Chapter 23

Catalina's POV

He loves me.

I locked my arms around his neck as Lucifer carried me to my room. Well, I guess technically it would be our room now.

I should probably tell him that.

The bastard carried me through the doorway like a cheesy romance movie. I hated to admit it but I loved it.

"You know your training will have to start up again."

"Just like old times," I said as he gently placed me on the bed.

Lucifer smirked back at me,

"Just like old times, perhaps this time you won't be trying to kill me."

"I never wanted to kill you. I just wanted to put you on your knees for a bit." It was true. When we first met I had wanted to knock him down a few pegs and bring him to his knees.

Now I wanted to bring him to his knees for a different reason.

Lucifer smirked as he slowly knelt before me,

"Do you like the idea of me on my knees before you?"

Yes.

I laughed as I pushed his shoulder, "You are unbelievable."

Lucifer smirked at me as he clutched my hands in his. His thumbs lightly brushed over my knuckles.

"Are you scared to be Queen? To rule by my side?"

Well shit, I guess we're having this conversation.

It's normal to have this conversation. Especially after learning everything about the vision. I was meant to be at his side. Not because I was fated to but because I wanted to. I wanted to be at his side. To be his. For all of my life, my mother had tried to drill into my head that the man standing before me was a cruel, evil, wicked monster that knew nothing but death and destruction. Yet it was all a lie. Lucifer was gentle loving and patient. He cared whether I lived or died and I knew in my heart that he would defend me until death and I would do the same for him. Standing before me was a man that people had learned to fear and hate. A man people would spend their lives trying to run away from but yet as I stood before him, I was not afraid.

"It does seem a little scary If I am being honest."

Lucifer sat next to me as he released my hands taking my legs and draping them over his. His rough calloused hands made small little circles across my skin as he spoke,

"I won't lie to you, It is scary and it's a downright nightmare sometimes, but there is no one I'd rather have by my side than you."

I smiled back at him,

"Even if I agreed to be Queen, you are locked out of Hell."

A King and Queen without a crown. That was what we were at the moment. Lucifer reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of my face and said,

"It does not matter if we are here or in Hell, you will always be my Queen. My MorningStar."

Damn this man.

That was all I could think of as he lowered his head down to mine and ever so gently kissed me.

He tasted warm and spicy. Like vanilla mixed with fire. It was a taste I would never get tired of. He was everything. He was my weakness and strength. My salvation and demise. He was mine from the very beginning and he would be mine until the very end.

"You must be exhausted, why don't you get ready for bed."

Well, I'm not tired anymore!

"Fine but you have to help me," I smirked back at him

"It would be my honor."

He whispered as he grabbed my hand, lifted it, and kissed my hand.

Oh fuck he's good.

I lifted my legs off of him as he stood,

"Can you grab pajamas out of the drawer for me?"

He nodded his head and made his way to the dresser as I stood up and turned away from him to undress.

"I guess we'll have to move your stuff in here as well so I'll make room for your stuff in the drawers."

Silence.

"Lucifer?" I called out

Silence.

I turned my head slightly, to see Lucifer standing behind me staring at my back. His hand clutching the clothes so tightly his once deep golden knuckles had turned white.

"These are fresh," he said as his fingers lightly traced the cuts on my back from the shattered glass.

"I've always had those."

"Bullshit. I know every single inch of your body and I know damn well these cuts were not here before."

Lucifer stiffened as he spoke,

"Who?"

My body tensed at his tone. My heart beating what seemed like a thousand times per second.

"Who. Did. This. To. You?"

His voice was tight and full of anger.

"Micheal," I whispered back. I could feel Lucifer's hands traveling down my arms and grasping my hands as she spun me around to face him.

"What happened?"

"After he and Gabriel hauled me back to the apartment and I woke up, he apologized for Gabriel knocking me out, saying they just needed to make sure I got back safely. Micheal handed me a drink and I threw the drink in his face and threw the glass across the room and Micheal tossed me across the room into the broken glass. Before I could even stand up he picked me up by my throat and held me against the wall so I spit in his face. That seemed to piss him off more because slapped me across the face and threw me across the room again."

