Page 139 of Married to the Devil

Stella’s laugh is soft. “Oh, now you want to know?”

“I know,” I say, pulling her fully onto my lap, enjoying the solid weight of her. It’s a precious thing that she’s never hidden her emotions from me. “You are as generous with your heart as you are wise. But I’m a simple gargoyle who wants to hear the words from your lips.”

Those pink lips quirk. “I love you. I think a part of me always has. No matter how hard you’ve made it.”

I snort.

“I promise I’ll care for your heart and our family till my dying days. All of our family,” I say with emphasis. “Even errant demons who think they know better.”

Stella gives me a flat look.

“You can’t make Ben love us back.”

That’s what she thinks.

46

STELLA

As the days pass,we find a comfortable pattern together. Pressures from the territory plague us, and pregnancy symptoms still suck, but we fall together like puzzle pieces.

Stoneheart has to go out to meetings with people in the territory but always comes home early enough to force me not to overwork and to find food items that at least sound appetizing.

His hand on my stomach while we fall asleep helps the worst of my anxiety.

And feeling gross is easier to handle when a growly gargoyle is holding you. It doesn’t make the ache for Ben hurt less, but I can at least focus on getting more charms done, and Stoneheart doesn’t even make too much of a fuss about me delivering them.

I munch on my cereal, figures that sugary cereal is what settles best right now, and frown at my phone.

Stoneheart makes a sound and finishes chewing his omelet that I can’t look too closely at, or I won’t be able to finish my breakfast.

“What’s bothering you?” he asks.

“My mom wants to meet up. She’ll even venture into the territory for it.” Which is a surprise because I’ve never known her to pass the border here after leaving when she was cast out.

“And you don’t want to?” he asks. “She’s probably heard about the pregnancy.”

I’d be shocked if she hadn’t. The official news of the pregnancy and Stoneheart naming the baby his heir had spread through the territory like wildfire.

Despite my worries that the parentage would cause upset, I’ve received very warm congratulations any time I go out.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see her,” I say. Mom was the first one I wanted to ask for advice when I found out I was pregnant. “But she made me doubt. I don’t want to go on that emotional rollercoaster again.”

It’s why I haven’t called to tell her the news myself. Her caustic words about an heir linger.

But she’s making the effort.

Stoneheart rubs my back. “Do you still have the same doubts?”

“No.” I’m doing the things I set out to do. The sentiment in the territory already feels better than just a few days ago. The voting is in about a week, and I’m hopeful it will work out no matter who tries to interfere.

“It’s your choice,” Stoneheart says. “But I don’t want you to feel lacking for anything, including your mother. Even if she doesn’t like me.”

I bite my lip, deciding. “It would be good to touch base with her.”

“I’ll send Fiona to tail you.”

Silas, who is on the other side of the dining table working on his phone stiffens.

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