Page 80 of Knight’s Dominion

He gritted his teeth as Lucifer reached out and gently brushed his fingers along the edge.

“You don’t like it being touched,” Lucifer said and tilted his head.

Their eyes met, and Zenon felt the moment Lucifer took a peek inside his mind, saw the other male flinch when he got the full 3D version of Zenon’s shitty life loud and clear.

Lucifer pulled his hand away, curling it into a fist.

“Don’t touch me again,” Zenon said without heat.

“I won’t. Despite what people say, I’m not a total dick.” He tilted his head again, gaze intense. “Silas told me where to find you,” he said, answering Zenon’s unasked question. “The dude likes you a lot, piqued my curiosity.”

Zenon knew that was bullshit. “Your interest was piqued before that, though, wasn’t it? Diemos told you about me when Helena took me from Hell. You came after me, and he took his chance and warded the portal, blocking you from reentering so he could claim your throne.” Helena had been his master in Hell and on Earth, she’d owned him from the age of fourteen. Until Mia had saved him. Freed him.

Lucifer smiled and slid his hands into his pockets. “Honestly? I’d never been prouder of the little shit.”

“Why not come to me before now.”

“You didn’t need me.” His gaze moved over Zenon’s wings again.

“You took Diemos’s wings. Why?” Zenon asked before he could think better of it.

Lucifer’s intense yellow stare came back to Zenon. “I was protecting him from himself. My boy wasn’t satisfied just being my heir. He wanted more. But Earth’s not for him.”

“He sees it differently.”

Lucifer gazed up at the sky. “He’s like me in a lot of ways, but unfortunately, he gets his temperament from his mother. A thaneous demon. Bitch had four arms, and like six boobs. Volcanic in the sack, was in to some seriously kinky shit, but man, was she crazy.”

Zenon blinked, opened his mouth, closed it again. Nope. Not touching that.

“Diemos and I, we’re both risk takers. We want something, we go after it. Our motivations, though…” He shook his head. “In that we’re total opposites.” His gaze locked on Zenon’s. “He thinks he can control you, that the demon inside you will obey its king. My son doesn’t understand what pure love—the truest kind, the kind that fucks with your head and has you walking around with a boner twenty-four seven—can accomplish. He won’t understand why he can’t control you, those kinds of feelings are beyond him. You thought mating Mia is what leashed the demon inside you.” He shook his head. “Nah, it was love, being loved. There is nothing more powerful than that shit. Nothing.”

Hearing Lucifer say Mia’s name, knowing that he knew she existed, made his gut tighten and his skin prickle with unease. Despite the casual banter, the guy was terrifying. Darkness hovered around him like a black cloud. “You can stop him,” Zenon said. “I know you can.”

“Yeah, maybe. But the fates will be pissed if I mess with things. We’re all pawns. We need to let this game play out.”

Zenon cursed. “This is not a game, this is fucking Armageddon.”

“No shit.” Lucifer grinned. “I can help you with one thing, though.” A chain appeared in his hand, thin and gold. “The beast Diemos sent for me, this’ll hold it.”

“For you?”

“He doesn’t want any obstacles when he comes to Earth, including me.”

“You mean when Rocco’s female gains her powers.”

“Yup.”

“Can you stop it from happening?”

“Dunno.”

Goddammit. Lucifer was about as helpful as Silas had been. “Can you bring her home?”

“No.”

“Fate?” Zenon was so filled with pain and rage for Rocco, for his female, he had to grab the balcony railing.

“Fate.”