Page 155 of A Deal in Darkness
She deserves to hear the truth from me. Certainly not from a cunt like Lucifer, and I won’t take this moment from her.
“You’re pregnant, baby,” I whisper.
Adriana bites her lip and turns them in, turning her mouth into a thin line. She isn’t reacting and I don’t know if she’s terrified, thrilled, or just too damn numb to feel anything.
“I wondered,” she says back.
I nod and tighten my grip on her hands.
Lucifer takes a step toward us, and my wings splay open, covering Adriana from him.
“I mean no fucking harm, Amaymon,” he sighs, exasperated. “You can stop with the territorial male posturing. She likes you enough to let you knock her up. No one’s going to take her from you now.”
Adriana’s gaze moves to Lucifer and the rage pulses so hot it’s startling. I squeeze her fingers, drawing her attention back tome. This is our moment, and I won’t let a fucking asshole steal it from us. From her. My girl’s had quite enough taken from her and this is more than I’ll allow. Even for Lucifer.
“Shall I let you in on a secret, sweetheart?”
She narrows her eyes as Lucifer basks in his glory.
“He has to be in love with you.”
The room falls silent and Adriana’s gaze falls on me. My obsession with her is all-consuming. It’s as powerful as an ocean, as eternal as the stars that light the night sky. It knows no limits and I cannot control it, even if I wanted to—and I don’t. It’s too damn warm, too undeniably nice. It’s comforting and it’s so damn fierce that it would set the world on fire just to see her smile.
The other princes stare in disbelief and I ignore the fuck out of them, looking only at Adriana. She’s the only thing that matters and if this is love, then I don’t want anything else. Only her. Only this.
She whimpers and squeezes my fingers back, smiling as I silently pledge my eternal devotion.
“Lord, I don’t mean to question you, but demons are incapable of love,” says one of the other fuckers standing behind him.
Lucifer closes his eyes, exhales loudly, and shakes his head. “What is that line that you’re all so fucking keen to quote all the fucking time? The one from that twat. Will whatever the fuck his name was who went around shaking swords or something?” He stares at Adriana, intrigued. “There are more fucking things in Heaven and Hell than are dreamt of in your fucking feeble minds? Sounds about fucking right.”
Adriana snorts and the Devil smiles.
“The girl is yours, Amaymon. I’ll not claim her, and I consider your oath to find the Altair fulfilled. I’ll even let the killing them bit slide.”
Lucifer’s lost his fucking mind if he thinks I’m going to take the risk that he’s just going to let me have Adriana.
“I’ve lost enough rounds that losing one more makes no difference.” Lucifer grins. “I’m content to wait until next time. Besides, this is much more interesting.”
I arch my eyebrow.
“A half-demon, half-angel, Amaymon. You brought me a Nephilim. A creature with more power than either who possesses complete free will. I cannot wait to see what they choose. It will be entertaining. Fascinating. Enthralling even.”
“It’s not a creature,” I snarl, getting to my feet.
Elgios and the other princes take a stuttered breath as Lucifer raises his hand. “My apologies, Amaymon. Your child. Did you wish to know what you’re having?”
“NO. HE. DOESN’T.”
Lucifer laughs and the amusement flashing through his devilishly wicked eyes overflows into the room. “It’ll be fascinating if they’re anything like their mother. I’m sorry to tell you, old friend, but you’ve got your work cut out for you. She’ll put you through more than anything I would.”
The Devil turns and signals to the Princes of Hell that he’s bored with their presence and they should fuck off. They scurry away like the vermin that they are and the doors close, leaving the three of us alone.
“I am truly pleased for you, Amaymon,” Lucifer says, heading toward the door. “You’ve served me well and you—of all the princes—deserve to be happy.”
“Happy, Lucifer?”
He grins as he turns back. “Love is madness, and it makes fools of us all. It is also more than many of us dare to hope for —it is the gift that makes us happy.”
