Page 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

“ W ell fuck,” I grumble to myself now I’m alone.

Ash has gone to get me a glass of ice water while Torrin, Rio, and Daion are off talking about the call with Suvi. I don’t know what they all really have to talk about. The long and short of it is that my entire coven’s now aware I’m pregnant. Not exactly great news, considering the progression of this pregnancy is anything but normal and people are sure to notice. I had expected it to get out sooner or later, especially with Alina now knowing. I’d still hoped for a little more time before it became the hot gossip of the day, though.

Now I’m stuck sitting in their living room, staring up at the ceiling while I contemplate my options. Do I go home, or do I wait it out? If I wait it out, do I get a hotel, or should I be fleeing the damn country? I really don’t know what the right thing to do is. Nothing could have ever prepared me for the reality of my current life.

“Eden, can I speak to you for a minute?” Daion asks as he walks back into the room.

“Sure.” I sit up, nodding at him. I’m glad for any break from my miserable dwelling.

“After talking with the others, we think it would be best if you stayed with us for the time being,” Daion explains, and as he says this, Ash steps in with my ice water in hand.

“If you think I’m letting her stay in a house filled with demon hunters, you’re insane,” Ash hisses. He hands me my glass and then takes the space at my side, pressing close.

“Let me? You’re insane if you think you can let me do anything.” I narrow my eyes on the demon, turning away from Daion, who has wisely opted to take the seat across from us.

“It's not safe,” Ash argues, and I lift my brow.

“They’ve been here for me the whole time while I was trying to track you down. If they were a threat to me or my baby, I would already be dead. You think they’ve helped to keep me alive all this time just to turn on me now?” I can feel the heat in my cheeks rising as I stare down the incubus.

“No, I think their job is inherently dangerous and that it could put you in danger, Eden. I wasn’t insinuating that they themselves would harm you,” Ash explains, and my irritation decreases mildly.

“They would protect me,” I object, though I haven’t even agreed to stay here in the first place. I just really don't like him trying to tell me what to do. Who does he think he is?

“Even that one?” Ash nods to Rio as he and Torrin join us. Torrin sits beside Daion, while Rio takes up his usual corner, standing with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

“Rio?” I glance at him, taking in the way he’s scowling at me. “Yes,” I answer, deciding on it fairly easily. He might have tried to kill me that one time, but he’s definitely mellowed out a lot since then. He’s even tolerable now —mostly.

“Of course I would protect her. Implying I wouldn’t is offensive. I take my job seriously,” Rio snaps, going to stand beside the couch Torrin and Daion are sitting on. His arms are still crossed and his eyes still glaring, though now his irritation is entirely directed towards the incubus next to me.

Huh. Does Ash’s presence make mine suddenly more tolerable to him?

I might just keep him around for that alone. So long as he cuts the weird, controlling thing he’s currently trying to pull.

“See! Anyway, this conversation is irrelevant because I haven’t made my decision yet. A choice that is entirely up to me, and has nothing to do with you,” I inform Ash, making Torrin smirk like if I’ve already agreed to stay.

“Isn’t parenting a partnership?” the demon asks with a frown, honestly sounding quite confused by the concept. I get the feeling he hasn’t spent a lot of time considering the practicalities of raising children before now.

Not that I can really talk when it comes to being prepared for this…

“I guess,” I agree, not sure if I like where this is going.

“Yet you won’t hear my side or consider my worries for the safety of our child?”

“Well, when you say it like that, I really sound like an asshole.” I huff as I think about it a little. Hyper-independence may be my downfall today…is this really the hill I want to die on? I feel the mental equivalent of a shrug pass through my mind at the thought. To be honest, when the mood hits, I haven’t found a hill I’m unwilling to die on.

“Tell you what, when this baby is no longer in my womb, I’ll consider your side. Until then, my body, my rules.” I scoot away from the demon, not wanting him plastered to my side right now, and glance over at the hunters.

“If she stays,” Ash starts speaking before I can ask them more questions about the offer, “I would like to ask that you allow me to stay here as well. If something happens, I can protect Eden while you three deal with whatever the problem is.”

“Over your dead body!” Rio snaps, and no one misses the word usage implying Ash’s death, rather than his own.

