I'm The Devil - Chapter 316

Chapter 316: Athena Joins The Family
Lucifer’s lips brushed against hers, slow and deliberate. Athena didn’t hesitate—she met him halfway, her hands finding their place against his chest, fingers curling slightly against the fabric of his coat. The warmth of the moment lingered, the world around them quiet, as if holding its breath.

Then, she pulled back, her piercing gray eyes searching his.

Lucifer smirked. “Satisfied?”

Athena scoffed, but there was a slight flush on her cheeks. “Hardly.”

Lucifer chuckled, slipping his hands back into his coat pockets. “You’ll have plenty of time for that.”

Athena tilted her head. “So, it’s that simple? Just like that, I’m yours again?”

Lucifer’s eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. “You were always mine, Athena. Whether you admitted it or not.”

She exhaled, shaking her head with a smirk. “Cocky as ever.”

Lucifer shrugged. “It’s part of my charm.”

Athena rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she turned slightly, gazing out at the vast horizon. The wind tugged at her golden armor, and for a long moment, she said nothing.

Lucifer studied her, his smirk fading slightly. “You’re thinking about something.”

Athena let out a quiet laugh. “Is that surprising?”

“No,” Lucifer said smoothly. “But I want to know what’s on your mind.”

She sighed, crossing her arms. “It’s just… I didn’t think it would feel this easy.”

Lucifer raised a brow. “Doubting your decision already?”

Athena shot him a look. “Not in the slightest.”

Lucifer smirked again. “Good.”

Another pause. Then, Athena turned to face him fully.

“Tell me something,” she said. “Did you ever—” She hesitated, just for a second, before pressing forward. “Did you ever regret letting me go back then?”

Lucifer’s expression didn’t change, but the amusement in his gaze dimmed slightly. His answer was immediate.

“No.”

Athena’s brow furrowed slightly. “No?”

Lucifer stepped closer, closing the space between them once more. “I don’t regret what’s necessary, Athena.” His voice was quieter now, but firm. “You weren’t ready. I knew that. Forcing you to stay would have been meaningless.”

Athena searched his eyes. “And if I had never come back?”

Lucifer smirked. “Then I would have waited.”

Athena’s breath hitched again, but she masked it well. Almost well enough.

Almost.

Lucifer caught it.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. “Did that fluster you, goddess?”

Athena scoffed, turning her head away. “Please.”

Lucifer chuckled. “You can lie to yourself, but not to me.”

She huffed. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, here you are.”

Athena shook her head, but she was smiling.

Lucifer reached for her hand, his fingers brushing over hers before entwining them fully. Athena didn’t pull away.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s go inside. The others will want to see you.”

Athena raised a brow. “All of them?”

Lucifer smirked. “You’ll have to face them sooner or later.”

Athena sighed dramatically. “Might as well be now, then.”

Lucifer chuckled, pulling her forward. As they walked back toward the grand hall, the wind carried his final words through the air—

“Welcome home, Athena.”

The grand hall was alive with soft murmurs and flickering lantern light, the golden glow casting long shadows across the obsidian floor. As Lucifer and Athena stepped inside, the air shifted.

They were waiting.

Aphrodite, lounging lazily with a cup of nectar, her golden curls spilling over one shoulder. Bast, perched on the edge of a marble seat, her feline eyes watching with mild amusement. Hestia, ever warm, offering a knowing smile. Amaterasu, poised yet unreadable, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.

And then—Medusa.

She sat slightly apart from the others, her emerald eyes sharp, her presence impossible to ignore. The air around her felt different, heavier. The snakes in her hair shifted subtly, their movements slow, almost unnoticeable.

Athena stopped.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Medusa met her gaze, unblinking.

Athena’s fingers twitched at her side. She had known this would happen. There was no avoiding it.

Lucifer, standing beside her, said nothing. He let the moment unfold.

Aphrodite, sensing the tension, swirled the nectar in her cup. “Well, this should be interesting.”

Hestia shot her a look. “Not now.”

Aphrodite only smirked.

Medusa was the first to speak. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like a blade hidden beneath silk.

“So,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “You’re back.”

Athena nodded. “I am.”

Medusa leaned back, crossing her arms. “And?”

Athena inhaled slowly. “And I’m here to stay.”

Medusa’s gaze didn’t waver. The snakes in her hair moved again, slower this time. “I see.”

Silence.

It stretched, thick and heavy.

Lucifer watched, his expression unreadable. The others remained still, waiting.

Athena finally spoke. “I know you hate me.”

Medusa’s lips curved slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. “Do you?”

Athena held her ground. “I know what I did to you. I know it was unfair.”

Medusa let out a quiet laugh. “Unfair?” Her voice was almost amused, almost. “That’s an interesting choice of words.”

Athena’s jaw tightened. “It was wrong.”

Medusa’s eyes flickered. Something in her expression shifted. “Say that again.”

Athena met her gaze without hesitation. “It was wrong.”

The room felt colder.

Medusa exhaled, slow and measured. “And yet, it happened.”

Athena didn’t look away. “Yes.”

Medusa studied her for a long moment. Then, she stood.

The movement was graceful, controlled.

She took a step forward. Then another.

Athena remained still as Medusa closed the distance between them.

The others watched, silent.

Medusa stopped, standing inches away. The air between them was charged, electric.

Then—

Medusa leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You think words can erase centuries, Athena?”

Athena’s fingers curled into fists. “No.”

Medusa held her gaze a second longer before leaning back. “Good. At least you’re not a fool.”

Athena exhaled sharply. “Medusa—”

Medusa turned away before she could finish. “I don’t forgive you.”

The words were final, sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

Athena swallowed, her expression unreadable.

Lucifer, watching from the side, finally spoke. His voice was smooth, but there was something unreadable in it.

“Will that be a problem?”

Medusa glanced at him. “No.”

Athena looked at her. “Then where does that leave us?”

Medusa didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked past Athena, her footsteps silent against the polished floor.

As she reached the far end of the room, she finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

“Time will decide that.”

Then, without another word, she was gone.

The room remained still long after she left.