In control

Lucifer's POV

The final days of the full moon were over and I was temporarily free till the next full moon. At least I would not be tormented for many months by the beast in me. It was sheer bliss for Steel. Now it was time to concentrate on Ashlyn and her unappeasable hunger.

"And also confess what's in our hearts." Steel said in my head.

I was not going to deny it. The moments I've spent with Ashlyn had their effect on me. I felt at peace with her and this time around, I do not just want her body, I want her soul too. My soul yearns to be bound with hers.

"Let it be Steel," I said to him. I was yet to admit it to him. I wanted to be extremely sure this was what I wanted. Not just a mate bond to bind us together. Not just because she was my redeemer. But, because my heart was entwined with hers. Hell, I was scared of it. Scared of belonging to one person and then ending up hurt.

What if in the end, she leaves?

"Too many doubts in your head." Steel said to me. It was obvious he has already fallen head over heels for Ashlyn and her wolf.

I walked down the stairs to find Ashlyn coming into the house.

"Did you kill a human?" I asked her.

She beamed. "No, the urge was very strong but I did not. But I did take a small amount of blood, no flesh I promise." She said.

I grinned. "Improvement," I said to her.

She gave a sly smile. "But maybe you should check on your mistress Juliette." She said.

I found it quite uncomfortable when she said that. I raised a brow. "What happened to her?" I asked her.

She smiled devilishly. "She might need the attention of a doctor." She said.

"You bit her?" I asked getting the hint.

She shrugged. "Something like that." She said giving that sly smile again.

I chuckled shaking my head. "You'll kill them all now that you've got the chance," I said to her.

She walked closer. "It will gladden my heart to do so if I should get your permission." She said.

I bridged the gap between us holding her waist and shaking my head. "Let them be, "I said to her.

She pouted her lips. "What happened to the brute who would not mind if that happens?" She asked.

"Still in there but you're keeping him locked in," I said to her.

"Perhaps you still intend on keeping them around to satisfy your sexual desires." She said with tilted eyes challenging me to deny it or lie to her.

I chuckled. "Someone is getting possessive and jealous," I said biting her gently on her chin.

"If you cannot let a man lay a single hand on me, why can't I do the same?" She asked me.

"Claimed me already I see?" I said, looking into her eyes.

"What if I said I have claimed you, the very moment I laid eyes upon you without my acknowledgment?" She said to me.

In a fair view, she was right. We had claimed each other that very night I had her town under siege. If I had decided to accept her immediately, it would not have taken us so long to get to this point. I proposed to her to be my mistress thinking I could beat fate but the moon goddess disposes of it. Here I was wanting every bit of it now. Every bit of her.

I leaned on her neck breathing in her scent as I closed my eyes languidly. I could not fight the connection between us anymore as the emotions keep pulling me in.

"Ahem,"

I heard a slight cough and opened my eyes, raising my head, I straightened up to see Kill beside us.

"My apologies for being the one to break this intimacy but we have an urgent matter Lucifer." Kill said.

"What happened?" I asked him.

"There has been a report that the Minor clans were raided last night and from a rightful source, the such atrocity was exhibited by the Major clans." Kill said and I let go of Ashlyn.

The Minor clans consisted mainly of werewolves and a few lycans. It was a bitter thing for me to see other werewolves pack oppressing the Minors all because they were in higher commands and positions than them.

"Summon the rest Kill, I'll be right behind you," I said to him and he nodded and walked away.

I turned to Ashlyn. "I have to leave now," I said to her.

"It's alright." She said to me with a little smile.

"Do not kill anyone in my absence," I said to her chuckling.

"I cannot promise that," She said with a wide grin.

"I have faith in you that you would not do so," I said and kissed her forehead before leaving.

Ashlyn's POV

I watched him walk out of the house to defend the Minor clans and as I stood there, in a few minutes, I heard the loud neighs of horses and the stomping of their hooves on the ground as they ride away.

"My dear," Roselia called me with one of those of her rare endearments.

I turned around to see her wiping their hands on a napkin. "Do you need me to do anything for you Roselia?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "Not at all milady. Wanted to ask you if you'll like some smoked salmon?" She asked.

I shook my head. I was not in any way craving human food and at the same time, I was trying to suppress my hunger.

"Maybe at dinner time. Where's Catriona?" I asked her.

"At the mill." She said and I nodded.

"Alright, I beg to take my leave now," I said to her and she nodded smiling. Then I remembered what she said the night I wanted to leave Lucifer. "Roselia?" I said.

"Milady." She answered.

"I've been wondering what you meant by Lucifer being in the bondage of his birth stars. What did you mean?" I asked her.

She looked down at her napkin. "I have to attend to the food in the kitchen or it will get burnt." She said walking away.

