Page 52 of Demons of Eden

“And if I said I’d stay elsewhere?” I chime in.

“Why are you so stubborn?” Rio demands, my question apparently getting him fired right back up. “We say, ‘Let us keep you alive,’ and you say, ‘No, I want to be a pain in your ass instead.’Why?”Rio narrows his eyes at me, throwing his hands in the air like I’m some kind of lost cause. One that he’s personally exhausted by and is now imploring the universe itself for an answer as to why he’s stuck dealing with it.

It’s a little bit maddening because, for once, I was genuinely trying to be nice to him.

“That’s not—this is your home, Rio. If our staying here will make you uncomfortable, then I’ll go somewhere else.”

“The only thing making me uncomfortable is the fucking headaches you give me,” he replies, practically storming out of the room right after, and I wonder if my attempt at being kind may have disturbed him.

“Well, that was dramatic.” I huff, taking one more moment to think about it before giving my answer. “I guess I’ll stay here then.”

I zipup my jacket as I step into the twenty-four-hour supermarket, barely resisting the urge to tug the hood up too. I glance around for anyone I know, anyone who could recognise me, but there’s only a handful of people in here this late. Or early, depending on how you see the hour of three in the morning. Still, I find myself peering around each aisle before proceeding, just in case.

How does the saying go again? It’s not really paranoia if they’re actually out to get you?

Something like that, anyway.

Well, if any witches figure out who this baby’s dad is, then they absolutely will be out to get me. Now it’s apparently spread all across the coven I’m knocked up, it’s only a matter of time before someone notices all the other weird stuff going on and puts it together. Between the sped-up pregnancy, the demon daddy who now doesn’t want to let me out of his sight, and the hunters who’ve insisted on us staying with them, clearly this can’t stay a secret.

I had to sneak out at three in the damn morning just to get a moment alone and fulfil the bizarre middle-of-the-night cravings I found myself dealing with. I can’t resist throwing other random stuff into the basket as I walk around, not wanting to look like a weirdo. I can imagine the look the person at the checkout would give me seeing me buying the biggest tub of ice cream the store carries, a broccoli, two packs of watermelon-flavoured sour gummy sweets, and nothing else. Not that I plan to eat them all together. I will not be dipping broccoli in ice cream, no matter what the weird itch in the back of my brain says, but…maybe the gummies.

Pausing in one of the aisles, I wonder if I should grab the hunters and Ash some tasty peace offerings while I’m here. I’m not sorry for sneaking off, though. I know they’re only trying to be protective, but I needed a damn break. I sigh.

Goddess, men are so confusing, whether they’re a witch or a demon.

Ash has thrown himself right into the whole baby thing. He’s known about this baby for only a day, and yet he’s already acting like he’s thrilled to be a dad. It’s not that I'm unhappy he wants to help me during the pregnancy or even that he wants to be a part of our child’s life. It’s just…how did he get on board so quickly? Surely he should need a minute to wrap his brain around it and then come to terms with becoming a parent? Not to mention, it’s happening with a witch he met only once before now. None of this situation is ideal, so why is he acting like it’s the best thing to ever happen to him?

The hunters are being just as confusing. Other than Rio, who’s thankfully back to being his irritating self, rolling his eyes and storming off while his brothers insist I stay with them for my safety. Him, I can at least somewhat understand, I think. Dai and Torrin, though, they’re confusing both my head and my heart.

This was always supposed to be a mutually beneficial transaction, all of it. Finding Ash, helping me with my vitav levels…so why are they still trying to help me now they’ve already done what they promised to do? Now that they’re no longer obligated to continue? It’s hard not to let delusional hopes make themselves known.

A loud clunk comes from behind me, and I whirl around, heart hammering in my chest, only to see a tin of peaches rolling across the shiny floor.Fuck.With one hand over my chest, I take a deep breath in and out, feeling utterly ridiculous.

It’s only paranoia…for now.

While Suvi had called to warn us about Alina letting it slip, all anyone knows for now is that I’m pregnant. And also that I apparently have a secret man nobody knew about. I’m sure Rio is super thrilled about it. I’m not sure which thing he hates more, the idea spreading that he’s the father of my demon spawn or that he would ever date me. I’m sure he’ll somehow find the perfect opportunity to tell me in detail, the infuriating asshole.

“It is you.”

The sudden words make me almost leap out of my own skin. I was so distracted by my own thoughts, I didn’t even hear anyone approaching. I look up at the speaker, forcing myself not to pull a face when I recognise theirs. Just fucking great.

“Lorcan! What are you doing here?” I ask stupidly, trying not to audibly groan from embarrassment as soon as I realise what came out of my mouth. What do people do in a fucking supermarket, Eden? It’s not like he’s here to stalk you; the guy has made his distaste pretty damn clear. For you, your choice in friends, and by being one of the group who ditched you after the first day of spring festival. “This late, I mean,” I hurriedly tack on. Smooth going, Eden. That’ll do it. Now you only look like half of a moron, instead of an entire one.

“Was up late researching ancient forms of magic, got hungry and needed some sugar to keep me going.” He shrugs, casual, but his eyes seem anything but as they stare down at me. At my stomach, specifically. My free arm wraps around my middle on reflex, but I manage not to give in to some of my more stupid urges, like hissing at him or something equally ridiculous. “Looks like you came here for sugar cravings too, though I’m assuming given recent news it’s caused by a different reason.”

“You heard about that then.”Yay.More confirmation of my current status as the hot topic for coven gossip. He’s clearly only speaking to me to get information; he’d never normally go out of his way to come over and chat if he saw me somewhere.

“It’s all anyone’s talking about…”

I tune him out, hoping that my lack of interest and vacant nodding head will convince him to leave me alone. Out of all of the witches around our age in the coven, he’s got to be one of the worst. Now that I think about it, I wouldn't put it past him for what happened to have been all his idea. Maybe even for him to lie to the others about it too. At least some of them, anyway. I mean, Alina did truly seem like she hadn’t known about the plan to leave me waiting around in Midnight Masque all alone.

I never would have met Ash if it hadn’t happened, though. Does this mean I can blame Lorcan for all of my current problems? I mean if?—

At the end of the food aisle, someone quickly walks by, something odd about them clawing at my brain for attention. But what is it?Were they walking funny, or do I know them?I find myself staring at the empty space, trying to work out what’s tripping me up about the two-second glimpse of a person. Something inside of me is screaming to move, but whether it’s to follow them or to run away, I’m not sure. Maternal instincts are odd. I’m curious and also ready to bolt because of rogue peaches.

“Eden?”

I blink, forcing my eyes back to Lorcan, who’s narrowed his at me in a displeased expression.Uh-oh.Someone doesn’t appreciate not being the centre of the universe.

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