He's gonna be so pissed.

Lucifer looked deeply into my eyes and all I could see was his rage and anger. He was beyond angry. This. What he was feeling right now, was an anger capable of destroying entire universes.

"I'll kill him."

"Lucifer you-"

"He hurt you! He left cuts and bruises on you!"

"He isn't the first one to do so. Trust me Lucifer I am fine." I grabbed his face and pulled him closer to me,

"Lucifer I am fine," I whispered against his lips as he closed his eyes just for a brief moment, leaning into my touch.

"Fine, but why don't you write down the names and addresses of those other people so I can pay them a visit."

Oh, I love this man.

"Go take the first watch until Gabriel comes back, I am going to take a shower then head to bed."

Lucifer handed me the pajamas and kissed my forehead.

"I am serious Catalina. I will kill anyone that causes you harm."

"I know."

"I will always protect my own." he whispered just before his lips landed on mine again. Too soon he was gone and I watched as he walked out of our room and gently closed the door behind him.

It was strange to know that someone was in my corner. That someone cared about me being hurt and hated seeing cuts and bruises on me. It felt….

Good. It feels good.

* * *

Lucifer's POV

"Is she asleep?" Gabriel asked as I joined him outside.

"She will be."

Gabriel glanced over at me,

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine but I am not the one with cuts and bruises on my back."

"What are you talking about?" Gabriel asked me, a puzzled look across his face

He doesn't know.

"Micheal apparently took it upon himself to discipline Catalina while you were gone."

Discipline. What he did was far from discipline.

"Did she say what happened?"

I looked into Gabriel's eyes and I could see the anger slowly building up in them,

"Every detail and let me make one thing clear Gabriel,"

Gabriel looked down, shame now prominent in his eyes,

"If he lays another hand on her, If I so much as even see one bruise on her, I will cut off his fingers and watch as he chokes on them while I cut off his hands and feed them to the hounds."

"Lucifer I'm sorry, I had no idea he'd do anything to her."

You should have known better!

"It is not me you should be apologizing to."

Gabriel went silent for a moment as if he was debating what he was going to say.

"How bad was it?"

"Remember when we were young and Micheal disciplined us?"

Gabriel nodded,

"Remember how much pain we were in, how bad it hurt?"

"Unfortunately." His shoulders tensed as he answered,

"It was painful for us and we have a higher pain tolerance because of our immortality, she is mortal. Imagine the pain she's in."

I knew she was in pain. She could say she was fine but I could see it in her eyes. She suffered at Micheal's hands. People seemed to forget that Micheal himself had a reputation for showing no mercy when it came to punishment. I knew firsthand the kind of things Micheal would resort to when pushed. Many forgot that Micheal was the one to teach me the art of torture.

"I'm sorry Lucifer."

"What for?"

"You have been cast as a villain for so many years and no one bothered to defend or help you."

I didn't expect any of you to stand up for me anyway.

"Every story needs a villain right?" I responded.

Gabriel shook his head and asked,

"I just don't understand, why would Micheal lie? Why would he twist your words around?"

"Your guess is as good as mine brother."

Gabriel sighed,

"So what do we do?"

"To be honest I am not sure."

Usually, I always had a plan. Always had some sort of idea ready, but that was before I had others to think about. Whatever we decided to do I had to think about and plan correctly, one wrong move and everything could be taken from me. Again.

"Whatever his angle is, we know he needs to keep Catalina alive at least."

I nodded back at him. For now, we know he needs her alive but I knew Micheal. There had to be another angle we weren't seeing.

"So you two are official now I suppose."

"Yes, Gabriel."

I could tell by the way he was moving that this was not something he wanted to talk about.

"You know I'll always keep her safe and I will always be there to save her."

"Catalina is not someone that needs someone to save her. She can save herself. She needs someone that is willing to kill for her."

"It is a good thing then that I already am willing to kill for her."