I wince. Ash doesn’t know that Rio is sensitive to the subject of demons. Succubi and incubi especially. I, however, can’t blame Rio for protesting, knowing what I do about his past. Now I’m wondering if I should say something, maybe offer up an alternative option?

“He has a good point,” Daion says gently before I can speak up.

Rio’s left eye twitches as he slowly turns to his brother. “New suggestion: we tie him up in the fucking basement and leave him there. Traitors can join him.”

Torrin snorts, his little brother’s biggest enabler. He clearly thinks this conversation is hilarious. Sadly, I don’t think Rio is joking. Not entirely.

“Woah, okay, everyone chill.” I hold my hands up, hoping to avoid this escalating into actual wrongful imprisonment of my incubus. He might have just annoyed me a little, but I don’t want him locked up for merely existing near Rio’s issues.

“How is Ash sleeping here all that different from him being here during the day?” Daion asks, and Rio’s jaw drops.

“How is it different!? How is it…” Rio trails off, frowning. “He’s…it’s because he’s…”

“A demon, yes. But how is the length of time or reason he’s here changing anything? If he was going to try something, he would just do it. His powers don’t require it to be nighttime.”

Damn, Daion is good at this Rio-wrangling thing. Although one could argue it’s different because the demon hunters are more vulnerable at night while sleeping, I'm hardly about to be the one to point it out. It’s not as if he has anything to be worried over. I don’t think Ash is interested in using any of them for a boost in energy.

“I’m putting extra warding on all of our rooms!” Rio snaps. “And hers! He can’t enter anyone’s space without permission. And you two better fucking sleep with a demon-killing blade within reach. And-and…” Rio glares like he’s mentally grasping for another precaution to add to the list but is coming up frustratingly blank.

“We’ll all be fine.” Torrin stands, placing his hand on Rio’s shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, we can even set up extra alarms.”

“I would also just like to add that I have no intentions of harming any of you,” Ash says in a gentler tone, acting completely unoffended or fazed by Rio’s outburst.

“And if I said I’d stay elsewhere?” I chime in.

“Why are you so stubborn?” Rio demands, my question apparently getting him fired right back up. “We say, ‘Let us keep you alive,’ and you say, ‘No, I want to be a pain in your ass instead.’ Why?” Rio narrows his eyes at me, throwing his hands in the air like I’m some kind of lost cause. One that he’s personally exhausted by and is now imploring the universe itself for an answer as to why he’s stuck dealing with it.

It’s a little bit maddening because, for once, I was genuinely trying to be nice to him.

“That’s not—this is your home, Rio. If our staying here will make you uncomfortable, then I’ll go somewhere else.”

“The only thing making me uncomfortable is the fucking headaches you give me,” he replies, practically storming out of the room right after, and I wonder if my attempt at being kind may have disturbed him.

“Well, that was dramatic.” I huff, taking one more moment to think about it before giving my answer. “I guess I’ll stay here then.”

I zip up my jacket as I step into the twenty-four-hour supermarket, barely resisting the urge to tug the hood up too. I glance around for anyone I know, anyone who could recognise me, but there’s only a handful of people in here this late. Or early, depending on how you see the hour of three in the morning. Still, I find myself peering around each aisle before proceeding, just in case.

How does the saying go again? It’s not really paranoia if they’re actually out to get you?

Something like that, anyway.

Well, if any witches figure out who this baby’s dad is, then they absolutely will be out to get me. Now it’s apparently spread all across the coven I’m knocked up, it’s only a matter of time before someone notices all the other weird stuff going on and puts it together. Between the sped-up pregnancy, the demon daddy who now doesn’t want to let me out of his sight, and the hunters who’ve insisted on us staying with them, clearly this can’t stay a secret.

I had to sneak out at three in the damn morning just to get a moment alone and fulfil the bizarre middle-of-the-night cravings I found myself dealing with. I can’t resist throwing other random stuff into the basket as I walk around, not wanting to look like a weirdo. I can imagine the look the person at the checkout would give me seeing me buying the biggest tub of ice cream the store carries, a broccoli, two packs of watermelon-flavoured sour gummy sweets, and nothing else. Not that I plan to eat them all together. I will not be dipping broccoli in ice cream, no matter what the weird itch in the back of my brain says, but…maybe the gummies.

