Twice Into The Devil

There were three kinds of danger in this world. The kind you saw coming. The kind you ignored. And the kind that smiled while ruining you. Ronan Ashbourne belonged to the third. The music inside Velvet Howl pounded like a second heartbeat beneath my skin.

Bodies moved wildly beneath crimson lights while smoke curled through the air like restless ghosts. Laughter echoed. Glasses clinked. Sin practically breathed through the walls of the club.

And somewhere inside all that chaos my heart was still breaking over Kael. I hated myself for it. Hated the way three careless words from him kept replaying inside my head.

She's not my type. Funny how rejection could feel like someone quietly carving open your ribs.

"Want another drink?" Candice shouted over the music. I shook my head immediately, lifting my water glass. She groaned dramatically. "One day, I'm forcing you to have fun."

"I am having fun."

"You look like you're attending a funeral."

Honestly?

Fair.

Candice laughed before getting dragged toward the dance floor by two girls from our class. And just like that I was alone. Again.

My eyes betrayed me immediately, searching the crowded club until they landed on Kael. Still with Juliette. Still looking devastatingly beautiful beneath the dim lights. Still ruining my peace without even trying. I looked away quickly. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.I grabbed my phone from my bag, desperate for distraction Five missed calls from Dad.

"Crap."

Guilt hit instantly. I pushed through the crowd, trying to find somewhere quieter to call him back. The further I walked from the dance floor, the quieter the music became. Eventually, I reached the darker side corridor near the VIP lounges. And that was when I saw them.A girl pinned against the wall. A man towering over her. His hand gripped her waist tightly while his mouth moved against her neck slowly enough to make my face heat.

My eyes widened immediately.

"Oh my God-"

My phone started ringing at the worst possible moment.The ringtone echoed loudly through the hallway. The girl groaned in annoyance. But the man?

He slowly lifted his head.

And looked directly at me.

Everything inside me froze.

Dark hair.

Black shirt.

Sharp jawline.

Eyes so dark they looked almost unreal beneath the crimson light.

It was him. The rude stranger from earlier. The same man I had accidentally bumped into after running from Kael. Only now he somehow looked even more dangerous. Annoyance flashed across his face first.Then amusement.

"Well," he drawled lazily, voice rough and deep, "either fate loves you or you seriously enjoy interrupting me."

The girl beside him glared at me. "Seriously?"

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered quickly. "I didn't know anyone was here."

I turned immediately, mortified.

"Wait."

His voice stopped me instantly. God. Why was his voice so unfair? Slowly, I looked back. He had stepped away from the girl now, one hand sliding into the pocket of his black jeans while his dark gaze remained fixed on me.

"You."

I blinked.

"What?"

"The girl who nearly crashed into me earlier." The corner of his lips lifted slightly. "And now this."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Right. Because this was technically the second time I had bumped into him tonight. Wonderful.

"Trust me," I muttered, "none of this was intentional." The girl beside him scoffed dramatically before storming away in irritation. He didn't even try stopping her. Instead he kept staring at me. Not flirtatiously. Not politely. Intensely. Like he was memorizing me.

"You cry quietly," he said suddenly.

My breath caught.

"What?"

"When girls cry around me, they usually want attention." His gaze flickered toward my glossy eyes. "You were trying to hide it." Embarrassment crawled up my throat instantly.

"I wasn't crying."

A lie. Terrible one. A slow smirk appeared on his face. "Liar."

I crossed my arms defensively. "And you're arrogant."

"True."

"At least you're self-aware."

A low chuckle escaped him. God. That sound should honestly be illegal. "You don't belong in places like this," he murmured.The statement instantly irritated me. I frowned. "Excuse me?"

His gaze slowly moved over my oversized shirt, jeans, tied-up hair, and nervous posture.

"You still look untouched." I stared at him in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everyone here is trying too hard to become something." His eyes returned to mine. "You still look like yourself." The answer caught me off guard. Before I could respond, my phone rang again. Dad. Right. I answered quickly.

"Dad?"

"Lyra." His worried voice instantly softened my guilt. "Where are you?"

"At a party with Selene."

"A party?" He sounded horrified already. "Where?"

I looked away from the stranger before answering carefully.

"At Velvet Howl."

A pause.

Then a sigh.

"You scared your mother. You weren't answering."

"Sorry." I leaned against the wall quietly. "I'm okay."

"Come home soon."

"I will."

"And Lyra?"

"Hm?"

"Stay away from the Ashbourne brothers tonight." My brows furrowed immediately.

"What?"

But he had already disconnected. I lowered my phone slowly. Unease crawled beneath my skin.

"Trouble at home?" the stranger asked casually.

I looked up at him.

"You were listening?"

"You were standing three feet away."

Fair enough.

I sighed softly before straightening.

"I should go."

I took one step and accidentally collided directly into him again. A startled gasp escaped me as my body hit his chest. For one humiliating second his hands caught my waist automatically.

Again.

Warm.

Strong.

Dangerous.

The scent of cedarwood and smoke wrapped around me instantly. My pulse stumbled violently.

"You really do enjoy bumping into me," he murmured near my ear. Heat exploded across my face.

"I hate tonight."

His chest vibrated slightly beneath my hands. He was laughing. Actually laughing. Mortified, I pushed away from him immediately. And that was when he noticed the small silver moon pendant around my neck. His expression shifted slightly. Interest. Recognition.

"What's your name?"

I hesitated. Something about him screamed bad idea.

Still...

"Lyra."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"Lyra Whitmore?"

I blinked in surprise. "How do you know my last name?"

A slow smile appeared on his face.

Beautiful.

Cruel.

"Oh," he murmured softly, "this just became interesting."

Before I could ask what that meant-

voices erupted from the main floor.

"Ronan Ashbourne!"

The entire club exploded into cheers.

My eyes widened.

Ronan Ashbourne?

The returning heir?

Slowly

very slowly

I looked back at the man standing in front of me.

His smirk deepened.

"Surprised, baby?"

I stared at him in horror.

No.

Absolutely not.

This arrogant, irritating, dangerously attractive man

was Ronan Ashbourne?

"You," I whispered.

"Yeah." He leaned closer slightly. "Me."

Then he winked.

And God help me

I realized the devil had just smiled at me twice tonight.