I had no problem hurting anyone who would dare to put their hands on her. She was everything to me. She was mine and no one touched what was mine.

"I'm sorry for punching you in the face earlier."

I shrugged at him,

"I deserved it. After all, I fell in love with your best friend. Can't say that this isn't an awkward situation."

"I don't care that you fell in love with her."

I glanced at Gabriel,

"Okay maybe I do care but I was angry because I thought you were going to kill her."

"I would never-"

"I know you would never hurt her now. But I just found out the truth literally an hour ago. I didn't know she would be safe with you."

"She was always safe with me."

"I know. I realize that now."

"You thought you were protecting her Gabriel. I cannot fault you for that."

As much as I hated what had happened, he was only doing what he thought was right. He thought that doing all this would keep her alive. I couldn't be mad that he wanted to protect someone he cared about.

"Speaking of learning the truth," I glanced back at Gabriel,

"What do we do about her father?"

Cain's Daughter.

Somehow I had fallen in love with Cain's only daughter.

"Do we tell him?" Gabriel asked as he leaned back against the door,

"He does have a right to know her."

Especially now since her mother was out of the picture, she couldn't be used as a pawn against him.

Would she even want to know him? Would he even want to know her?

"I'll speak to her in the morning about it."

Gabriel nodded,

"I should probably get back anyway, make sure Micheal really is occupied."

"Be careful Gabriel. I don't know what game Micheal is playing but be on your guard at all times."

He stayed silent for a moment before he turned to me,

"Take care of her Lucifer."

"Always."

Within seconds Gabriel was gone and soaring in the sky.

I need to come up with a plan.

A plan to keep Catalina and Gabriel safe and to bring Micheal down.

* * *

Gabriel's POV

Micheal was standing outside on the balcony when I arrived,

Shit guess we're doing this now.

"Well, brother?"

"She loves him and he says he loves her."

Micheal scoffed,

"Him loving her makes no difference to me."

It should you ass! because he'll fight for her.

"Very well. You have done good Gabriel, go and tend to your friend. I will see you both in the morning." He turned and began to walk back into the house.

Let him walk away, just let him walk away.

"What's the plan here Micheal?"

The question escaped me, Micheal turned around slowly to face me, a look of false concern on his face,

"To keep your friend safe from death and our brother."

Liar!

"Your friend will be heartbroken for a while, she just found out Lucifer lied to her and was planning to kill her, she will need you to be there for her."

I need to know. I need to know.

"Have you ever lied brother?" I asked

Micheal laughed, the sound sending cold shocks throughout my body.

"Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."

"It was just a-"

"Go comfort your friend, Gabriel, she is going to need it in the upcoming days."

Micheal began to walk away, and I should've just kept my mouth shut. I should have just let him walk away,

"Do you swear it?" I asked

Silence.

I turned and saw that Micheal still had his back to me, his fists tightly clenched at his side.

"Do you swear it, on our father, that you have not lied?"

"Gabriel I-"

"DO. YOU. SWEAR. IT!" I screamed at him, unable to control myself any longer.

"Yes, I swear it."

Micheal said as he stormed back towards me and jumped off the balcony and into the air. His bright white wings were at war with the darkness of the sky.

He lied. The bastard swore on our father and lied.

If Micheal was willing to lie to my face and swear it on our father, I couldn't trust him. I couldn't trust that his actual intention was to keep Catalina safe.

There has to be another angle here.

But what the hell could it be? I couldn't trust Micheal. Not anymore.

* * *

Catalina's POV

Damn, I hate the sun.

The sun shining bright in my face was not the best way to wake up but nonetheless, I was awake. I reached over expecting Lucifer to be there but the side of the bed was empty and cold. As if it had been empty all night.

Did he even come to bed?

Leaving the room, I made my way downstairs into the kitchen and saw him still on the patio outside the front door. I rushed over to the door and knocked, startling him. I smiled as he slowly opened the door,

"You know with all the sleep you missed I bet it'll be pretty easy to take you down in training today."

"In your dreams princess." He picked me up and carried me to the kitchen and sat me on the island.

