I woke with a start, my breath catching as I tried to sit up. My head was spinning, and my whole body felt like it had been torn apart. The air smelled faintly of roses and incense—an odd mix, but familiar.

As my vision cleared, I realized I was in my own room, in my bed. The soft glow of the lamp beside me barely illuminated the dark corners of the room, but there was a warmth surrounding me that I couldn't place. I blinked, slowly coming to grips with the fact that I wasn't in the alley anymore.

And then I saw him.

Zarach was sitting in the chair next to the bed, his posture tense, but his face soft with relief. His arms were crossed, his usual controlled, collected demeanor now replaced with something far more vulnerable. His eyes locked with mine, and in that moment, I saw the worry etched on his features, and it made something in my chest tighten.

"Athena, you're awake," he said softly, his voice rough, like he had been waiting forever for this moment.

I tried to sit up, but my body protested, the heaviness of exhaustion weighing me down. "What happened?" I whispered, my throat dry, cracking with every word.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached over and gently brushed a lock of hair from my face, his fingers trailing down my skin in a way that sent a strange shiver through me.

"You passed out, Athena," he said finally, his eyes never leaving mine. "After killing Beleth and his demons, you drained yourself dry. You didn't come back to consciousness, and we were starting to fear the worst. But Marax managed to bring you back here."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but there was something else, something I couldn't shake. A nagging feeling, as if there was more I should know.

"Zarach..." My voice trembled as I met his gaze. "I need to tell you something. Something happened while I was... unconscious. Something with Satan."

Zarach's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips pressing into a tight line. He leaned forward in the chair, his expression serious.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice lowering with concern.

I hesitated, my chest tightening as the memory of Satan's words replayed in my mind. They felt too surreal to be true, yet they were real, too real.

"I've been seeing him," I said softly, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "Satan. He's been in my dreams for a while now, but... this time, it was different. This time, he told me things."

Zarach's brow furrowed in confusion. He opened his mouth to speak, but I quickly pressed on.

"He said I'm not fully human. That there's a prophecy, one about a human with great power who would bring peace between demons, angels, humans, and all other supernaturals. And then he said something else, something that I can't stop thinking about." I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I fought to remember the rest of what he'd told me. "He said Lucifer lost his power twenty-one years ago... the same time I was born. He said everything changed when I came into the world."

Zarach's eyes darkened, his posture stiffening as he processed the information. For a moment, he was silent, his mind working through what I had just told him. His lips parted slightly, as if struggling to find the words.

"That's..." He trailed off, his voice full of disbelief. "That can't be right. It doesn't make sense. Satan is always scheming, always trying to find leverage. But if this prophecy is real, it could change everything."

I felt the weight of his words sink deep inside me. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of it all. Was this my fate? Was I really some sort of key to a war between worlds?

Zarach took a breath, and when he spoke again, his tone was softer, almost gentle. "Whatever this prophecy means, Athena, it doesn't change who you are. You're still you. Whatever's inside of you, whatever powers you have, it doesn't make you any different to me. You're still the same person I care about."

His words were comforting, but they didn't fully erase the gnawing fear in my chest. I wasn't just a human anymore, and that realization made me feel more lost than ever. What did this mean for me? What was I supposed to do with all this power?

"I don't know what to do, Zarach," I whispered, my voice breaking as the reality of the situation hit me. "I don't know how to fight this... how to fight him."

Zarach's eyes softened with understanding, and he leaned closer, his hand gently cupping my face. "You don't have to fight it alone, Athena. You don't have to carry all of this by yourself. We'll figure it out. Together."

I nodded, my gaze falling to my hands for a moment as I tried to gather my thoughts. When I finally looked up, I met Zarach's eyes, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've missed you."

The words felt like they'd been stuck in my chest for so long, but now that they were out, I realized how much they really meant. It had been ages since I'd seen him, since I'd had any real time with him. The weight of everything else—the demons, the powers, the constant battles—had taken so much out of me. I just wanted something normal, something simple.

