I close my eyes. "Tell me."
"Your pregnancy..." He pauses, choosing words carefully. "Our child is special, Samantha. The first child born of an immortal and a mortal in millennia. Maybe longer. No one's entirely sure."
"Special how?"
"She'll be born with power. The ability to bring joy or despair on a massive scale. To tip the balance of the world in one direction or another, depending on how she's raised. What she's taught. Who gets to her first."
His words settle over me like ice water. I press both hands to my belly, protective, terrified. "Who wants to get to her?"
Nick's jaw tightens. "There's a demon faction. They want to turn her into an anti-Santa. Someone who spreads misery and suffering instead of joy. They think they can corrupt her, shape her into something dark."
"And?" Because there's definitely an 'and' in his voice.
"A rogue sect of angels. They want to weaponize her power. Control it. Use her as a tool for their own agenda."
My hands clamp down on my stomach. The baby shifts, pressing against my palm like she can feel every bit of my fear.
"Hey." Nick moves, one hand covering mine on my belly, the other tipping my chin up until I have to look at him. His eyes are fierce, burning with something that makes my breath catch. "Listen to me. No one touches you. No one even looks at you or our child the wrong way. I don't care who they are or what they think they want. If anyone tries, if anyone so much as thinks about hurting you, I will destroy them."
A shiver runs through me. His words should terrify me. Maybe they do, a little. But there’s something else under the fear, something hot and bright in my chest. Because I know he means it. I can see it in his eyes. It's the kind of fury that would burn the world down before letting anyone touch us.
"Nick..."
"I mean it." His voice drops lower, deadly serious. "I will tear apart anyone who threatens you. I don't care if it's demons, angels, or something in between. I will end them."
The baby does another slow roll, like she's listening. Like she understands.
Before I can answer, before I can even process how his words make me feel safe and terrified and something else I can’t name, Nick moves. He shifts me, careful as anything, gathering me into his lap like I’m breakable. His arms come around me, solid and warm. I know I should protest. Should hang onto some dignity, some distance.
But I’m just so tired.
And for the first time in months, I actually feel safe.
"I'm not leaving again," he whispers against my hair. "I'm going to take care of you. Both of you. Always. Do you hear me?"
I nod, because words are beyond me right now.
"If anyone tries to take you from me, I'll destroy both heaven and hell to get you back." His hand strokes my hair, gentle and soothing. "You're mine to protect now. You and our baby. Nothing is ever going to change that."
The baby settles, all her wild movement gone. Just a gentle, steady pressure against my ribs.
My eyes get heavy. The exhaustion I’ve been fighting for months crashes over me, and Nick’s heartbeat under my ear is steady and sure.
"Sleep," he says softly. "I've got you. I'm not going anywhere."
I want to stay awake. Want to ask more questions, demand answers, figure out what happens next. But my body has other plans, and the safety of his arms is stronger than any willpower I’ve got left.
The last thing I feel before sleep drags me under is the baby shifting one more time, settling in like she’s finally found what she’s been looking for.
And maybe she has.
Maybe we both have.
Chapter Nine
Nick
The apartment hums with magic.
