Chapter 124 – Lullaby
He looked softer than she imagined. Still hot, of course—Sira wasn’t wrong—but not in that terrifying incubi way. More like... dangerous comfort. Like hugging a panther that decided to nap instead of murder.
She smiled.
Then reached out and booped his nose.
"Boop."
Lux didn’t stir.
She pouted slightly.
"Sleep really is precious," she whispered, resting her chin on the edge of the bed now. "Especially for you, I guess."
She didn’t say anything for a while after that.
Just watched him.
It wasn’t creepy—well, maybe a little. But her expression wasn’t one of obsession. It was gentle. Curious. Familiar, even. Like soone watching their favorite mont in a film they’ve seen ten tis but still love.
He stirred a little.
She gasped quietly and backed up, nearly tripping over her own foot. "Eep—!"
He mumbled.
"...forgiveness slls like bottled clouds..."
The girl blinked.
Then smiled softly again. "You dream weird..."
Lux turned to the side and buried his face deeper into the pillow.
She nodded solemnly.
"Okay. I’ll just... wait."
She sat down cross-legged beside the bed.
Pulled a tiny book from her sleeve.
And started to hum.
A sleepy tune.
A lullaby.
Of course.
Her na was Lullaby, after all.
Daughter of Sloth. High Noble of the Slumbering Vein. Sleep magic specialist. Ranked third in "most likely to nap through an apocalypse." Sohow always late but never out of breath.
That was Lullaby.
And right now, she was exactly where she wasn’t supposed to be—cross-legged on a penthouse floor in the mortal realm, in a suite that slled like spiced coffee and sin, humming to a very unconscious devil.
Her hum trailed off.
She paused mid-verse, eyes drifting back toward the bed where Lux lay, half-draped in a blanket like soone who fought wars in the morning and kissed angels in the afternoon.
Which, knowing him, was probably true.
Lullaby tilted her head again. Her cheeks were flushed a warm peach, and her fingers kept nervously fiddling with the edge of her skirt. She didn’t look dangerous. She looked like soone who had wandered into the wrong room but decided she liked the curtains and stayed anyway.
Her voice broke the silence at last—soft, quiet, like a dream trying not to wake soone.
"This is the first ti I see you relax," she said with a sleepy grin. "And the first ti I see you not rushing around."
He didn’t respond, of course.
Still very much asleep.
His chest rose and fell gently, that rhythm so steady it was kind of hypnotic. She could feel how deep he was in slumber. Not just physically, but ntally—completely detached. The kind of sleep you only fall into when the world stops spinning long enough for your mind to catch up.
She rested her chin on her knees again.
And sighed happily.
"Lucky pillow..." she mumbled, glancing at the bed with a tiny spark of envy.
Inside, though? Her thoughts were way more chaotic than her outside let on.
’Okay okay okay... don’t panic. He’s asleep. That’s perfect. That’s safe. He can’t see your face lting right now. Or how weirdly nice he slls. Or how you just want to—’
She blinked down at him.
’I want to boop him again. Or kiss him. Well, kiss him sounds better.’
She squeezed her hands into tiny fists, fighting the urge like it was a final boss battle.
’He looks so relaxed. Not scary at all. Just... cute. Soft. Well, not soft—definitely firm. Like, all those muscles are not just for show. But like. Soft emotionally. Maybe. Under all the danger and devil-grin and—ugh, stop thinking about his lips. Stop it, brain. Stop it.’
She made a small noise.
Then covered her face with her sleeves.
Her whole body felt like a warm kettle about to whistle. Steam-brain. Overload. Every ti she peeked at him, it just got worse.
’This is bad. Why did Sira tell about this?’
Her internal voice was already a frantic whisper as she squished her face into her long sleeves.
’It was like she told to "go check on him, he might need a nap buddy." That sounds innocent... But Sira never says innocent things unless she’s plotting world domination or matchmaking.’
She peeked through the fabric at Lux again, face hot enough to power a tea set.
He hadn’t moved. Yet. Still dozing like so unfairly attractive final boss of soone’s romantic arc. His ssy hair, the way his lips just barely parted in sleep, the stupid peacefulness in that face that had no business looking this calm after a celestial ambush—
’But... Sira also likes him, right?’
The thought drifted in uninvited. Soft. Like a raindrop sliding down a stained-glass window.
’I an, she acts like she does. Even if she pretends she doesn’t. She’s always teasing him, flirting, poking, pushing... Playing.’
Her brows knit together, sleeves pressed to her mouth.
’She plays with him too much.’
Lullaby felt a small pang in her chest. It wasn’t jealousy—well, okay, maybe 5%. But mostly it was sothing quieter. Sadder.
’Poor Lux. He gets pulled in by her fire and then left with the smoke. Always on edge. Always performing. Like he’s never allowed to just... be.’
Her throat tightened a little. She looked at him again, softer now.
’He shouldn’t have to keep his guard up all the ti. He looks so tired.’
She clutched her knees to her chest, curling tighter like a marshmallow ball of emotional crisis.
’If I were brave, I’d tell him that. I’d say, "Hey. You don’t need to be anything else here. You can rest." But I’m not brave. I’m Lullaby. I sing people to sleep and trip on rugs. That’s my whole brand.’
She sighed.
A real one.
Soft and full of too much unspoken.
His hair was slightly ssy.
His expression was still so calm.
’I could stay here forever, she thought without aning to. Just... watching.’
But she knew that wasn’t an option.
Even if her heart wanted to lt into the floor.
Even if sothing about seeing him like this—unguarded, real, not flirting or deflecting or manipulating—made sothing quietly ache inside her chest.
User Comments
0 comments from readers