Heir of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“Attempted?” Lucas echoes.

“Yes. He’s hiding on the astral plane and is difficult to locate. We did eliminate three demons he created.”

“What happened to the farms?” Kristy asks, fiddling with a button on her sweater.

“One completely dried up over the course of twenty-four hours,” he tells us sullenly.

“And so it begins,” I whisper, fighting a chill from running down my back. “I saw War,” I tell him, not sure if he got much from my pleas last night. “On the astral plane. I couldn’t hit him with magic, yet he was able to affect people here.”

“You would have to send your magic to the same plane,” Julian tells me. “Though I fear it will not be an issue for long.” He frowns. “They will step into our world soon. We must prepare.”

“Callie isn’t preparing anything,” Lucas says, deep voice filling the room. “She’s pregnant and in the hospital, and your feathered friends need to do their fucking part.”

“I agree,” Julian replies, surprising Lucas. He was expecting an argument. “Though I will need her help preparing the amulet.”

“You found all the pieces?”

“We did. It was broken by an archangel, and we need it put back together by an archangel.”

“I can do that,” I say, eyeing both Kristy and Lucas. “It’s like the office work of demon hunting.”

“As long as that’s all you do.” Lucas meets my eye, waiting for me to agree.

“I won’t even leave the couch,” I promise. “Well, I guess that depends on what I need to do.”

“Fuse the broken pieces with magic,” Julian explains. “You could do it sitting down.”

“See?” I motion to him. “I can be useful without exerting myself.”

“Fine,” Lucas sighs. “In the meantime, I’m going to look for a tall tower for sale.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Not funny.”

“Good thing I’m serious,” he replies right back, blue eyes glinting. The nurse comes in with paperwork for me to go over and sign. The OB wants me to “seriously consider” being a patient of hers with regular checkups from now through labor. I wish I could. As terrifying as being admitted was, it felt good to be taken care of, and I know it gives Lucas so much peace of mind knowing my human side and our child are taken care of like this.

“Finally. I can go home,” I sigh and telekinetically bring my clothes to me from the little bedside table. Kristy waves Julian out of the room so I can get dressed. “Whatever happened with my bloodwork?” I ask Lucas, certain he did something.

“I paid a visit to the lab last night and had them compute that everything was normal. You are more human than last time, but still not enough for lab work.”

“I figured.” I pull my dress over my head. “What are we going to do when I give birth? I really want an epidural and to be in a hospital.”

“I spoke to the nurses while you were sleeping,” he goes on, kneeling down to put my leggings on for me so I don’t have to bend over. “It’s not safe to get an epidural unless your blood work comes back showing your platelet count is within range. I’m sure it is since I still feed off of you and you’re fine.”

“But they won’t do it unless they know.”

“Right. I don’t want you to be in pain, but I also don’t want you to have any sort of procedure that would cause lasting damage.”

He helps me to my feet so I can pull my leggings up. “This was what I imagined.” I look at the hospital room. “Not that I thought about it a lot, but I assumed if I ever found someone as perfect as you and got knocked up, I’d give birth after getting a lot of drugs.”

“Is there anything Tabatha can do to help?”

“I’ll ask.” I sit back on the bed and stick out my feet. “Any chance you want to put my shoes on for me?”

“Of course. I look forward to removing them and the rest of your clothes again.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” I say seriously. “When you were sleeping, the doctor said no sex.”

Lucas gives me an unamused look. “I didn’t sleep, and if that were the case, no one said you can’t suck my cock.”

I laugh, swatting at him. “Thank god for the soundproof spell!”

“Are you hinting at something?”

“Get me home, let me nap, and then we can talk about blowjobs, you horny vampire.”

Lucas chuckles and puts my boots back on my feet. I pull at the hospital bracelet around my wrist, needing it off as soon as possible so I don’t have the constant reminder that I was here.

I open the door, letting Kristy and Julian come back in.

“So, my car is here,” Kristy says. “Do you want me to swing by the diner and get something for you to eat? I can be at your house in like half an hour.”