Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Angelo
A daughter.
The words echoed through my mind as I pulled Serenity close, my hands steady on her back even as my thoughts spun.
A little girl with Serenity's blonde hair and fierce spirit. With my darkness and her light. Wings like her mother's. A heart I would die to protect.
And every demon in hell would want her.
The thought settled in my chest like lead.
Balthazar had seen Serenity pregnant. Maybe only in her dreams, but every instinct told me it had been real.
He knew what we were bringing into this world—half vampire, half angel, born of royal blood on both sides.
A child of impossible power. Exactly the kind of leverage a desperate demon would kill for.
Payment, he'd said in Serenity's nightmare. Our daughter was the payment.
My jaw clenched so hard it ached. Over my dead body. Over the ashes of hell itself.
I'd been alone for centuries—a monster walking through endless night, convinced I was incapable of creating life, unworthy of love.
I'd never thought I'd have a mate, let alone a child.
And now that I had both, now that I could see the future stretching before me—Serenity's smile, our daughter's first laugh, a family I'd never dared to dream of—I would burn the world down before I let anyone take it from me.
Let Balthazar come.
He would learn what it meant to threaten a vampire king's family.
I clasped Serenity's hand, threading my fingers through hers, grounding myself in the warmth of her touch. "Come with me. They're waiting."
She allowed me to lead her out of the bedroom, her steps slower than usual, one hand resting protectively on her belly.
We reached the top of the grand staircase, and I paused, turning to smile down at her as I ran my hand along her back in what I hoped was a soothing gesture. "Do you want me to carry you?"
She shivered under my touch—whether from desire or nerves, I couldn't tell—but lifted her chin high in that defiant way that always made me want to both protect and worship her. "No, I can walk."
I shook my head, fighting back a smile. Stubborn woman.
But I indulged her independence, as I always did when it didn’t put her in danger.
I kept her hand firmly in mine and placed my other hand at her back, guiding her carefully down each step.
She gripped the banister with her free hand, moving slowly, and I stayed close—ready to catch her, to sweep her into my arms if she faltered even for a second.
The murmur of voices grew louder as we descended. I led her into the living room, and the conversation died the moment we appeared in the doorway.
The space was transformed for the season—white lights were strung along the crown molding, their soft glow reflecting off the ornate mirror above the fireplace.
Garland draped the mantel, interspersed with deep red ribbons and golden ornaments.
A massive Christmas tree stood in the corner by the windows, decorated with silver and gold, its star nearly touching the high ceiling.
The scents of pine and cinnamon filled the air, a warmth that should have felt festive but instead seemed almost mocking given the darkness that had brought us here.
Everyone was there. My men lined the walls like stone sentries—dark suits, watchful eyes, hands never far from weapons.
Dimitri leaned against the fireplace mantel beneath the garland, Gianna tucked against his side, her face tight with worry.
Enzo stood near the decorated tree with Joy, his mate, whose shadow abilities might be needed before this was over.
Rose stood beside Valentin near the windows.
Tinker Bell and Prudence occupied the leather couch, but both rose immediately when we entered. Tinker Bell’s sharp eyes swept over Serenity with professional assessment—the slight waddle in her gait, the protective hand on her belly, the exhaustion shadowing her features despite the shower.
“Please sit down, Serenity.” Tinker Bell gestured toward the couch. The powerful witch knew how to read a room, and this one was thick with tension despite the cheerful decorations surrounding us.
I escorted Serenity to the couch, my hand at the small of her back, guiding her carefully. I helped her lower herself onto the cushions, taking most of her weight as she settled with a small sigh of relief.
Joy hurried over to Serenity and sat next to her. Her dark eyes glistened with unshed tears as she clutched Serenity’s hand in both of hers.
“Oh, Serenity.” A protective smile crossed Joy’s face. “My shadows will protect you. Hide you from Balthazar. I promise. He won’t find you. He won’t—“
“Joy.” Serenity squeezed her friend’s hand, her voice steadier than I expected. “It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out.”
But I could see the fear in both their eyes. They’d all faced Balthazar before. They all knew what he was capable of.
Prudence moved closer, her practical healer’s demeanor softening as she knelt beside the couch. “How are you feeling, Serenity? Any contractions? Any unusual sensations?”
Serenity shook her head and placed her hand on her belly. “No. She’s not ready to make an appearance yet.”
Not yet. The words should have been a relief, but all I could think about was December 15th looming closer.
I remained standing behind the couch, one hand resting possessively on Serenity’s shoulder. I wouldn’t—couldn’t—sit. Not with the warning prickling at the base of my skull.
Tinker Bell drew in a breath and looked around the crowded room, her expression grave. “I’m going to attempt a spell to see if Balthazar is still in hell and whether or not he’s imprisoned in his cage. This spell is like peeling back a veil—”
"Opening a veil to hell." My jaw clenched. "In a room with my pregnant wife. Explain to me how this is remotely safe."
She didn’t flinch from my angry gaze. “I’m not opening a doorway, just…looking through a window. Nothing can pass through. I promise nothing will happen to Serenity.”
I held her stare for a long moment, every protective instinct still screaming at me to refuse. But we needed to know. "Fine. But at the first sign of anything going wrong, you stop. Immediately."
“Wait, wait.” Dimitri pushed off from the fireplace mantel, one hand up.
