Page 31 of Falling for the Devil

Another reason he marveled why trouble had found the angels there. The angels assigned to watch over the planet had been a small squadron due to the lack of any nefarious activity for the past three-and-a-half centuries. Methuselah was considered too dull to bother with surveillance. What lifeforms inhabited the planet stayed mostly underground if they lived outside the capital city of Tresema, which was ensconced in its own protective dome that blocked out the horrid climate conditions and used artificial means to illuminate the sky trapped inside.

Despite its supposed calmness, something on the planet had lured the angels out from their posts in the liminality—the space between dimensions where they could observe without contending with the weather and without anyone realizing their presence.

A sudden break in the clouds allowed Lucifer a peek below. They were over the emerald waters of what he assumed was the Cassias Sea. He tucked his wings in close and dove below the clouds again. A high-pitched yelp greeted his ears. Both his companions clung tighter—Diana’s arms wrapped around his neck and Puck’s around his waist.

“Hold on,” he roared over the winds.

Another gale-force gust sent them spiraling farther out to sea rather than closer to land. Carrying two persons was negating his ability to steer with precision.

Where is Olivier? I could use some assistance!

A soft voice spoke, and warm breath caressed his earlobe. “You can do this. I trust you.”

Lucifer’s heart thundered inside his chest. Diana believed in him, that he would save them, even when he doubted.

Well, he had no alternative now. Failing her again was not permitted.

He swung his wings out wide to brace against the onslaught of rain, a wall against the winds to slow their push in the wrong direction. With a strong thrust, he aimed for the island. Determination pooled in his core. Energy he had not known to call forth surged through every fiber of muscle and bone. Like an arrow shot straight and true, they barreled for the small clump of land in the midst of the stormy seas. Its rocky cliffs rose up, pearly white against the backdrop of deep green waters crashing below and the evergreen forest on top of it. A moment before they crashed into the precipices, he pivoted upward and away from the violent ocean surge.

Diana squealed with what sounded like delight. Does nothing frighten her?

Puck clung so tightly now that Lucifer’s armor bent around his torso. In all his existence, he’d never known anyone or anything capable of such a feat. He’d have to remember later to ask Diana what kind of creature he was.

Skimming over the swaying pointy treetops, Lucifer scanned for a safe place to land—a break in the tree line that would allow him to descend without scraping them against branches and rough bark.

There!

Just to the left was a sliver of space right in the middle of the island. The rest was covered in giant trees or fell off in sharp ravines to the perilous waters far below.

Lucifer aimed for it, falling at a rapid pace so his wings wouldn’t capture the tumultuous wind and blow them back out to sea. He swooped up so they wouldn’t land on their heads, then dropped in a smooth, controlled descent.

Diana emitted another squeal. Despite all they’d been through, he tucked this memory away in his heart to warm him in the future, for he suspected that was happiness upturning the corners of his mouth.

HER HEART WANTED TO burst free from her chest, first from fear and then exhilaration. Every sense was alive, and the world was sparkling!

Yes, the fall had been the most frightened she’d ever been. Going splat against a mountain side on a planet many star systems from her home on Mount Olympus had not been a thrilling ride, but afterward... with Lucifer’s arms wrapped around her, flying through bruising hail and rain, winds greater than those her father created whenever he was pissed off, and lightning bolts zapping at them... That had been the pinnacle of her life thus far!

Now, with her feet planted on solid ground, sheltered from the torrent by the never-ending forest canopy, Diana could not fathom ever feeling so alive again. It was possible the beating of her heart could be heard throughout the island above the peal of the thunder. Puck, however, was not faring too well. He’d been bent over a giant log covered in various shades of moss since their feet had touched the earth.

Diana’s mother, Leto, had always considered her an odd child. She’d sought adventure and the more death-defying the better. In contrast, her sisters had preferred the more mundane aspects of being a goddess—like Aphrodite’s constant preening and showing off all her feminine assets for attention; Athena studying until she bested even the highest scholars and intellectuals on any planet or system; and it was much the same for the others. But she, Diana, goddess of the hunt craved excitement. Nothing was as exciting as almost dying.

Except being in Lucifer’s arms, but she refused to think about that. Considering his earlier behavior toward her, and his cold shoulder now, Diana didn’t want to think about him at all. She knew she should be grateful he’d rescued her and Puck, but that didn’t mean she could overlook the hurt and humiliation he’d caused her. Perhaps she’d forgive him one day, but today was not it.

“It’ll be dark soon. I should gather up wood for a fire or you’ll both freeze.”

Lucifer started to march off deeper into the forest without a backward glance at her. She glared at his back, his dripping wet auburn hair trailing over the collar of his armor.

“Stay here, please. It should be safe for now, but once night falls, there are creatures that lurk in these woods that would scare even a titan.”

In response, she stuck out her tongue at his retreating form.

Puck, his already pale complexion faded to the color of bleached parchment, crawled over to her. “Remind me again why I agreed to come along on this insane trip.”

She took his hands in her own. “Because you insisted, remember? I told you to stay home, that I would be fine. But you refused.”

A glimmer of sympathy softened her tone, but... it was his own fault. He could’ve stayed behind. She was happy she wasn’t alone, though. Not that she’d divulge that little fact to him now. Not when she could taunt him with his misfortune for her own amusement.

A gruff “oomph” was his reply. He lay his head in her lap. Her fingers stroked his hair, pulling the stray tendrils out of his face to tuck behind his pointed ear. They remained that way until Puck finally dozed off. Instead of his snoring annoying her, it gave her a sense of peace and safety. He’d slept by her bed every night since they’d met. His snores were the sounds that lulled her to sleep every night.

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