As if sensing my distress, Lucifer smirked and purposefully tore his gaze from Pan’s eyes to mine. “Yes. Malice, youarethe father.”
Pan whipped his head in my direction, his eyes following Lucifer’s path. When they found me, they widened before narrowing with suspicion. A high-pitched ringing filled myears as my skin buzzed with the physical manifestation of the magnitude of this moment.
My chest tightened, and I was overcome with the unfamiliar sensation of not being able to draw breath. I didn’t actuallyneedto breathe, which made this a clear psychosomatic event, but even so, I couldn’t seem to protect myself from the sensation. The slick chill of sweat coating my skin only added to my unease, creating another layer of pure discomfort.
Fuck. If I didn’t figure out a way to get a handle on my emotional turmoil, I’d be useless before long.
Before long? Who was I kidding? I was already there.
“Mal? Malice?” Merri’s voice sounded like she was speaking to me from inside a tunnel before rushing up to full volume and replacing the ringing in my ears as she placed a hand on my arm.
“Y-yes?” I stuttered, the urge to look at her warring with the need to drink in the sight of my son.
“Are you okay?”
“Decidedly not.”
“Do you need to sit down?”
I shook my head, hands trembling so hard I had to clench them into fists before finally admitting, “I’m not sure what I need.”
As I watched, Rosie raced to Pan’s side and flung her arms around him. He tore his attention from me and gave it all to her.
“Thank the stars you’re back. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
“No,ma petite monstre, they didn’t. In fact, thanks to a visit from Merri, I’m back in more ways than one.” His tail snaked its way around her throat, causing her to blush.
A wave of guilt washed over me for bearing witness to their intimate reunion, but it was gone as quickly as it came. They weren’t ashamed.
Rosie gave a watery laugh. “I’m more relieved to seeyou.”
“Likewise,” he purred, claiming her lips in a hungry kiss.
“Now that’s how you say hello,” Sin murmured from my other side.
I grunted.
“Do you want me to introduce you?” Merri offered gently.
“I don’t want to interrupt.”
“Do it,” Chaos ordered.
I tossed a glance back at him over my shoulder. “Who died and made you the boss?”
He boldly held my stare, arms folded over his chest. “This is important. Don’t waste the opportunity, Mal. You may not get another.”
“He’s right,” Merri said.
“We can all go with you,” Grim offered, surprising me.
“No. I don’t want to overwhelm him.”
“We’ll stay here then, in case you need us,” Sin said.
I couldn’t imagine what I would need them for, but I was oddly touched by the show of support.
“Thanks.”
