Page 76 of Claimed By the Villain
I forgot to include one more thing in that list: I never loved the prince. I fell for the villain.
The now-officially mine, Lucifer.
In my dreams, I had it all. I never thought I’d have to give up part of it.
These past few days, I’ve been so excited about us living together, even if for the wrong reasons, that I never stopped to imagine how I’d feel today.
I didn’t get married. I signed a contract.
“We belong to each other,”he told me as he pulled me into a kiss. I know I’m his, I always have been, and I always will be.
But what about the other way around? Can anyone own Death?
I look out the window of the private jet, even though I can’t see much beyond streaks of sunlight breaking through the clouds.
This morning was gorgeous, the sky so clear it felt like nature was mocking me. Its beauty in sharp contrast with my wedding. No memories, no photos, no guests.
I keep telling myself I knew the cards on the table from the start, so I have no right to feel sad. If it weren’t for the threat hanging over my head, he’d probably still be watching me from a distance… forever? Yes, maybe forever.
The flight attendant calls my name and I lift my gaze to her. When she offers me a drink or something to eat, I give her the fakest smile in the world, thank her, and shake my head.
Then I glance at the seatbelt sign and unbuckle.
The whole time, I’m aware of Lucifer’s eyes on me. I purposely don’t look back, because even though I know “Alston women” never cry, I’m about to humiliate myself by breaking down in front of the man who’s never lied to me. Never promised me anything beyond keeping me alive, protecting me.
I step into the suite at the back of the plane and head straight for the bathroom. A moment later, I hear the door open again, but I don’t check who it is.
I wash off the light makeup I wore and catch my reflection: hair pulled into a loose bun, a simple but beautifulstrapless white dress, the straight cut flattering my frame, and the matching necklace and earrings he gave me.
“Mrs. Di Maggio,”I test my new last name in a whisper.
The change, however, was purely a formality. I’ve belonged to Lucifer long before he realized it himself.
I take a deep breath and prepare to return to the bedroom. I’m sure the second he touches me, I’ll forget the disappointment of not having my dream wedding. But even though I’m craving his kisses and the heat of his body over mine, I know I can’t let it always be like this, that the love I feel for Lucifer can’t keep making me give up what matters to me.
I don’t want to become a shadow. To be more than just another in his life, I need to be by his side, not behind him like some protected treasure or on a pedestal like his “sacred one,” as he once called me.
He has to see me as an equal. As his woman.
And then, I realize I have no right to demand the truth if I’m not willing to give the same in return.
So I go back to the bedroom, determined to save part of the day. I may not have had the wedding of my dreams, but our wedding night will be unforgettable.
Lucifer
I’ve never been the type to pay attention to other people’s feelings. Actually, to feelings at all. Not even my own.
Let me rephrase that.
I’d neverbeen able topay attention to feelings. But after Jackie came to stay with me, I became obsessed with deciphering everything about her. From a smile, wanting to know what made her happy so I could recreate it endlessly, to aflicker of sadness, like the one she had earlier in her seat on the plane, even though she tried to hide it.
I followed her into the suite of the jet I chartered to take us to New Orleans. We’ll spend a few days with Beau and Amber before heading to a Caribbean island, because if I couldn’t give her the kind of wedding she dreamed about as a teenager, I can at least give her a honeymoon.
I watch her step out of the small bathroom and pause at the doorway. I didn’t turn the light on on purpose.
It makes sense, since it seems we’ve always found each other in the dark.
Besides, I’ve memorized every inch of her. I could describe her birthmarks and freckles.
