He had too many thoughts to name. “You think the woman who raised me would hurt Celina?”
“We’re not raising our daughter in Hell,” Gemini said at the same time.
Lucifer rolled his eyes at Gemini. “You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t create a little paradise here for her. Nothing about your home would remotely seem like Hell. Plus, you’re here now. I know you don’t think you’ll stop bringing her here as she ages.” The dark note in Lucifer’s tone said that they would never keep Celina from him.
Frost interceded. “Of course, she’ll always be available for you. You’re her Papaw. She adores you, and you’re my dad. I feel the same.”
Lucifer sniffed but seemed mollified.
Frost pressed on. “Gemini just means she shouldn’t have to hide. We shouldn’t have to keep her from the sunshine and fresh air. She’s half snow leopard. Being trapped will eventually go against her nature. Plus, we shouldn’t have to live in fucking fear all the time. This is ridiculous.”
Lucifer sat. His gaze never wavered from Frost. “You’re my son. I would never allow harm to come to your family. To answer your question, I doubt Bodhi would physically hurt you. But he’s already cursed you once, and Gemini could be next… or Celina. Maybe he’ll see her as an abomination he needs to destroy.”
Fuck. He got it, but he really didn’t want to live in Hell. He had a practice and a family. A life.
Lucifer’s shoulders slumped as if he listened to Frost’s thoughts. A bassinet appeared at his side. Lucifer gently put Celina down so she wouldn’t wake. Immediately, Yuri and Brownie flanked her and rested their big canine heads on the edge of the bed. The way they stared at her had Frost’s heart overflowing with love. Celina was well guarded here. Well loved here. He couldn’t make this decision.
“Has Celeste met her yet?”
The quietly spoken question dragged his attention back to his dad. “No. It’s not that I’m still angry or anything. I don’t know why, honestly.”
Lucifer’s serious tone never wavered. “You should call out to her. If you can’t raise Celina here, let Celeste help protect her. I’d offer a demon to guard her, but I know you’d never accept. You’ll probably feel more comfortable with an angel.”
We’re hurting him.
Gemini sent the mental message at the same moment he had a similar thought. Frost didn’t know how to handle this. I want us on the same page.
He felt Gemini’s support before he even responded.I trust you. In retrospect, he created Celina. He loves her. That’s massive. He’d never let her be harmed, but there is someone out there who might feel differently. He’s right: your aunt or not, she might see Celina as something she can’t allow to live.
Unfortunately, Frost had already had that worry in the back of mind before anyone else had spoken it. Gemini’s and Lucifer’s words meant Frost wasn’t just needlessly worried. His aunt had been reborn. He didn’t know her anymore. It seemed she was a man now. Frost wouldn’t see her coming. Bodhi could be anyone.
“I suppose this would allow me to convert the entire cabin into a clinic and have a few more private rooms for patients. I could deliver babies there in a controlled environment.”
Lucifer looked flabbergasted and afraid to hope. “I could do that for you in a snap.”
“Maybe you should teach Frost how to do it himself in a snap. That’s a skill he’ll need if he intends to live here.” Riku had been so quiet, sitting in the corner with a book, Frost had forgotten he was there.
Frost had to slow things down. “Wait. I haven’t agreed to anything yet. There’s no way for patients to contact me here.I’m grateful you created a new mirror for us, so I wouldn’t have to fall through the ceiling with Celina, but I understand that’s a risk. Celina isn’t any better protected if people can pour in to seek help.”
Lucifer waved off his concerns. “I already have a few ideas to ensure your place in Wulfe isn’t affected. If you hadn’t been called to help, I never would’ve found you. That oddly matters to me.”
A bark of laughter burst from Frost at the droll words. Now he sounded like Lucifer. He glanced Gemini’s way. Gemini held his stare. Neither of them wanted this, but Celina had to come first. They would make it work.
Chapter Five
Itwasn’tallinhis head. Everyone acted weird around him. When Stone had appeared for his shift, he had assumed word had already spread about his possession. Stone didn’t know what he had expected, but the side eye and open pity hadn’t made the list. Stone wasn’t one to fade into the background, but he still didn’t feel like himself. Their reactions sent him scrambling inside to Frost. He didn’t stop to chat. It was his job to hover over the sexy doctor all day. Plus, he kind of looked forward to seeing Celina. Now that he knew he wouldn’t transform into something horrible at any second, he wondered if Frost would let him hold her. She truly was adorable.
The moment Stone stepped inside the cabin, he froze. Nothing looked the same. Stone stepped back out onto the screened-in front porch, ensured he was definitely at the right place, and then stepped back inside again. While the outside of the cabin was unchanged, the inside had completely transformed. It looked like a miniature hospital. Complete with a grumpy-looking front desk worker, and all. The guy eyed Stone with heavy suspicion. “What do you want?”
The snapped question stiffened Stone’s spine. Before he could respond, a tall, slender, and dark-haired man walked into the room. A chuckle that sent chills racing down Stone’s body rumbled through the air.
“Now, now, Mordred. We’ve talked about this. You can’t greet patients like that.”
Mordred sneered.
“I’m not a patient.”
The new arrival’s glowing blue eyes focused on Stone. Every warning bell he possessed rang. He smelled smoke and brimstone. “My apologies. How may we help you?”