I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the exhaustion settle in again, but I pushed it aside for a moment. "I just want a day where things feel... normal," I continued, my voice a little stronger now. "A day to just be myself. A day where I can see my friends without worrying if some demon is lurking around, where I can teach my dance class without glancing over my shoulder, where I can laugh at terrible movies with my brothers and not think about the world ending."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. "I want to watch Nathanial struggle to understand human things, and not get frustrated with him for it. I just want... I want a moment where I can be with you and Marax, and not have to carry the weight of everything else. No magic, no prophecies, no demons trying to destroy us."

And then, unable to help myself, I added with a teasing smile, "And maybe some hot, incredible sex with both of you, just to top it off."

It felt ridiculous, and part of me was embarrassed saying it, but at the same time, it was the truth. After everything, that kind of release, that kind of connection, was something I needed. Something we all needed, I think.

Zarach grinned at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hot, incredible sex, huh?"

I laughed, trying to play it off as a joke, but as I looked at him, I felt the heat in his gaze. His eyes were burning with something more than just amusement—lust. It was a look I hadn't seen from him before, but it sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed, my heart picking up pace. We hadn't been together like that yet, but I had with Marax, and it had been beyond amazing. I'd fantasized about the three of us together, about being in the middle of that twin sandwich, feeling both of them at the same time. But as I stood there, facing Zarach, something told me that the first time with him should be just us. I wanted to feel him, to get lost in him without any distractions. No games, no rush—just him and me.

The air between us grew thick, charged with anticipation. I could feel the pull, the undeniable chemistry that had always simmered beneath the surface. I knew Zarach wanted me, just as much as I wanted him.

"I think... the first time with you needs to be just us," I said, my voice softer now, but firm. "No one else, no distractions. Just you and me."

Zarach's expression softened for a moment, his usual confident smirk replaced with something more tender. He stepped closer, his breath warm against my skin as he reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek gently.

"How are you feeling now?" Zarach asked, his voice a quiet murmur as he watched me closely, waiting for my response.

I smiled softly, feeling the warmth of his concern mixed with something else, something deeper. "I'm feeling fine, actually," I began, my voice trailing off as the words hung in the air. But before I could say anything else, his movements were swift, determined, and before I knew it, I was flat on my back on the bed, completely caught off guard.

His lips crashed down on mine, demanding, hungry, with a fire that instantly ignited the spark between us. The softness of his touch quickly morphed into something more urgent, more intense. My breath hitched as his hands roamed, tracing the outline of my body as though memorizing every curve, every inch of me.

I struggled to maintain my composure, to take a moment to steady myself, but the intensity of his kiss was overpowering in the most incredible way. Every fiber of my being reacted to him - my heart racing, my body yearning for a desire that I had yet to acknowledge. The chemistry between us was undeniable, intoxicating and consuming, drawing me deeper into his embrace.

I didn't fight it. There was no hesitation this time. This moment felt like it was meant to be, and in that moment, it was just us—no demons, no past fears, no questions about the future. Just us, tangled in the raw, electric connection that was building between us.

I pulled away briefly, breathless, my chest rising and falling as I looked up at him. His eyes were dark with desire, his expression intense.

"You sure you want this?" he asked, voice rough, but there was a flicker of uncertainty beneath his usually unshakable confidence.

I nodded, my hands finding the edges of his shirt, pulling him closer. "I've never been more sure of anything," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.

Zarach's eyes burned into mine, darker than I'd ever seen them. The air between us crackled, filled with an intensity I couldn't escape even if I wanted to. He was close now, his body nearly pressing into mine, his breath hot against my skin.

"I've waited for this moment for so long," he grumbled, his voice a deep, primal tone that made my skin crawl. Without giving me a chance to respond, his lips slammed against mine in a passionate kiss that felt all-consuming. His touch was rough and urgent, matching the desperate desire coursing through my own body.

His hands moved fast, ripping at my clothes, pulling them away with a strength that left me breathless. I didn't want him to stop. I wanted him to take all of me—every part of me that had been hidden, every part of me I had kept locked away.

He trailed kisses down my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin, and I couldn't suppress the gasp that slipped from my lips. The roughness of his touch, the force of his movements, felt like they were pulling me apart, but in the best way. I didn't want him to hold back.

"I've wanted you for so long," he murmured against my skin, his voice laced with hunger. His hands were everywhere—gripping, tugging, pulling me closer as if he couldn't get enough.

