Chapter 5 The Red Thread
“Why do you think Selena is his?”
Morgana’s voice was a purr of amusement, her crimson lips curling as she lounged on the velvet chaise, draping one leg over the other in lazy elegance.
Lucifer’s jaw tightened, his obsidian eyes burning with restrained fury. “I can scent his mark on her,” he growled, the words dragged from his throat like venom. “It clings to her like a curse my sworn enemy’s scent.”
Morgana rose, her dark silk dress flowing like liquid shadow as she prowled toward him. “And yet,” she murmured, circling him like a predator scenting blood, “if she truly belongs to him, why hasn’t her vampire awakened?” She stopped behind him, fingers ghosting over his tense shoulders. “Where are the shifts? The instincts?”
Lucifer’s grip clenched around the mahogany desk, knuckles paling. “That’s what I can’t predict,” he admitted, the truth tasting like ash. “She’s been with me since she was fifteen never once did I sense a vampire in her. But now... his mark taints her.” His voice dipped lower, dark and dangerous. “I can’t ignore it.”
Morgana leaned in, her breath cold against his ear. “If she is his… will you still love her? Or will you break her?”
Silence.
Lucifer’s chest heaved. The words coiled in his mind, suffocating. Love her? Break her? The choice was a curse wrapped in fate’s cruel hands.
Without a word, he shoved away from the desk and strode toward the dark leather sofa, raking a hand through his midnight-black hair.
“I need to test her,” he muttered, voice distant but sharp.
Morgana’s eyes gleamed. “How?”
Lucifer’s lips curled into a slow, cruel smile. “I’ll expose her to raw power. If she recoils, she’s human. But if she responds... if her vampire stirs…” He let the words hang, heavy with implication.
Morgana chuckled, dark and melodic. “And if she doesn’t react?”
Lucifer’s eyes flickered gold. “Then I’ll know she’s hiding something. Because no matter what, I can still smell him on her. His scent lingers every time I get close.”
Morgana ran a teasing hand through his hair. “If she were truly a vampire, the moon would call to her.”
Lucifer’s gaze darkened. “Unless one parent was human.”
Morgana arched a brow. “But you forbade that union centuries ago.”
His fist slammed against the armrest, the leather groaning beneath his strength. “I did,” he snarled, voice thick with venom. “No vampire should breed with humans. And yet” His rage crackled like a storm.
Morgana tilted her head, watching him with knowing amusement. “So, tell me, Alpha. What truly has you on edge? I can feel your fury poisoning the air.”
Lucifer’s body stiffened, a muscle ticking in his jaw. When he finally spoke, his voice was as sharp as a blade.
“Selena... has a boyfriend.”
The floating candles flickered, reacting to the rage in his tone. Ancient books shot into the air, pages rustling in chaos.
Morgana’s laughter rang out, wicked and sharp. “The great Alpha of the Darkmoon Pack, jealous of a mortal boy?”
Lucifer’s eyes flared red, the room growing colder. “Don’t. You. Dare.” His voice was a low growl. “She belongs to me.”
Morgana smirked, delighted. “And how will you make her forget him?”
Lucifer’s grin was slow and dangerous. “I’ll erase him from her life.”
Morgana’s amusement faltered. “You can’t. I’ve seen the threads of fate. Michael and Selena... they’re bound.”
Lucifer’s jaw clenched. “How do you know?”
“I watched her, as you asked. I saw the red thread connecting them. Their souls are tied.”
Lucifer stood, energy radiating off him in thick waves. “I am Lucifer. Fate bows to me.” His laugh was dark, merciless. “I’ll cut that thread and bind her to me. The Moon Goddess be damned.”
Morgana’s eyes glowed with intrigue. “Shall I kill him for you?”
Lucifer shook his head. “Not yet. First, I want him to watch as she falls into my arms, as she chooses me over him.”
He turned, already planning his next move. “Tomorrow, Selena will work in my office. Prepare a desk.”
“As you wish, Alpha,” Morgana purred, watching him disappear up the grand staircase, his rage trailing behind him like smoke.
THREE WEEKS LATER
“Selena,” Lilith whispered, barely containing her excitement, “I swear, your uncle gets hotter every time I see him. Does he age backward or something?”
Selena nearly choked on her coffee, shooting Lilith a glare. “Lilith! Can you not talk about him like that?”
“That makes it funnier,” Lilith teased, eyeing Lucifer as he strode past, dressed in a tailored black suit that fit like sin itself. His aura was cold. Overwhelming.
Selena’s heart raced. His presence was a storm rolling in.
She looked away, pretending to focus on the documents in front of her, but her fingers trembled.
“Seriously though,” Lilith whispered, “thanks again for getting me this job. The pay is insane.”
“Just… keep your voice down,” Selena hissed, her chest tightening. “No one here knows he’s my uncle.”
“Got it,” Lilith said, but then her gaze flicked to someone else. “Whoa. Who’s that woman? The one in black? She looks like... pure evil.”
Selena’s stomach sank.
Morgana.
Striding down the hall, wrapped in a long, flowing dress, her stilettos clicking like a countdown to disaster.
“That’s Morgana,” Selena murmured. “His… friend.”
Lilith grimaced. “Figures. She looks like she could eat me alive.”
“Probably could,” Selena muttered.
Before Lilith could reply, a chilling voice cut through the air.
“Talking about me?”
Both girls froze.
Morgana stood beside their desk, her smile sharp enough to draw blood.
“H-hi, Morgana,” Selena stammered.
Morgana’s gaze devoured her. “It’s been a while, Selena.” Her voice dripped with something dark. “You’ve grown… beautiful. No wonder he’s so possessive.”
Selena’s throat tightened. She had no words.
“Oh,” Morgana continued, almost bored, “your uncle wants to see you. Now.”
Selena’s pulse pounded. “Do you know why?”
Morgana smirked. “You’ll find out.”
Selena walked to Lucifer’s office, palms clammy, heart a storm. She hesitated at the massive double doors before knocking.
“Come in.”
His voice was smooth. Too smooth.
She stepped inside. Lucifer sat behind his desk, fingers tapping against polished wood. His dark eyes locked onto her, unreadable.
The air felt... wrong.
“Selena,” he greeted, not looking up.
She swallowed. “You wanted to see me?”
He pointed to a glass filled with thick, crimson liquid. “Bring me that cup.”
Selena hesitated. The scent of iron hit her nose.
Her stomach churned.
She forced herself to pick it up, but her hands trembled.
Lucifer’s gaze didn’t miss a single reaction.
Then, his eyes flicked to her hand.
Around her finger, faint but unmistakable, glowed a thin red thread.
His jaw tightened.
Michael wouldn’t have her.
She would be his.
And soon… she’d have no choice but to surrender.