Page 69

“If you can talk, you’re not training hard enough,” I quoted in my dad’s deep voice.

My rendition of the Legion’s First Angel spooked our waiter, who looked around nervously to look for Nero Windstriker. He set our plates down, then scuttled back inside, crouched over, like he was afraid the sky would come crashing down on his head.

Bella and I laughed, then set our sights on our sandwiches. The bread slices were perfect squares, like they’d come out of a form. I bet that if I measured the sides, they would all be exactly the same length. The cold cuts and cheese slices on the sandwiches were just as precise in shape, and the cucumbers looked like they’d been painted. My dad would have loved this place. Everything was just so orderly.

“I was—” Bella caught the baby’s leg before he kicked her sandwich.

I unfolded my napkin and spread it over my lap. “I’m so glad I never had any baby brothers or sisters.”

“They can get into mischief,” Bella said. “But so did you, Sierra.”

“Back in the day.”

“Not just back in the day. I’ve heard you still have a penchant for trouble, even today.”

“Maybe.” I cut my sandwich diagonally through the middle, then grabbed a slice. “Occasionally.”

Bella sighed. “Your parents always wanted to have more children.”

“Really?” I took a bite of my sandwich. “They never said anything about it to me.”

“Don’t think they aren’t happy, Sierra. You’re the greatest gift they ever received. They love you more than anything in the universe. They just hoped they could grow that love.” She smiled at me. “For all of you. But it never worked out.”

“Because angels and deities are notoriously infertile.”

“You know about that?”

“Of course. Everyone knows about that. That’s thenotoriouspart,” I said. “It’s the Nectar and Venom. The same poison which gives people magic also makes them infertile.”

I put down my sandwich. I tried to tell myself it was the ick factor, the very idea of my parents having sex, that had caused me to lose my appetite, but that was just a convenient lie. The truth was it was guilt that had soured my stomach. My guilt.

“It’s my fault,” I said quietly. “I’m the reason they didn’t have more kids.”

“How could this possibly be your fault?”

“Because for years Iwishedthat I would remain an only child. And my wish came true.”

“Oh, Sierra.” Bella reached across the table to take my hand. “Wishing for something doesn’t make it true.”

“Maybe it does for me. Even after all these years, we still don’t understand everything about my magic. What if my magic made it so? What if I’m the one who did this to them?”

“It’s not your fault your parents never had any more children, Sierra.” She squeezed my hand. “Like you said before, it’s the Nectar and the Venom.”

“Harker is an angel, you are mostly demon, and you guys have absolutely no problem having children,” I countered.

“Yes, well, we’re…different. Your mom told you how I was conceived?”

I nodded. “Some kind of magic involving immortal artifacts. You really think that’s the reason you’ve been able to have so many children?”

“I don’t know for sure, but it’s the most logical explanation I can think of. No one really understands my magic either. All we do know is that I’m different. I don’t get my magic from Nectar or Venom. Not like your parents, the angels, even the gods and demons.”

“Gods and demons are born with magic,” I reminded her. “They don’t need Nectar or Venom.”

“Not to live, no, but they must consume it to keep their magic strong.”

“I don’t need Nectar or Venom to keep my magic strong,” I said.

“Which means it’s very likely you won’t have any trouble whatsoever having lots of adorable children someday,” Bella said brightly as her baby burped.