I didn't want him to stop either. The heat between us was unbearable, like a fire that had been smoldering for too long and was now bursting into flame. I let him take control, feeling the pull of his power, his dominance, and something in me welcomed it, even craved it.

He tugged down my underwear, his hot breath cascading over my thighs as he nipped and teased, drawing a sharp hiss of pleasure from deep within me. With a deliberate slowness, he spread my legs wide, his tongue diving into me, exploring every crevice as he hummed softly—each vibration sending electric shocks of delight coursing through my body.

The sheer ecstasy etched on his face made it clear he was reveling in this, as if he couldn't get enough of me. I gripped his hair, pulling him closer, my head rolling back in blissful surrender. Waves of pleasure crashed over me, and I could feel the tantalizing approach of my orgasm, building like a storm on the horizon.

"Oh god, I'm about to cum" I rasped, my voice trembling as he teased my clit, flicking and biting with a delicious ferocity until the waves of pleasure crashed over me.

My body shook violently, a marionette in the throes of ecstasy. With barely a moment to regain my breath, he shed his clothes in a sudden blaze of heat, a raw intensity radiating from him as he sank deep inside me, the silk of the bed beneath me sliding like molten lava.

He thrust in and out, each brutal slam of his hips feeling like a tempest, igniting every nerve in my body. "Fuck, Athena, you're taking me so perfectly," he growled, and I could feel the primal connection crackling in the air between us.

My breath caught in my throat as his forceful movements made me feel like I was suffocating. My hands dug into his back, trying to hold on as he thrust into me. Suddenly, he pulled out and flipped me over onto my hands and knees. He gripped my hips firmly as he entered me again from behind, the change in angle sending waves of pleasure through my body. I couldn't control my moans and screams, repeatedly calling out his name.

The sound of the bed hitting the wall only added to the intensity. He lifted me up so my back was against his chest, and I could feel my breasts bouncing with each thrust. "You feel amazing," he grunted, "but I need you to come for me." His hand slid down to pinch my clit, forcing me towards climax.

"Do it now!" he demanded, his voice raw with passion. I couldn't resist any longer, my body responding to his touch with a rush of heat and wetness. As we moved together, I felt his powerful wings spread out behind us, enveloping us in a cocoon of desire. With each bite of his sharp teeth on my shoulder, my senses heightened and I moaned his name. The air was filled with the scent of our sweat mingling, the sound of our heavy breathing, and the sensation of our bodies moving as one. It was an intense and primal experience that left me breathless and wanting more.

"You're mine," he growled against my skin, his voice a mix of possessiveness and reverence. The claim sent shivers down my spine, his words sinking into my very soul as his hands gripped my hips with a strength that felt both commanding and grounding. I could feel the raw power in him, restrained only by his effort to make this moment as much about me as it was about him.

My nails raked down his back, earning a low, guttural sound that sent a fresh wave of desire surging through me. He lifted his head, his eyes locking onto mine, glowing with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

"Say it," he demanded, his voice a command that left no room for argument. "Say you're mine."

"I'm yours," I whispered, my voice trembling but certain. "I've always been yours."

A dark smile spread across his lips, and he pressed his forehead to mine, his breath hot and uneven. "And I'll never let you forget it."

Our movements became more fluid, more synchronized, as though we had always been meant to find each other in this way. The world outside faded into oblivion; time itself seemed to slow. All that existed was us—the heat of our bodies, the sound of our hearts beating as one, the sheer primal energy that filled the space between us.

He kissed me again, but this time, it was slower, deeper, as though he was trying to pour every unspoken word, every unsaid feeling, into that moment. His wings quivered, casting shifting shadows around us, cocooning us even further in a space that felt timeless and infinite.

When the storm of our passion finally ebbed, leaving us breathless and trembling in each other's arms, he wrapped his wings tightly around us both, as if to shield us from the world. His fingers traced gentle patterns on my skin, his touch now reverent and tender, a stark contrast to the intensity we had just shared.

"You're everything," he murmured, his voice softer now, filled with an emotion that made my chest ache. "Everything I never knew I needed."

I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the echo of his heart still racing beneath my cheek. "And you... you've ruined me for anyone else. There's only you, well and Marax."

He tightened his hold on me as he let out a breathless chuckle, his wings folding protectively around us, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt whole.