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

I’d appreciate it if you didn’t lose your shit with me right now. All of this sucks enough as it is.”

He walked over slowly and sat beside her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Will you tell me what happened in Hell now?”

“What can I say? I tried not to feel things for him because of my impending wedding. I tried, but he is just everything I never knew I wanted or needed. It hurts so much, Dad. I don’t want to marry Theodus. The thought of anyone else but Lucifer being close to me tears me up inside. I don’t know how else to explain it. I love him for all that he is.”

Two hot, wet tears fell down her cheeks.

“Come here.”

He tugged her into his arms, rubbing her back. She sobbed onto his shoulder. It had been a long time since she’d cried in front of her father. Everything caught up with her at once. The pain settled in her chest. The gut wrenching feeling that she’d never be happy without Lucifer.

“It’s okay, shh, just let it out.”

They stayed like that until her sobbing abated. She pulled away, wringing her hands.

I didn’t mean to get so emotional in front of him.

“I hate seeing you in so much pain, knowing I’m partly to blame for your misery. I know you think I’m disappointed in you, but that’s simply not the case. I pushed you as a child. I wanted you to reach your full potential. I have never been prouder of you and I’m sorry I ever made you feel otherwise.”

He took a clean handkerchief from his pocket. Turning her face towards him, he wiped away her tears. He’s proud of me? What? I don’t understand. Her entire life he’d been cold and aloof. What changed?

“I only want you to be happy. I love you so much. Can you forgive me?”

“Wait, you’re not mad?”

“Why would I be? You’re free to love who you choose.”

“I thought you’d be unhappy since you know, he’s an angel and the Devil and all the other crap associated with his name.”

He smiled at her, fondness in his expression.

“I promise to be a better father to you. If it means accepting that you want to be with Lucifer, then I can do that.”

This was not the sort of conversation she ever expected to have with her father.

“Dad, you know I can’t be with him. Not with my marriage to Theodus.”

“I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“Your mother is just obsessed with that prophecy. I do not believe she is truly incapable of conceiving with another fae. I think she wants to believe it’s fate that I gave her a child of two worlds.”

Then I don’t need to provide her with an heir if she is capable.

The possibility of her not having to marry Theodus gave her a small sliver of hope.

“What if it’s not even related to the fae?”

“I think you are the girl in the prophecy, Candace. I just do not believe it relates to your mother and her need for an heir.”

He’d never told her he felt that way. She didn’t quite like the idea that she was part of some ridiculous prophecy because she didn’t believe in them. Yet, what her father said made sense.

“Then why haven’t you stopped her from forcing this on me?”

“I didn’t know you had other desires for your life. I want to help you be with the person you choose.”

“I don’t think I have a choice, Dad. Not now.”

He put a hand on her shoulder.

“There is always a choice. You’ll see. One way or another, we’ll resolve this.”

Chapter Twenty One

Candace paced the room, clenching and unclenching her fists. The conversation was getting them nowhere.

“Why do you not wish to come live with me?” Theodus asked, pale green eyes fixed on her.

She’d asked her father to bring her here. He was waiting outside the door, in case she needed him. This engagement was a sham and she wanted nothing more to do with it.

“Why? Why? This is merely a marriage of convenience or have you forgotten that already?”

“Is that what it is to you?”

“What else would it be? Do you think I want this? I never wanted to be married off. This is my mother’s doing.”

“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way, but this is what I want. I want you.”

She turned to him, stopping in her tracks.

He what? That’s not possible. We barely know anything about each other.

“You can’t have me.”

The words were out before she could stop them. She was Lucifer’s. Putting a hand to her mouth, she looked at Theodus in horror.

“This is about the man from last night, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Who is he, Cadmi?”

She flinched at the use of her fae name. I never want to be called that again.

“No one.”

“Tell me the truth. I am to be your husband. If you wish to be with someone else, then we need to come to an agreement over it.”

It took a full minute for her to wrap her head around what he’d just said.

“Are you telling me you would allow me to warm another man’s bed whilst married to you?”

She hadn’t meant it to come out like that, but it was what he insinuated.

“Do we have to discuss it in such distasteful terms? I am merely telling you I do not expect you to remain faithful to me once we’ve had a child.”

I want a life with Lucifer not Theodus. I would give up everything for him.

The world dropped out from underneath her. It had played on her mind for quite some time. Whether or not she’d have