Energy that would be good for Lilliana’s son or daughter.
She sank awkwardly onto a bench along the winding path that led to the Memitim training grounds and sighed as her bodyguard rushed over to help her.
“I’m not an invalid, Jasmine.”
Jasmine, a four-hundred-year-old Memitim with the most beautiful honey-colored skin and golden eyes Lilliana had ever seen, grinned. “I know. But you’re just so…ungainly.”
Like her father, Jasmine always said exactly what she was thinking. It was both charming and annoying. Lilliana liked her though, despite the fact that her mother was a twat-faced bitch. Lilli had actually been glad when Jasmine was assigned as today’s guard.
She just wished she didn’t need one at all.
But she understood Azagoth’s concern. A powerful enemy was targeting those closest to him, getting so close, in fact, that they’d murdered one of his sons inside Sheoul-gra. Azagoth had purged his realm of everyone but his offspring and a handful of trusted fallen angels who served him, but he still wasn’t willing to take chances. He was so desperate to keep her safe that he was even happy about her new pet hellhound.
She looked around for the beast, but Maleficent had gone hunting earlier in the day, and it could be hours before she returned.
Jasmine gracefully sat down next to her. “How did you even get pregnant? I heard it wasn’t planned. But isn’t Azagoth supposed to be able to turn his fertility on and off?”
Yup, she said exactly what she was thinking.
Too tired to scold Jasmine for being rude, she looked up at the waxy-leafed trees that lined the pathway and marveled at their ability to survive here without real sunlight.
“He can,” she said as a dove landed on a nearby branch. “Many angels can. But it’s a conscious thing, and sometimes, fate intervenes.”
Jasmine gave a dismissive snort. “You’re such an angel.”
“I hate to tell you this,” Lilliana said, “but you are, too.”
“Not like you. You even still have your wings.” Jasmine scooted over to make room for the bag over her shoulder. “I mean, you have this goody-goody, everything-happens-for-a-reason thing going on. All I’m saying is maybe the baby isn’t a product of fate or design or whatever, but is just the result of you and Azagoth getting carried away. It’s kinda romantic, you know?”
Azagoth had a surprising romantic streak, but this kid was definitely not the result of it. No, Lilliana remembered the events that’d led to conception, and it had been raunchy and hot and…damn, she was ready for another night like that.
“Sure,” she said. “Romantic.”
Jasmine let out a dreamy sigh. “I can’t wait to have sex with someone besides myself. I mean, I know Hawkyn got the Memitim Council to loosen the stupid restrictions on fornication, but I’ve gone this long, you know? Might as well keep enjoying my collection of battery-operated toys until I find the one.”
She placed Lilliana’s tote full of snacks, an iPad, some books, and her phone down next to her.
Lilliana wasn’t even allowed to carry a bag. Azagoth’s orders, of course. And since most of the Memitim were more frightened of him than they were of her, she couldn’t get them to disobey him. She’d tried.
“Thank you for the graphic image,” Lilliana said. “Do you know if Cat included treats for Maleficent?”
Jasmine’s lip curled in distaste, revealing delicate fangs. “I can’t believe Father lets you keep that filthy mutt.”
“Your father doesn’t let me do anything.” Lilliana peered into the bag for said treats. Looked like Mal would be disappointed. “And Maleficent is neither filthy nor a mutt.”
“Well, she’s an asshole,” Jasmine muttered.
Laughing, Lilliana pulled a bottle of water from the bag. “She is that.”
Hellhounds hated everyone, especially angels. They were ill-tempered, vicious, and they drooled a lot. But somehow, Maleficent had formed a friendship with Lilliana during the months she’d stayed with the Horseman of the Apocalypse known as War and his hellhound-whisperer mate, Cara.
Unfortunately, Maleficent’s feelings toward Lilliana didn’t extend to Azagoth. Just last night, she’d found them facing off in the courtyard, snarling at each other.
At Lilliana’s snapped, “Knock it off, you two,” Mal had phased out, and Azagoth had growled, “She bit me in the ass.”
He’d probably deserved it.
And…speaking of the devilishly handsome demon, Azagoth appeared at the crest of the path. His brilliant emerald eyes locked on her like a predator homing in on prey. Majestic pillars and towering, intricate statues lined the walkway, but Azagoth made them all seem small and insignificant as he prowled toward her, his lean, powerful body moving with impossible grace.
She shivered as her body reacted with heat and a low, deep ache made itself known at the sight of her mate.
Then the baby kicked, reminding her that she was under doctor’s orders to avoid strenuous activity…and sex with Azagoth was definitely on the active, strenuous side.
It. Was. Fabulous.
Azagoth stopped near the bench. “Thanks, Jasmine,” he said, the rich baritone of his voice flowing through Lilliana like warm honey. “Take the rest of the day off. I’ve got it from here.”
Jasmine acknowledged him with a nod, waved at Lilliana, and flounced toward the dorms, all skinny jeans, hot pink heels, and attitude.
“I thought you’d be busy judging souls all afternoon.” Lilliana patted the bench. “Have a seat.”
He sank down next to her, his aged-whiskey scent mingled with a little smoky brimstone today. “I finished early and met with Hades in the Genesis Chamber.”
She tried not to show her concern. Her grave concern. “Did you do what you talked about?” At Azagoth’s pause, a chill went up her spine. “You did, didn’t you?”
“I upgraded the griminions and gave them the power to kill,” he acknowledged.
A knot formed in her gut. Azagoth wouldn’t violate the griminion clause of his contract on a whim, but she’d still hoped that he would change his mind.
“What if Heaven finds out?” she asked, her stomach letting out a loud rumble despite being unsettled by her mate’s casual announcement.
“They won’t,” he assured her as he reached into the bag. “I only did it as a precaution. As long as I don’t order the griminions to kill, there’s nothing to worry about.” He plucked a carrot cake cupcake from one of the containers. “You need to eat.” He eyed the treat, its top smeared with cream cheese frosting. “And this looks healthy. Ish.”
“We’re immortal,” she pointed out. “Healthy is irrelevant.”
“That demon doctor says otherwise.”
That demon doctor was Eidolon, head of Underworld General Hospital, and he had already promised to be there if Lilliana needed him for the birth. She’d been unsure at first, but he’d delivered Cara’s baby, as well as the children of two other Horsemen, and Azagoth’s daughter, Idess. Heck, he, his brothers, and their UG co-workers had treated and/or saved the lives of countless people in Azagoth and Lilliana’s circle.
That they had a circle made her smile. Although the separation from Azagoth had been difficult for both of them, they’d gained a lot more than they’d lost. Including friends.