Pausing in one of the aisles, I wonder if I should grab the hunters and Ash some tasty peace offerings while I’m here. I’m not sorry for sneaking off, though. I know they’re only trying to be protective, but I needed a damn break. I sigh.

Goddess, men are so confusing, whether they’re a witch or a demon.

Ash has thrown himself right into the whole baby thing. He’s known about this baby for only a day, and yet he’s already acting like he’s thrilled to be a dad. It’s not that I'm unhappy he wants to help me during the pregnancy or even that he wants to be a part of our child’s life. It’s just…how did he get on board so quickly? Surely he should need a minute to wrap his brain around it and then come to terms with becoming a parent? Not to mention, it’s happening with a witch he met only once before now. None of this situation is ideal, so why is he acting like it’s the best thing to ever happen to him?

The hunters are being just as confusing. Other than Rio, who’s thankfully back to being his irritating self, rolling his eyes and storming off while his brothers insist I stay with them for my safety. Him, I can at least somewhat understand, I think. Dai and Torrin, though, they’re confusing both my head and my heart.

This was always supposed to be a mutually beneficial transaction, all of it. Finding Ash, helping me with my vitav levels…so why are they still trying to help me now they’ve already done what they promised to do? Now that they’re no longer obligated to continue? It’s hard not to let delusional hopes make themselves known.

A loud clunk comes from behind me, and I whirl around, heart hammering in my chest, only to see a tin of peaches rolling across the shiny floor. Fuck. With one hand over my chest, I take a deep breath in and out, feeling utterly ridiculous.

It’s only paranoia… for now.

While Suvi had called to warn us about Alina letting it slip, all anyone knows for now is that I’m pregnant. And also that I apparently have a secret man nobody knew about. I’m sure Rio is super thrilled about it. I’m not sure which thing he hates more, the idea spreading that he’s the father of my demon spawn or that he would ever date me. I’m sure he’ll somehow find the perfect opportunity to tell me in detail, the infuriating asshole.

“It is you.”

The sudden words make me almost leap out of my own skin. I was so distracted by my own thoughts, I didn’t even hear anyone approaching. I look up at the speaker, forcing myself not to pull a face when I recognise theirs. Just fucking great.

“Lorcan! What are you doing here?” I ask stupidly, trying not to audibly groan from embarrassment as soon as I realise what came out of my mouth. What do people do in a fucking supermarket, Eden? It’s not like he’s here to stalk you; the guy has made his distaste pretty damn clear. For you, your choice in friends, and by being one of the group who ditched you after the first day of spring festival. “This late, I mean,” I hurriedly tack on. Smooth going, Eden. That’ll do it. Now you only look like half of a moron, instead of an entire one.

“Was up late researching ancient forms of magic, got hungry and needed some sugar to keep me going.” He shrugs, casual, but his eyes seem anything but as they stare down at me. At my stomach, specifically. My free arm wraps around my middle on reflex, but I manage not to give in to some of my more stupid urges, like hissing at him or something equally ridiculous. “Looks like you came here for sugar cravings too, though I’m assuming given recent news it’s caused by a different reason.”

“You heard about that then.” Yay. More confirmation of my current status as the hot topic for coven gossip. He’s clearly only speaking to me to get information; he’d never normally go out of his way to come over and chat if he saw me somewhere.

“It’s all anyone’s talking about…”

I tune him out, hoping that my lack of interest and vacant nodding head will convince him to leave me alone. Out of all of the witches around our age in the coven, he’s got to be one of the worst. Now that I think about it, I wouldn't put it past him for what happened to have been all his idea. Maybe even for him to lie to the others about it too. At least some of them, anyway. I mean, Alina did truly seem like she hadn’t known about the plan to leave me waiting around in Midnight Masque all alone.

I never would have met Ash if it hadn’t happened, though. Does this mean I can blame Lorcan for all of my current problems? I mean if?—

At the end of the food aisle, someone quickly walks by, something odd about them clawing at my brain for attention. But what is it? Were they walking funny, or do I know them? I find myself staring at the empty space, trying to work out what’s tripping me up about the two-second glimpse of a person. Something inside of me is screaming to move, but whether it’s to follow them or to run away, I’m not sure. Maternal instincts are odd. I’m curious and also ready to bolt because of rogue peaches.

