CHAPTER 43: The Choice Fate Demanded
1118 Words
Smoke lingered heavily through the ruined forest.
Burned trees cracked softly beneath dying black flames while the dragon’s massive corpse lay motionless within the shattered crater.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because its final words still haunted the air.
Run before the flame chooses for you.
Heaven stood frozen.
The celestial fire beneath her skin flickered uneasily now, reacting to her fear, her confusion, and worst of all—
Her love for Lucifer.
Lucifer remained near the dragon’s corpse silently.
His shadows moved slowly around him again, calmer now, but something about him felt distant.
Too distant.
Heaven felt it immediately through the bond.
The dragon’s words affected him deeply.
More than he wanted anyone to know.
Cassian cautiously approached the crater first.
“Well,” he muttered dryly, “that was horrifying.”
Holland looked pale beside him.
“It talked like it personally knew our tragedy.”
Father Orion’s expression remained troubled.
“Ancient creatures often understand fate better than mortals.”
“That is deeply unhelpful information,” Holland replied immediately.
Lucifer finally turned toward them.
His crimson eyes settled briefly on Heaven.
And the look inside them made her chest ache.
Fear again.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of her.
Or perhaps—
Fear of what loving her would eventually force her to become.
The mate bond trembled painfully.
Heaven stepped toward him slowly.
“Lucifer.”
His gaze softened instantly at the sound of her voice.
Always instantly.
But he still looked troubled.
The others quietly moved farther away, giving them space without being asked.
Even Holland surprisingly stayed silent this time.
Heaven stopped in front of Lucifer carefully.
“You’re thinking too much.”
Lucifer laughed faintly beneath his breath.
“That accusation has never once been directed at me before.”
“You know what I mean.”
Yes.
He did.
Lucifer looked toward the dead dragon briefly before answering.
“It confirmed everything we feared.”
“The dragon was trying to scare us.”
“It succeeded.”
The honesty hurt.
Because Lucifer rarely admitted fear openly.
Heaven reached for his hand slowly.
He allowed it instantly.
The contact warmed the mate bond softly despite the tension between them.
“You said fate was cruel,” she whispered. “Maybe this is just another attempt to tear us apart.”
Lucifer stared down at her silently.
Then quietly—
“And what if fate is right?”
The words shattered something inside her.
Because he sounded genuine.
Heaven’s fingers tightened around his hand.
“You don’t believe that.”
Lucifer looked away.
“That creature was ancient.” His jaw tightened faintly. “It recognized the celestial flame immediately.”
“So?”
“So the flame exists to destroy Hell.”
“And I’m not the flame.”
Lucifer’s eyes returned to hers slowly.
“You say that now.”
Pain crossed Heaven’s face instantly.
Lucifer regretted the words the moment they left him.
The mate bond twisted sharply with guilt.
“Heaven—”
“You think I’ll become a monster.”
“No.” His answer came immediately. “Never.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
Lucifer went silent again.
Because the truth sounded unbearable aloud.
He feared a future where Heaven would have to choose between her own soul and him.
And worse—
He feared she would sacrifice herself trying to save him.
The Devil had survived wars, betrayal, and damnation itself.
But the idea of Heaven dying because she loved him?
That terrified him beyond reason.
“You looked at me differently after the dragon spoke,” Heaven whispered softly.
Lucifer closed his eyes briefly.
Because she noticed everything.
Always everything.
“I was thinking,” he admitted quietly, “that perhaps loving me truly is destroying you.”
Heaven’s breath caught painfully.
Then suddenly—
Anger flickered inside her.
Not explosive anger.
Hurt anger.
“You don’t get to decide that for me.”
Lucifer blinked slightly.
The fire in her eyes surprised him.
Heaven stepped closer afterward.
“Yes, the flame is dangerous. Yes, fate seems determined to make our lives miserable.” Her voice trembled softly. “But stop acting like loving you is some horrible curse I should regret.”
The mate bond surged violently warm.
Lucifer stared at her completely stunned.
Because no one had ever fought for him like this before.
Not against armies.
Against him.
Heaven’s eyes glistened faintly.
“You keep looking at me like you’re preparing to lose me already.”
Lucifer’s expression tightened painfully.
“I am trying to prepare myself.”
“For what?”
The answer came broken.
“For the possibility that one day you may have to destroy me.”
Silence crashed between them.
The forest suddenly felt too quiet.
Too cold.
Heaven stared at him in disbelief.
“You really believe I could do that?”
“No.” Lucifer’s voice lowered softly. “That is what frightens me most.”
Because if the celestial flame forced a choice—
He knew Heaven would hesitate.
And hesitation could destroy her.
The realization had been eating him alive since the dragon died.
Heaven slowly touched his face again.
Her hand trembled slightly.
“Lucifer…”
The Devil leaned unconsciously into her touch.
A tiny movement.
Yet heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Heaven felt tears sting her eyes suddenly.
“You are so afraid of losing me,” she whispered.
Lucifer laughed once.
Quietly.
Sadly.
“I lost Heaven once already.”
The words stunned her.
Lucifer immediately realized what he’d said.
Too late.
Heaven’s heartbeat stumbled painfully.
“You mean the kingdom.”
Lucifer looked directly into her eyes.
And neither of them pretended anymore.
“No,” he answered softly.
The mate bond exploded with emotion.
Love.
Fear.
Devotion so deep it hurt.
Lucifer rested his forehead gently against hers afterward.
And Heaven realized something terrifying.
The Devil loved her so completely now that he truly believed losing her would destroy what remained of him.
Footsteps approached suddenly.
Cassian’s expression looked grim.
“We need to move.”
Lucifer straightened immediately.
The softness vanished beneath instinctive caution once more.
“What happened?”
“The forest.”
Everyone looked around instantly.
At first—
Nothing seemed different.
Then Heaven noticed it.
The silence.
Too complete.
No wind.
No distant creatures.
Nothing.
Father Orion slowly paled.
“The Divide is awake.”
The dead forest trembled softly beneath their feet.
Then the ground split open nearby.
Black mist poured upward from the cracks in the earth.
More fractures appeared across the ruined path.
The Hollowed creatures emerged again between the trees.
But this time—
There were hundreds.
- Writer
