The next sound that pierces the air is a high-pitched, shrill cry from the bundle in my arms, and my heart shoots into my throat.
The baby is okay.
Niki is okay.
A shaky breath of relief knocks from my lungs as I work with trembling hands to tie off the umbilical cordwith the only thing we have available—a string. Then I’m back to wiping a towel over the baby’s dark curls, doing my best to clean off its tiny limbs. I count ten fingers and ten toes. Everything about the baby is perfect, from its chubby cheeks and perfect little lips to its…pink eyes.
I gasp as it blinks its eyes open, shocked by the deep pink irises staring back at me. They might be the only trait the baby got from Sebastian, because it feels like I’m looking at a tiny, wrinkled version of Niki.
Finally, when some of my shock wears off, I check to see if I have godson or goddaughter.
“It’s a girl!” I nearly choke on the words, my eyes racing to Niki’s. Sebastian is cradling her against his chest, whispering praise in her ear.
“A girl?” she repeats, like she can hardly believe it.
I nod, tears stinging the corners of my eyes.
It’s a girl. A perfect baby girl.
“You did so well, Nik!” I don’t bother putting a diaper on the squishy newborn before placing her on Niki’s chest and stepping back to watch her and Sebastian take in their first moments as a family.
Fuck, if it isn’t the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.
I pull out my phone and manage to snap a single picture of the three of them before a horrific roar erupts outside. I jump, my stomach pitching toward the floor as ice punches through my veins. The three of us exchange looks, and I can’t seem to get a full breath of air.
Niki looks up at Sebastian with fear in her eyes. “What the fuck was that?”
Chapter 30
Tobias
We've spent months mentally preparing for this moment, but despite my arsenal of knowledge and fighting skills, I feel useless. I have no idea how to help care for a mother or a newborn.
Truthfully, I never thought we’d get to this point. The half-demon baby should have already destroyed Niki’s humanity, and would have bled her dry of energy had we not intervened. But Sebastian’s mate has defied every odd, and if she delivers this baby, she might prove the impossible: that humans and demons can successfully mate.
Judging by the noises coming from inside the bus, I’d say she’s well into the birth process. It feels intrusive standing so close, but I haven’t been able topry myself away from the bus for over an hour. My nerves are shot, every muscle in my body tense.
We’re so close to something groundbreaking, to everyone making it out of this unscathed.
So fucking close.
The prospect is huge but terrifying. If word of a half-demon child reaches Hell… there's no telling what will happen. In all the research Sebastian has done, only whispers of half-demon children have come up, and nothing about their powers.
There’s a chance that even if Niki and this baby survive, we won't be out of the woods. That we’ll never be safe. The cruelest, most dangerous powers of Hell might still come after us. They'll want what they've never had before.
A half-demon.
Our future hangs in the balance, but it all depends on whether or not Niki and this baby survive.
We’ll have to handle what comes next in stride.
A shiver rolls down my spine as I stare out across the parking lot. I'm thankful to not be inside. I'm much better suited to stand watch out here with the twins while Joseline runs the show in the tour bus.
Joseline.
Just the thought of her has the corner of my mouth hitching upward. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and the advantage of our differences isn’t lost on me. While I’m out here on watch, she’s handling everything I can’t. We fit together in more ways than one, all of them perfect. The way she complements me, challenges me, pushes me…
Fuck, I can’t wait until all this is over so I can have her in my arms again.
