Page 157 of Viper

The devil grinned in delight and then teleported to her side. “I always did like you, Ellen.”

“It’s Ella.”

“I’m just using my pet name for you.”

“Right.” She led him into the clubhouse, unsurprised at the unwelcoming looks he received from the Black Saints they came across. Entering the nursery, she shot Mia a quick smile. “We have a visitor. He’s not staying long.”

Mia straightened in the armchair at the sight of Lou, her psyche touching Ella’s.You sure about this?

It seems the best way to get rid of him, and I don’t read him as a danger to the baby.Ella and Viper moved to stand at one side of the crib while Lou and Jester stood at the other. The rest of the Black Saints stayed close, protective.

Lou smiled at the cooing baby girl in the crib who was kicking her little legs and munching on her fist. She had Ella’s facial shape, but she wasallViper—dark hair, gem-like blue eyes, demanding nature.

Her cooing stopped as she stared up at Lou through assessing eyes that were far tooawareand sharp for her age.

“Oh, she’s just like a tiny doll,” said Lou. “What’s her name? Tell me it’s something cool like Cruella.”

“Her name is Lilibeth,” Ella told him.

His brow creased. “Why?”

“We gave her three options. That’s the one she chose.” She’d sent Ella a psychic nudge of approval on hearing the name ‘Lilibeth’.

Lou’s eyes rounded. “Really? How fascinating. Can I hold her?”

Viper’s brows slid together. “No.”

“Oh, don’t be a grump,” Lou complained. “I’m not gonna hurt her.”

“Answer’s still no,” Viper told him. “She wouldn’t let you anyway.”

“Why not?”

“You’re a stranger.”

Lou recoiled, as if hurt. “I’m practically family.”

“In what reality?”

“Can I at leasttryto pick her up? I’m curious as to what she’ll do.”

Viper sighed. “Go for it.”

Looking all gleeful, Lou reached into the crib … and got wacked by an ultraviolet wave that sent him skidding backwards.

Ella’s demon snickered, as proud as it was comforted by Lilibeth’s ability to fend people off in such a way.

As for Lou … well, he laughed. “Oh, that isfantastic. I adore this kid.”

He would.

Lou walked back to the crib and grinned down at her. “Such a merciless little sweetheart, aren’t you, Lilibeth? Yes, you are.” He flinched as a telepathic slap hit his cheek.

Ella wrinkled her nose. “She doesn’t like it when people do all that baby babble. Finds it condescending.” As would any advanced infant, she supposed.

Lou joined his hands, his eyes bright with sheer delight. “Pleaselet me adopt her. I will do literally anything—”

“No,” both Ella and Viper stated.

---