by Eva Brandt
“I’m sure you did.” The amount of energy Lucifer had brought forth that day had practically obliterated the shields around the island. It stood to reason that it had caused a disturbance in the demon world. “But I don’t see how that determined you to attack us.”
“I’m not attacking you,” my mother answered. “It’s just Alyssa’s human body that isn’t quite happy with my decision to get to know her better. I think that’s unreasonable, don’t you? I mean, it’s the most natural thing in the world to want to acquaint myself with my son’s bride.”
Under different circumstances, her words would have made me laugh. But nothing that jeopardized Lyssa’s safety could ever amuse me. “If that was what you wanted, you should have chosen any other method that didn’t involve a hostile approach.”
“It’s not so easy,” she replied vaguely. She tapped her lower lip with her index finger, as if deep in thought. “Tell me something, child. Why did you lie to your lover? You saw most of this coming.”
I glared at her in frustration and hatred. “We were all trying to protect her. Beyond that, our reasons are none of your concern.”
“I beg to differ. Alyssa Michaelis is carrying my grandchild and it’s my responsibility to educate her in how to take care of a young symbiote.”
“There’s no guarantee that the child is mine,” I shot back. “Besides, you’re not exactly mother of the year, so I don’t think you can give Lyssa any lessons.”
My mother shot me a pitying look. “Children these days. So ungrateful. I did everything I could for you. You were happy with the Schwarz pack, weren’t you?”
I had been and, to be fair, she had occasionally visited me. She hadn’t abandoned me, although she certainly could have. I’d never really blamed her, because as a flesh-and-blood creature, I hadn’t belonged in a symbiote community any more than I did in The Celestial Realm.
But that didn’t explain her sudden decision to reappear in my life. She’d been missing for years, and now, she was back and attacking us. It was unfathomable.
“Look, Mother, I’m not angry with you about my upbringing. You’re right. Alpha Schwarz did help me, as you well know. You made a good choice and I’m grateful for everything else you’ve done. But even so, I can’t forgive you for harming Lyssa.”
“I haven’t harmed her, my child,” my mother replied. “On the contrary, I’m trying to keep the two of you safe. Lucifer Morningstar has good intentions, but his intensity blinds him to the consequences of many of his actions. Proof in point, the incident with Raphael.
“Things like the battle with Satan don’t just go away, Mikael. I’m doing you and Alyssa a favor. Besides, it’s not like Stefan was that good of a mate to you, was he? He was very quick to turn on you. The others weren’t much better.”
I clenched my jaw, doing my best to suppress my secret glee. Stefan had understood my request and had fulfilled it perfectly. It would be difficult on him, but I trusted Callum, Mephistopheles, and Lucifer to make sure he stayed safe. In the meantime, I couldn’t let my mother find out about what I’d done. She was a demonic symbiote and she understood magical connections. If I made even the slightest mistake, she’d see right through me.
“We’ve had some fights,” I said. “He occasionally gets jealous because he sees Lyssa as his bitch. And he doubtlessly blames me for your appearance. I’m not angry with him.”
“Is that a fact? I think that’s a lie, Mikael.”
My mother sat down next to Lyssa and petted her hair. “You were her familiar, Mikael. Your connection with her is stronger than anything she’ll ever have with them. And here, you can have her to yourself.”
Once, the idea would have appealed to me. Once, I might have embraced what my mother offered. I was a greedy person, as evidenced by my new position as Lord of Greed. But I also knew Lyssa would never be happy if I took my mother’s offer. The relationship we shared with Callum, Stefan, Lucifer, and Mephistopheles was complicated, but we’d made it work.
“I appreciate the thought, Mother,” I said, “but Lyssa loves them as much as she loves me. We have a family. We can’t just leave everything behind.”
My mother shrugged. “Of course you can. Now that you’re in The In-Between, you’re separate from anything that can hurt you. The Infernal Realm, The Celestial Realm, The Mortal Realm… Who cares about all that? You have your bride, your child, and me. That’s the only family you’ll ever need.”