I could get used to this.

"You know you don't always have to carry me right?" I said as I ran my fingers through his soft black hair,

"I like carrying you, I like having you in my arms."

Slowly he leaned forward and pressed a sweet and gentle kiss to my forehead as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I'm assuming you were out there all night?" I asked him.

He nodded his head at me,

"I needed to talk to Gabriel about a few things."

"How did that go?"

"Very well I suppose," he said as he walked over and grabbed two mugs out from the cabinet.

"So what's the plan for Micheal?"

Lucifer handed me my cup of coffee as he spoke,

"As of right now, we plan to keep you far away from him."

"When will you two learn I can handle myself?"

I said before taking a sip from my cup.

Lucifer grabbed my hand and gently took the cup from me.

"Against mortal males, we know you can handle yourself, but Micheal is different which is why we need to begin your training."

"Picking up where we left off I assume?" I asked as I took my cup back from him,

"Before we were just training you with your dagger, basic fighting skills and barely just starting to train with the Hellfire but I think it's time we mainly focused on that."

Great.

"Do you think it'll make a difference against Micheal?"

"Any advantage we can give you over him is worth it," he replied.

"But you need to eat first, I won't have you half-assing during training."

And there he is.

"Be outside in 30 minutes," he said as he kissed the top of my head and headed back towards the front door.

* * *

Lucifer's POV

How can someone be this radiant this early in the morning?

"Are you wearing my shirt?" I called out as she made her way over to meet me.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

Fuck no.

A part of me enjoyed seeing her in my shirt. Knowing that she was covered in my scent. It was huge on her, she was practically swimming in it but it was adorable.

"No problem at all."

Catalina smirked as she tossed her pink water bottle to the ground,

"Are you ready?" I asked her as she began to put her hair up in a ponytail.

"Always." She said as she winked at me.

Focus on training right now and not how I want to get my hands on that ponytail and pull- —-

"You okay?" Her question snapped me from my thoughts.

Shit. Focus.

"Today I want you to focus on your aim. Don't worry about how much power you can draw up. Being powerful doesn't mean shit if you can't wield it correctly."

She laughed and did a mocking salute.

"Yes sir," she said with a wink.

Please don't do this to me, my Morningstar.

"Just aim for the white circles I've put on the three trees."

She turned to see the three large trees and the targets I painted on them. I watched as she closed her eyes and I could see her counting in her head to five. I moved to stand behind her and gently placed my hands on her hips,

"You've got this, my Queen, I believe in you."

Queen.

That's what she is.

My Queen.

My Morningstar.

Catalina instantly relaxed and just as I planted a kiss on her cheek, A wave of warm air enclosed us as a ball of fire plummeted out and hit the first tree.

Catalina smiled excitedly.

Damn, I love that smile.

But as the smoke cleared we saw that she hit the hole in the tree, missing the target as a family of squirrels ran out.

"Well, at least the squirrels will know to stay away."

I smirked at her and I could see the little bit of orange in her eyes.

"It's not funny Lucifer."

It's kind of funny.

"Try again, picture the flame in your head, and visualize the target you want to hit."

She closed her eyes and slowly began to lift her hand again. For a moment she was silent and her hand steady.

She can do this. She's got this.

Even though her eyes were closed I could see movement under them as her hand started to shake and her fingers began to twitch.

Shit.

"Catalina."

Silence.

"Catalina, open your eyes."

Silence.

"CATA-"

A burst of fire raged from her hand, devouring the tree and causing her to stumble back into me.

Her eyes were full of horror as she took in the tree and saw the entire thing up in flames. She stared at her shaking hands for a moment before closing them tightly. She wrestled herself out of my arms and began running towards the house.

SHIT.

"CATALINA!"

I yelled out for her but she kept running back to the house as if she couldn't hear me and slammed the door shut behind her.

What the fuck happened?

* * *

Catalina's POV

I fucked up. I royally fucked up. I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this!

