Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Angelo
I hated interrupting Serenity’s Christmas Rockwell painting. She looked so relaxed, so beautiful, but Lorenzo needed to know what we were up against.
Serenity’s eyes locked with mine and she frowned. “Is something wrong, Angelo?”
“Just need Lorenzo for a moment.” I tilted my head for Lorenzo to follow me.
We retreated out of ear shot into the living room where Enzo and Dimitri waited for us.
Lorenzo looked at each of us, his shoulders squaring, his expression shifting to that professional mask he wore when preparing for the worst. “I take it this isn’t good news.”
Enzo glanced behind him, obviously making sure none of the women were following us. “Draven contacted me. There’s rumors of a new demon—Vex.”
Lorenzo frowned. “One of Balthazar’s?”
"Worse," Dimitri said, leaning back against the wall with deceptive casualness.
"A brand new player with his own agenda.
Because apparently one psychotic demon trying to steal Angelo's baby wasn't enough.
The universe decided we needed more spice in our lives.
" He gestured dramatically. "I mean, why have a nice, simple Christmas with cookies and carols when you can have a demonic recruitment drive? "
I shot him an exasperated look. Not helping.
He held up his hands. "I'm just saying—we finally get Balthazar locked up, or we think we do, and suddenly there's a replacement model?
It's like hell has a subscription service.
'Congratulations, your old demon has expired.
Here's your new one, with enhanced features and even more nefarious plans. '"
"Dimitri," Enzo said warningly.
"What? I'm processing." But his smirk faded, and something harder entered his eyes. "Seriously though—who is this guy, and what does he want? Because if he's connected to Balthazar and the baby situation, we have a problem. A big one."
An understatement if I ever heard one.
“I’m curious,” Lorenzo said, his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe. “How did he find about this new demon? He’s good, but hell doesn’t usually advertise its personnel changes.”
Enzo’s jaw tightened. “A deal. One of Draven’s specialties.” He paused. “There was a human—a gambler who got in deep at the tables. Way over his head. Couldn’t pay what he owed Draven. So Draven offered him the usual alternative: another form of payment.”
“Let me guess,” Dimitri interjected. “Information.”
“Exactly. But the man was terrified. Said he’d already sold his soul to pay off previous debts to some demons. He knew if they found out he was talking, they’d collect early.”
Lorenzo raised his eyebrow. “To this demon? This Vex?”
“That’s what we think. The man was shaking so hard he could barely get the words out according to Draven.
Said the demon would kill him—or worse—if he talked.
” Enzo’s expression darkened. “But Draven's deals are binding. Blood magic, unbreakable contracts. Once you agree, you have no choice. The man couldn’t refuse even if he wanted to.”
The fact that it took Draven's blood magic to force the information out told me everything. This wasn't just fear—it was absolute terror. And if Vex could inspire that kind of reaction... We were dealing with something far more dangerous than I'd initially thought.
“So he talked,” Lorenzo said quietly.
“He talked. Told Draven everything he knew about Vex. This demon has been recruiting in New Orleans. Not just demons, but vampires, witches, wolves, even some Unseelie. Building alliances, consolidating power.” Enzo’s hands flexed at his sides.
“And he mentioned something about needing a powerful hybrid child as payment for…something. The man didn’t know what.
That information was above his pay grade. ”
Fury exploded through me, white-hot and consuming.
My city. Vex was building an army in my territory, recruiting my people, and planning to use my daughter as payment for some unknown scheme.
Every word was a declaration of war. The audacity—the sheer fucking arrogance—of this demon thinking he could walk into New Orleans, conscript my subjects, and steal my child.
The words were like a death sentence. A death sentence intent on destroying my family.
We were running out of time. Every moment without information was another moment Vex could be moving against us. “Find him,” I said. “This human. We need to know everything he told Draven. Every detail. Dimitri and Enzo—”
“I know, I know.” Dimitri pushed off the bar stool with exaggerated weariness.
“We need to go play detective, follow the breadcrumbs, shake down informants.” He flashed me a smirk.
“But first Enzo and I get first dibs on those cookies. If I’m going demon hunting, I’m doing it with a full stomach and powdered sugar on my conscience. ”
Every muscle in my body tensed. Cookies. He wanted to eat cookies while a demon built an army in my city and plotted to steal my daughter. My fangs threatened to descend. I gave him a flat, unamused look. “Then go.”
Dimitri sketched a mocking salute, but he was already moving. He and Enzo disappeared down the hallway back toward the kitchen—and toward their mates, even if just for a few stolen moments before the hunt began.
I wanted to follow. Wanted to see Serenity's smile, taste whatever she'd been baking, pretend for five minutes that demons weren't building armies to steal our daughter.
But she'd see through me in a heartbeat.
One look at my face and she'd know something was wrong, and I'd just stolen back the peace she'd finally found.
Lorenzo started to follow, then hesitated. “You want me to stand guard?”
“Yes.” I clasped his arm, holding his gaze so he understood the gravity. “We don’t know what type of powers this demon possesses. Draven said he’s powerful—powerful enough to take Balthazar’s place at Lucifer’s side. I fear he may be able to get past Tinker Bell’s wards.”
Lorenzo frowned. “I thought Tinker Bell said no demon could penetrate them. That they’d be sent back to hell if they tried.”
"She did. And I want to believe her." I released his arm, turning to stare out the window at the Christmas-decorated French Quarter below.
So peaceful. So oblivious to the darkness gathering.
"But this Vex isn't just any demon. If he rose to power while Balthazar was imprisoned, if he's building alliances across supernatural factions, if he's confident enough to demand a hybrid child as payment.
.." The words tasted like ash. Saying it out loud made it real, made the threat concrete and terrifying.
