Chapter Eleven
Atlas
“Are you sure this is safe?” He dropped his eyes down to Bel’s stomach. His still very flat muscular stomach.
Bel huffed. “I’m fine, mate.”
Atlas hated that word. Fine. When Bel called him mate, Atlas couldn’t hear that word enough. But fine. No. Atlas didn’t believe that for one second. “Uh-huh.”
“It is perfectly natural for me to continue working, transporting—everything that I have always done,” Bel assured him.
He didn’t know about that. He didn’t know about any of this. Demons could get pregnant. It had been news to Bel as well. Atlas still didn’t know who had been more shocked.
Bel had known that angels could bear children, no matter their sex. He hadn’t shared that with Atlas because, well, it wasn’t an issue.
Lucifer was the only angel that currently lived in the hell realm. He took precautions with his own mates since Gage very clearly informed him that they were not ready for fatherhood.
Was Atlas ready?
He would be finding out very soon.
Turned out there was a little more to the lore than Bel had been taught. Demons…at least the first demons that had been created for Lucifer, could also bear children.
They were having a baby.
A baby.
Atlas had managed to talk Bel out of transporting to the human realm to meet a family of paranormals. Yes, Atlas wanted to meet the rest of them, but it did not seem like the safest or smartest plan. Especially since Jason had just informed Atlas that there had been no sign of the rogue hyena pack, but they were still looking. Atlas wasn’t going to have his pregnant mate there until that little problem had been taken care of. So instead of transporting to the human realm, Bel was insisting on taking Atlas on a date.
He didn’t need a date. Atlas needed his mate to be in bed with his feet up and making sure no harm would come to him or the baby. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, since Bel was still arguing with him.
“Atlas,” Bel snorted. “No one will even know about the baby.”
“I’ll know,” Atlas drawled. He didn’t care about who found out. So far Lucifer had promised to keep their secret. Even his mates weren’t in the know. Not that they would be able to hold off for much longer. Demon pregnancy lasted for three months. Ninety-two days.
Lucifer estimated that Bel was about ten days along when they found out. Twelve days now. That was eighty short days left before their family would grow.
“There is so much to do,” Atlas informed his mate. “We need a nursery.” Maybe if he could distract Bel, they could put off this silly venture that Bel insisted on.
Bel drew Atlas into his arms. “We need time for us as well. I promised to share more of my realm with you. The mountains above the lava river are beautiful.”
“Lava river,” Atlas said. “Because that’s safe for the baby.”
Bel sighed. “Female demons have been having babies for centuries. And some of them live beside the lava river.”
Not good enough. “The nursery,” he said again.
“Can wait at least one more day,” Bel assured him. “I’m going to transport us now. You can yell at me later.”
Atlas didn’t have time to get another argument out before they were transported out of their office and he found himself in front of an actual lava river. Sulfur and heat wafted up.
“Are you okay?” Atlas demanded. He placed both hands over Bel’s stomach.
“Just fine, my mate.” Bel kissed his forehead.
“Not sick? How’s the nausea?” Okay, Atlas knew he was being over the top. He just couldn’t stop! Even after no less than twenty texts a day with Lucifer and being reassured that Bel’s condition might seem unnatural but was perfectly natural, Atlas was so worried. For his mate and his unborn child.
“Look at the shore.” Bel bodily turned him. “I should find you another hellstone.”
