Although that was the last thing I wanted to do. Especially now that there was the added problem of Lilth’s impossible pregnancy. That scared me even more than the weakening gates.
I adjusted my position on the tree branch and stared out at their home, that strange pang of guilt and loneliness echoing inside of me. Was he holding her even now? And was there even a tiny part of Lilith that remembered me and missed me too?
Sariel appeared at my side, and I stiffened, not liking the appearance of the other angel in a place that felt private.
He turned dark eyes onto me, his lips pulling into a thin line. “Have you awakened their memories yet?”
Every muscle in my body felt tense. “Not yet, but I will.”
He shook his head and crossed his arms in front of his chest, his black wings almost shadows behind him. “If we don’t bring them back soon, it’ll be too late.”
“I know but--”The child. The words formed on my lips and then disappeared. I was keeping the fact that Lilith was pregnant on a need-to-know basis.
So basically, only I knew. As far as the other angels, Fallen, and demons were concerned, Lucifer simply hadn’t died when he should have and I hadn’t restored their memories yet. For no good reason.
I sighed again. Their memories had to be awakened. The moment the child inside of Lilith could be viable, she and Lucifer had to shed their human forms and return to their thrones.
What would become of the child? It was something I fought not to think about. I loved my woman. I loved every part of her, including the child. But the fact that she was cursed to never have a baby and was now miraculously pregnant, didn’t bode well for any of us.
“More demons are escaping with every second that passes.”
I didn’t need the reminder. “I said I’ll take care of it.”
Sariel shook his head. “No more coming to them as an owl. No more waiting, for whatever reason you have. It’s time for the king and queen to return.”
I wished angels were allowed to smack each other. “I’ll do it. Tomorrow.”
Let my Lilth have one more night with Lucifer in his tame human lifetime. Let her have one more night of not knowing her neighbor Adam was really her lover Michael. And one more night of feeling like a pregnant human woman. Because soon? Soon she would lose it all.
5
Constance
It was poker night with the boys, and I was doing my best to throw together some snacks. I had pizza rolls cooking, beers chilling, chips and yummy snacks, and as the oven dinged that the pizza rolls were done, I pulled them out and put some battered pickles in. Then, setting the timer, I washed my hands and headed to join the guys in the dining room. Lucian, our neighbor Adam, and my husband’s insurance buddies always included me, and I always liked making them snacks. Especially when they looked at me like I'd hung the moon for setting a bowl of pretzels in front of them.
My chair was between Lucian and Adam tonight, which was fine. Even though Adam had a way of getting under my skin, he was more concerned-annoying, rather than a bit arrogant like Lucian’s other friends. As I leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen, I glanced over at Adam, who was staring at his hand of cards. Adam was sweet in a lot of ways, affectionate, and one of those big teddy bear kind of guys, but ever since I got pregnant he’d been treating me like I was made of glass. And I might be as big as a house, but I was definitely not fragile.
Internally sighing, I waddled over to them and collapsed into the chair, glad to be off my feet, even if I knew I was going to have to deal with Adam’s mothering.
He instantly closed the cards in his hand and his gaze locked on me, softening. "How's the pregnancy?" he asked. His eyes looked like he’d put a thin layer of black eyeliner around them, but Lucian had told me he’d always looked like that.
"Good." I picked up a handful of pretzels and nibbled the end of one. I'd given in to my cravings, for the most part, and didn’t regret it for a second.
"Is the baby healthy?" Adam persisted.
I nodded. "Yep."
"And you're not finding out the sex?" he took a card from the dealer, another insurance agent from the same company Lucian worked for. He had territoryin the next town over. They tried not to cannibalize on one another's stomping grounds.
"We want to be surprised," Lucian replied for me. I smiled at him and put my hand on his knee. Adam's questions were perfectly innocent, but they put me on edge for some reason.
He owned the house next door. Thankfully, his personal space issues didn't extend to being a bad neighbor. He kept to himself, for the most part, extending the occasional invitation to us for dinner or a game of horseshoes.
It was his barn that had been the hiding place of the owl and deer. Lucian recounted the tale while I rolled my eyes and giggled at my silliness. But to be fair, Adam said he'd seen the owl as well.
"Yeah, he's a big one. I don't see him very often." Adam considered the cards in his hand and put two down. "But I figure an owl that big has the right to come and go as he pleases."
Lucian nodded as I chuckled. "As long as he stops trying to come into our kitchen, I'm okay with it."