She wasn’t going to change her mind and my nephilim powers were no match for her, not here, and not when she’d taken Lyssa captive. But she was still my mother and I did believe that she meant it when she said she didn’t actually want to hurt us.
With a sigh, I walked up to the sofa and knelt next to it. I clutched Lyssa’s limp hand and looked up at my mother. “You’re making things so unnecessarily difficult for me. How am I supposed to explain this to Lyssa?”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way, my child,” my mother replied. She cupped my cheek with a tender hand. “This is for the best, Mikael, you’ll see. Your father agrees with me. You’re safer here.”
My father agreed? That wasn’t good news. Michael was powerful and he had the ear of The Supreme Being. After Raphael’s visit and Lilith’s strange appearance, it was clear that there was a lot we were missing.
“I thought you said you didn’t want me to have anything to do with The Celestial Realm.”
“I don’t, but your father is different. He always was. He and I have an agreement.”
Before I could ask what she meant by that, Lyssa let out a small whimper and cracked her eyes open.“M-Mikael?” she stammered. “What’s going on?”
“Shh. Don’t panic. Everything is fine.”
Everything was not fine, and Lyssa knew it. Still, she trusted me and said nothing, instead choosing to close her eyes and take a couple of steady breaths.
I had no doubt that she’d sensed my mother, but I was grateful she’d decided to ignore her.
Through some kind of miracle, my mother decided to not make the situation more awkward than it already was. “I’ll leave the two of you to chat,” she told us as she got up. “Don’t worry. You’re perfectly safe here.”
The more she said that, the less I believed it. Even so, I didn’t argue with her. I wanted her to give me a little privacy.
In the blink of an eye, my mother was gone. I knew better than to think she wouldn’t be watching us, but this would have to do.
I climbed onto the shadowy couch and drew Lyssa into my lap. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t protect you.”
“Protect me from what, Mikael? Where are we? Who was that woman? A jealous ex?”
The latter question drew a startled chuckle out of me. It was inappropriate, but I couldn’t help myself. The mere idea was outrageous. “Satan help me, no. She’s my mother. She seems convinced that our stay in the three realms was too dangerous and she dragged us off here, to The In-Between.”
Lyssa was predictably confused about this shadowy world and I explained as best I could. I didn’t have a lot of information on this place either, since I couldn’t remember ever living here.
Lyssa got up from the couch and stared out into the distance, at the shadowy ocean. I didn’t know what she saw, but it was certainly not what I did. She shivered in distress and took a step back, avoiding the water.
“Is it safe for the baby?” Lyssa asked.
“I think so,” I replied, joining her and hugging her from behind. “My mother is many things, but she’s never actively hurt me. She knows I’d be broken-hearted if something happened to our daughter.”
“I suppose that’s a relief, although I still can’t bring myself to trust a woman who kidnapped us.”
“I know.” I petted her hair, but refrained from telling her about my tentative plan. I didn’t like keeping yet another secret from her, but I couldn’t afford to let my mother overhear. “But breathe. Don’t panic. It’s not good for you or the baby.”
Sh
e broke away from my embrace and slapped my hands away. “How can I not panic, Mikael? We’re the captives of your crazy mother. I want to run away, but I can’t even tell which way is up here. This place… It’s so wrong. I feel like I can barely breathe.”
Of course she’d feel that way. She was human and humans weren’t meant to come to The In-Between. Our daughter might be safe, but she was half-demon and less vulnerable to the shadow energies of this realm. Lyssa wouldn’t be so lucky. And if something happened to her, it would undoubtedly affect the child. Fuck.
Okay. Don’t panic, Mikael. I needed to stall and knowing my mother, there had to be a way to do it, at least until we received reinforcements and found a way out.
So far, Lyssa hadn’t shown any signs of falling over or fainting. She’d woken up and seemed to have recovered from my mother’s attack. This could only mean one thing.
I hated playing my mother’s game, but for now, I had no choice. “Do you trust me, Lyssa?” I asked. I already knew the reply, but I needed to hear it again.
