Violet's POV
( Sinn Estate )

Ion was busy on his phone, talking with Kent Greystone and for once, I decided not to just stick around.

Getting up, I walked to the closet and slipped into a turquoise satin embroidered, Chinese curve-hugging dress. There were multicolored flowers and peacocks that looked absolutely stunning. The embroidery was simply amazing. How he knew my size, I'll never know.

Sliding the black silk thigh-high stockings on, I slipped into a pair of black stilettos and stepped out from behind the closet door. When Ion's jaw dropped, I knew I had achieved my objective. "I'm going to go visit Liam while you take your calls, okay?" Nodding, he kept on talking to Kent as he unlocked his security on the door. Leaning toward him I stood on my toes and kissed him softly on the cheek before turning and entering the hall.

There were huge painted portraits on the walls of the hallway, in ornate old-style frames. When I looked at them closely, I was amazed that the people weren't real. The cool air of the hallway chilled my arms as the short cap sleeves of the dress didn't cover much. My heels clicked on the parquet floor as I finally reached the door at the end and raising my hand, I knocked. There was no answer. Turning the doorknob, I found it unlocked and stuck my head inside. The walls were white and so was the furniture. His personal canvas, maybe? I wondered... "Hello?!" My voice kinda echoed through his rooms.

When I was about to turn away and leave, I caught the faint tinny sound of music from earbuds. Entering the room, I noticed that the ceiling was dome-shaped, so much white catching light from windows all over the place. They were storm glass and double-paned. It was wide, open, and airy in his main room of couches and tables. "Liam?" I called out softly. As I rounded the corner of his also white bedroom, I could see him sitting on a stool in front of a tall canvas, wearing his earbuds.

"Yeah...um...what is it?" He quickly pulled the cloth over his work of art and pulled out his earbuds.

Looking at the cloth I asked a bit shyly, "Oh wow, can I see?" He seemed to weigh the idea in his mind first.

"I'm not in the practice of showing my work before it's done...but in your case, I'll make an exception." He pulled back the cloth and I gasped in pleasant surprise. It was a full-length portrait of me. I never thought I could look so good.

I think he read my silence as something bad because he tried to cover it back up but I wouldn't let him. "My God, Liam! This is all from memory alone... It's amazing!" When I turned to look at him closely, he was blushing through a few paint streaks on his face.

Wiping his hands on a cloth he'd pulled from the easel, he grinned up at me. "So, what's up pretty lady?" As I looked down, in embarrassment, I heard him chuckle, amused.

"I just wanted to check and see that you were alright. Poor guy, you keep getting banged up." I touched his cheek and his eyes closed. Groaning like he was frustrated or something. When I glanced down at his jeans, I knew why.

He opened his eyes and they were crimson red. Grasping my wrists he held them to his chest. "I'm sorry, Violet. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, myself either for that matter." He kindly let me go and stepped back a way. "Please understand, this has nothing to do with you. It's not easy living with Ion nearby. Him being lust and all. So catching his scent on you...I want you that much more, damn him." He said, with a carefree smirk.

My eyes widened as I began to understand. "You knew he would tell me, then?"

"Well, yeah. We're brothers, what do you expect? Plus, I could tell he was falling for you hard." What he said made perfect sense, but I wondered if he knew yet...

"Have you tried taking your demon form yet? I love the sight of Ion's wings..." He looked at me as if I had lost my mind, then his eyes grew wide.

"Oh my God! Are you serious? You've him that much, already?" Closing his eyes in concentration,  two huge black wings formed behind him tearing the shirt right off his back as they opened, pain etched on his face.

"What is it, Liam? How can I help?" Then it hit me: his tail. Picking up the pocket knife he'd been using to mix the paints on his palette I wiped it on his jeans and grabbed hold of the back loop to tighten up the material. "Hold your wings out Liam, I don't want to accidentally cut them." Laying the blade to the seam I gently made an opening along the seam. Within seconds he pushed his tail through and sighed with relief.

