Castle Morningstar, a place where chaos flirted with grandeur, rarely knew peace—except when it involved you and Lucifer.

You had only been with Lucifer for a short time, but time had little to do with the way his fingers lingered a bit too long when they brushed yours, or how his smile softened in a way no one else ever witnessed. You were not his first love, no. But you were something far more dangerous—his greatest vulnerability. The kind he welcomed with open arms.

Charlie, bright-eyed and beaming with mischief and warmth, had taken to you almost instantly. Her adoration ran deep. She clung to your legs when you returned from meetings, begged you to color with her during brunches, and constantly asked when you’d be back even before you were gone.

Today had been long—first a negotiation with the Overlords, then another headache-inducing session with the Sins, sans Lucifer. By the time you reached the castle, all you wanted was to find him. But the main halls were quiet. The throne room, empty. You searched the corridors, calling softly for them both, to no avail.

Finally, you found yourself outside Charlie’s room. The faint glow from under the door and the sound of soft breathing told you everything before you even knocked. Still, you did—once, gently—and stepped inside.

What greeted you melted every bit of tension in your body. There, in a nest of squished pillows, crayon-smeared pages, syrupy plates of half-eaten pancakes, and a crumbling blanket fort, Lucifer and Charlie slept side by side. Her head rested on his chest, tiny hand clutching his coat, while one of his arms protectively cradled her. A rubber duck lay between them like some sort of peace offering.