Curse Broken (Cursed Descent (MistHallow Academy) #3)

Epilogue

A PLACE IN HELL

Matilda

Six Months Later

Lifting the cloth from the painting, I catch my breath. It is seriously fucking hot. I’m riding Luc reverse cowgirl style while he is in his Demon form, and it was captured for this painting which we will hang in the Hall of Dicks. Somewhere discreet.

Giggling to myself as I replace the cloth, I step back with a contented sigh.

We’ve been in Hell for a few weeks already. Living part time here feels as much like home as our rooms at MistHallow, where Vex teaches Dark Magick classes, and I, well, let’s just say that Morrigan and I are two badass bitches when it comes to guiding those with hints of ancient magick in their souls. Luc and Draven have found their calling, which, to my surprise, was emissary to the earthbound Demons. Apparently, only so many are allowed on Earth at any one time, but up until a few weeks ago, they were allowed to roam free with no one to answer to unless they were recalled to Hell. Now, they have Draven and Luc watching over them, coming and going while we are off term time so we can base ourselves here for a time. Luc misses his home more so than Draven, but I know my Necromancer gets homesick, too. So far, we have been welcomed with open arms, but I’m waiting for the novelty to wear off.

This is Hell, after all.

A knock at the door to our suite makes me frown. I cross over and open it up to find myself staring into the void of a black hooded robe. Narrowing my eyes, I fold my arms and glare at them.

Before they can say anything, their hand closes over my wrist and yanks me forward, their other hand going over my lower abdomen.

“Hey,” I growl and struggle.

“Druid priestess,” the male’s voice echoes out of the hood. “Hold still.”

“Get fucked,” I snarl, and yank my arm free, stepping back with my hand raised, ready to blast this arsehole to the Wastelands.

“I knew it. I foresaw this cosmic event.”

“Foresaw what?” I ask, hesitant now despite myself. “Who are you? ”

“I am the Dark Oracle. I sensed this presence moments ago, still so new. You harbour the age of a new Druid line. The first of its kind.”

I drop my hand, my magick fizzling out. “What?”

The hooded figure lifts his head slightly, and I catch the gleam of silver eyes beneath the shadow of his cowl. “You carry life within you. A child of both worlds.”

“I’m pregnant?”

“The offspring of a Druid witch and multiple fathers. Three layers.”

My blood runs cold. “What?” That seems to be my go-to word of the day.

“The child will be powerful beyond measure,” the hooded figure continues. “A nexus of magick that Hell has never witnessed. I advise you to guard this secret carefully. Not all in Hell would welcome such a child. Take care of that which you carry, young Priestess.”

He flashes out with a puff of smoke, leaving me agog. There isn’t really any other word for it. My mouth is hanging open, and I’m motionless.

Did I just hear him correctly? All three of them fathered this child? How is that even possible?

But then I remember where I am. Annabelle told me when we arrived that anything is possible in Hell. Guess she was right.

Shaking off the creepy experience, I blink and step back. I don’t know if I should believe that Dark Oracle or not. I didn’t even know I was pregnant, and he comes along and has all of this insight. It just seems a bit weird .

Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I grab the painting and head out. I told the guys to meet me in the Hall of Dicks and I’m now running late.

Rushing towards the hall, I spot my men gathered near the far corner, their heads bent together in conversation. Even from a distance, they’re breathtaking. Vex’s rune-marked skin shimmers under the firelight, his dark hair falling across his forehead. Draven stands with his back against the wall, those blue eyes hooded and brooding. Luc gestures animatedly as he speaks, telling tales that make Vex laugh.

My fingers tighten around the covered painting as I approach, suddenly conscious of the potential life growing inside me.

“There she is,” Luc calls out, spotting me first. His grin is wicked and knowing. “Why did you want to meet us here?”

“Sorry I’m late,” I say, trying to sound normal despite the Oracle’s words echoing in my mind. “I had an unexpected visitor. I’ll tell you about that in a minute. But first…” I hold up the painting and pull the cover off. I hang it on the hook I installed myself and stand back.

Luc groans. “UnHoly fuck, my sweet. You really did this?”

“It was about time we contributed to the Hall,” I say with a smirk, watching their reactions.

Vex steps closer to the painting, his blue eyes darkening with appreciation, fingers tracing the air just above the canvas as if he can feel the heat emanating from it.

Luc slides an arm around my waist, pulling me against him. “I’m honoured to be immortalised with you.”

Vex turns to me, his expression shifting as he studies my face. “Something’s different. What happened with this visitor?”