“Yes, of course,” she answered without missing a beat. “Of course I trust you.”
My heart hurt with the love I felt for her. It was the truth, because no matter how many times we lied and deceived her, she always trusted us.
“I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe. Just give yourself to me and nothing will happen, to you or the baby.”
I set her down gently on the sand and covered her body with my own. “M-Mikael…?” she stammered, her voice shaky and hesitant.
“It’s all right,” I reassured her. “I’m a nephilim, remember? I just need to share my power with you and you’ll be fine.”
“But Mikael, you might get hurt,” Lyssa protested.
“I won’t.”
Slowly, I began to slide her dress off her shoulders. It wasn’t as sexy as the gown she used to wear, and yet, Lyssa had never been more beautiful. Her breasts had grown since her pregnancy and I couldn’t get enough of touching them, kissing them.
Despite the circumstances we were in, my cock went rock hard within seconds. I reminded myself this wasn’t about me or about my pleasure. It was about Lyssa and keeping her safe.
As I lowered my mouth to her breast, Lyssa let out a sharp gasp of pleasure. I swirled my tongue gently over the delicate areola, then lingered over the pebbled nub of her nipple. When I suckled on the tip, warm liquid seeped into my mouth.
I jerked in surprise. It was milk.
This had never happened before when we’d made love in the past. I didn’t know what had triggered the sudden reaction, but I loved it.
Lyssa wasn’t as thrilled. Her face flamed and she tried to pull away, her arms twitching like she wanted to cover herself. “S-Sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” I replied. “It’s a gift. Just like you.”
I caught her hands and kissed her wrist, willing her to understand everything I couldn’t say. She did, because she relaxed once again and surrendered to me.
She trusted me, just like I’d told her to.
Satan help me, I desperately wanted to fuck her. The taste of the milk her body produced for our daughter shouldn’t have been such an aphrodisiac, but it was. If I’d been in any other place, I’d have claimed her as mine. But I feared the consequences of spilling inside her in this place I didn’t understand. This would have to do.
Lyssa’s breasts didn’t leak a lot of milk, but I drank down every drop, loving the way it tasted. Lyssa’s cries started to escalate, and I spread her legs, reaching for the apex of her thighs.
Stay calm, Mikael. Stay calm. Don’t lose your head. You need to keep her safe.
As I toyed with her rosy nipples, I was careful to not put too much pressure on her swollen belly. I slid my fingers over her folds, zeroing in on her swollen clit with ease.
At the same time, I called onto my divine and demonic magic. At the back of my mind, I could feel Stefan’s power anchoring me, giving me a boost.
It would be all too easy to harm him while protecting her. I had to be careful, or we might stumble into an even bigger disaster.
“Mikael…” Lyssa whispered. “Oh, please…”
Her words died into a choked cry, but she didn’t need to say anything more. I could feel her desire to be touched, to be held, to be loved. It went beyond the sexual tension that had always existed between us. Our connection remained in place and, in this realm full of shadow of fear, it was stronger than ever.
When I let my power surge over her, she arched her back and clung to me, burying her fingers in my hair. Her nails suddenly seemed very sharp, scratching my scalp. My heart started to race in my chest, and the taste of blood filled my mouth, joining that of her lust and desire.
I didn’t know where it could have come from. She definitely wasn’t bleeding and the milk was just that—milk. I’d have been alarmed, but I realized the blood wasn’t hers at all. It was mine.
The powers of The In-Between tried to reach Lyssa, to coerce her into becoming something she was not. I stopped them, but it didn’t come without a cost. Pain slithered through my body, fierce and insidious. My divine and demonic powers were clashing again, just like they had before I’d made the choice to amputate my wings.
Unlike then, I didn’t fear it. I embraced the agony, because it came with a surge of ecstasy, of togetherness. Lyssa was still there, and she was still mine, just like I was hers.
I thrust my fingers into her clenching heat and her inner muscles tightened around me, attempting to draw me in, seeking more of the penetration. I couldn’t give her that, not now, not yet, but I could still show her how much she meant for me.
