Lucifer's Cage (After Dark Book 6) by Sarah Bailey (short story to read .txt) 📗

Beleth howled under the strain of the pain radiating from his back. Lucifer smiled.

You deserve every last one of these lashes. Each and every one.

The demon slumped on the post, his back ruined beyond repair. Lucifer handed Turnor the whip.

“Don’t show him any mercy and make sure they’re displayed to the others as a warning to anyone else who wishes to step out of line.”

“My Lord,” Turnor said, bowing.

Lucifer strode away, listening to the howls of pain from Dantalion and Beleth echoing around the room until the door slammed shut behind him. He’d shown them exactly who he was. The King of Hell. No one would take his place. Even if he hated his father for sending him here, he relished his position all the same.

When he entered his bedroom, Candace was fast asleep, her blonde hair spread out across the pillows.

Fuck, she is so beautiful.

He clicked his fingers, his armour disappeared and was replaced by a t-shirt and boxers. He crawled under the covers next to her. He’d keep his promise. His hand curled around her stomach, pulling her back flush with his front. She stirred a little.

“Is it done?” she whispered, groggily.

“Yes, I’m sorry I woke you.”

She turned in his embrace, staring up at him with hazy violet eyes. She cupped his cheek.

“Lucifer… I love you.”

She buried her face in his chest, her arm curled around his back. Her breathing dipped into a slow, steady rhythm. He stared down at her, his heart thudding like a drum in his chest.

She… loves me?

Chapter Twenty

Candace paced her living room, wanting to tear her hair out.

Why the fuck did I tell him that? I’m an idiot.

She’d been out of it when he woke her up after he’d punished Beleth and that other demon. He’d saved her, proving he cared more than she realised. And then she’d gone and told him she loved him. It being the truth didn’t matter. She shouldn’t have said it.

When she’d woken up, he’d still been there, holding her close. He kissed the top of her forehead, murmuring good morning. She’d rolled away to get up, but he’d pulled her against his chest, her back flush with it, his hand splayed out across her stomach.

“Don’t go,” he whispered in her ear. “Stay with me a little while longer.”

Not knowing what to say, she lay there stiffly, unable to speak. The memory of telling him she loved him clashed with her overriding urge to run away because he hadn’t said anything about it.

“You’re not in any pain, are you?” he asked.

“No, you healed me so I’m okay.”

“Mmm, then let me help you relax. You’re all tense.”

His fingers trailed down her bare arm, the soft touch turning her limbs to jelly.

Damn him. I feel so stupid and yet he’s acting like nothing happened. But it did.

She couldn’t unsay it. She felt too vulnerable. His distracting touch made it worse. He pressed kisses to her neck and shoulder. And she was lost. They tugged at each other’s clothes. It was gentle and unhurried. Him coaxing her into an earth-shattering orgasm as she trembled and bucked against him. The more time they spent together, the deeper and harder she fell. And now he knew.

She shot out of the bed not long after they were finished, needing distance between them.

“I need to get back. I promised I’d see him today to talk about stuff.”

Lucifer hadn’t been remotely happy with her pronouncement, but he’d begrudgingly taken her back to her flat after she’d had a brief chat with Mall.

I’m certifiable. I told a man I love him whilst engaged to another. No, not a fucking man. An angel. The original fallen angel.

Her heart felt tight. Could she forsake her entire life, her duty for him? Deep down, she knew the answer to that question and it terrified her.

Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. She scooped it up.

“Hello Dad,” she said.

“Candace, where are you?”

“Why?”

“Your mother said you left the ball early.”

She slapped a hand over her head. Despite asking Theodus to cover for her, she should’ve known Gwilliana wouldn’t let it rest so easily.

“I didn’t feel well and I had to deal with something.”

“She’s here. She expected you to stay with me.”

“I promised to see Theodus today. I don’t have time for this.”

“Candace.”

She didn’t want to see or speak to her mother.

“Fine, come get me. We wouldn’t want to keep the queen waiting.”

She heard him sigh.

“You know, she only has your best interests at heart.”

“Seriously, Dad? She doesn’t care what I want. If she did, she wouldn’t be forcing me to marry someone I don’t want. She doesn’t know anything about me or my life. My wants. My needs.”

A purple shimmering light appeared in her living room and her father stepped through. Her mother followed behind him.

“Then why don’t you tell her that yourself,” Gallian said.

She put the phone down on the counter.

“Thanks for the ambush, Dad,” she muttered under her breath.

“Cadmi,” her mother said.

“My name is Candace. It has always been regardless of what you named me.”

Her father gave her a sharp look. She no longer cared to be civil and polite. The events of last night had left her emotions in a mess. She didn’t want to deal with her parents.

“Candace, please explain why you left the ball with a man who was not Theodus.”

I should’ve known someone would tell her about that.

“Why would that be any of your business? I’ve done everything you asked of me.”

“Did you think how it would look to the court?”

Nothing would make her happier than to piss off