Page 25 of Demon’s Desire (Lovers of the Damned #3)

“I’ve always been able to see through your invisibility. Ash and Dante’s too. Well, not always.” Luc’s expression darkened. “Ever since I took your magic.”

Onyx swallowed, his throat parched. Luc had never, ever phrased it like that. He’d always pretended he’d borrowed their magic, acting as if it had been a mutual decision to share power. He’d never admitted it was stolen.

“Are you serious?” Onyx breathed.

Apparently, it hadn’t been a trick of the tower that allowed Luc to see Onyx, Dante, and Ash in the Realm of the Damned. Why explain and give away such a huge advantage?

Luc shrugged one lazy shoulder. “Very serious. You might have figured it out. Did none of you wonder how I stalked Ash so easily?”

Shit, the Devil had a point. It wasn’t as if Ash had been flying around the city without an invisibility illusion back when he’d been following Harper.

Luc took a step forward, his handsome features twisting. “I need your help. I don’t want to be on opposing sides. Please, Onyx.” He sounded desperate.

Damn, he was an excellent liar.

Onyx’s heart hardened. “How did you get in here? My wards aren’t broken.”

Luc’s face fell. “We’re family. It’s harder to ward against your own blood. You should have strengthened your spaces with all three of your magics, like Ash and Dante did.”

Onyx’s internal fire raged. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

“Sorry.” Luc averted his gaze. “I’m glad you didn’t ask them to help, or I wouldn’t have gotten in. I have something for you.”

Onyx’s pulse pounded in his throat. He swallowed past it. “I don’t want it. I told you to leave me alone. If you can see us flying around so easily, why don’t you accost Ash? You always preferred him. Oh, right, you almost killed his mate, and now he hates you as much as I do.”

“Onyx.” Luc stepped forward, and Onyx encased himself in a protective shield of blue fire. Luc didn’t react to the defensive display. “I don’t prefer Ash. You’re all my brothers.”

“Shut up.” Onyx heaved a breath, suddenly feeling like he’d been flying at full speed for hours.

“Just stop talking. If being your brothers mattered, you’d never have hurt Ash and Dante’s mates.

You managed to send Dante into a murderous rage.

Dante! Only you could betray a so-called brother that horribly. ”

“I didn’t know they were true mates!” Luc’s voice rose, giving away his frustration. “And don’t forget everything that happened before. We all did horrible things to each other.”

“You started it. Anything we did was in retaliation for stealing our magic. For keeping us prisoner. There is no excuse for any of that. You are not the wronged one, Lucifer.”

“I’m not saying that. All I want is for you to understand that I was angry. You’d abandoned me, and when I finally found you, everyone was going on about mates. Stabbing at ancient, festering wounds.”

“Oh, please. That’s no excuse. I don’t give a shit about your poor tortured soul. If anyone deserves damnation, it’s you.”

Luc’s face twisted. “Maybe. But how am I supposed to convince you I’m sorry without explaining my actions?”

“There is no way to convince me. You went too far and then kept going. No one is ever going to forgive you for hurting those boys.”

Luc cocked his head. “You care about them?”

Onyx’s heart clenched, and his fangs ached. He wanted to make Luc bleed. “Of course I do.”

Luc nodded as if he was taking this seriously. “Then know that I’m sorry. Please, Onyx.”

“No.” Onyx’s shield burned brighter. “Not good enough.”

“Then what can I do? I’d never hurt your mate. I’d—”

“My mate! What mate?” Onyx had to yell to hear his own voice above his pounding pulse. His face burned hot, eyes flaming.

“Nico.” Luc smiled softly, and Onyx’s boiling blood ran cold.

“He’s not my mate.”

“No? You protected his house.”

Had Luc been to Nico’s apartment? Fuck.

An inhuman growl ripped from Onyx’s throat.

“Onyx, please calm down. Nico is fine. I’d never hurt him. I’m so glad for you.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Nico wasn’t his mate, but Luc still could have hurt him. Everything Luc said was a lie. All he did was lie. This was all some game. Some power play.

“All I want is a chance to find my mate, too.” Luc had moved closer without Onyx realizing, and loomed over him.

“They’re trying to kill me, Onyx. Even after everything that’s happened between us, I know you wouldn’t wish permanent death on me.

Please, I need your help, and I’ll make everything right. ”

“Bullshit. You’re here, intimidating me. Threatening Nico. You’re a filthy liar, and I’m not a na?ve fool anymore.”

Luc grabbed Onyx by the shoulders, wincing as Onyx’s protective fire burned him. “You were never a fool.”

Heat sparked between them, and Onyx was overcome with a dizzying wave of power. He gasped and choked, his eyes rolling back. Everything in him seized.

Then all sensation disappeared, and Onyx crumpled to the ground. He blinked and pushed himself up with shaking arms.

Luc was gone.

Onyx’s blood boiled. Rage coursed through him and burst. His wings erupted from his back, tearing his shirt. His horns sprouted from his hair, and his tail struggled against the constraint of his jeans.

Onyx’s whole body burned.

What had Luc done to him? He felt different but couldn’t place why. There was no time to figure it out.

He forced his horns and tail away, pulled his phone from his pocket, and called Nico.

There was no answer. He called again. And again.

Nothing.

Onyx ran for the office window and leapt into the air. If Luc had hurt Nico, Onyx would burn the entire universe to the ground. No one was allowed to touch him.

Onyx didn’t want a mate. Didn’t need one. He had no desire to put his hope in someone like that. Tears streamed down his face as he flew, but no matter how fast he went, he couldn’t escape his thoughts.

What if Nico was his?

The possibility was terrifying.