Reign of Night (Thorne Hill 7)

Because right now, I’m the Queen of Hell, and part of me is craving to feel the crown of hellfire surround my head again. But then something else occurs to me, something I don’t think any of us have considered yet. If I’m the Queen of Hell, doesn’t that make my daughter next in line for the throne?

The porch lights behind me start to vibrate and glow, fueled by my fear. Demons have wanted me dead for years. It’s no walk in the park, but I can handle it. Demons going after my newborn baby? No way. I can’t handle it, and more importantly, I don’t want to do anything that puts her at risk.

I close my eyes, trying to release the energy I’m collecting before I blow something up. My friends put themselves at risk by hanging around with me, but like Kristy said, it’s her choice.

It won't be my baby’s choice.

And as much as it breaks my heart to even think about it, there’s a very real fact that my baby won’t be safe with me. Michael hid me in plain sight, and it worked for years. If Lucifer doesn’t get back on the throne, maybe it would be for the best if we did the same with my daughter.Chapter 6“Too much?” I stand back, tipping my head. “No way, right?”

“It’s a little much,” Nicole says and then winces. “That’s a lot of garland and decorations.”

“Nearly a thousand dollars’ worth,” Lucas grumbles, and I give him a pointed look. We’re in the foyer, and Nicole, Naomi, and Kristy just got here. We’re going to the Covenstead for lunch, and I need to talk to Tabatha. She has another meeting with the packmaster of the surrounding werewolf packs, and they’re trying to figure out exactly who came up with the idiotic idea to go to war against us on our own turf.

They’d lose either way, but bringing the Ley line into it is a surefire way to get their furry asses handed to them. We witches are able to tap into the Ley line, using it to enhance our powers. Other supernaturals only benefit from a rift in the line, which can happen when a demon comes through the Gates of Hell. I sent Bael down to Hell by burning him with hellfire, and I have no idea what kind of ramification that had on the Ley line.

“You’re always telling me to spend money on myself,” I retort, looking at the garland I just strung up on the main staircase. My package didn’t arrive until late last night, which worked out fine since Lucas and I stayed in Paradise Valley until around ten p.m. It’s not too far from Thorne Hill, but the snow slowed us down. We had a nice night, and I very much enjoyed the Christmas shop.

Lucas put in an all-cash offer on the building and right now plans to rent it out. Real estate is a true long-term investment for someone who could live forever. Lucas holds onto a lot of the property he’s purchased over the years, selling it for a huge profit fifty or so years later.

“Yourself,” Lucas presses. He’s holding a box with a nine-foot flocked tree in it with one hand, as if it weighs nothing at all. It’s going in the library, and I’ve decided to do a rose-gold theme for it.

“Gran forbids we put our tree up until December first,” Naomi states, raising an eyebrow as she looks at my slightly overdone foyer.

“That’s in two days. You better hurry. I’ve already mapped out a Christmas activity to do every day from now until Christmas Eve,” I say seriously.

Kristy eyes the twelve-foot tree in the foyer. “Did you warn Lucas how you go overboard at Christmas?”

“More overboard than this?” Lucas asks hesitantly.

I adjust a section of ribbon on the big tree and then look Lucas right in the eyes. “You know how much Christmas means to me. For the month of December, I dress as an elf and respond only to the name Holly.”

“Seriously?”

“Oh my god, no! You really thought I’d get that obsessive about something?”

Lucas shrugs guiltily. “You have to admit it’s a possibility.”

I roll my eyes. “I just like Christmas, okay? It’s…it’s safe.”

“Safe?” Nicole echoes. “How is Christmas safe?”

The twins know about my past, but I’ve kept most of the details to myself because I don’t want pity, and because I’m a grand champion repressor. “When I was a Martin, the cameras were always rolling so no one tortured me over Christmas breaks. I was allowed to leave the research lab for that week around Christmas, and though it was all fake, I was treated like a human being.”

“That’s really fucked up, Callie.” Naomi’s brows furrow with concern. “I really think you should work through those issues.”

“I have.” I rest my hand on my stomach and smile happily, looking at this over-the-top but about to get even more extra foyer.