I swallowed hard, forcing down the dread that threatened to choke me.
I looked back at Lorenzo. "He's not going to let a few wards stop him. Not if he wants what's mine."
Lorenzo's expression hardened with understanding. "I'll guard her with my life."
"I know you will." I moved toward my desk, already reaching for my phone. "I need to make some calls. Trystan and Keir may have heard something. Their men might have encountered this demon or know where we can find him. Or at least know who he's recruiting and why."
"And if we find him?"
My smile was cold, deadly. "Then we'll have a conversation about what happens to demons who threaten my family."
“Angelo?”
I stiffened. Crap.
The sound of movement behind me made me turn.
Serenity stood in the doorway. My eyes tracked over her automatically—searching for signs of distress, for any indication that the conversation had upset her. Her face was calm, curious. Not frightened. How much had she heard?
She waddled toward me, each step careful and measured under the weight she carried.
The plate she held was piled with round, powdered-sugar-dusted cookies—Mexican Wedding Balls, if I remembered correctly.
They looked perfect. She looked perfect, domestic and sweet, completely at odds with the nightmare we'd just been discussing.
“How long have you been standing there?”
"Long enough." Her blue eyes flashed with anger and hurt. "There's a new demon?"
"Damn it," I growled, running a hand through my hair. I'd wanted to protect her from this, at least until after the cookies were done, until she'd had one afternoon of peace.
"I deserve to know, Angelo." Her voice shook, but not with fear—with fury. "He's after our baby."
I took a step toward her, my hands raised placatingly. "We don't know that yet, Serenity. Not for certain. I need you to remain calm—"
The look she gave me could have melted steel. I definitely said the wrong thing.
"Do. Not. Patronize. Me. Angelo." Each word came out sharp, precise, deadly.
She put her hand protectively on her belly, and I saw her wings shimmer just beneath her skin—a sign of how agitated she was.
"This is our baby. Our daughter. I will not be kept in the dark like some fragile ornament you need to protect.
And I will not be cowering while you make all the decisions about her safety. "
Behind her, I could see Joy, Gianna, Prudence, and even Elena watching us with varying expressions of sympathy—for Serenity, not for me.
I'd miscalculated badly.
She headed over to the couch and sat down, putting the cookies on the coffee table. She folded her arms across her large belly. “I want to be here when you talk to Trystan and Keir.”
I looked at Lorenzo and opened my mouth to tell him to get her out of here, but she would never forgive me.
Lorenzo gave me a helpless look of what-do-you-want-me-to-do-now.
Arguing with my pregnant mate was the last thing she needed. But what if Trystan and Keir did have information, information that would stress her out and send her into premature labor?
I looked at Prudence. “If I call them in front of her, they could relay information that could stress her out. Should she be allowed to listen to the call?”
Prudence hesitated, clearly caught between her medical responsibility to her patient and the weight of my question. Her eyes flickered from me to Serenity and back.
Serenity looked at me. “I deserve to know.”
The fight went out of me. She was right. She deserved to know what threatened our daughter, deserved to be part of the decisions that would keep her safe. Even if it meant more nightmares. Even if it meant watching fear replace the peace she’d found this afternoon.
Prudence sat next to her and held her hand. “Not telling her would put more strain on her.”
Fuck. No matter what I chose, I risked putting her and the baby in danger.
Send her away and watch her spiral with fear and anger over what I was hiding?
Or let her stay and potentially shatter the fragile peace she'd found with whatever horror Trystan and Keir might reveal?
Either path could trigger labor. Either choice could cost me everything.
But then the cavalry came in—Gianna, Joy, and Elena. They all sat on the couch near Serenity.
And just like that, I'd lost. They were presenting a united front, silently declaring they'd support whatever Serenity wanted.
Four against one. I could order them out—I was king, after all—but what would that accomplish?
Serenity would be pissed, and they'd just tell her everything afterward anyway.
Gianna flicked her hand dismissively. "Call them, brother. I need to know what danger my little niece is facing. We all do."
Joy and Elena lifted their chins in stubborn alliance, their expressions making it clear they weren't backing down either.
Lorenzo looked at me, his face carefully neutral. "It's your call, boss."
I didn't like being pushed into something I didn't want to do—especially when it came to exposing Serenity to information that could frighten her. But Serenity's determined face, her righteous anger, backed me into a corner. If I refused now, I'd only make things worse.
Still, I could set boundaries.
I turned to Prudence, giving her my sternest look. "The minute she seems distressed—the second you see any sign of stress affecting her or the baby—you get her out of here. Understood?"
"Of course, Angelo." Prudence squeezed Serenity's hand reassuringly, her expression the picture of professional concern. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to Serenity or the baby. You have my word."
The sincerity in her voice should have been comforting. Instead, something about it made my spine prickle with unease. But I had no reason to distrust my mate's midwife, and Serenity clearly trusted her.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Trystan's number. My finger hovered over it for just a moment—one last chance to protect Serenity from whatever I was about to learn.
Then I pressed call.
“Put it on speaker,” Serenity insisted.
It rang twice before Trystan's cheerful voice came through. "Yeah? Don't tell me—you're calling to tell me you're a father already? Kai owes me fifty euros if you are."
"No. There's been a new development. A new demon has emerged—calls himself Vex. Have you heard of him? Do you know where he is or what he wants?"
The silence on the other end stretched too long.
"Trystan?"
“Shit. Where did you hear that name?"
My stomach dropped. "So you know him."
"Know of him. And Angelo?" Trystan paused. "If Vex has his attention on New Orleans, you have a serious problem."
The warning landed like ice in my gut. Trystan was an alpha wolf—powerful, connected, not easily rattled. If he was concerned about Vex, we were in deeper shit than I'd thought.