Page 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“ S uvi!” I squeal, hugging her to me. I’m so happy to see my best friend and can’t contain my tears. It doesn't matter that I only saw her just over a week ago, on my birthday. Goddess, these hormones are making me so damn sappy.

“Sheesh, look at this belly, girl,” Suvi teases, leaning back so she can place one hand on my massive stomach. “I’ll have to measure you, but I think you’re between thirty-three and thirty-six weeks? Well, the equivalent of it anyway.”

Torrin greets his cousin with a quick hug of his own once I’ve had my fill of squishing her. Daion and Rio settle just for nods and mumbles of it being good to see her, along with a passed-along message from their adoptive mother, Ava, that she needs to come visit.

Ash is out here as well, but my brother and his husband decided to remain in the house for our reunion. They’ve been busy working in the greenhouse and preparing spells to protect us, just in case.

Once he's said hi, Rio is straight back to being glued no further than six inches behind me at all times, close enough to feel his body heat. If I thought he was already being excessively overprotective before we had sex, then I clearly had no idea of the levels he could reach.

The others have all said something, but he truly doesn’t give any fucks.

Suvi gives him a suspicious side-eye, clearly noticing the change since my birthday. I just ignore it and the man glued to my personal space.

“It’s good to have you here, Suvi.” Torrin smiles gently at my best friend as she wrangles Daion into a hug too.

“We’re grateful for your help,” Daion adds while being forcibly squeezed.

“Pfft. I’m her day one. If anything, we’re,” Suvi gestures to me and then herself, “grateful to have you four here.” She scoffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she steps back from her cousin. She turns to Ash, frowning deeply like something has disturbed her. “And you are?”

“Ash, we've met,” he points out, grinning like she's revealed something highly amusing.

“Huh. You look…completely different from how you did on Eden's birthday, like you’re an entirely different person.”

"Your tastes must have changed." Ash shrugs, but there's a gleam in those demonic eyes of his. I'll need to remember to interrogate him about it later. When there's less of an audience.

“Come on, let's get inside, and you can examine me, Doctor Suvi,” I tease, turning to head for the house and bumping my belly into Rio.

He places his hands on my stomach, steadying me.

“Watch it, Hellfire.” Rio’s tone and the gentle way he caresses my belly make me melt for my grumpy demon hunter.

“Oh, ew.” Suvi makes a gagging noise, grips my arm, and drags me away from him as I giggle. “So, you’ve collected yourself quite the following, hmm? One demon wasn't enough; you had to steal the hearts of all three of my cousins too,” Suvi teases.

“No one is more shocked than I am, especially about Rio. He wasn’t my biggest fan,” I murmur, but seeing as Rio is still stuck to his plans of tracking my every movement, he overhears me.

“A minor mistake,” he grumbles, reaching for my hand, but Torrin wraps his arm around his brother's neck and roughly tugs him away from me.

“We’re going to give you two some privacy for girl talk. We’ll just be outside the door, waiting in the hall!” Torrin yanks Rio back out the door before he can protest.

Daion uses the opening to sneak up to my side, whispering, “After a kiss." Making me pause mid-wobble as he presses his lips to mine quickly. “We’ll be close by," he promises before releasing me again.

Ash, not wanting to be left out, smacks my ass for good measure on his way out after the three of them.

The look on Suvi’s face is hilarious as she stares between me and the door the four of them left through. I shrug, and she laughs.

“Well, anyway, let's get to it." Suvi starts her process of poking and prodding. By the time she’s done, I’m ready for a nap.

“I think you’re about thirty-five weeks at this point. Your belly has dropped, and the baby is low now, making their way toward the birth canal.” Suvi smiles, taking a seat beside me on the bed as I pull my shirt down.

“Damn. In a regular pregnancy, at thirty-five, I would have five weeks left, but I have what, maybe a week?” I nibble my bottom lip, and Suvi rubs my back soothingly. "Is it bad that I kind of want to call my parents and beg them to come back here?"

They'd left yesterday morning on a mission to meet with an old friend across the country whom they seemed convinced could help with the baby's safety, with them not being hunted down once they're born. They hadn't wanted to share more, apparently avoiding getting my hopes up. I wish I had a clue what they're up to right now, and even more, I wish they were here. They should be back in a few days, though.

“You’re going to be okay, Eden. I’m here, your brother is here, and by the looks of it, not only is your baby daddy here, but you’ve got some bonus dads?” She lifts a brow, and I blush.

“It’s all a bit intense.”

“You’re in good hands. I’ll be here to help you deliver the little hellspawn, and those four men will be here for the aftermath. Whatever that looks like, whoever we have to take down.” She smiles teasingly and bumps me with her shoulder.

“I know. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I couldn’t?—”

“You could, but you won’t ever have to.” Suvi cuts me off before I can finish. I’m not so sure she’s right, but I want to believe I’m as strong as she thinks I am.

“How far along is she?” My head snaps up when I realise that the deep voice asking that question isn’t on the other side of the door anymore. Ash grins, looking anything but guilty. I narrow my eyes at him, and he steps backward out of view. Daion replaces the grinning demon, looking concerned.

“How progressed are you now? Is the baby okay?” Daion asks, just as he yanked backward. Rio rushes into the room and takes a seat beside me on the bed, assessing me closely.

Torrin follows Rio in closely, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face aimed at his brother.

“I told you to wait until they said you could come in.”

“They were finished,” Rio grumbles, as the other two men join us now.

“I’m thirty-five weeks, roughly, and yes, the baby is good. Should be here in the next ten days or so,” I say, rubbing my hand over the rounded belly that feels like it takes up most of my body.

“Ten days…” Daion’s eyes go wide, and he stands there staring at me. I nibble my bottom lip, feeling nervous.

“I need some things…”

“Oh, my car is loaded up.” Suvi shrugs before climbing off the bed.

“What?” I ask, frowning.

“I grabbed a bunch of gender-neutral baby stuff and some essentials for you as well.” Suvi rolls her eyes at me, like I’m crazy for ever doubting her. She glances between Rio and the other three. “Torrin, can you and Ash help me unload?” she asks as I start to struggle to try and get off the bed. Rio gives me a helping hand, doing most of the work, if I'm honest.

“You didn’t have to do that, Suvi,” I tell her, tears filling my eyes. Suvi rolls her eyes at me.

“Of course I did. Don’t be silly. Now you three stay here, and the three of us will go get everything.”