Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
She swallowed. “Was it telling the truth? Will some in the upper realm truly think of harming the baby?”
His lips flattened. “Yes, but it won’t happen.” A firm, hard statement that allowed for no doubts. “There’s no reason they should learn of your pregnancy. At least not for a while, providing we’re careful. They’ll be reluctant to act if and when they do, since you’re a demon. It could risk starting a war.”
Oh, Ella would set fire to the fucking Earth if anyone or anything tried to harm her child. There’d be a war for certain.
He gave her a hard look of reassurance. “I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby, Ella. No one will touch either of you.”
No, they wouldn’t. She’d never allow it. “Will it need to drink blood?”
He hesitated. “Possibly. I can’t know for sure. The baby will tell you if so. Once it can reach out on its own, of course.”
She felt her brow pinch. “Tell me?” she echoed.
“Likely using telepathic images. Archangelic babies are highly advanced both intellectually and psychically. Our child might only be half archangel, but that won’t make much of a difference. Even now it’ll have a very good understanding of the things happening around it.”
She stared at him dumbly, her brain stuck on ‘highly advanced’.
“The baby will see we’re not living together, for instance. It’s doubtful that they’ll like it.”
Her brow hiked up. “Oh, so I should move in here because the baby won’t otherwise like it?” Not that she was going to argue about relocating.
Viper brushed his nose against hers. “Like I said, I’m willing to move to your building. But I would hope you’d prefer to be surrounded by the kind of protection you might turn out to need if things go to shit. Especially when we have strix hanging around. They can’t get in here. Not ever. Your complex? I don’t know about that.”
Ella sighed. “I’m not going to fight moving in here. It’s not like I’m supremely attached to my apartment anyway. And with the danger the Uppers represent, I’ll take whatever precautions necessary.”
Relief flashed in his eyes. “Good. The baby will be pleased by that.”
She snorted. “Like it’s really affected either way right now.”
“It is, as I explained before, highly adva—”
“I don’t want to hear that part again, it’s freaking me out.” A thought occurred to her, and she leaned forward. “Can the baby wield power?”
“Yes, though not a lot. Give it a month or two, and you’ll probably see some real displays of power. That’s generally how it goes with archangelic babies.”
She felt her jaw drop. “You’re serious?” The words came out on a choked whisper.
“Very.”
Oh, fuck. “What sort of things will they be able to do?”
Viper pursed his lips. “I’m not sure. They’re half archangel half incantor. That’s one hell of a mix. Their demonic nature could put a spin on their archangelic abilities, and vice versa. On the other hand, their gifts might be either more celestial or more demonic.”
She blinked rapidly. “I don’t know what to say.”
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t stress over it. There’s no need to. The baby will be fine. They’ll have better control over their abilities than a demon baby. That’s good, right?”
“Good,” she echoed numbly.
His lips twitched. “I know it’s early days so you might be reluctant to share it with more people but, given how we’ll want to step up security measures, I’d like to tell the whole club about the baby.”
His woman absently dipped her chin. “I’m good with that.”
He telepathically reached out on his club’s channel, saying, Club meeting, be here asap. “When do you want to pass on our news to your mother, aunt, and anchor?”
Another sigh. “Soon. But not until after the scan.” What will you being an incarnation of a deadly sin mean for the baby? she asked telepathically, worrying her lower lip.
Maybe something, maybe nothing. There’s no history of this happening before, so I’ve no idea what to expect. But we’ll handle what comes together. He tugged gently on her hand, urging her to stand. “Come on. Let’s go share our news.”
Not long after, they were in the meeting room, her sat on his lap while the others settled themselves on the chairs gathering around the table. “I’ll get straight down to it. Ella’s pregnant.”
“She’s what?” spluttered Hustle, shocked.
His face going slack, Dice straightened in his chair. “No way.” He exchanged glances with the others, who were all equally stunned. “This is … I mean, it’s good, but whoa.”
“Whoa works,” mumbled Ella, still a little dazed.
Ghost smiled, rubbing his hands. “Well, congratulations.”
The rest of the club passed on the same sentiment.
Viper nodded his thanks. “We don’t know how long the pregnancy will go on for—the lengths differ for archangels and demons. We think Ella’s roughly three weeks along, so that gives us something like four or five months before the baby is here.”