Page 6 of Lucifer's Redemption

Unfortunately, there was no beast inside me; it was only myself that I could not control.

The steamy shower soothed the aches in my body. The blood ran down the drain, staining the pristine, white tiles a shade of rustic red. My hands continued to rub my face as if to wake me from this reoccurring nightmare, but it never did. I always awoke to the same nightmare, no matter how many calming techniques I utilized.

Candles, music, meditation—none of it worked, it all just made me more… angry. Everything about me was steeped in anger; I had the constant itch to spill blood from the next person I saw. I could barely stand to be in this palace, even though my mother did her best to sate me.

Switching off the shower, I wrapped the towel around my waist and stomped to the closet. Mother had already picked out the matching suit that all her boys would wear for the day’s event—black on black with a red tie. Mother thought it was cute how we all looked like ‘mafia men.’

I chuckled to myself.We are far more dangerous than that.

Straightening my tie, slicking back my usually unruly hair with one last run-through of the mirror to look presentable, I stepped back to open the door only to find Loki looking straight at me.

“I know,” he whispered. Both of his eyes squinted towards me. I kept my hand tightened on the handle.

“Know what?” I growled. “That you were adopted?” His bright eyes widened, his lower lip wobbled, and he ran down the hallway screaming for Mother.

The poor kid can give it, but he sure can’t take it.

Keeping my back straight and my body ridged, I headed down the hall, following my brother. The now lightened walls of the palace gave a faux image of the Golden Light Palace of Bergarian. Mother said the outside of the palace—the dark brick and stone—could stay the same, but if she was to live here, she needed some light.

Father always tended to Mother. Anything she wanted, desired, or even thought about getting, he would give it to her. He gave her the world. I couldn’t imagine myself doing that for anyone. I was too concentrated on my own problems.

The clicking of my shoes landed right in front of the closed door of my parents’ room. Loki was sniffing, pretending to cry to gain Mother’s sympathy.

That wouldn’t work. Mother was too smart to be conned by him.

“Loki, I won’t hear any more of it,” Mother scolded him. She was brushing her hair as Nora, our werewolf personal assistant who mated to my father’s right-hand demon, Loukas, stood beside the vanity mirror, making faces at Loki. He quickly smiled, and Mother straightened his tie and suit.

“You look handsome, Loki. Now leave your brother alone.” She winked at him. Loki walked out with a mischievous look on his face, his feet bringing him into a run. He must have come up with another wicked plan to terrorize the more of the palace’s help. I scoffed, approaching my mother from behind as she finished her makeup, trying to hide the exhaustion under her eyes.

My mother was beautiful. Her long, blonde hair and her green eyes matched those of her mother, Charlotte, but the fierceness in her heart was matched only by my grandfather, Wesley, Alpha to the Black Claw Pack on Earth.

“Luci,” my mother cooed.

She was the only one allowed to call me by that name. Not even Father could try. When Mother said it, it only reminded me of the times of my youth when I didn’t worry about imploding.

“You look so handsome. Thank you for getting dressed up and being willing to make an appearance. It means the world to me.” Her hands cupped my cheeks, finally pulling one of my hands to her lips and kissing it gently.

How Mother was cursed with a son like me, I’ll never know.

Father stood holding Lilith. He swayed her back and forth, singing the same human lullaby Mother used to sing to me, “Hush Little Baby.”

“You look just like your father,” Mother whispered, “so handsome and strong. I mean that: you are strong, and I know we will get through this. I’m going to try to—”

“Mother.” I pulled one hand from my cheek. “It’s alright; I’ve got everything taken care of.”

Mother’s brows knitted in confusion. “You-you do?” She leaned toward me. Mother’s eyes were steady on my face while I felt my father’s heated glare from the periphery.

“Yes. I won’t be a danger to anyone anymore, starting tomorrow. Just trust me, alright?” I smiled at her as she embraced me. Her head barely reached the upper part of my chest when I held her close, kissing the top of her head.

“I’ve been so worried… so very worried.” She buried herself further. “I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t in my life. My family means everything to me—youmean everything to me. Once I find your mate in the Sphere, I’ll make sure to pair you together and quickly seek her out, even if it is against the rules. I’ll do anything to save my son.”

The Sphere was a dark-blue orb that Selene, the Moon Goddess, used to pair souls. Now that Selene had gone on her own quest to find her mate, living the life as a werewolf, Mother had assumed the position. Mother had become so powerful in a short amount of time that, if souls were in the same room, she could pair them by pulling on an invisible golden string, which none of us could see, and leading them to each other.

The ominous emotions rose within my body. I tried to pull them back, deep into my soul, where they belonged.

She would never find my mate, and even if she did, I was too far gone.I stepped back from Mother, trying not to get angry.

Father, sensing my tension, spoke to me through my mind,“Deep breaths, son.”

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