Page 3 of Falling for the Devil

Apollo helped her over to a nearby lounge chair clothed in finely spun gold silk. He’d yelled for a servant to bring fresh ambrosia and wine to revive her. She was thankful for the distraction since the movement had broken the hypnotic hold the archangel had on her and she could once again breathe.

Her brother patted her hand, waiting for her to respond to his queries. As a goddess, she was not prone to ill health, and he knew not what to do for her. There was whispering around her, but she could not discern any of the words for the blood pounding in her ears. Diana imagined her other siblings and her father were either overtly amused at her behavior or bewildered. Regardless, they could never learn the source of her discontent.

A golden wine chalice was pressed to her parched lips. The wine, perfectly chilled, slid over her tongue and down her throat, leaving a trail of delightful plum and berry flavors. It was the perfect distraction from the anxiousness eating at her skin, knowing Lucifer would soon step onto the dais. Would she be fit to stand again? It would be a nightmare to appear so frail in front of him. After all this time of attempting to prove to her father she was strong, not weak; brave, not a coward; and a heroic warrior, not a benign goddess of simple womanly duties.

Judging by the chuckles behind her, it was too late to prove herself to her father and brothers. She slumped back on the lounger. Her damsel-in-distress reaction had sealed their opinion of her.

With shaky hands, she lifted the goblet to her lips, intent on downing the entire contents for courage. After another whispered entreaty from Apollo, she scratched out the words, “I’m fine.”

Her world was split apart, and she was blinded by the glorious sun that embodied the Archangel of Light as he ascended the dais. His dark umber eyes captivated her gaze in an instant, and the chalice fell from her hands. It clattered and stained the pristine white stones with a crimson hue that rivaled the deep color of blood.

In hindsight, Diana realized she’d been given an overt omen, but innocence and youth blinded her to the message.

Chapter 3

No Introductions Needed

Lucifer couldn’t turn away from the glorious beauty staring at him with wide eyes. The roaring of the crowd faded to silence. The decadent surroundings and its occupants blurred out of sight. There was only... her.

The physical sensations assailing him were foreign to his angelic body. Something whispered in the far reaches of his mind. This is what all the fuss is about with the recent surge of angels obsessed with mortals.

But it was no mortal who had captivated him. She was far more dangerous. She was Zeus’s daughter. Which one, he didn’t know and didn’t care. It all meant the same thing for him... forbidden.

As off limits as the Creator had deemed the Tree of Knowledge in every realm, every existence, every dimension.

Her features grew taut, and her eyes narrowed, shaking his body from paralysis. It was then the murmuring around him nudged into his consciousness. How long had he been there standing perfectly still, enraptured? Enough to cause somewhat of a scene. The eyes of every male god on that platform glowered at him with suspicion and hate, none more so than the golden Apollo who stood ramrod straight next to the object of his fascination. If looks could kill, he would be dead in an instant. But then again, he couldn’t die anyway.

Trying to shake off the moment, he forced his lips to curl up in a polite smile and his feet to move toward the gigantic, gilded throne. Its occupant glared at him, but with a sparkle of humor in his eyes. The egomaniac, Zeus, had just assessed a weakness to exploit. For it was known throughout the universe and all its realms that angels and the lesser gods did not play well together since the latter had been formed.

To this day, Lucifer questioned his father why they had been created at all. And each time he received the same muddled answer—that all things have purpose, meaning, and their own divinity. But mortals lacked the higher understanding of all the universe had to offer, so intermediaries were a temporary solution as they evolved.

The temporary solution had been ongoing for hundreds of millennia now. Either evolution took too long, or the Creator was just reluctant to end his pet projects. How these so-called gods had survived all this time puzzled him. He’d dealt with them on and off so many times. Each time had been a horrendous headache. The gods made even the mortals look like devout sons and daughters. They were headstrong narcissists who loved war and sexual escapades in equal parts. They held themselves in such high regard, they no longer took into consideration how their acts displeased the one who’d made them, or how their behavior misled mortals. It was all one giant party to them.

And that was the reason he was there, standing before the most heavenly creature in all the universe, right at that moment.

The gods were acting uppity and needed to be brought to kneel.

“Well, boy, are you going to stand there dumbfounded all day staring at my daughter or do you wish to state your business and... leave.” Zeus’s voice boomed.

The crowds below hushed their cheering. Ares stood just to the right of the throne, holding his hand over his mouth to hide his snickering while his shoulders shook with the effort.

Bastard!

Lucifer glowered at them both, unspeaking, until he stood in front of Zeus. His grin widened as—despite the throne being elevated several steps from the dais—Lucifer towered over all the gods and their minions, including the king of the gods himself. His shadow loomed over the throne. An inner joy lit inside his belly at the soft gasps of servants gathered around. It was good they felt fear in his presence. Now, if he could just punch that smug smile off Zeus’s face...

He knew they waited on him to bow his head, even slightly, to show his respect for them. But that, he would never do. So he stood stone-cold still and waited. An uncomfortable silence fell. Moments passed with only the sound of shallow breaths. The crowd waited to see who would blink first.

Ares shot forward to within inches of Lucifer’s face. “You self-righteous pig. Kneel before the mighty Zeus or face the sharp end of my sword!”

Lucifer blinked away the spittle that had caught in his eyelashes but kept his gaze past Ares and on his father.

The god of war shoved him with both hands. Lucifer imagined it was all the force Ares could muster. Still, he didn’t so much as wobble... not even an inch.

Ares snarled, now nose-to-nose. His breath stank of sweet nectar and burnt beast, such a horrific combination that Lucifer’s eyes watered.

For a split moment, he cocked his head while maintaining eye contact with Zeus. “I would advise you to leash your dog before he discovers the hard way just how vicious an angel can be.”

That earned a growl from Ares, but also a soft peal of laughter from behind him broke the tension. A moment later, a small hand with creamy white, unblemished skin reached around Ares’s wrist, prying his fingers loose. One finger was adorned with a dainty silver ring depicting a dragon appearing to eat its own tail. A sparkling rose quartz crystal winked in the dragon’s eye socket.