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)
“How is that? She can’t talk to you about every aspect of her everyday life anymore, because I’m so much a part of it—you don’t want to hear about anything relating to me. She doesn’t feel she can confide all her fears about the pregnancy to you because she’s leery of saying anything that will make you be more of a dick to me.”
“What fears?” demanded Belinsky.
“Typical anxieties that come with being pregnant. But just because they’re typical doesn’t make them any less serious.” Anxieties ate at Viper from time to time, too. The pregnancy was going well, there’d been no hiccups or complications. Still, he worried that might at some point change.
The fact was they were dealing with the unknown. She was an incantor carrying the baby of a fallen archangel who embodied a deadly sin. It wasn’t heard of before now. They had nothing to compare their experience to.
“She doesn’t need to be scared, she will be fine,” Belinsky decreed. “I can understand if she is concerned about birthing a child who is part celestial—we don’t know what exactly that will mean for her—but she’ll have the best care.”
“She plans to have a homebirth.”
The legion’s eyelids flickered.
“Ah, you didn’t know that?”
“She should be in a medical facility.”
“She’ll be surrounded by fallen fucking angels—all of whom can heal her if any complications should arise. If anything comes up that we can’t handle, I will of course take her wherever she needs to go.” Viper could teleport her anywhere in a second flat.
“She needs healthcare professionals—”
“She’s set on a homebirth. Her mind won’t change on that.” Viper edged closer to him. “Think what that’ll mean for you. You won’t come visit her here at the compound, you refuse to see it as her home. So you won’t be anywhere near her when she goes into labor. You won’t be one of the first to see the baby when it’s born. You’ll hear about the birth via a text or phone call. That gonna be good enough for you?”
Clenching his jaw, Belinsky briefly looked away.
“You’re fucking yourself over. Is flipping me the finger really worth that? Right now, because you refuse to visit her at her home, you only see her at times she can come to you. You don’t think she’ll come to you less and less over time, hurt that you won’t support her?” Viper raised his shoulders. “Why not just accept that what’s done is done?”
“She can do better than you.”
“No one’s disputing that. But it makes no difference. I claimed her. I wear her demon’s brand. She has my baby inside her. Nothing you or anyone else does will change any of that, so where’s the fucking point in keeping up with this shit?”
Belinsky tipped his head to the side, eyeing him speculatively. “I wouldn’t have taken you for someone who’d urge another man to be more involved in their woman’s life.”
“The truth? I don’t much like that she’s linked to someone else, or that you’re so close to her. When you’ve got a woman of your own, you’ll understand. You’ll also understand why I’m standing here now pushing you to set aside your own personal opinions about me.”
The legion squinted. “You actually do care about her.”
“Took you long enough to figure that out.”
“Here’s my issue. If you’re an archangel—and I’m betting you are—there’ll be beings who won’t like that you’ve fallen, especially if you were once one of the Seven. And they really won’t like learning you have a child. I don’t want her or the child she’s carrying being targeted by celestials.”
“Those in the upper realm will be somewhat displeased,” Viper fudged. “But they won’t touch Ella or our baby—I’d never allow it.”
“She got caught up in your strix problem.”
“And those who harmed her no longer exist,” Viper stated. “You treat me like I’m the enemy. Truth is, we’re both on the same side. We both want the best for Ella. We both want her to be happy and safe. We’ve got a better chance of ensuring that happens if we’re united.”
“United?”
“I’m not talking an alliance. I’ve made plenty of those; don’t need more. I’m saying that a divide between us—the two main men in her life—is a weakness in her security. I don’t like that. And I’m betting you don’t either.”
Belinsky glared at him, put-out. “Do you have to fucking make sense?”
“Yes. Because she’s hurting. I’m not okay with that. Make it stop.”
The squeak of hinges came from behind Viper. He half-turned to see Ella in the doorway, her expression wary.
Beside her, Jester shot him a sheepish look. Tried keeping her inside. She threatened to zap me with magick.
Viper felt his mouth curve slightly. “Hey, baby. Don’t worry, no shit’s about to go down; all is good.” He looked at her anchor. “Ain’t that right?”