"Now, my sons, you grow stronger."
Lilith's voice carried gently across the chamber. Not commanding. Not cold. Just soft. Like a whisper trying to comfort.
But it hit Lucifer like a blade.
He stood still — dead still — eyes locked on her.
His voice came low, sharp.
"Don't ever call me that."
Lilith blinked.
Just once.
Lucifer stepped forward, his shadow curling unnaturally beneath him.
"I'm not your son. Not in any way that matters."
"You gave birth to me — fine. You did that. But don't act like that means something now."
His voice didn't rise, but the weight behind it crushed the silence.
"You weren't there when I was bleeding in the streets. You weren't there when I got hunted like a dog for something I didn't understand. You didn't see me dying, freezing, choking on blood I didn't know was mine."
"You weren't there when I turned."
His eyes burned, not with power, but memory.
