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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“ O h, sweet hell's bells,” I groan, wobbling on my feet as we arrive. I awkwardly bend over, resting my hands on my knees as I suck in deep lungfuls of air. I feel like I’m going to be sick. Ugh.

This is the worst. Before recently, I’d only had to teleport maybe four times in my whole life that I can recall, all of them with our family’s key. Now I’m constantly being tossed around this world and others, like it’s going out of fashion. Someone has obviously cursed me. I swear the key method never used to feel this awful.

“Here, this should help.” My brother hands me a small vial, cork already pulled, like he’d anticipated this. I down the contents greedily. The dizzy feeling, as well as the sensation of impending vomit, quickly fades, and I sigh with relief. Small fucking mercies that he prepared for this. I’ll go gently when I murder him for this stupid kidnapping.

Do I have a sign on my head that reads, ‘Come on over and kidnap this witch—teleportation advised’ or something to that effect? Because this is starting to get ridiculous.

“Next time, a simple phone call will suffice,” I hiss, then take a deep breath before I look up and glare furiously at my big brother. “What the hell was that?” I throw my arms up.

“You weren’t safe there, not between that demon and the hunters. It’s like you have a death wish or something.” Forrest crosses his arms over his chest, not looking the least bit apologetic. “Kit and I want you here, where we can protect you.”

“How did you even know that I needed protecting? Not that I do. The demon and those hunters you just stole me from? They already had it covered!”

“That’s not what—forget it. Let’s try this from the beginning, do you remember Katia?” he asks, instead of simply apologising.

I nod, holding back a sigh and hoping he has a damn good explanation for this. Katia’s a part of the coven he and our parents are in. The same one I’d grown up with. From what I can recall of her, I’m pretty sure she’s certifiably insane. Makes great baked goods, though. I never cared or complained about any of the odd things she’d come out with because she always brought the best treats over when it was our parents’ turn to host gatherings.

“Well, I don’t know if you knew about this, but she’s prone to visions.”

“That makes a bizarre amount of sense,” I admit, seeing some of my memories in a slightly different light with that knowledge.

While rare, true seers are always at least a little bit crazy, and more often than not, absolutely batshit. Something about being bombarded with so many possibilities leaves cracks in the psyche. Eventually, it can get to the point where neither they nor anyone else can be sure what’s a real vision and what’s a delusion. It’s not an ability I’d wish on anyone, and most people consider it an unlucky curse.

“Katia recently came to me and said she’d had one where you were pregnant with a half-demon baby. At first, I thought she was confused because it sounded too insane to be true. She’s been saying all sorts of stuff about you recently that makes no sense at all, Den,” he says, his expression somewhere between sympathetic, baffled, and a tiny bit guilty, like he’s blaming himself for something.

“What did she say that was so unbelievable?” I ask, trying not to freak out at the confirmation that he does in fact know the truth about my unborn child.

Though, at least he doesn’t seem mad about it?

“Uh, just don’t laugh, okay?” Forrest pleads, shifting his weight between his feet awkwardly like he really doesn’t want to come out and say it. “I’m sure she was only trying to help our family by coming to me with it in the first place. Even if parts of it were distorted, clearly she was right about some things.” He gives a pointed look to my very pregnant belly.

“I won’t laugh, but you better hurry up and get on with this,” I tell him, needing him to get on with it already. I’d really like an explanation before my rescue party arrives.

“Fine. She said something about you being stolen by an evil king and trapped in a giant gold egg. So, I think it was mostly reasonable on my part to have some doubts when she then told me about the baby.”

I have to slap my hand over my mouth to stop the incredulous little giggle that tries to escape the second he’s done speaking.

“Hey! You said you wouldn’t laugh,” Forrest complains.

“It’s just—” I cover my mouth again, trying my very best not to lose it. I breathe in and out through my nose, taking several deep breaths.

It had been horrifying to live through, but hearing my brother explain my traumatic experience in one sentence that somehow manages to make it sound like a creepy fairy tale, it’s just too much. I break, dissolving into laughter, ignoring Forrest’s pointed glaring.

After a minute or so, I finally manage to compose myself enough to say, “So, the evil king and the egg thing? That actually happened.”

“Fuck off it did,” he blurts, looking at me as if I’ve turned purple or something. When I don’t immediately concede to the denial, my brother then shakes his head. “No. That’s just… no. ”

“Yeah, it did. Except the evil king was actually an evil demon lord, and the egg? It was some kind of creepy pregnancy-accelerating contraption from hell.”

“That’s…super messed up. Damn, Den. Look, I believe you, but in my defence, you’ve got to admit, it sounds…”

“Insane?” I provide.

