Professor, are you still there?
I sighed at the bad timing. That was Inferno, of course. Since Divina, the Darkborn got involved in a prison break and her father was captured trying to save her Inferno had been contacting me. A cry for help disguised in a warning. He was too proud and probably ashamed of bailing on us when we’d needed him to ask for help directly, so he was contacting me to give me the heads up.
The guys told me to block him out in case Damien was listening or could track the connection somehow. I thought about it at first, but when I’d learned one of the Darkborns was involved, I had to stay in the loop. This war and the prison they were building for the supernatural and Divina’s involvement weren’t coincidences. This was a layered plan forged in Hell by the king himself.
Something happened?I didn’t need to ask. Of course something happened. My eyes had been twitching all day.
He’s got her.His voice was low and broken.She made a deal with him to save her dad. To save all supes.
Fuck.
My head spun, and my heart banged. Trembles of agitation and uncontrollable dark thoughts ran through my body.
“Belle? You okay?” Kayden rubbed my arms, but I shoved him away.
“Nate! Raphael! Come here!” I called out for my Lightborns.
Kayden touched me again, tightening his grip on my arms. “What happened? Talk to me.”
As the boys got out of their rooms, Zavariel came barreling in, strong and bulky as ever even after thirty years of mortality.
“Mom, Dad, something wrong?” Nate asked.
I just stared at them, unable to speak, the fire in my chest frying my brain, the old war among my sides restarting. Zava gave me a concerned look. I just nodded for him to speak first.
“I am afraid I come bearing bad news but also good news. Which would you like to hear first?”
“The good obviously. Can’t you see how she is?” Kayden said.
“After thirty years, Heaven has finally agreed to help us. They shall allow us in so Damien can never reach us,” Zavariel announced so excitedly I wanted to smack that stupid smile off his face. That was the fucking good news?
“That is…suspicious to say the least.” Kayden said. “Why would they help us now?”
“Because Damien got the Darkborn,” I finally said.
“What?!” Kayden and my sons exclaimed almost in unison.
Zavariel swallowed. “I fear that is the truth. That is the bad news.”
I gritted my teeth. “Why else would they decide to take us in after thirty years?Nowthey protect their assets. How fucking generous!”
My sons soothed me with their embraces, assuring me everything was going to be fine. They’d been prepared for this moment all their lives.
“Belle, calm down,” Zavariel asked. “How did you know?”
“Inferno.”
Kayden blew out a breath, waving an angry hand. “You’re still talking to that demon? Look what happens to you every time he’s in your head. He’s Damien’s son, Belle.”
I glared at him. I was in no mood or had any tolerance for blame right now. I took my sons by the hand and went into my room.
Zavariel held the door open before I shut it and helped himself in. Before I burst in his face for not giving me the space I desperately needed, he kissed me.
“Eewww.”
“That moment when you realize your mom and dad are getting it more than your thirty-year-old virgin ass will ever get…”
Zava’s kiss and the boys’ banter magically calmed down Venath and the beasts enough for me to chuckle.
