Chapter 35: Prologue Vol 1 – Dad Mode: Maximum

【Lucifer PoV】

I stormed across the throne room.

My cloak snapped behind me like a furious red tide.

Every torch flared as I passed.

My girl was gone three days.

Three.

Days.

No letter.

No love-potion pigeon.

Nothing.

Lilith was alone with strangers.

Strangers with heroic jawlines.

I ground my fangs.

Eksu, the dark-haired menace.

Siegfried, the smug blond threat.

Two hounds behind one sweet sheep.

My sheep.

I would shear those hounds.

Mammon ran in, scrolls flying.

“Your Majesty, the heroes mass at the northern pass.”

He panted like a frightened goat.

“They sharpen blessed steel.”

I waved the news away.

Steel?

Child’s play.

Dimples kill faster.

Asmodeus slid next, maps flapping.

“Look, Sire. Siege towers here, catapults here.”

He jabbed frantic circles.

I saw nothing but blond hair and dark hair.

I hissed.

“A tower cannot steal a daughter’s heart.”

Belphegor hopped in, bunny ears still crooked from the last kitchen mishap.

“Sire, if the heroes breach the wall, they may slay you.”

Slay me?

Small problem.

Bigger problem: flirt with Lilith.

I barked a laugh that shook the rafters.

“Let them try.”

I lifted one claw.

“I care about one thing.”

“And that is?” Mammon asked, voice shrinking.

“Lilith’s smile.”

I pictured her trusting eyes.

Red braid bouncing.

A lamb made of napalm and glitter.

My chest tightened.

Leviathan burst in, ice trailing from his boots.

“Lord Lucifer, scouts report two students stand closest to Lilith.”

He gulped.

“One blond. One dark.”

Eksu.

Siegfried.

I saw them in my mind.

Blond hair gleaming in the sun.

Dark hair falling across earnest eyes.

Both leaning toward my daughter.

Both pretending to admire her potions.

Bile boiled in my throat.

I slammed a fist into the rail.

Stone cracked like sugar glass.

“Find their heights, weights, shoe sizes.”

Mammon blinked.

“Shoes, Sire?”

“I will fill the shoes with lava.”

Asmodeus raised a cautious hand.

“Majesty, the academy is neutral ground.”

“Neutral?”

I growled.

“No ground is neutral when it holds my child.”

Beelz hobbled in on his crutch.

He bowed low.

“Sire, permission to begin defensive rituals?”

“Begin bridal-repellent rituals.”

Belphegor’s ears twitched.

“Bridal?”

“Yes.”

I paced.

“Paint the gates with ‘No Boys Allowed.’ ”

“Sire,” Leviathan whispered, “our runes only cover curses and fire.”

“Add glitter.”

Silence rolled through the hall.

They finally understood.

Lucifer, lord of darkness, was now lord of dadness.

I whirled on my generals.

“Listen well.”

A hush fell.

“If blond-haired Siegfried blinks at her, we melt him.”

Heads nodded.

“If dark-haired Eksu smiles, we shatter him.”

More nods.

“If either utters the word ‘cute,’ we erase his bloodline.”

Even the torches trembled.

I spread my wings to their full span.

“If they hurt her feelings, I will tear down kingdoms.”

My voice rumbled like tectonic plates.

“As you command,” Mammon whispered.

“All hail the Overprotective King,” Asmodeus breathed.

Leviathan planted his trident.

“We stand between the hounds and the sheep.”

Belphegor saluted with one floppy ear.

“No flirting shall pass.”

I exhaled, steam curling from my lips.

“My daughter will laugh without fear.”

I turned toward the northern window.

Wind howled through cracked stone.

I could almost hear the academy bells.

I clenched my fist.

“Ready the skull carriage.”

Mammon bowed deeper.

“Painted with glitter, Sire?”

“And spikes.”

I marched for the doors, each step a promise.

Eksu’s dark hair, Siegfried’s blond hair—both would gray before they touched a single crimson strand.

If they tried, the world would burn.

My generals bowed in solemn agreement.

Father Lucifer had spoken.