"But," I wanted to pester her but I decided against her. Maybe some other time. If Lucifer was not ready to tell me yet, then maybe Roselia would if I pestered her up a bit but not today.

I walked up the stairs and met Sia coming down from it. The instant she laid eyes on me, she turned around to immediately disappear. I chuckled.

"Stop," I ordered her and she shuddered and stopped. She was afraid of me now. A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. What happened to the all-powerful first mistress of the Nightwing house? She has seen that a little bird struggling to fly out of its nest, was now out and soaring high like an eagle.

"Turn around," I said to her and slowly she turned around with fear written all over her face.

I walked up to her staring at her from head to toe.

"Please do not hurt me." She whimpered and I chuckled.

"Would I?" I asked her. She looked down. "My last action occurred because you would not keep your mouth shut but if you would, then we have no issues, Sia. I'm not one to repay evil with evil." I said to her.

"Thank you, thank you." She said turning to leave.

"I'm not done yet," I said to her. She turned around shivering. A lycan was afraid of me, ah! I could almost laugh at this. "Finna does not pay evil with evil does not mean, I would not do a few things to make you suffer a bit," I said curving a smile.

She shuddered. "What are you planning to do?" She stuttered.

"Oh, you'll see," I said straightening up. "But first, Ashlyn Ambrosia wants to have a soothing relaxing warm bath. Prepare it." I said to her and she nodded.

"Get to it," I ordered her and she scurried off to my room. I smirked as I headed to my room too. Sitting on the bed, I slowly took off my dress while I waited for her to fill the tub with warm water, scented oil, and roses.

A few minutes later, she came out of the bathroom. "It's ready Ashlyn." She said and I glared at her.

"Ashlyn?" I said daring her to repeat it.

"Pardon my insubordination," she said lowering her head. "Your bath is ready milady." She said and I nodded. "Much better," I said.

She turned to leave. "Where are you going?" I asked her.

"I thought. I thought. I was done." She stuttered.

I laughed. "What wishful thinking Sia. You're at my service till I do not want to see your face again." I said to her and I did not fail to see the horror on her face. "Come with me." I motioned to her as I walked into the bathroom with her right behind me. I let the towel wrapped around me fall to my feet as I slipped into the tub and sighed. The temperature was just right. I closed my eyes and lifted one of my legs a little bit.

"You know what to do," I said to her.

And she did know what she had to do as she held my leg in her hands tenderly massaging it as she washed it with some liquid soap.

She had no choice but to do as I'd ordered. She attended to each part of my body I told her to. She washed my hair too and after every activity in the bathroom was done and I was all cleaned and dry. I made her pick a dress for me to wear and kept torturing her on how Lucifer would not like a particular dress or color. It was fun watching her stand there and listen to me blab on and on.

She was at my service throughout the day and she was exhausted about it while I on the other hand was enjoying every bit of it. This is nothing compared to what she did to me init.

I was finally ready to let her go for the night because I wanted to have some leisure time by the river.

"Roselia?" I called as I walked into the kitchen. She was always there. She had once told me she finds her peace in the kitchen. Cooking and all.

"My dear, you want more salmon?" She asked me.

I chuckled and shook my head. Finna throw up the little I ate a few minutes ago. "No, Roselia. I wanted to tell you I'm heading to the river and if Lucifer asks of me by the time he returns, tell him where I went to please." I said to her.

She smiled broadly. "Of course. Who am I not to tell the Laird, his lady would need his attention at the river tonight?" She said and I blushed.

"I'll go now," I said to her and she nodded still smiling.

I walked out of the house and headed towards the river. Using my swiftness, I got there in no time. I sat at the river bank kicking my legs in the water. Enjoying the feel of it on my skin.

Here I was about to communicate with darkness again. My old friend. I've learned never to forget old friends even when you make new ones.

"Dear darkness, I'm here to speak with you again. I've missed you. I apologize for not having enough time to speak with you. A lot has been happening. I'm in love with my tormentor, it's strange to init?" I chuckled. "And I've become something else too. I've finally flown out from my nest but I think I'm flying way too much my friend. It's disturbing how I feed so much on humans. Lucifer is helping me control it." I said into the darkness. It felt calm that I was expressing myself with no one around.

"I believe I'm also no more despised by his people. Especially his best five comrades. Maybe I finna be getting the lovely atmosphere I've always wanted." I said and sighed.

"There's Roselia too. The sweetest woman I've met. I sometimes fantasize about her as my mother but that's not my reality init? Fate gave me Lucienne Ambrosia. Should I be regretting? I do not even know if I should feel remorse or hate.

But come to think of it, If I was not from the Ambrosia family, would I have met her or Lucifer and the rest?" I asked and as I pondered on this, I caught a faint sound of footsteps and before I could turn around, I was pushed into the river. I let out a scream.