Chapter 83: Chapter 83

The rooftop was quiet, the faint hum of the city below barely audible.

Jason leaned against the ledge, staring into the distance, his posture tense but calm. The air shifted, a strange sensation prickling his skin.

He turned sharply, his brows furrowing. "You," he said flatly, his voice laced with irritation as Lucian appeared out of thin air, stepping into view with his usual calculated ease.

Lucian sighed, brushing imaginary lint off his suit. "Yes, me. Try to contain your excitement."

Jason straightened, his jaw tightening. "What do you want now, Lucian? Calling me here, I hope you aren’t planning on having to fight some guys for a book?"

"Demon guys. Escaped right from hell. But you did well. Though this time I won’t be needing you."

Jason frowned. Lucian tilted his head, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. Without warning, he flicked his finger toward Jason’s forehead.

"What the—" Jason started, but then he froze.

A ripple shot through his body like a shockwave, his breath hitching as he staggered back. His grey eyes flashed a brilliant blue, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant.

When Jason straightened again, the relaxed confidence was gone. His expression was harder, colder—practically predatory.

Lucian smirked. "Hello, brother."

Jason’s hand shot out faster than a blink, grabbing Lucian by the neck and slamming him against the nearest wall. His grip was unyielding, his eyes burning with fury.

"I smell her all over you," Jason growled, his voice darker, more menacing than usual. His face was a mask of anger and disdain. "What did you do?"

Lucian didn’t flinch, even with Jason’s grip tightening around his throat. Instead, he smirked, his tone mockingly casual. "To spite you, obviously."

Jason’s jaw clenched, his hand trembling with restrained violence. His fingers dug into Lucian’s collar as his eyes burned brighter. "You think this is a game, don’t you? Touching what doesn’t belong to you?"

Lucian chuckled darkly. "Belong? You sound so possessive. She’s not yours, Jason." He tilted his head, looking entirely too amused for someone being choked. "But she is... intriguing, isn’t she?"

Jason’s grip tightened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You don’t get to decide that. Stay away from her, Lucian."

Lucian’s smirk widened. "Jealousy doesn’t suit you, brother. But it’s entertaining."

Jason growled, shoving Lucian away with enough force to make him stumble. "This isn’t a warning. It’s a promise. Touch her again, and you would see your head on the father’s throne."

Lucian adjusted his collar, unbothered, as if being manhandled was just another part of his day. "Noted, good thing that you don’t even have access to your own house talk less of heaven. But you should ask yourself why you’re so defensive, Jason. Is it her, or is it because she might be the key to fixing your little... predicament?"

Jason’s eyes narrowed, his cold gaze piercing through Lucian. "I’ll fix my predicament without your meddling."

Lucian straightened his suit jacket, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "If you think you can, you would have gotten out of the body a long time ago."

Jason’s blue eyes glinted with anger. "You think I like this? Being stuck in a fragile body? Weak and useless?"

Lucian chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned back against a pillar. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself earlier, throwing punches and staking claims. For someone stuck, you sure know how to thrive."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Don’t test me, Lucian. You left me in there too long."

Lucian raised a brow, feigning innocence. "I was doing research."

Jason scoffed. "Research? You mean on how to send flowers to women?"

Lucian’s smirk turned predatory. "She is beautiful, you have to admit."

Jason glared at him. "Don’t start."

Lucian ignored him, his gaze distant. "And for the soul inside her... It’s a good one, Jason. A calm, kind soul. The same one you were obsessed with before. I sent the flowers because they were her favorite, and you know it."

Jason’s fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "She’s gone. That soul is gone, and she is not Kiara."

Lucian tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Yet you obsess over her."

Jason sneered. "You’re pissing me off. This is no way to welcome a brother."

"Tell her." Lucian’s tone turned serious, his dark eyes boring into Jason’s. "Tell her the truth. Tell her who you really are."

Jason turned away, his voice colder. "She wouldn’t understand."

Lucian laughed, the sound bitter. "She’d understand more than you think, coward."

Jason ignored the jab, folding his arms. "Why did you call me here, Lucian? I prefer being in the body. Away from you."

Lucian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "There’s a problem."

Jason’s eyes narrowed. "Of course there is."

Lucian stepped closer, his voice dropping. "There’s a demon. A soul-eater. Its name is Morgrath."

Jason stiffened, his hand twitching instinctively. "Morgrath? You’re telling me one of them is out?"

Lucian nodded grimly. "And it’s already started targeting people. Through texts, messages. It preys on their weaknesses, offering them something they desire most, then devours their souls and I think he has gotten to Kiara as well."

Jason’s voice dropped to a growl. "You’re saying it’s gotten to Kiara."

Lucian held his gaze. "Yes."

Jason slammed his fist into the railing, the sound echoing through the rooftop. "This body is too weak for a fight like that. And I don’t have the Blade of Eryndor."

Lucian frowned, his calm demeanor slipping. "The blade has been lost for centuries. Even if you had it, you’re not at full strength."

Jason turned, his eyes blazing. "Then why are you telling me this? If I can’t kill it—if I can’t protect her—what’s the point?"

Lucian stepped forward, his voice sharp. "Because if you don’t, Morgrath will destroy her and everything connected to her. You might not care about the world, Jason, but I know you care about her."

Jason’s breath hitched, but he masked it with a bitter laugh. "Don’t pretend you know what I care about."

Lucian’s expression softened. "Then prove me wrong. Find Morgrath. Protect her. If you don’t, no one will."

Jason turned away, his hands trembling. "This body can’t fight like I used to. It’ll only slow me down."

Lucian smirked faintly. "Then you’d better figure something out. You’ve always been good at defying the odds."

Jason sighed, his voice low. "And if I fail?"

Lucian’s smile disappeared. "Then you’ll lose her. Again."

Jason didn’t respond. The weight of Lucian’s words settled over him like a shroud. For a moment, the only sound was the distant hum of the city below.

Finally, Jason turned, his face hard. "Where is Morgrath?"

Lucian’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "That’s the spirit. I’ll look into its movements. In the meantime, stay close to Kiara and don’t let her out of your sight."

Jason’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t have a problem staying with her, but you know my time is limited. When he’s prominent—when I’m prominent—I can’t control what he does."

Lucian tilted his head, his gaze sharp. "Then try. I brought you here for a reason. You’re the only one who can do this."

Jason laughed bitterly, running a hand through his hair. "Glad to know your experiments worked. Dragging me into this mess was such a great plan."

Lucian shrugged, unbothered by the sarcasm. "The fact that you’re here proves it wasn’t a mess. It worked, didn’t it?"

Jason glared at him. "It worked because I’m stubborn, not because you had a solid plan. So what now? What will you be doing while I’m running damage control?"

Lucian grinned, his sharp canines peeking out as he stepped back toward the shadows. "What I do best."

Jason watched as Lucian’s form dissolved into swirling smoke, leaving behind the faint scent of ash.

"Damn you, Lucian," Jason muttered, clenching his fists.

The rooftop fell silent, except for the sound of the wind whistling past. Jason stood there for a moment, his mind racing. This wasn’t just about him anymore; it was about her.

Kiara.

Jason sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Stay close to her," Lucian had said. Easier said than done, especially when the stakes involved more than just keeping her safe. This wasn’t just about protection—it was about survival. For her, for him, and maybe even for Lucian.

The thought made him scoff. "Great. Babysitting duty and a ticking clock. Perfect."

With a deep breath, Jason turned and walked back toward the elevator, his resolve hardening. Time might not be on his side, but he’d make it count.

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