—
The mansion was as still as the grave. The dim light of dusk filtered through the thick curtains, casting long shadows across the dark marble floors. Lucifer stood motionless, his piercing gaze locked on Valerie, who stood before him, the tension between them thick and palpable. There had always been something between them, something unspoken, something dangerous—but now, it was more than just that.
Valerie had been quiet for some time now, her face unreadable, her eyes clouded with thoughts she would not share. Lucifer could feel it, the weight of her emotions pressing in on him, wrapping around his chest like chains. She was hiding something, just as he was.
“Why did you ask me that?” Lucifer’s voice broke the silence, low and threatening. His tone was deceptively calm, but there wa
