by Eve Langlais
“Sorry,” she muttered.
Julio noticed her and bellowed, “Helen!”
“You came for me.” The warmth inside her almost exploded.
He got right up against the gates and said, “I told you I wouldn’t let you go.”
She reached out and slid her hand through the bars so he could hold it. “I didn’t want to leave.”
“I know.”
“Step away from the gate, reaper.” Theodore landed and strode close, wearing a sneer.
“I’ve come for my wife.”
“The marriage was annulled. She belongs to Heaven.” Theodore’s words crushed Helen.
“Actually, she doesn’t.” Kourtney held up a copy of the treaty between Heaven and Hell. “According to the eighteenth paragraph, subsection C, fallen angels are automatically the purview of Hell.”
“She’s not fallen,” Theodore stated with his arms over his chest. “Our Father, who is on a break, hasn’t cast her down.”
“In this case, he’s not needed to pass judgment because clause iii under subsection C states a female angel who gets pregnant shall be automatically considered fallen and cast out of Heaven.”
“That’s impossible.” Theodore’s gaze dropped to her belly.
A bunch of gazes did.
But not Julio’s. He held her hand and mouthed, I love you.
Click. The gates opened without warning.
Julio tried to rush through but was stopped by the force field.
Helen took a step when she heard a voice, Don’t leave me, daughter. I will punish those who forsook you.
But Helen couldn’t forgive. You lied to me.
The tone of the voice changed. You will obey. I am your God.
Perhaps to others he was, but she’d decided to worship at a different altar. That of love.
She stepped through the gates and heard Theodore yelling at her back, “Kill the minion of Hell. She’s kidnapping a cherub.”
Theodore’s soldiers remained still as he strode forward and reached for Helen, only to have Julio knock his hand away.
“Don’t you fucking touch her.”
“Or what? What will you do?” Theodore sneered some more as he drew his sword.
Helen tucked herself by Kourtney and set Lector on his feet as she watched.
“I’m not going to do a damned thing, actually. But I do wonder if maybe your god might have a thing or two to say.” Julio stood bravely in front of the gates, and his cloak whipped as if caught in a storm.
“Our God is—”
“Angry,” Lucifer said, as he appeared, wearing a somber dark suit. “And so am I. You locked my brother away.”
“I didn’t. His son did.”
“And where is Charlie, my dear nephew?” Lucifer asked.
“He left and told us it was time we ruled ourselves.” Michael was the one to provide the answer as he strode into view. “Given we are currently without a leader, I’ve been placed in charge of Heaven. Which means there will be some changes to how things are done.”
Lucifer rubbed his hands. “Does this mean the treaty between Hell and Heaven is abolished?”
“I think it’s past time we stopped playing this game.” Michael held up a scroll that unrolled and kept unrolling. A silver flame ignited it.
As it turned into glittery ash, the devil smiled. “Here’s to hoping you don’t regret that later.”
“We have no interest in Hell.”
“And Earth?” Lucifer asked.
“Can govern itself,” Michael declared.
“Well, you’re definitely easier to deal with. Sounds fantastic. Good luck. Let’s go, minions.” Lucifer clapped his hands.
Julio pointed his stave in Theodore’s direction. “What about him? I want a promise that he, and everyone else in Heaven, will leave Helen alone.”
“And Lector!” Helen added.
Michael inclined his head. “Easy enough to arrange.” The gates suddenly closed, leaving Theodore on the wrong side.
With a frown, Theodore moved to them and said, “Open up. Let me in.”
The archangel now in charge offered a cold smile. “Only the unfallen can enter.”
“I’m not fallen. God hasn’t cast me down.”
“Our Father isn’t in charge anymore. I am. Your antics have the populace questioning my control. You will be an example to those who get too big for their wings. Enjoy Hell. You’ve earned it.”
“No,” Theodore screamed. “No, you can’t do this.”
“Apparently, he can, Theo old boy!” Lucifer beamed as he rubbed his hands. “And wow, I’m impressed at your list of transgressions. How do you feel about spit shining boots for a few centuries?”
Theodore swung his sword at the devil and missed. By the time he pulled back to strike again, the devil snapped his fingers and the newly fallen angel was gone.
Kourtney tucked away her paperwork and said, “Just so you know, the annulment was invalid. It was filed after the child was conceived. You’re still married.”
Which was the thing Helen least cared about. She glanced at Julio then Lector. “We need to take him home to his mother.”
“I’ll handle it,” Lucifer offered. “Hey, boy, ever hear about the time I ran with the wolves?” The pair disappeared, along with Kourtney, leaving Julio and Helen behind outside the closed pearly gates.
She’d never been more relieved to know they were shut to her forever.
She hugged Julio as she said, “Can we go home?”
25
“Sure. Where should we go?” Julio totally endorsed the idea of leaving. He still couldn’t believe they’d manage to spring Helen. Especially since his plan had been more about drawing eyes on him while the real scheme happened in the background. A scheme that had failed to produce as expected.
Instead, he was saved by his pregnant wife.
Fuck him. She was carrying his child.
“I don’t know,” Helen mused aloud. “It sounds strange to say, yet I didn’t mind Hell. Although the food and television are better on Earth.”
“My place, then?” he said to clarify as he began drawing the magic for the portal home.
She kissed his chin as she whispered, “My place is wherever you are.”
So why not somewhere tropical? Julio adjusted his target location and stepped through with Helen.
The employees at the hotel in the Bahamas didn’t bat an eye as they checked in, having arrived seemingly on foot with no luggage. His crimson credit card, registered with Hell’s Only Bank, afforded them a villa on the ocean.
Helen’s eyes widened with appreciation as he showed her true luxury. “This is so nice.”
“Only the best for you, Curls.” He closed the door and watched as she explored, suddenly not meeting his eyes.
