racul seemed okay with Aefre?” Constantine asks.
“What has Delinda got to do with it? She isn’t the true heir,” Xane says.
“No, but she is the Fae child,” Constantine says in exasperation. “Could be that Dracul and his new empire don’t want her existing any more than Tiamat did.”
“Doubtful,” Vito mutters and Constantine gives him a querying look, but then Devon interrupts.
“I think we need to tell her, full disclosure. She will go fucking ballistic if we leave anything out right now,” he says.
“Very well,” Constantine says mildly, and all eyes go to him in surprise.
“Why are you being so fucking calm about all of this?” Devon yells at him, marching over to glare at him over the desk. “I would have thought you’d be tearing this place apart by now.”
Constantine gives him a superior look. “I am not an uncontrollable animal,” he says with a slight reprimand. “I am capable of keeping myself in check.”
“Oh, so the fact that she is probably banging her sire right now doesn’t get to you all of a sudden?” Devon taunts him and he sees that Constantine’s eyes flash red for a split second. He couldn’t help it.
“There it is,” Devon says smugly. “I knew this was bothering you more than you are letting on.”
“No, you are bothering me,” Constantine says. “Just sit down and shut the fuck up.”
“I don’t get it,” Devon presses.
“What is there to get? I am to be a father soon. That puts things in perspective. Not that you would know.” The dig is unavoidable. It must be said. And it serves its purpose. Devon shuts his mouth and sits back down.
“Know what?” Aefre asks as she and Remiel land back in the library. She has changed into a tight, stretchy, black dress that ends at her knees. It pleases him that her growing baby bump is now showing prominently on her small frame.
“Nothing,” Devon mutters.
“I’ll be right back,” Remiel murmurs to her, close to her ear, and Astrals off somewhere.
She nods and looks at Constantine, and then he can hear her heart start to pound.
“Aefre,” he says to her, standing up and approaching her. “There is one last thing that you need to know.”
Her face falls and she shakes her head. “I knew it. I knew there was more bad news. No, my love. I can’t. I can’t take anymore right now. I am at a breaking point.”
“It’s nothing bad, we don’t think,” Lincoln says, also crossing to her and hovering as if he wants to touch her.
She reaches out and grabs him, pulling him close to her and wrapping her arms around him. “Are you okay?” she asks him.
“I’m fine,” Lincoln says, puzzled.
“I promised I would never leave you again,” Aefre says, pulling back.
“You didn’t, not really,” Lincoln says firmly. “You are back now.”
“And you,” she says, finally taking Constantine in her arms and squeezing him tightly. “What I did to you. It’s unforgiveable.”
He stiffens in her arms. Does she remember what she said about their baby?
“However, he did it, I must have been too weak to fight him off. I am so sorry for the pain I have put you through,” she says.
“He will answer for it,” Constantine says fiercely. “I will get my vengeance, my sweet.”
She gives him a look full of sorrow but then slams it back down. “What is this thing you need to tell me then?” she asks stoically.
“Tiamat is dead,” Xane says, still hunched over by the windows. “Your half-brother killed Her earlier on.”