"Damn girl! Thanks for the quick thinkin'! Oh my God, that feels much better!" Turning to me, he grinned and picked me up bridal style. While walking to his balcony. "These wings have been useless since We lost our powers. We're only two stories up with lots of hedges below to catch us. Wanna try?" Without waiting, he jumped over the railing while I held on for dear life.

AHHHH!!!!!! I screamed.

The hedges came closer and closer until he flipped his flight feathers and we took off soaring.

What a rush! No wonder why he wanted to try his powers this way! I looked at him and giggled as we rounded the corner of the estate. "Faster!" I called to him over the roar of the wind. He obliged until we came around the front and saw that Kent and Layla were just stepping out of their car. Uh oh.

We flew faster alright. Straight back up to his balcony. "What do you think is going on?" I asked him, getting a bit nervous.

He grinned and after settling me back with my feet on the ground, took me by the hand into his main room. Punching a button on the wall, a huge 90" screen came down from the ceiling by the couches.

Once he had me settled on the couch, he sat down next to me and reached into the cabinet on his left side. After a moment, he pulled out a keyboard remote that turned the TV on and allowed him to scan the cameras in the lower rooms.

In the main room off of the foyer, I could see Ion making his way to the doors. As they opened, surprisingly enough Layla launched herself into his arms, while Kent smiled. "Looks like they know now, too." I watched unable to look away, jealousy hitting me a bit hard.

"Yeah, it sure does..." I mumbled as I got up. "Thank you for taking me flying, and Liam? With that painting...you do exquisite work. Sorry, but I think I should go."

"But, Violet–" he tried to say as I closed the four behind me and began the long walk back to Ion's room. I knew I shouldn't feel this way, but I couldn't help it.

Keying myself back into Ion's room, I noticed the scent of something burning. Quickly I checked the rooms and went to poke at the fireplace where the wood was no longer burning. "That's strange." Then I heard the rustle of material.

Spinning around with the poker still in my hand, I found myself face to face with the most incredibly handsome man I had ever seen. He was about 6' 4" with broad shoulders and muscular arms that pulled on the material of his black suit. The black shirt and bright red tie gave him an intimidating factor. His hair was shoulder length and slicked back showing off his angelic features. A wide forehead, long aquiline nose with a strong jaw, and lips you wanted to kiss forever.

My breath hitched in my throat when he opened his bright blue eyes and smiled. "So, this is what you want? To be with a demon?" His deep velvety voice made me shiver with unwanted desire.

Slow to recover, I just gaped at him for a moment. "Ion is who I want, yes," I replied quietly. I got the feeling that whoever this guy was, he was extremely dangerous so I lowered my gaze. "May I ask who you are, and what are you doing in Ion's room?" He shook his head and pushing away from the dresser, he walked around me in a slow circle.

"I came to meet you, obviously. Let's just say I am Ion's boss." My eyes shot up to his, the desire for him hard to hold back.

"So you felt it happen, then? Huh, Lucifer?" He grabbed me by the jaw and slammed me back against the wall.

Tears formed in the corners of my eyes as he squeezed hard, leaning down so his warm breath was felt with every word. "You will not get smart with me like that again. If you do, there will be painful consequences." He let go of me and I stumbled back in fear. "I will leave you for now. But there will come a time very soon when you will do my bidding." He smiled as he Turned around he walked into the shadows of the room and disappeared.

Keying the door, I ran from the room and stood at the balcony. "ION!!" I yelled out with urgency and fear in my voice.

Stepping out from the main room, Ion took one look at me and knew something was majorly wrong. "Hang on, Violet!" He called up to me as he took to the stairs two at a time.

When he stepped up onto the landing, I flew into his arms and told him about Lucifer. My body shook as I cried against his shoulder. "This is not good. He rarely comes topside anymore." He paused for a moment as he stroked my hair. "Come, we must tell the others." Turning toward the security cameras he mouthed the words, "Liam, get your ass downstairs NOW!!"