Page 17

The divine dots connected, stunning Kildare. “You just defined a Sinner’s Bond. That means she’seternallybound to you. And the only thing that can break that bond is death, Kollaborator.”

He stepped back, his gaze sharpening. “You accuse me like I had a choice.”

“If youdid,what would you have chosen?”

His indignance melted away, revealing an oddly proud guilt. “I would’ve chosen her, one thousand percent,” he confessed, his brows narrowed on him. “How did you know something happened? Did you feel it?”

“We all felt it. Even Kaos somehow. He had a massive boner while resting in the nether realm. Even ourQueenwas affected by it. The lust seemed more potent than all the powers and that’s a massive concern since she’s got home-grown-hell, speed-growing inside her.”

“God,” Kollaborator muttered, looking at him. “What does this mean? For our mission? The Hand? Do you think this was part of it?”

“Let’sprayit was. But we need to all be in one location, now. United, not scattered around. What does the Bellatore have to do before we can focus on protecting our Queen?”

The dark clouds on his face cleared. “Nothing. She’s changed her protective directive to Josie.”

“She’s going to help protect our Queen?” he asked, getting quick nods. “Thank God. We need all the help. How are your powers? Anything new?”

“You tell me,” he said, clueless.

Kildare considered with an angled head. “Try to get through my defenses. I’m thinking of a memory.”

Kollaborator’s brows shot up instantly. “You stole your father’s crown when you werethree?” he shrilled, shocking Kildare.

“That’s a lot of power,” he said, relieved. “Find out from the Bellatore if we can all return together. We have six and a half days to prepare before Hell’s Spawn arrives.”

****

Josie’s pulse raced as the baby in her womb jerked around. She pulled Kaos’s hand to her, holding it to the miracle. After seeing he’d been aroused during that weird sex storm earlier, she realized he might be able to hear and feel. She began talking to him and touching him. Humming to him. And to the baby.

“He’s growing by the hour,” she whispered to him, stroking his perfect forehead. “Our son will be strong and good and beautiful like you. And stubborn like me,” she said with a light smile. “I’m not scared,” she thought to tell him.

“And I was thinking of names. I noticed all the Kings have K names and so want to keep it in the family. What do you think of Konstantine? With a K of course. We could call him Kon for short,” she said with a light giggle. “To mock any and all things in heaven and on earth that would try to touch him.” She leaned closer, pressing kisses along his face. “I like having you stuck here with me,” she barely murmured. “Imprisoned to all the thoughts in my head.”

Her heart clenched as it always did when she thought of what he’d done and why. He was still growing, she’d remembered. Learning. He’d barely had a day with her. “You gave yourself to protect me and I want you to know I would do the same for you. And our son. But I’m not a fool to think you would not harm our child if you thought it meant to harm me. But…if you can have this evil you fear living inside you and choose to be good, then so can he? We can teach him. Together. With our other Kings. Uncle Krave and Kildare and Uncle Reuban.”

She twisted a strand of his hair around her finger. “I have so many questions. He’s growing so quickly. I wonder how quickly he will grow after he’s born. Will he be a genius like hisfather in one hour? Will he be beautiful like you? I think that’s going to be impossible to accomplish since you’ve used up all the beauty in the world.” She sucked in a breath. “That was a big kick.” She pressed his hand to her womb. “He’s lusty for life like his father.”

She stroked her fingers over his silky skin, softened in sleep. That’s all it was, a deep sleep. “I know you’re healing,” she whispered, petting his face and snuggling her own against it. “I can’t wait to kiss you again. To feel your lips…all over me.”

A dense ache filled every part of her as she let herself relive what he felt like. “You are overwhelmingly magnificent, Kaos. And you are my husband. And I love you more than my life. I’m in agony without you,” she gasped, tears falling. “I’m in agony that you don’t know, you might not know this. You have to live. If you die, all that is worth anything inside me will die with you. I won't survive. You are the air my soul breathes, I don’t know why or how this happened, but it has. And I can’t live without air, can I?” she strained around the sob lodged in her chest.

She angled her head at hearing Krave and that Bellatore’s companion murmuring.

“The Bellatore is a divine being and even she must have proper nourishment,” the dark man mumbled.

“Get everything you think she might need then.”

Her heart fluttered at Krave’s worried voice.

“What will you do once it is born?” the Bellatore’s servant whispered.

“I have no idea anymore. We’re waiting for Reuban to do whatever he was supposed to do for the Bellatore, so we know what’s next.”

“I see that I am permitted to ask how will you know?”

“How do you know you’re permitted to ask, what does that mean?”

“It means before I could see I was not permitted to ask certain things and now I am permitted.”