“Eden?”

I blink, forcing my eyes back to Lorcan, who’s narrowed his at me in a displeased expression. Uh-oh. Someone doesn’t appreciate not being the centre of the universe.

“Sorry, I think I just saw someone I know,” I say, the half-lie rushing out before I can really think about it. “We’ll talk some other time!”

Goddess, I hope the second part of that proves to be completely untrue.

Slipping around him, I head down to the end of the aisle before he can respond, not wanting to listen to him anymore and also at least partially because of sheer curiosity. The next few rows of shelves are vacant of shoppers, leaving no possible answer as to who caught my attention. When I make it to the last one and it’s similarly empty, I frown before shaking off the weird feeling. Whoever it is, they were probably just at the other end, out of sight as they passed between two aisles. I should leave it at that.

But I don’t.

Cursing myself internally, I head to the other end and look down, seeing nobody there. They could have gone back to one I already checked, so I walk back along the other end, hoping Lorcan won’t notice me and try to continue our conversation.

Empty. Empty. Emp—there!

Like before, a person moving quickly between two aisles down the other end catches my eye. Although, this time I’m paying enough attention to notice their shiny black hair and the long dark coat they’re wearing. The second glimpse isn’t enough for real answers, though. I’m not quite running as I dart back, but I definitely move fast enough that I should catch them moving along the far end in the next gap, but there’s nothing.

It’s like they just disappeared, but most shops and restaurants have wards to prevent teleportation magic on the premises, even if the number who can truly use such abilities is fairly low. Most witches are stuck with the more limited versions of it, anyway, meaning pre-set routes and magical devices only.

I come to a stop, shaking my head at my own ridiculousness before giving up and prioritising my search for the biggest tub of ice cream possible. Clearly, the universe has spoken, seeing as I’ve found myself in the right place, surrounded by frozen desserts. As I scan the freezer space for a good pick, I try not to worry about the fact I may possibly be going insane.

Spotting a truly huge tub of ice cream, I reach for it, my grip immediately faltering as a hand lands on my shoulder.

I whirl around, dropping my basket onto the floor carelessly as I put all my weight into the punch, only for it to smack right into someone’s open hand as they block. They grab my fist before I can pull my arm back. They’re quick, fuck. I have to do something. My instincts reach for the pool of energy inside of me, ready to draw on it to use in defence of myself and my baby?—

“Woah. Relax, it’s only me,” Daion says softly, gripping my fist in gentle hands as he slowly pries my fingers out of their clenched position. He smiles once he’s straightened them all out, looking somewhere between smug and amused. “What happened to solving your problems with words like an adult?”

“Dai?” I question, perplexed at his sudden appearance. How did he even know I was here? “Were you following me? Like around the store?” I demand.

“No.” The smirk vanishes, replaced by a concerned frown. “We were all worried when you disappeared in the middle of the night, so I came to find you. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

I let out a long breath, wondering how many jumpscares one witch can survive in a single night, before replying, “I’m fine. Can you just not sneak up on me like that again? You scared the life out of me.”

“I guessed as much when you turned around swinging. You did a lot better than on your first try, though.”

“Didn’t land it,” I huff, looking down and feeling an embarrassed flush creep into my cheeks when I spot my shopping, half of which has tumbled out of my dropped basket.

“No, but at least my hand actually felt that one,” he teases before adding more seriously, “I’ll try my best not to scare you again. I don’t want that.”

The way he says it, like he’s genuinely worried I might be afraid of him , doesn’t sit right with me. Daion doesn’t scare me. I was just feeling twitchy. “I would never fear you.”

“Good, but we’ll see how you feel about that after we’ve all had a nice long conversation about you not sneaking off in the middle of the night without telling us,” Daion replies, though he does seem lighter for my reassurance. He releases my hand and kneels down, gathering up my shopping and putting it all back into the basket. Thankfully, nothing looks broken or damaged. “Should have known you’d risk it all for snacks.”

“I did not risk it all for snacks!” I insist, only semi-serious with my whining tone.

“So we could leave here without that tub of ice cream you were staring at like it was the answer to all of life’s problems?” he asks.

The look I send his way at that ill-advised suggestion has him placing two of the ridiculously large tubs into the basket. Smart man.