“What’s wrong? Are you upset about how things happened?” He’d worried she might not want to return, that her love for him would have been erased.
“No.” She whirled and finally faced him. “I didn’t want to leave. Theodore stole me, and then once they got me to Heaven, they tried to make me forget you.”
He brushed a hand down her cheek. “I never stopped looking.” The pearly gates tended to move around and, even if found, only opened for angels or acceptable souls.
Julio was neither. He’d spent many days stalking the entrance, trying to find a weakness.
She put her hand on his chest. “You came for me.”
“Always, Curls. I’d die again for you. ’Cause I love you.” He kissed her, and his world finally felt right again as she kissed him back.
The bed was wide enough for them to lie side by side, both their hands touching. Stripping clothes. Stroking.
He slid a finger into her and found her wet. Ready.
She sighed as he thrust into her. Then cried out as he kept grinding and fucking her until she damn well came hard and then pounded faster until she came again, milking him with the intensity of her orgasm.
He collapsed beside her
but kept her tucked against his skin. Nuzzled her hair. And placed a hand on her belly. She lay hers atop.
“Does our child really grow in there?” she asked as if uncertain.
He couldn’t speak, just nod, overwhelmed at the feel of the little person inside her.
“I love you,” she said softly.
He made love to her again, gently, and yet it was powerful. Soul shaking.
As they lay together after, their bodies cooling, a shiver went through them, as if existence itself were shaken.
Helen gasped.
“What was that?” he asked.
“Our Father, who was angry in Heaven, has escaped.”
Epilogue
Rather than bring Lector straight home, Lucifer made a pit stop because of a screaming baby, who, in turn, got her brother going.
Where was Gaia? She’d been reading them a story when he popped out to peek on Julio. Who, as it turned out, didn’t need help at all because he’d impregnated an angel.
Good thing Lucifer had neutralized Elyon’s sterility spell on the girl. He knew that clause in the contract about angels with a bun in the oven would eventually become useful.
“Waah!” Jujube’s scream hit an epic note as he arrived with Lector perched on his shoulder, fingers dug in, a snarl on his face.
Junior quieted the moment Lucifer arrived and pretended he’d not been crying at all. He knew how his Father felt about appearing weak.
As for Jujube, she was a drama llama.
“What’s wrong, princess?” he cooed.
As Jujube opened her mouth to lament, Lector barked, “Baby, stop crying.”
The demand halted Jujube mid yodel. She blinked wet lashes as she took in Lector. Her gaze narrowed before she hiccupped, “Mine.”
Lector snorted as he leapt off Lucifer’s shoulder and fluttered to the floor by the crib. “I’m not a baby toy.”
Jujube pouted. “Da gimme.”
“No.” Lector shook his head and checked out the room. His presence fascinated both Junior and Jujube.
Junior grabbed the bars of his crib and climbed. The lid Lucifer just had installed was no match for his Houdini skills. Apparently, Junior had been paying attention in class with the damned magician. Soon Junior toddled after Lector, pointing out toys of interest, while Jujube got upset at being stuck in her crib.
She uttered a plaintive sound that drew attention. Junior sneered, not at all taken in by his sister, who didn’t play nice.
But Lector returned to her crib and asked, “You want to play, too?”
Jujube nodded.
“Okay.” Lector grabbed the bars and climbed to the top. There was no lid yet. Not much point given Jujube could blast it to splinters if she wanted.
Lector hopped into the crib, and Jujube reached for him. “Mine.”
The boy shook his finger. “No. Play.”
Jujube smiled. “My boy.”
Having been a matchmaker for a while, Lucifer recognized that tone. He finally interfered and pulled Lector out of his daughter’s reach. “Don’t you go claiming him yet, princess. I’ve got bigger plans for you. But he will make a good bodyguard.”
It was as if his daughter understood because she nodded, and Lector, squirming in Lucifer’s grip, quieted.
“Good. Because you’ll need each other if the future goes the way I plan.”
“Daddy.” Junior’s warning tone had them all quieting. Listening. Feeling the ominous presence pressing against the wards around the nursery. Testing them.
For a moment, the smell of roses and decay filled the room.
No one breathed, not even the devil.
The entity left, but it would return. Hopefully by then Jujube would be able to defend herself, and today would start Lector’s path as one of her defenders.
And not a moment too soon as a shiver went through Hell. A sudden wave of force that had Lucifer’s eyes widening.
Elyon has escaped! And an angry God was a vengeful one. The world was about to see why people used to worship Lucifer’s brother eons ago. And if they refused to bow? Flooding the world was the least of their worries. This time around, Elyon had the power to do worse.
While Lucifer had been collecting the souls of the wicked, his brother had been storing those of the unborn. Those killed before they could ever sin.
It turned out that was the more lucrative way of accumulating souls. If you wanted spirits with no personality.
Personally, Lucifer liked humans with all their many flaws. Loved their minds, their creations, and fed on their emotions. He especially enjoyed his own progeny, who took after him in many ways.
Blart.
“Ew. Baby farted!” Lector declared.
To which Lucifer said, “Good girl.”
Today she passed harmless gas. Starting tomorrow, he’d teach her how to poison armies because war was coming.
* * *
And so is a wedding because Bambi appears to be engaged, her ring set with the strange stone Lucinda tried to swallow. But has she truly found love, or is her fiancé using her to get to the devil? Stay tuned for news on Lucifer’s Other Daughter ~ Bambi’s autobiography.
For more stories please see http://www.EveLanglais.com
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Also by Eve Langlais
For more Hell books featuring Lucifer’s version of matchmaking, check out The Welcome to Hell series (also in audio)
Looking for a high seas cruise, Hell style? Get ready to giggle your way through ~ Jane Davey’s Locket.