"Do you want to talk about it?" I turned and saw Lucifer standing in the doorway to our bathroom. I came in here to splash some cold water on my face and to cool down. I nodded my head and he walked over, put his arms around me, and pulled me close.

"I don't know what happened, one minute I'm doing what you said and visualizing the tree, and then the next thing I know I'm seeing images from my childhood."

Seeing those memories, It sucked. Hearing the crying, the screaming, the sound of the belt hitting flesh. I thought I had gotten rid of those memories, or at least buried them deep enough.

"I'm sorry about the tree, I'll help you put it out."

He gently rubbed my arms with his hands and whispered to me,

"I already took care of it."

Lucifer kissed the top of my head and looked into my eyes through the mirror,

"And you have nothing to be sorry for."

"I fucked up in training."

Lucifer smirked,

"You're supposed to screw up, that's why it's called training."

Smart-ass.

"Besides you did manage to hit the tree so I deem that progress enough." Lucifer spun me so that I faced him and kissed me.

Can we just stay like this forever, please?

"If you guys are gonna do it, at least learn to close the damn door."

SHIT

"Myapologies brother, we didn't see you there." Lucifer stiffened as he turned to Gabriel.

His face remained still. Almost statue-like.

Oh No…

"What's wrong Gabriel?" I asked.

"I need to speak to my brother. Alone."

Lucifer glanced over at me and held my gaze for just a moment then looked back to Gabriel,

"Tell us."

"It's about Micheal and I'd prefer she not hear what I have to say."

I felt Lucifer stiffen beside me as he wrapped an arm around my waist,

"If it involves her then she deserves to hear what it is."

Gabriel straightened his posture as he looked Lucifer in the eye,

"I think Micheal might have other intentions with Catalina."

Lucifer's grip tightened around me,

"What kind of Intentions?"

Gabriel, without faltering responded,

"I don't know, but I confronted him when I returned, he thinks Catalina will believe that you are using her and that will keep her away from you."

Lucifer, with pure unfiltered anger in his eyes, without hesitation said to Gabriel,

"Continue."

"I asked him if he ever lied about anything. He said no."

Gabriel shifted,

"Then I asked him to swear it on our father that he had not lied about anything."

Gabriel looked up at Lucifer, straight into his eyes.

"He swore it. He swore it on our father that he had never lied."

Lucifer's grip on me tightened more, his fingers pressing tight into my skin as Gabriel continued,

"I do not trust him. If he is willing to lie to my face about what actually happened and then swear on our father that he never lied, I can only assume he is lying about actually wanting to keep her safe."

"So what do we do?" I asked, looking at the two men before me, both of them looked as if they were walking onto a battlefield.

Lucifer answered before Gabriel,

"We keep you out of that damn house."

"He'll notice I'm gone. What do we do then?"

Gabriel answered this time,

"Leave that to me."

I glanced at both of them and saw nothing of the men I've come to know. The rage in their eyes was frightening.

"You're both starting to scare me."

"Catalina, you should be scared," Gabriel said,

"Micheal is like no one you have ever met. Unlike the people in the past that you have fought, he's not looking to simply disarm and hurt to get you to comply, when Micheal fights, he's fighting to kill."

Lucifer grabbed my hand,

"Catalina, I want you to go outside and practice again."

What?

"But I can-"

Lucifer cut me off.

"Please. Just go train, I'll meet you outside in a few moments."

I opened my mouth to tell him that I wanted to stay, to help but Lucifer planted a kiss right on my lips and whispered,

"Please trust me on this."

I'll always trust you.

"I trust you. I'll see you in a few minutes."

I walked past Lucifer, then past Gabriel and he stopped me and grabbed my wrist. His thumb gently caressed my hand and nodded his head.

I nodded back and made my way back down the stairs and out the door to practice again. A part of me hated that I was being left out. That I was being told to go back and practice, but at the same time I understood. I would be no help to them if I didn't get a grip on mastering control over the Hellfire. If I was going to be of any help then I needed to train. To practice and become stronger, and more powerful. I needed to become someone worthy of standing beside Lucifer and wearing his crown.

* * *