The playfulness drains from the moment. I should have known I couldn’t hide anything from them for long—especially Vex, who reads energy the way others read books.

“Can we go somewhere more private?” I ask, glancing around even though there is no one else around.

The three exchange looks, that silent communication they’ve perfected over the months we’ve been together. Draven immediately steps forward, scanning me from head to toe as if searching for injury. “What’s wrong?” The concern in his voice makes my heart clench.

“I’m fine,” I assure him quickly, leading them away from the Hall of Dicks and into a secluded alcove nearby.

Once we’re alone, I take a deep breath. “A figure calling himself the Dark Oracle showed up at our door. Grabbed my wrist, put his hand on my stomach, and told me I’m...” I swallow hard. “Pregnant.”

The silence that follows is absolute.

“But that’s not all,” I continue, my voice barely above a whisper. “He said the child has ‘three layers.’ That all of you...” I gesture between them, “...are the fathers. Somehow.”

Vex recovers first, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at him. “I don’t think you could’ve possibly given us better news. Now we don’t have to fight for who gets to give you a child.” He smirks to show me he was joking about the fighting. I know they don’t care about stuff like that.

“You’re accepting this?” I ask, seriously.

“Why wouldn’t we?”

“Because it’s impossible?” I say, gesturing wildly. “I mean, what the fuck?”

“Anything is possible in Hell,” Luc echoes his mother’s sentiment. “Look at me and Draven and also Mom and Uncle Shax. I assume this happened here?”

“The Oracle said it was new, that he just sensed the presence, so yes?” I can’t even make it a statement. I’m still too sideswiped.

While I’m still reeling, Draven moves into my personal space, his eyes intense as he places a hand gently over my abdomen. The touch sends shivers through me.

“A nexus of magick,” he murmurs. “Our child will be extraordinary.”

“Extraordinary,” I repeat, “and apparently dangerous enough that the Oracle warned me to guard this secret.”

Draven’s eyes darken further, his possessiveness flaring. “Nothing will harm either of you.”

I lean against the cool stone wall of the alcove, overwhelmed. “I don’t even know how to process this yet, if it’s even true.”

Luc sweeps me up into his arms. “Thank you, sweet Matilda. You have made us the happiest idiots alive. I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

“No!” I exclaim, panic hitting me hard. “The Oracle specifically said to guard this secret, and that not everyone in Hell would welcome such a child.”

Vex’s expression turns calculating. “He’s right. A being with this much combined power would be seen as either a threat or an opportunity by many down here.”

“Then we keep it a secret for now,” Draven says. “Just the four of us. It’s our business and no one else needs to know until it becomes obvious, and even then, it will be family only.”

“And everyone at MistHallow,” I mutter.

“I’m not worried,” Vex states. “If this child is as powerful as this Dark Oracle seems to think, then she or he can protect themself.”

“True story,” Luc says. “The baby will protect you both.”

“So you’re all happy?” I venture.

“More than,” Draven says. “Ecstatic.”

“Okay, good. If it’s true, of course.”

Chaos interrupts us by bursting into the alcove, seeking me out for feeding time. He has transformed from a reluctant Hell-adjacent creature to something of a celebrity in the underworld. Lesser Demons scatter when he approaches. Even some of the higher-ranking ones give him a respectful berth. I smile and catch him, stroking his little mane. “Okay, boy, let’s get you some chopped-up Demon. Annabelle was a bit vicious in the Demon ring today. I think her pregnancy is making her rabid. She killed more Demons today than the whole of last month. You will be well fed for the next few days.”

Luc snickers. “Sounds about right. Anyone who has even sniffed in her direction is apparently planning a coup. She is extremely savage right now.”

“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen to me,” I mutter.

“As long as you don’t try to batter us to death with a nail-studded bat, we can handle anything,” Vex says confidently.

“I’ll try not to,” I say with a giggle, despite the serious circumstances. “Come on, Chaos is getting pissed off.”

Chaos rumbles in my arms, his eyes flashing crimson with hunger as I carry him toward the feeding grounds. The guys follow, their eyes never leaving me, as if I might suddenly sprout wings or horns now that I’m potentially carrying their magical offspring.

I’m still processing. A baby. With three fathers. In Hell.

But I have an epiphany in that moment.

It doesn’t matter.

Nothing matters except giving this child the upbringing that I never had. One filled with love and care and parents who adore them and would lay down their lives to protect them .

Whether in Hell or at MistHallow, that’s all any child needs, and I know we will give that to our extraordinary child, and then some.