth, and children—not war. No one expected her to rejoice in the chaos and brutality of battle. Still, it held an allure to her otherwise sweet nature.
She sometimes envied her brothers, particularly Ares—the god of war. He always returned to Mount Olympus blood-splattered, with a vicious smile that transformed his otherwise serious features. When she had been much younger, he used to spend hours regaling her with stories of battles and his victories. Even her twin, Apollo—the god of light—was a great warrior, renowned for his heroics.
She, however, was just a girl.
But that was all in the past. Still young—for an immortal—she was no longer considered a child to be coddled. Diana had passed the time for daydreams and play. She was expected to live up to her duty to preside over the hunt, protect the hunters, aid in fertility for the women, and safeguard children. None of that required strapping on a sword and shield. Instead, her weapons were her bow and arrows, and her empathy for humanity across all the realms.
Diana swept around the wide columns leading to the coliseum and took a step toward the large balcony reserved for Zeus and his family. The brilliant sun refracted off the warriors’ shields, momentarily blinding her. Her foot missed the step down and she stumbled, tripped over the hem of her ivory gown, and landed with a smack at the bottom step leading up to her father’s oversized throne.
“Dammit.”
A rough hand jerked her up until she was eye-level with obviously annoyed amber eyes—the color of honey straight from the hive. “Sister, you are late, as usual. And a pillar of virtue such as yourself should not be cursing.”
For a moment, she was paralyzed. Yes, she was not permitted to utter foul language. Her brothers could, but it was forbidden to her and her sisters—at least in public. However, it was a bit of a shock that it was her own twin scolding her so harshly. He was the one who’d taught her all those words in the first place.
Apollo’s lips quirked up on one side, followed by strong arms pulling her in for a crushing embrace. “Got you good that time, didn’t I?” he whispered, before letting her go. “But seriously, you’re lucky Father is too enthralled with the war games. If he had heard you, it would be another vacation with Uncle Hades. It’s Persephone’s time topside, so he’s not in a jolly mood, either.”
She punched him playfully on the shoulder, just beneath the ends of his glorious hair that rivaled the beauty and radiance of the sun itself. Whereas he was the epitome of the golden child, she’d somehow ended up pale as ivory, with hair the color of flames. The only attribute they had in common were their golden amber eyes.
“Yes, I would appreciate a better climate for my next sojourn. The last time I was there, my skin burned, blistered, peeled off, and my hair frizzed outward like one of Father’s bolts of lightning had struck me. No. Thank. You. I’ll pass on a repeat trip.”
She pulled him into another embrace, clinging to him with all her strength. It had been eons since they had been together. He had been across the realms, imposing his own brand of justice, while she had endured the gods’ version of a finishing school for girls. She’d learned all the proper attributes for a female god—balance, dancing, nursing, and proper protocol when addressing other gods and even mortals. The one redeeming feature had been learning all aspects of hunting. It was the closest she’d ever get to fighting like a warrior.
Her heart nearly burst with happiness having her twin back at her side. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
“I’ve missed you too, dear sister.” He pushed away from her to scan her from top to bottom. “You’ve grown, I believe. Last time you came up to”—he struck himself just below the gilded armor over his chest—“here. Now you’re nearly as tall as I!”
“That’s what happens when you’re gone forever.” She pouted. “You get to go out and have all sorts of lovely adventures while I rot away here.”
A frown overtook both their faces. If anyone knew her frustration with being regulated to the less glamorous duties of the deities, it was Apollo. He understood her longing to fight, to join her brothers in battle. Yet, his lips remained sealed whenever their parents were nearby. He might be a fearsome god, but even the prodigious Apollo would not challenge Zeus or speak in her defense on this subject.
Another punch of disappointment had Diana turning away from her brother. Her gaze strayed to the epic battle waging far below, seeking something else to set her mind on before a tear threatened to fall. Gods and goddesses were not permitted to cry... at least, not in public.
The crowd roared. One of the warriors in the arena had dealt a harrowing blow to his opponent, sending him to his knees. But he was not down for the count yet. The energy of the cheers revived Diana’s spirits. Watching the macabre dance, she felt a strange affinity for one of the contestants. Although she had no way of knowing who fought, for they were covered in armor, including their faces, the one on his knees had her full attention. His armor sparkled as if kissed by the stars. His aura blackened with indignation while he regained his breath. The blow would’ve destroyed most soldiers. But his stubbornness would not allow him to beg for mercy to end the battle. He kicked up to a standing position—an impossible feat, with all the heavy armor—his sword at the ready. His opponent’s back was to him, his arm raised high to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. His early celebration would cost him dearly.
Without capitalizing on his opponent’s weakened position, he tapped him on the shoulder with the sword. Diana nodded her appreciation. The warrior was fair, not deceitful. The battle raged on, but the warrior in the shining armor never tired. Whereas the poor fool opposing him began to stumble from fatigue.
If she had to guess, Diana would’ve said the first man was Ares’s most stalwart soldier, Magnus. The other man who had her undivided attention was a mystery. He moved like no other she had ever witnessed. He was lithe and quick, so fast that even her twin brother, Apollo, seemed impressed. And he was renowned for his speed.
Who was this man? Was he another deity, for he seemed to have the strength of the gods? But her entire family sat clustered together on the dais just a few steps away... And if he was a god, he was not one she had ever known.
No, he might not be a man, nor a god, but he was something else—something more divine. Without even seeing his face, Diana’s heart thrummed faster watching him. Her skin heated in a way she had never experienced. Her anticipation grew the longer the battle raged until the stranger cracked his opponent’s helmet in two. The man fell to the ground and stayed down.
Just as she’d suspected. The defeated warrior was Magnus. He deserved for his head to be served up on a silver platter alongside some grapes and sugared violets. He was a vile man who never missed an opportunity to leer at her in ways that made her skin crawl.
The crowds roared their approval. The victor stood tall over his vanquished foe and removed his own helmet, turning to bow first to Zeus and the other gods on the dais, then to each corner of the coliseum until his body came even with her and Apollo’s position near the throne.
Diana’s heart stopped. All cheering quieted. Time ceased. Heat crept up her neck to color her porcelain cheeks. She must’ve been on the verge of fainting, for Apollo grasped her upper arm to keep her steady.
The most glorious mahogany brown eyes locked on her own. No, brown was insufficient to describe the stranger’s eye color, for they glowed like burnt umber with fire raging within their depths. She couldn’t tear her gaze away. Even with sweat matting his chestnut hair, he was the most magnificent creature she had ever seen.
Apollo guffawed with a distinctive note of disdain. “Ah, it is the great Archangel of Light himself—Lucifer!”