“Yeah, that about covers it,” he agrees.

“It’s basically the state of my entire life recently,” I inform my brother with a sigh. “Now, seeing as that’s already happened, what is it you decided I needed protection from?”

“Okay, so it was around the fifth time she’d spoken about you giving birth to a demon, so I was mostly trying to be polite at this point, but then she mentioned Suvi by name. Katia also knew about her being a healer. I didn’t even remember that. I had to look it up.”

“Suvi was in what she saw?” Knowing that oddly makes me feel a whole lot better because if Suvi’s there when the baby comes, surely that means things will be okay?

“Yeah, but that’s not important right now. Katia said the vision keeps changing between three different outcomes, and two of them, well, they’re not good. That’s why I came to see you, to see if it was really true. If it wasn’t, I was just gonna make an excuse about visiting for your birthday. Then you had to go and be exactly where she said you’d be, and just as pregnant, so I brought you here to keep you safe.”

“What were the bad options?” I demand.

“One was that a demon took you, but I guess it already happened? So, maybe we don’t have to worry about that one now. The other was that your coven found out about the baby being half-demon, and, well…you know how witches tend to feel about that kind of thing.”

“Yeah, the whole ‘coven justice’ to deal with the evil demon spawn. I already expected that would happen eventually when they noticed how quickly the baby happened.”

“You are being way too calm about this.”

“I’ve actually been very stressed about it, but the guys were already protecting me. I have it handled.”

“The demon…and the demon hunters,” he says slowly, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Look, ‘the demon’ is the baby’s father, and the hunters? They’re…well, it’s complicated, but I trust them all,” I tell him firmly, not liking the way he’s talking about them. “You should know that they also won’t just let me disappear like this.”

I sigh, already picturing how frantic they must be. They probably think I’ve been demon-napped again. I can’t even call them to say it was only my dumb, though well-intentioned, brother. I really need to get a new phone.

Forrest snorts before overconfidently saying, “Even if they could find you, which they won’t, they can’t get past the barrier.”

“Oh, you don’t know them like I do. Our family home’s barrier? Not gonna cut it. They’re also probably already on their way here.”

“It’s my house now,” he objects, as if that’s the important part of what I said.

I’m about to argue some more when I hear footsteps approaching us. I turn to see my mother of all people, coming our way, with our dad not far behind her. Oh no. This is bad. Very, very bad.

This is now officially the ultimate sibling betrayal. Cain and Abel can fucking suck it.

“So much for this being your house now,” I hiss at Forrest.

He could have warned me that our parents are here. The last I heard, they were supposed to be on some weird, no-technology-allowed, retreat thing.

“You better sleep with one eye open,” I add quietly enough so our mother doesn't overhear me when she stops a few steps away, staring at me with big eyes.

Forrest just laughs. Siblings really are the worst. Thank the Goddess that I only have one.

“Oh, Eden,” she whispers then, temporarily distracting me from my fratricidal urges. Her eyes are locked on my fully rounded glory. “It is true. Oh, look at you.”

I am plump, swollen, and quite clearly pregnant as hell. So there’s definitely no denying it now, I suppose.

“Surprise?” I say awkwardly.

“You look so beautiful,” she says, suddenly bursting into tears.

My mouth pops open. Wait, what?

“Can’t believe you managed to beat Forrest and Kit to making us grandparents,” my dad says with a huge smile as he walks right over and pulls me into a hug.

I’m completely frozen for a moment.

Where’s the chastising? The scolding? The criticism of my life choices? If I’d known giving them a grandchild, even a demon one at that, would get me a pass from lectures, I’d have done this years ago.

“And very soon, by the looks of it. How far are you, my darling?” she asks as Dad releases me, pressing her hand to my belly. “What a birthday, huh?” She chuckles, prodding my stomach more aggressively now. “You’re measuring at about thirty or so weeks. Hmm. Maybe thirty-one.”

“I’m further along than I should be, but it’s a long story. Maybe we should head inside?” I ask, still feeling unsteady, but that has more to do with how incredibly supportive my parents are being. I mean, they have always been mostly supportive, despite our differences, but this is still unexpected. “You know the father’s a demon, right?” I have to ask because maybe Forrest hasn’t told them everything.

“Of course.” Dad scoffs, shaking his head like I’ve insulted his intelligence. “I made you some of your favourites. Are you hungry?”

The abrupt change in topic confuses me, but I simply nod. I am always a little hungry these days, even if I’ve already had a feast. Maybe it’s a good thing this pregnancy has been so short. I fear for all the extra pounds I’d have collected otherwise.

