“Ahh, when debt works in your favor. As long as my payments come on time.” I sighed in relief.
“Asshole. What was the gift that Faunus whispered to you?” He shoved at my arm and my cheeks warmed.
“I’ve not tested my powers yet but he, uh… He has given us control over your fertile times. So that we are the ones that get to choose when we have children. He gave me the ability to shift my body more…” I cleared my throat.
“He didn’t mess with your…did he? I like it the way it is.” Esmeray lifted my blanket, and I patted his hands away with a wheeze.
“No! He just gave me the option of matching your drive. Apparently, you want more frequently than I offer, and he made sure I had the ability to tell when you’re interested more.” I twisted my blankets in my fists. “But you chose me again. Given freedom, you wanted me, still.”
“Well, yeah? What part ofI love youdo you not comprehend?” Esmeray huffed and grabbed my hands with his fiercely hot ones, blood flowing with hellfire.
“What part of hybrid do you not—” I flinched when he smacked my hand and glared.
“Demigod. You’re a fucking demigod. Always have been. And even if you were a hybrid, I’d love you.” His eyes watered.
“I love you too.” He pulled me in and we kissed, mouths crashing as if we’d been starved of touch—which we kind of had. “Mff! Wait!”
A sharp pain radiated down my groin and leg as Esmeray shuffled away with wide eyes. “What? Are you hurt—a—”
“Nerves of steel over here. Don’t get frisky with a catheter in.” The nurse returned, bustling about as she threw a clipboard on my lap and worked to pull out my IV line and shooed Esmeray off as she went right to business working on the plumbing with an utterlyviolatingtwist, clip, and tug that had me shuddering with revulsion.
Esmeray paled, and I was certain I did too. And to make matters worse, my curtain flew back just as my father-in-law waltzed his way in with a flourish. “Good afternoon, my favorite son-in-law!”
Draevus glanced from the nurse, urine-locked tube in hand, to me, and then Esmeray. “I missed the fun part.”
“Father!” Esmeray flopped into a chair to the side.
“Well, I had to have a reward for the good news.” Draevus dismissed the nurse with a hand wave and she gave him a fierce glare as she scuttled out.
“To what do I owe the honor?” I ensured I was covered and huffed with discomfort at the lingering sensation. “Gods alive, things werenotmeant to go in there.”
“Eh,” Esmeray and Draevus said at the same time.
“Filing that away for later.” I flicked my brows and huffed.
“So, getting off such asoundtopic, would you be interested in hearing some juicy gossip?” Draevus sat on the end of the bed and crossed his legs.
“Infinitely.” I pulled my feet back to give him room to settle and gave Esmeray an apologetic look.
“Well, The Church felt you didn’t honor the contract and sent someone in the jail to pester our little Esmeray.” Draevus rubbed his hands together. “A jailer. He had holymace, one of those little pepper-spray canisters with holy water. Damnedest thing, his gun went off in his holster and shot his kneecap.”
“Good for him.” I nodded sagely.
“Well, it gets better. They sent someone into the hospital to do you harm after you started breathing in the ambulance. Damnedest thing.” Draevus kicked his feet and giggled. “Demonic contracts backfire if broken. They broke it. Anything they do in retribution will fall on them double their intent.”
I sighed with relief. “So, we’re safe.”
“Looks like it. Unless they have friends who, through no provocation, want to take revenge.” Draevus shrugged. “Still not letting you two move out until the other house is renovated and security is complete. And I’m done with the mess I found in the basement.” His face warped into a sneer.
“Shouldn’t we be doing that? I mean, I appreciate you doing all this for us, but I can afford it.” I nudged Draevus with my foot, and he shook his head. “Consider it a gift for my beloved firstborn grandson.”
“Speaking of.” Esmeray didn’t look at either of us. “Your dearest papa imparted upon me some words I need to verify with a hell-borne cleric.”
My heart skipped a beat, chest going cold. Draevus whipped his head around, eyes wide and ready for pain.
Esmeray shuddered. “Look at our shadows.”
My gaze drifted with Draevus’s, and we stared at the perfect shape of his shadow. No little horns or fuzzy edges, no sense of being stared back at. I checked my own and found it just as lifeless. “Ausmius…”
