Page 109 of Trust the Fall

My words die in the air as I realize he’s no longer present, and we’re no longer in the throne room.

We’re alone in Lucifer’s room.

He’s sprawled on his bed and I’m hovering over him.

“Victoria. W-what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been here. Camille and the reapers came to help. Don’t you remember the fight?”

He shakes his head, wincing at the movement.

“Lie still,” I command. “You were badly hurt.”

“I was?”

He sits up, despite my request to remain still. He groans, rubbing his chest where the black magic entered.

I lift his shirt, and a deep purple bruise is all that’s to be seen from the magic.

“A black witch,” I explain.

“Yvette.” He nods, blinking several times as though to clear his sight. “It’s coming back to me.”

“Please lie down,” I beg, motioning for him to at least scoot back so that he can rest against his pillows.

He purses his mouth but obliges me.

When he’s settled, he stares at me for several long minutes, not saying anything. I’m about to break the tense silence, but he beats me to it.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would, Luke.”

His eyes close for a moment, and a breath rushes from his chest. He’s in pain.

“No love, I’m gutted.”

“Gutted?”

His answering sigh puts me on edge. Whatever is going through his mind right now, I’m sure to not like it, if his current countenance is any indication.

“I’ve done so much damage. I’ve hurt you too many times⁠—”

I cut him off, not wanting to hear another word of his self-deprecation.

“I love you. That’s all that matters. I always have,” I say, placing my hand on top of his. “I don’t care what you did in the past. How badly you hurt me. I just want you. That hasn’t changed.”

“But our circumstances haven’t, Victoria. You’re still needed in the reaper kingdom and I’m still here. That can’t change. The balance of the universe depends on both of us upholding our positions.”

“I know that I have a duty to uphold, but why can’t I also rule here? There’s no reason I can’t.”

His face turns hard. “I won’t allow you to stay here. You’re better than that, Victoria. You and I both know it. You don’t belong in Hell.”

“And neither do you, Luke.” My voice rises as anger takes hold. I won’t allow him to continue to push me away for my own benefit. He doesn’t get to decide what’s best for me. Nobody does.

“You’re here out of obligation, not because you’re a bad man. You keep the peace and that’s amazing, but that’s not all that you are.”

“Look at how quickly shit spun out of control in my absence,” he bites out, growing angry himself. “I’m needed here.”