Although, how do I tell them that because of this baby, I’m going to need to feed from someone soon? I really hope the guys get here before I have to explain any of that .

About an hour later, and after some extremely awkward conversations, there’s a loud boom outside. It couldn’t have happened before my parents asked all those damn questions, could it?

Guessing at what the noise means, I attempt to jump to my feet, only to awkwardly shuffle my way upright instead. I rush out the door as fast as my swollen ankles will carry me, following my parents, Forrest, and his husband to the source of the commotion.

Three men are all attacking the barrier like wild beasts. Two with magic and one, very inadvisably, with their bare hands.

“Eden!” Rio roars, pounding his fists against it and wincing with every hit.

“ Oh… ” Kit whispers beside me, “I don’t know if you should be scared or turned on,” he muses, sounding like he decided on the second, and my eyes go wide as I turn to stare at him.

I swear my brother-in-law has even less of a filter than I do.

“Kit!” Forrest exclaims, doing his best to sound scandalised.

“What?” His husband shrugs. “That barrier’s made to keep witches out. Every time he touches it, it’s zapping the fuck out of him. That’s pretty tough. Don’t act like you don’t notice or appreciate it.”

“Rio!” I gasp, waddling as fast as I can toward the crazy man. “Stop! You’re hurting yourself! I’m okay. This is my family!”

At my words, the attacks stop, and the men all freeze.

“This won’t keep out demons, by the way,” Ash says casually as he materialises beside me, much to the annoyance of the hunters still stuck on the other side of the barrier.

“Ash!” I scold, quickly glancing nervously at my brother, his husband, and my parents, worried they’ll attack him.

My mother raises her hands, looking ready to do just that, but I move to his side. “I need him! Unless you have thought of a different way to feed my vitav? Plus, I told you all already, he isn’t a danger to any of us.”

“I can tell by the horrified looks on your faces that you haven’t,” Ash remarks, looking way too smug.

“Let me through already,” Rio growls, and the fire in his eyes makes my heart race. “Or I’ll destroy this stupid barrier.”

“Rio,” I gasp, eyes wide. “My parents and brother won’t hurt me.”

“Don’t care, Eden.” Rio’s jaw is tense, and he clenches his fists beside him.

“Are you alright?” Daion asks but keeps himself back by a few inches. He looks concerned, but he’s the most relaxed of the hunters. Could he pass through the barrier as easily as Ash did?

Torrin looks murderous. I’ve never seen him so aggressive and distraught. His eyes are fixed on me, a storm cloud brewing in his stony stare. I guess my getting kidnapped twice in such a short span of time has gotten to them all.

“Of course I am. This is my family. My parents would never hurt me.” I’m trying to reassure them, but they really don’t seem convinced.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” my usually very sweetly spoken mother hisses. She raises her hands, murmuring a few words, and the barrier comes down so the guys can all step through.

They immediately start on some temporary warding spells to keep demons out, not taking any chances, even if it won’t be as secure as the extensive protection they have set up at their place.

Well, Torrin and Daion start on it. Rio charges right at me.

“Stop. Disappearing. Away. From. Me.” He practically growls as he pulls me into his arms and firmly against his chest. My arms wrap back around him instinctively. “Stop fucking scaring me. Stop getting taken from us. I will handcuff you to me, you little demon.”

“I…wait. Little demon?” I question, pulling out of his hold to glare up at him. What the hell sort of nickname is that? I can’t help but think he’s getting revenge for all of the nicknames I’ve had for him since we met. Though, at least half of those had only been in my head.

“Be careful, Eden. He might bend you over his knee one day,” Torrin says quietly with a wink as he passes me, heading over to greet my family. Who are thankfully just out of earshot of that comment.

The laughter coming from the shifter who married my brother says he wasn’t, though.

“What?” I squeak.

“If you keep getting taken, I will cuff you to me. I promise,” Rio vows, and then in a shocking move that renders me utterly speechless, he bites my neck. Hard. In a way that feels so good I shiver. It takes me several long seconds to process what he’s done. Then, he just releases his hold on me, casually walking off to join Daion and Torrin in greeting my family.

What. The. Fuck.

Ash takes my hand, a sly smirk on his lips like he’s about to say something, and knowing my luck, it’ll probably be embarrassing for me.

“Not one word from you,” I grumble before he can open his mouth. “And don’t think I missed that you could have spared the three of them the stress of smacking down the barrier. Mr. It-doesn’t-work-on-demons.”

Despite my threat, Ash leans down and whispers in my ear, “Wasn’t it worth it to see their reactions, though, little witch?”