23: Between Two Monsters  

23: Between Two Monsters  
POV – Ava

Lucien.

The sound of his voice hit me like a ghost.

I turned slowly, my pulse hammering against my ribs.

He stood in the doorway, a smirk playing on his lips, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Casual.

Relaxed.

Like he hadn’t just disappeared for weeks.

Like he hadn’t left me alone with Dante.

Like he still owned a piece of me.

Dante moved before I could react.

One second, he was beside me—the next, he was on Lucien, pinning him against the doorframe, forearm pressed hard against his throat.

“Give me one reason,” Dante growled, fangs bared, deadly and beautiful, “why I shouldn’t rip you apart right now.”

Lucien didn’t fight.

He just smiled. That smug, infuriating, beautiful smile.

And then his gaze flicked to me.

“I came for her.”

Dante pov

I wanted to tear his throat out.

His smugness. His utter fucking audacity.

Lucien knew exactly what he was doing—and that only made me want to kill him more.

Ava shifted beside me, tense, silent.

Not running.

Not pushing him away.

Not screaming at him to leave.

And that?

That fucking stung.

Lucien’s smirk widened. “Jealous, brother?”

I slammed him harder against the doorframe, my grip crushing.

“You’re not my brother.”

Lucien let out a low chuckle. “No, but we do have something in common.”

His eyes flicked to Ava.

And fuck if I didn’t want to rip them out.

“She’s not yours,” I snarled.

Lucien just tilted his head. “Isn’t she?”

Ava pov

I should have stopped them.

Should have told Dante to let him go.

But my body wouldn’t move.

Because Lucien’s presence did something to me.

It always had.

It wasn’t love. Not like with Dante.

But it was powerful. Dangerous. All-consuming.

Lucien had always been the wild card.

The one who made me question.

The one who made me want things I wasn’t supposed to.

And the way he was looking at me now?

Like he still had a claim?

Like he still had a chance?

It terrified me.

Because a part of me wanted to let him think he did.

Dante pov

I felt her hesitation.

Saw the way her breath shook, just slightly.

Saw the way Lucien fucking knew it.

My fingers itched for violence.

But that’s what Lucien wanted.

He wanted to make me snap.

Wanted me to show Ava the monster inside me—the same monster Magnus kept whispering about.

So instead, I did the one thing Lucien didn’t expect.

I let him go.

Lucien stumbled slightly, his smirk faltering just a fraction.

“You want her?” I said coldly, adjusting my cuffs. “Convince her.”

Ava’s breath hitched.

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “You serious?”

I shrugged, smirking slightly. “Why wouldn’t I be? She’s made her choice, hasn’t she?”

I turned to Ava, my expression blank.

Daring her.

Challenging her.

Say it. Say you’re mine.

Her lips parted—but no words came.

And fuck.

That hurt more than anything else ever had.

Ava pov

My throat was so dry it hurt.

Dante’s voice was cold, too controlled.

This was a test.

One I should have passed immediately.

I should have said, I’m yours.

I should have told Lucien to leave.

But something about his presence unraveled me.

Because Lucien represented something Dante never could.

Freedom.

Not chains. Not power struggles.

Just… a way out.

I wasn’t sure I wanted it.

But I needed to know if it existed.

Lucien saw my hesitation.

And he fucking pounced.

Lucien pov

She wasn’t sure.

And that was all I needed.

I stepped forward, slow, deliberate, keeping my eyes locked on hers.

Dante didn’t stop me.

Not yet.

Because we both knew—this wasn’t about me.

This was about her.

I reached for Ava’s hand, watching the way she shivered.

Not in fear.

In anticipation.

“Come with me,” I murmured, voice soft, coaxing.

“Leave this behind.”

Her pulse jumped.

Dante stiffened.

And for a single, terrifying second—

I thought she might actually say yes.

Dante pov

No.

I saw the flicker in her eyes.

The doubt. The hesitation.

She wasn’t just toying with him.

She was thinking about it.

And that?

That was unacceptable.

I moved before she could speak, grabbing her wrist, pulling her flush against my chest.

She let out a soft gasp, startled.

But I wasn’t looking at her.

I was looking at him.

“You want her?” My voice was pure ice.

Lucien’s smirk returned. “I do.”

Ava stiffened against me. “Dante—”

I ignored her.

I exhaled slowly, calm, controlled.

“Then fight me for her.”

Ava’s breath hitched. “What? No.” She pushed at my chest, but I didn’t let go. “This isn’t some prize to be won, Dante.”

Lucien let out a soft chuckle. “You heard the lady.” He spread his arms dramatically. “She’s not a prize.”

I bared my fangs. “Then why the fuck are you here?”

Lucien tilted his head, eyes glinting. “Because she’s mine too.”

Ava gasped, her body tensing against mine. “Lucien, don’t—”

my grip on him tightened, his muscles coiled like he was barely holding himself back. my voice was low, lethal. “She is not yours.”

Lucien took a step closer, shoulders rolling, stretching like he was enjoying this moment. “She could be.”

Ava pov

I turned my head to him, voice sharp. “Lucien, stop.”

His golden gaze locked onto mine. “Do you want me to?”

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t answer.

Dante felt it.

Lucien fucking knew it.

And then, he drove the dagger deeper.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Lucien’s voice was almost a purr. “This pull between us. The way I make you question everything.”

I swallowed hard.

Dante’s breathing turned ragged. “If you touch her, I will kill you.”

Lucien smirked, flicking his gaze back to Dante. “Then I guess we have a problem.”

He lunged.

Fangs bared. Claws unsheathed.

Dante shoved me behind him, meeting Lucien head-on.

The room exploded into violence.