29. I’m not pushing out six kids!
Nevaeh
T he room darkens when I suck in every last bit of energy and light around me, making the stillness in the room creepier. Strings of thick gold smoke circle me like a predator.
Flexing my fingers when the tingles get stronger, I tighten the control over my Divine. After months of practice and patience, I'm finally at a point where I’m one with my Divine and not fighting against it.
My Divine now respects my limits... as long as I understand its need to wreak havoc once in a while.
With my mate and son in the room, there’s only one thing my Divine craves, and today is the day I give in.
For months, I’ve avoided my Divine’s need to familiarize itself with my family and their essence because I was afraid of losing control.
But now I don’t fear the show of over-enthusiasm. Now I know even when my Divine craves chaos, it will never hurt my family.
My fingers twitch beside my thighs, as I inhale shakily before I let my Divine loose. In a blink, the smoke leaves my side and floats over to the two, creating a barrier around them.
Looking over to my monkey, I watch him hop around the room and giggle wildly as the fog follows him. I completely let loose the moment my gold essence takes the form of a small monkey to stop August before he runs into the center table.
Unlike the rest of the supernatural population, my Divine pushes the boundaries of my flesh like no one has ever seen. Where Divine is supposed to be a simple source of power for others, mine has its own will, and that same stubborn drive clashes with me until one of us gives in.
Until now, my little monkey was the only one to witness both versions of my Divine. The one that likes to cause chaos and the other that likes to entertain a little boy with animals made of smoke.
It’s nothing compared to what I can do now, but on the nights I had some strength to amuse him, I used to push my weak Divine to create a flock of birds from gold smoke that circled over my boy. Those were the nights August went to sleep with a smile on his lips instead of dry tears on his cheeks.
I always thought that the reason I could use my Divine without losing control was because of how weak we both were, but maybe my essence has always been in my corner and I just couldn't see it yet.
Reigning in my Divine, I watch the mist crawl back to me and disappear completely. August walks through the fog monkey, watches it go up in smoke, and falls to his knees laughing freely with tears in his eyes.
When Angel opens his arms for me with an excited grin, I don’t hesitate to fall into him. I know he will never say it, but I’ve seen him worry every time I failed to control my essence.
Where a normal person would be worried for themself with the way my Divine slips from my fingers, all my mate said was, ‘I can take it, sweetheart, just don’t hurt yourself’.
What he doesn’t know is that all my life, my Divine has been the one in control. When I was younger, there was no way for me to be in charge against such power, and after Visha took me, I didn’t have enough control of my limbs, let alone my Divine.
But with his help, constant encouragement, and support, for the first time in my life, I am in control. The amount of power radiating from me today is nothing I've ever felt. This is the first time I feel like I belong with the Horsemen.
Angel gives me a loud smooch on my cheek, telling me how proud he is of me with August in his arms who mimics Angel and gives me a kiss too. Before Angel leaves for the council meeting, he warns me not to be late— again —but I brush him off because I’m never late; the elders and Warriorheads just like to be early.
Quickly doing my morning routine, I try my hardest not to think about last night and all the ways I lost sleep.
I’ve only recently discovered how amazing sleep is, yet I have no problem losing some if I get to have my Angel's mouth or fingers between my thighs, making my entire body shiver with pleasure.
I pick up the energy bar and bottle of juice Angel left me on the bedside table for a quick morning snack before I start looking for the conference room. I’ve been living here for three months, and I still can't get around without help.
Whose idea was it to make the conference room soundproof anyway? Now I can’t even follow their voices like a blind bat.
I peek into a room, thinking it will be another dead end when I come face to face with four angry faces snapping in my direction. I can only describe it as an ‘I’m going to bury you in my backyard’ look.
I laugh nervously when their expressions don’t change. Conjuring up my innocent facade, I smile extra sweetly. “Sorry guys, I got a little lost.” I apologize, taking a seat beside Angel.
Running my hand on the rich circular wooden table, I avoid the eyes on me by looking outside the glass dome at the northern side of our kingdom. For some strange reason, the sky outside is looming with dark clouds haunting the horizon. Not enough to rain, but the cool wind is chiller than what this realm is used to.
“For forty minutes?” Seiji questions with his mouth filled to the brim with chips.
“On the same floor?” Grace is utterly perplexed too. I’m sure she’s losing brain cells trying to figure out where I knocked off mine. In a dungeon, Honeybunch .
“I’m directionally challenged, okay.” Hiding my face with my hair, I look anywhere but at their baffled expressions.