“Go on, my darkling,” I murmured. “Show me who you are.”
She did. With another sharp cry, she came, and a bright wave of power flooded my body, chasing away the pain I’d felt before. Every inch of my skin vibrated with a new awareness of what I shared with her and with my other lovers.
I kissed her feverishly, and she responded, shaking against me, jerking in my hold. She gave herself to me, all the while reaching out to Callum, Stefan, Lucifer, and Mephistopheles. They weren’t here in body, but their presence still lingered over us, stronger than the shadows of The In-Between could ever be.
The orgasm I’d given her shouldn’t have been that significant. We’d done far crazier things together. Even so, when I pulled away, there was something savage in her eyes. It reminded me of our conversation at the academy, when we’d spoken about the possibility of her becoming a demon.
Around us, the beach became darker. “Be careful what you choose, Alyssa Michaelis,” an invisible presence warned her. “The decision you make now will determine your destiny.”
Lyssa let out a low, mocking chuckle. “I’ve already made my choice.”
“No, you haven’t. It’s not too late to turn back.”
Fire and light flickered through Lyssa’s irises. “If that’s why you brought us here, to change my mind, you’re wasting your time. I know where I belong and it’s with my lovers, with the fathers of my baby.”
“That baby only has one father, not several. She is Mikael’s.”
Was Lyssa’s child my daughter? I didn’t know. Maybe. It didn’t matter. Even if I had provided the biological material for the child, she would be loved by everyone equally.
“You’re wrong,” I said. “Our daughter is a treasure for all of us. We’re all a family. Blood isn’t always that important. I’m living proof of that.”
In my own way, I cared about my parents and they cared about me too. But I’d never had a home of my own. Stefan’s pack had tried, but being half-demonic symbiote had made it hard for them to welcome me.
Meeting Lyssa had changed everything. I had a family now and it incorporated each and every one of us.
“I wish that were true,” the voice said, and this time I recognized it as belonging to my mother.
A million different answers were on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t get the chance to utt
er any of them.
A flash of bright light illuminated the beach, chasing away most of the shadows. My mother’s silhouette became visible, turning into a more distinct, humanoid shape. Three other people stood in front of her, surrounded by crimson flames.
It was Lucifer, and Stefan and Callum were with him. TB was wrapped around Stefan’s neck. They’d found their way to us.
“Oh, give it a rest, Fara,” Lucifer said. “We’ve had quite enough of your games.” Turning toward Lyssa, he asked, “Are you okay, love?”
Beaming brightly, Lyssa got up. There was no sign of the earlier changes in her body. She was back to normal. “I’m fine. Mikael took care of me. But I’m still very glad you guys showed up. I don’t know what craziness they’re up to here, but I’m ready to go home.”
“So are we,” Callum said. “Beyond ready. None of us belong in The In-Between.”
“You don’t belong together either,” my mother said bitingly.
Lucifer’s archangel blade appeared in his hand, and this time, there was nothing divine about its flame.
“The only reason you’re not dead right now is because you gave birth to Mikael. You’re unlikely to recover as easily as his father and I don’t want to upset Lyssa by killing you in front of her. But I will, if you keep pushing me.”
TB hissed and launched herself into the air, emanating a murderous aura almost as powerful as Lucifer’s. “Get away from my Mikael,” she hissed.
My mother must have realized she didn’t have a chance against us, because she let us go. “Very well. I can’t stand in your way. But we will see each other again, soon.”
Her words held a thick note of regret, but I didn’t let it get to me. I picked Lyssa up in my arms and headed toward Lucifer and the others.
Lucifer’s wings expanded, wrapping us in a bright circle of flame and light. He buried his sword in the shadowy sand and the surface turned into clear glass.
My mother hissed and covered her face with her hands. I ignored her and focused on the energy Lucifer now emanated.
The glass cracked and just like that, we were falling. Or maybe we were flying. I wasn’t sure and it didn’t matter that much.