In a quiet corner of the castle, inside a small room that clung to warmth despite the cold stone walls, she sat on the floor, her back resting against a worn velvet cushion. In her arms, the twins—Lily lay against her chest, one tiny hand curled around her neck, while Damien rested his head on her lap, mumbling something in a half-dream.

She hummed a lullaby, barely audible, as if singing more to herself than to them. Her fingers drifted through Lily’s soft curls, then pressed a gentle kiss to Damien’s forehead. A faint smile touched her lips, though even she couldn’t tell if it was born from love… or fear.

At the doorway—just slightly ajar—Lucifer stood in silence, watching. He said nothing. His face, unreadable, carved from something colder than stone. His eyes followed every movement, every breath, every fragile moment between the three.

His thoughts were a weight more than words. Not spoken aloud, not even to himself—just there, thick and unwelcome.

“I hate this scene… no. I don’t hate it. I don’t love it either. It’s just—unsettling. Like a dream that should’ve never happened.”

“Her… she’s not an angel anymore. Not a wife. She’s just a mother now. A stranger. A co-conspirator in a mistake I never planned to make.”

“And those children… pieces of me I never asked for. I don’t feel love. I don’t feel warmth. But the idea of losing them…”

“It claws at me. Deep. Like instinct—or maybe a curse. Am I a man guarding his blood… or a monster afraid of being alone?”

He stepped forward, the floor groaning softly beneath his boots. She looked up, slowly. Their eyes met—no greeting, no fear. Just understanding. Cold. Wordless.

Damien stirred, his sleepy eyes catching a glimpse of the towering figure in the doorway. He curled closer to his mother and shut his eyes again.

Lucifer didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Something ached in his chest—he didn’t know its name.

Then finally, a low murmur, heavy like a command whispered from beneath centuries of restraint:

“Stay inside tonight. Don’t step out.”

And just like that, he vanished into the dark corridor… But his thoughts didn’t leave.