“You’re never on time.” Hazel remarks in her usual, ‘I’m not interested in your shit, but it’s fun to watch’ tone.
“Of course, I am.”
I have no idea why I’m defending myself.
I know they are right. They know they are right.
Still doesn’t mean I have to admit it.
“We have to wait nearly thirty minutes for you at every meeting. We got here thirty minutes after you should've been here, and you know what? You’re still late.” Harvey ruins my defense with a smug smile, his eyes doing nothing to hide his mirth.
“I might have a slight issue with time management too, but it’s not completely my fault.” I turn to Angel with a pout, praying to Fates for a helping hand.
“Of course, sweetheart. Silly of us to blame you for such outrageous crimes.” I know he’s mocking me, but the way his face brightens and his dimples make an appearance, I completely forget what everyone is babbling about.
I love the warmth that cocoons me every time he smiles at me... or because of me.
When I ask Angel about the round table, he doesn't comment on my blatant attempt at deflecting and simply explains it’s to establish that everyone is equal and that we don’t value one voice over another.
When a small team of elite warriors and elders join us shortly, Angel eases into planning. The matter at hand is our visit to The Forgotten Realm, where Visha’s right-hand warlock, Micah, is hiding.
Angel didn’t want any security issues while we were gone in case of an attack, so he decided to change patrol patterns near the portals just to be safe. He’s not too worried because Papa Nakaya, our Horsemen Famine, would be here and he is more than capable of handling things.
After preparations are made, and necessary precautions are set, the council scatters out. A few remain to chat, but soon, only our group and Khatri are left behind.
Scrolling through his phone, Angel shows the guys pictures of August playing with blocks, who all fawn over how cute he looks surrounded by wobbly structures.
“I want a kid,” Harvey announces abruptly. I almost laugh when I see him all but begging Grace with his eyes.
“I want kid - s ,” Angel adds casually, watching his screen but subtly glancing over to make sure I heard him.
“Don’t be greedy, Anxo, you already have one. Nevaeh, your next baby is mine. Promise me your biological firstborn because I’m your best friend.”
What the fuck do I even say to that?
Turns out I don’t have to say anything because Angel refuses to entertain the idea, yelling about how he needs all of our babies for his big family dream.
How many kids is he dreaming about?
“Don’t be selfish, Anxo. I want little demons too!”
“How about you find your own mate and ask him for those demons, instead of stealing my babies.”
Is my mate fighting over babies that don't even exist?
“We have baby-hungry men in this group.” Grace shakes her head, trying to smother her smile.
I know she’s more than happy to oblige with Harvey’s request, but she’s holding back on letting him know just yet. I know Harvey says he doesn't like kids much but I see the way he looks at Angel and my monkey. That man is dying to be a father.
“And half of them are still children themselves,” Hazel snickers. The only person of the male species who is spared from her disdain for the gender is August.
No matter how much Hazel tries to keep her emotions under wraps, her icy exterior thaws when August looks up at her with his big blue eyes.
Pushing his chair back roughly, Seiji stomps to Hazel. “You give me one more side look, and I’m tornadoing your ass to Azure! ”
“Away from you? Let me go pack a bag.”
Chuckling at the start of yet another bickering fest, my attention shifts to Khatri when he stands from his chair with a smile, ready to leave. “Anything you need from me before I leave Princess Nevaeh?”
“How many times have I told you not to call me Horsewoman or Princess? Just say Nevaeh? Nuh-vay-ya .”
When I don’t back down, Khatri turns to Angel, who completely avoids his stare, making it clear he won't be of any help.
Sighing in defeat, Khatri says, “Your father already makes me call him by his name. Why do you insist on being just as stubborn, young lady?”
“Cause I’m his daughter, duh.”
Suddenly Khatri's eyes soften with the same adoring look I’ve seen on Papa Nakaya many times.
Maybe that’s a dad look. I hope one day Papa will look at me the same way too.
“Okay, Pri— Nevaeh .”
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
Before he can disappear, I stop Khatri for a long-awaited chat. I don’t know anything about the demon who has been the right-hand man for my father all these years, and it’s high time I changed that.
We start by talking about his training days. Khatri laughs at how it took him months to believe Papa chose him as his second in command instead of the man with bloodright to the position.
Since Khatri comes from a family of dungeon guards, Papa picking him solely based on his exceptional skills, was a proud moment for his entire family.
