Chapter Six #2
is room for negotiation. Then there are the things I demand. No
negotiating on those.”
“Like plucking your juvenile offspring out of the human
world and bringing them to you? Or taking your daughter Suzanne out of the
Memitim program?”
“Yes, and yes. My children should grow up here, and Suzanne,
despite being assigned a Primori, isn’t suited for this life.”
“That’s for the Memitim Council to decide. Not you.”
Murderous desire made his fangs throb for a taste of angel
blood. “She’s my daughter!”
“She’s an instrument of Heaven, created by you for that
purpose.” Mariella’s mouth twisted in distaste, as if she was picturing lying with him in bed. “You waived all rights to
fatherhood the moment you spilled your seed inside her mother. You’re lucky we
allowed you to open Sheoul-gra to your adult offspring. There’s no way you’re
taking control of the juveniles.”
Cold, seething anger congealed in his veins. He did not
like to be told no.
“Send me a Council member,” he growled. “I’m done with you.”
Her chin tilted up in defiance, but her lower lip trembled.
Good. More of her was going to be trembling if he didn’t get his way.
“Council members aren’t authorized to negotiate with you.”
“Send one!” he roared, his patience shredded. “Send one today.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Satisfied—for now—he released the angel.
But if he didn’t see a Memitim Council member soon, Heaven
was going to get a taste of his brand of hell.
Lilliana drained her wine glass as if an instruction
manual that would explain her mate was at the bottom.
One wasn’t.
“Was that weird?” Idess asked as she refilled her own glass.
“Because I feel like that was weird.”
Lilliana sighed. “It was weird. I’m sorry, Idess. He’s been
moody lately.”
“Is something going on?”
“I don’t know.” Lilliana smiled at Mace as he chased a
butterfly. “He won’t talk to me about it.”
She’d tried on several occasions to get him to discuss
whatever was making him grumpy, but he’d always either changed the subject or
distracted her...usually with sex.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Idess asked. “I’m not
that close to him, but I could try talking to him.”
“I think you’re closer to him than any of his children,”
Lilliana said. “But you know, I think that might be part of the issue. He’s
been spending more time with all of his sons and
daughters. I’ve even heard him asking them about their pasts.
Maybe he’s been trying to get closer to them.”
Idess smiled. “He’s opened up so much since you came into
his life.”
“Lately it doesn’t feel that way.”
No, it felt like he was pulling away from her. “And I don’t understand. Things
are going so well here. I thought he was happy.”
“I’m sure he is.” Idess covered Lilliana’s hand with hers.
“Whatever is going on with him isn’t about you.”
“I hope you’re right.” But secretly, Lilliana wasn’t so
sure. She was certain he’d been avoiding her, but why? A group of
Memitim walked by, arms loaded with party supplies.
The two males and one of the females gave her an awkward wave or a smile, but
the other two, a male and female, ignored her while waving to Idess. Lilliana
got along with most of Azagoth’s offspring, but a handful despised her, or
Azagoth, or both, and nothing she ever did made a difference. “Are you planning
to stay for the festivities?”
Idess frowned. “Festivities?”
“It’s The Celebration of Angels Day.”
“Ah, yes.” Idess rolled her eyes. “The day angels everywhere
get to congratulate themselves on being awesome and powerful and better than
all other living things.”
“Precisely.”
Lilliana grinned at the other female. She adored Idess and
wished they could spend more time together. Unfortunately, Idess was busy with
her family and her work at Underworld General, where she escorted human souls
into the Heavenly light, and Lilliana was, with few,
specific exceptions, restricted to Sheoul-gra.
“I wish I could, but I need to be at a baby shower in an
hour. Thanatos’s mate, Regan, is pregnant with their second child.”
Thanatos, one of the legendary Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse, had come to Azagoth once for a favor, but that was before
Lilliana’s time, and she’d never met the guy or his ex-demon slayer mate.
“Send them my best,” Lilliana said, struggling to conceal
the wistfulness in her voice.
She’d never expected anything even close to a traditional
life with Azagoth, but sometimes hearing how normal things could be, even for
biblical legends, made her a little envious.
Would anyone hold a shower for her baby when the time came?
Would Azagoth even be excited, given that their child would be only one of
thousands?
“Hey,” Idess said softly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lilliana said, and she was.
Really. She was a little tired, maybe, and if she was honest
with herself, she’d say she was a bit lonely. Whatever was going on with
Azagoth had taken him away from her, not just emotionally, but physically, too.
Well, except when it came to sex. Which, she just realized,
might be the key to getting him to talk. She just had to go about it in a
different way.
With a shaking hand, she poured another glass of liquid
resolve.
Azagoth was about to get a lesson in abstinence, and he was
very much not fond of being told no.