I sighed. "Well, whatever the reason, we have to put all our efforts into getting Lucian back to Hell, and that means I must have this child."
Rubbing my stomach, I considered how it would feel to not have her inside me. To not have my constant companion. "I've been looking online at adoption agencies. I hacked into a few. I can't find anyone I like more than Anna, especially now that Michael has given her his approval."
Gabe nodded. "He told me."
"Come back tomorrow morning as soon as Lucian goes to work. Give me time to come to terms with this." I closed my eyes and set my jaw. "Bring Sandalphon and be–" My voice hitched as I spoke. "Be prepared to help me go into labor."
Michael pulled me tighter against his chest, and the three of us sat in silence while I cried. "I wish I had Lucifer," I whispered. "Why can't we give him his memories back the way you did mine?"
"I tried," Gabe said. "Several times. Whoever put this spell on him has his natural personality locked up so tight I can't break it. They'll have to undo it."
Michael nodded, his chin bumping the top of my head as he held me. "I haven't tried, but we'll do it tomorrow with our three powers combined. It should be plenty of power. There are no angels more powerful than any of us, so the combined will, might be enough."
"Should we do it before we deliver?" I asked.
They were silent as they mulled the options. "No," Gabe said finally. "If it goes wrong or doesn't work, it might delay us, and we've got to get this all done fast."
I hated the idea of not having Lucifer by my side when I delivered his daughter. I'd have to make it up to him later. He would've been so excited to know he was having a little girl.
We stayed on the couch, with Gabe squeezing in next to me until I fell asleep. When I woke, I was curled around Lucian with the baby kicking him merrily in the back. I took the magic off of him, so he'd wake naturally when his alarm went off for work, then let the tears flow as I tried to fall back to sleep.
It never came, so I spent the rest of the night talking to Turtle in my mind and telling her all the ways I would've spoiled her and loved her. I tried to imbibe my words with a little magic so it would imprint on her tiny mind, but I wasn't sure if it worked. All I could do was try.
20
Constance-Lilith
Ihad to catch Anna and her boyfriend early before she went to work. I had her number. I'd swiped a business card from her kitchen. She made jewelry and sold it on the side. I'd found her craft room, then her business cards.
"Anna?" I said in a quiet voice while Lucian was in the shower. "This is Constance Morlock. You were my nurse in the hospital." I couldn't put the whammy on her over the phone, but if I could talk her into meeting me, I could do it in person. Humans were susceptible to magic. I was fairly sure mine would be enough, but I could have Michael or Gabriel intervene if necessary.
"Hello, Constance. How did you get this number?"
I went with honesty, to a point. "Your jewelry business."
She didn't reply immediately. She was uncomfortable. I'd been worried about that. I should've had one of the guys zap me to her house and done this in person. Oh, well, too late now.
"Anna, I need to meet with you. It's vitally important."
She cleared her throat. "Constance, this is highly inappropriate. If you need medical care, why don't you just go to the hospital?"
"I don't need medical care, but it is a matter of life and death. Please. I'll be alone, and you can have your boyfriend there. In fact, I'd prefer it if you did."
She hemmed and hawed for a moment. "I don't know if I can do that."
"Anna, listen." I put as much serious emphasis on it as I could. "I will be at your house at three. I will be alone. All I ask is that you give me time to explain, then you can slam the door in my face."
The seconds ticked by heavy on my heart as I waited for her to reply.
"How do you know where I live?"
I sighed. "I promise, Anna. I mean you no harm. I need your help."
When I said that, she sighed. "Okay, Constance, but I'll have the police on speed dial. If you try anything, I'm calling them."
"I promise, no harm will come to you. I just need help, desperately."
She didn't respond, so I continued. "Thank you, Anna. I'll see you at three."