Angel and I exchange amused looks when I ask about his mate and Khatri turns into a lovesick puppy with heart-eyes. He talks about his mate for fifteen minutes straight, about how she is a werewolf, likes sweet over spicy, tomato soup over vegetable before realizing he might’ve gone a bit overboard.
Not that I stopped him. Seeing a man so dedicated to his mate and family is awfully endearing.
“What about kids?”
“Lucifer blessed me with two wonderful daughters. Unlike me, they take after their mother with her beauty, but their battle skills are all me.”
“They sound wonderful. Have I met them before?”
“I’m not sure Pri— Nevaeh . My older one is only fifteen, but she does weekend warrior training, so it’s possible.”
South Asian demon girl with epic combat skills? Who doesn’t know her?
“Wait—is she the one with blue hair who carries that insanely cool sword like it’s an extension of her?”
“That’s the one. That’s my Skye.”
“No way, I love her! You will never believe what she did the first time we met. Obviously, she didn’t recognize me so when I asked for a combat partner, none of the seasoned warriors came forward due to fear, but that girl? She didn’t just step up; she made me work for that win.”
I can’t believe I didn’t guess she was Khatri's daughter. Of course, that level of competence comes from a warrior like Khatri. That girl is my favorite teenager in the entire realm.
I would kill for that sassy little lady.
“Her fire is what I most love and fear about her,” Khatri says fondly before falling into deep thought. Turning to me, he looks like he's trying to solve a puzzle. With a final determined nod to himself, he says, “You know she could use a trainer. I could ask someone else, but—”
“I’ll do it!”
Hazel volunteers before I can jump at the chance.
What a warrior-stealing bitch!
“Sit your finned ass back down before I drown you in the same ocean you crawled out of.”
Smirking, Hazel backs away with her hands raised. “Lucifer, you’re testy today. Fine. Have her. But Khatri? Just so you know, I’ll always be here to teach Skye the right ways when golden reaper here screws up.”
I swear to Fates I will kill her one of these days.
Khatri laughs, watching us fight over who gets to train his super-skilled offspring.
Folding my arms, I regain my cool. “Sorry, you had to see that. The siren is out of control on good days and more than a little manic on her worst. Forget about her. Tell me about your other daughter, how old is she?”
Khatri softly smiles at the mention of his little girl, “Well, my Aurora is six with the soul of an old lady. She’s already reading books on supernatural history when she should be doing whatever kids her age do.”
He palms the back of his neck, and his worry for his little one is quite evident. “I can’t really blame her for keeping to herself though. We don’t have many werewolf children in the kingdom to keep her company.”
Interesting.
It’s not uncommon for two different kinds of supernaturals to find mates in each other, and since her mom is a werewolf, Aurora taking after her is no surprise.
Even for adult werewolves, it’s a struggle not to be a part of a pack. Having her mate and family must help Khatri’s wife, but it won’t help the little girl. Being a rouge at such a young age is not good for her fragile mind.
“Maybe she needs a friend. Someone like my August who can teach her the wonders of eating cake with his hands and watching a mouse make a cat’s life hell on TV.”
Khatri blinks rapidly at my suggestion and agrees in a blink. Not only is the playdate good for both kids to come out of their shells but having alpha blood means that even if August doesn’t have his wolf yet, he can help Aurora not feel so alone anymore.
I’m sure August will like her. He doesn’t mix well with the hyper kids his age because of how skittish he feels around them, but maybe a calm little girl with a reading addiction could complement his subpar social skills .
Maybe he will finally make friends who aren't twenty years older than him.
After an afternoon with Khatri, Angel and I leave the conference room to discuss the playdate with August.
Talking about kids...
“Oh before I forget. We’re not having a whole village of kids.”
“What— Why ?” Angel stops dead in the hallway.
If anyone saw him right now, they would think I just told him his puppy died. Angel looks genuinely heartbroken.
“What do you mean why? I’m not pushing out that many kids!”
I thought that would be argument enough but guess not. Angel keeps looking at me like I’m breaking every dream he’s ever had. I can see that this is heartbreaking for him, and if it was anything other than pushing multiple watermelons out of me, I would’ve given in.
“Okay... let’s compromise. I don’t need eight kids. We can make do with six. How about only six kids?”
Only?!
I can’t help but laugh when he says it like six is a massive compromise for him. Angel tries to smooth me over with sweet kisses and promises of doing all the dirty diaper work, but I turn around and run with him hot on my heels. Both of us laughing uncontrollably, and the sound carrying around the castle.
“You’re crazy!”
“Crazy in love with you!”