Morning did not bring rest
Lucifer left the upper chamber well before the twin moons had been swallowed, dressed and was headed down to the deep recovery halls. The palace was awake in the anxious way that it only did when bad news was to be received. The guards took up more stringent posts, origin messenger couriers took tight, purposeful routes within their hush and the air itself seemed braced to receive the news.
Damaris and Lilith had been allocated a sealed off recovery chamber close to the central wards. As Lucifer walked into the chamber the pair were already sitting up, their faces still pinched with exhaustion but the immediate shock of the fight past them. Under their skin, lingering currents of authority swam through their bones and muscles.
Damaris assessed him as evenly as she watched her chains stretch at the edges of the enclave. 'You didn't sleep long.'
