“What is it, little fairy? Is it time?”
“I don’t… I don’t think so,” I whine as another stab pierces my abdomen. “This feels wrong.”
Through blurry eyes, I see Az’s face twist with fear and confusion. “Wrong how?”
He pulls the covers off, exposing my belly… and the blood on my nightgown.
“Oh no,” I whisper. “Non… Not again.”
I’m not going to lose another baby, not after loving it for months and waiting for it so eagerly. Not Az’s baby. The universe wouldn’t be this cruel. Would it?
Instead of providing a solution, he’s frozen, staring at the blood like it’s the first time he sees the color red.
“Az,” I say, my voice pleading. “I—Help. We need help. Get help!”
He flinches like he’s waking up from a nightmare. I wish I could wake up from this one too.
“Who? Who do you need, little fairy? I can’t take you to the human world, and we can’t bring someone from there here.”
He sounds desperate, anguished, helpless. But I can’t comfort him now. Not when I’mbleeding. I try to sense an injury, but there’s nothing to fix. I need someone more experienced. I need…
“Daniel,” I say, the word coming out with a wet sob. “Go to Purgatory and bring Daniel… If he wants to come,” I finish weakly. Maybe he won’t want to help an archdemon’s baby.
Az’s green-gray eyes turn to steel. “Oh, hewillcome, little fairy. But I don’t want to leave you alone…”
“Go!” I cry, pushing his hands away. “Hurry, please… Az, our baby…”
With another frustrated growl and a quick kiss to my forehead, Az disappears from the bed. In no time, I find myself alone with my night terrors and wanting to pray for the first time in years.
My arms are wrapped around my stomach as I gently rock in place.
“Please don’t leave me,” I whisper to our baby. “Don’t leaveus.”
35
ASMODEUS
Simone's blood on white linen.
I materialize inside Abaddon's fortress walls without ceremony or stealth. The reaction is immediate. Half a dozen Elioud scattered through the atrium spin toward me, weapons drawn.
“What in the absolutefuck?—”
Maalik rounds the corner in an angry march, coming to a halt when he sees me. To his credit, he doesn't run. He plants his feet wide, his yellow eyes sharp as he takes me in, and that tells me he's had enough centuries in Belial's court to recognize an archdemon on the edge of his patience.
“Who's attacking?” he demands.
“No one.” The words come out hoarse. “No one is attacking. I need Daniel.”
Maalik doesn't move. The Elioud behind him have backed into a loose semicircle, weapons still up. These are the mortal soldiers who trained with Simone.
“Asmodai,” Maalik begins with a sigh, “why are you here? Does the Councilknow?—”
I interrupt him. “I am not here for a fight, Maalik. I need Daniel. Now.”
“Daniel doesn't go anywhere with archdemons.”
“He'll go with me,” I say, and I hate how close to begging it sounds. “Simone is—” My throat closes around the words. I've spoken in every human language, addressed every Celestial but God himself, and yet I cannot finish this sentence. “She's bleeding. The baby. I don't know what's wrong, and I can't fix it, and she asked forhim.”
