One of themost difficult things about having to experience human life cycles was that I was not on the same one as Michael, Lucifer, and Lilith. While they lived life as humans, they didn’t remember the stresses of Heaven and Hell. They didn’t remember that they had a huge responsibility in ensuring the demons stayed in Hell. But worst of all, Lilith didn’t remember who I was or that we were family.
So, during their human lifetimes, I had to watch at a safe distance, as Lilith and Lucifer fell in love each time. Two magnets endlessly cursed to be drawn to each other. And I had to try not to feel like I needed to protect her.
Because there was just no other choice. This was just how life was.
Luckily or unluckily for me, the chaos in Hell lately had been a big distraction. I still missed Lilith like mad, but I’d been so busy dealing with the consequences of the queen and king not returning to Hell yet that I’d barely had time to miss my sister.
Even though I was getting concerned.
Demons were escaping. The gates were weakening. And Lucifer’s death, something that should’ve worked like clockwork, didn’t seem to be coming. It was as if some great force was at play, but none of us could see it.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Lucifer never lived past forty years of age as a human, because each day that he and Lilith were away, the gates of Hell weakened. But this cycle, the years had passed, and he continued to live.
Now, I had to do something to remedy this situation.
Although that was the last thing I wanted to do. Especially now that there was the added problem of Lilith’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 sister. 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 Lilith have one more night with Lucifer in this tame human lifetime. Let her have one more night of not knowing her neighbor Adam was her other brother Michael. And one more night of feeling like a pregnant human woman. Because soon? Soon she would lose it all.
Chapter 4
Constance
It waspoker night with the boys, and I was doing my best to throw together some snacks. I had pizza rolls cooking, beer 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. 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 kinds 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.