“Peeling back a veil? To hell? That sounds like the beginning of every horror story that ends with ‘and then everyone died horribly.’” He gestured around the room.
“Please tell me you have a plan for making sure nothing nasty decides to hitch a ride back through said veil. Because I’m rather fond of my internal organs staying internal. ”
Gianna elbowed him in the ribs, but her own face was tight with worry.
Tinker Bell’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“I was getting to that, Dimitri. As I was saying—this veil we need to make sure that something doesn’t cross over from the other side.
That’s why Prudence and Rose are here. We’ll be working together to create a containment barrier.
Nothing gets through unless we allow it. ”
“Define ‘nothing,’” Dimitri said, his tone light but his eyes deadly serious. “Because in my experience, demons have a funny way of interpreting invitations.”
Rose stepped forward from where she’d been standing beside Valentin near the windows, her hybrid nature—half vampire, half witch—making her invaluable for a spell this dangerous.
“The three of us should be strong enough to maintain the barrier while conducting the search,” she said, her voice calm and confident.
But she hadn’t been to hell. Underestimating Balthazar would be a mistake.
Tinker Bell met my gaze and something in her expression made my spine stiffen. “There is a caveat.”
I clasped Serenity’s shoulders, my fingers tightening protectively. “What?”
“Whoever we are looking at will be able to see you,” Tinker Bell said softly, regret flickering across her face. “I’m sorry. I can’t shield it.”
My blood froze. Balthazar was not going to set eyes on Serenity.
Not now.
Not ever again.
Especially not while she was vulnerable, pregnant with our child—the very thing he wanted.
“I will not subject Serenity to this.”
Serenity’s hand came to clasp mine where it rested on her shoulder, her fingers warm and insistent. “I need to see that he’s in the cage. It’s the only way I can feel safe.”
“No.” The word was final, absolute. I wouldn’t be persuaded on this.
Even caged, even imprisoned in the deepest pit of hell, Balthazar was extremely dangerous.
The thought of him seeing her like this—round with child, glowing with life—made rage burn in my gut.
He’d use it. Somehow, he’d find a way to use it against us.
I motioned with my fingers, a sharp gesture. “Lorenzo, you’ll take Serenity into the dining room while Tinker Bell performs this spell.”
Lorenzo immediately stepped forward, his expression carefully neutral, though I could see the understanding in his eyes. He was one of my most trusted men.
Serenity turned in her seat and gazed up at me, and the look in her eyes nearly broke my resolve. “No.”
Joy looked between us, her expression desperate. “I can use my shadows to shield her, Angelo. He can’t see through my shadows.”
I wanted to believe that. God, I wanted to. But this was Serenity. My mate. My child growing inside her. Something I wasn’t willing to risk on assumptions and hope. “Are you sure about that? Balthazar is extremely powerful. Ancient. If there’s even a chance—”
Enzo sat on the edge of the couch next to Joy, his enforcer’s calm cutting through my rising panic.
“You know what her shadows are capable of. We’ve all seen them.
Balthazar will not be able to see through them.
” He paused, his gaze steady on mine. “But he’ll probably suspect who is being hidden. He’s not stupid.”
My gut clenched. That was exactly what I was afraid of—giving that bastard any confirmation that Serenity was here, vulnerable, within his thoughts if not his reach.
Lorenzo held out his hand toward Serenity, his expression apologetic but dutiful. “Serenity, please come with me.”
Serenity’s arms crossed over her chest, and she nestled deeper into the couch cushions, her chin lifting in that stubborn tilt I knew all too well. “I’m not leaving. I have to know he’s in that cage. I have to know our baby is safe.”
Her words chipped away at my overprotectiveness. She needed this. Needed to see with her own eyes that the monster from her nightmares was still imprisoned.
Lorenzo cast me a what-the-fuck-do-I-do-now look, his hand still extended uselessly in the air.
I closed my eyes briefly, warring with myself. My hands itched to lift her and carry her somewhere—anywhere–safer, a place where Balthazar’s gaze—even through a veil—could never touch her.
But she was right. She wouldn’t feel safe otherwise. And living in fear, jumping at every shadow, every nightmare—that was its own kind of prison.
“My shadows will keep her safe,” Joy insisted. “I swear it. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before mine cut through the room like a blade. “You mean like last time when you lost your temper and tossed her across the room?”
The silence that followed was deafening. Joy’s face burned red, shame and hurt flashing across her features. Her hands trembled in her lap.
Enzo’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and he immediately pulled Joy against his side, his arm wrapping around her protectively. “That was uncalled for,” he said, his tone low and deadly calm. “Joy has more than proven herself since then. You know that.”
I did know that. But fear made me cruel, made me lash out at anyone who might pose even the smallest risk to Serenity.
“Angelo.” Serenity’s voice cracked like a whip, sharp enough to make me look at her.
Her eyes blazed with fury and determination.
“Stop it. I’m not leaving.” She shifted forward on the couch, her hand braced on the armrest as if preparing to stand.
“If you try to make me, I’ll fly up to the ceiling and watch from there.
And good luck getting me down with this belly. ”
The image of her hovering near the ceiling, pregnant and defiant, would have been almost comical if the situation weren’t so dire. But I knew she meant it. She absolutely meant it.