Page 73 of Demons of Eden

I’m about to argue some more when I hear footsteps approaching us. I turn to see my mother of all people, comingour way, with our dad not far behind her. Oh no. This is bad. Very, very bad.

This is now officially the ultimate sibling betrayal. Cain and Abel can fucking suck it.

“So much for this being your house now,” I hiss at Forrest.

He could have warned me that our parents are here. The last I heard, they were supposed to be on some weird, no-technology-allowed, retreat thing.

“You better sleep with one eye open,” I add quietly enough so our mother doesn't overhear me when she stops a few steps away, staring at me with big eyes.

Forrest just laughs. Siblings really are the worst. Thank the Goddess that I only have one.

“Oh, Eden,” she whispers then, temporarily distracting me from my fratricidal urges. Her eyes are locked on my fully rounded glory. “It is true. Oh, look at you.”

I am plump, swollen, and quite clearly pregnant as hell. So there’s definitely no denying it now, I suppose.

“Surprise?” I say awkwardly.

“You look so beautiful,” she says, suddenly bursting into tears.

My mouth pops open.Wait, what?

“Can’t believe you managed to beat Forrest and Kit to making us grandparents,” my dad says with a huge smile as he walks right over and pulls me into a hug.

I’m completely frozen for a moment.

Where’s the chastising? The scolding? The criticism of my life choices?If I’d known giving them a grandchild, even a demon one at that, would get me a pass from lectures, I’d have done this years ago.

“And very soon, by the looks of it. How far are you, my darling?” she asks as Dad releases me, pressing her hand to my belly. “What a birthday, huh?” She chuckles, prodding mystomach more aggressively now. “You’re measuring at about thirty or so weeks. Hmm. Maybe thirty-one.”

“I’m further along than I should be, but it’s a long story. Maybe we should head inside?” I ask, still feeling unsteady, but that has more to do with how incredibly supportive my parents are being. I mean, they have always been mostly supportive, despite our differences, but this is still unexpected. “You know the father’s a demon, right?” I have to ask because maybe Forrest hasn’t told them everything.

“Of course.” Dad scoffs, shaking his head like I’ve insulted his intelligence. “I made you some of your favourites. Are you hungry?”

The abrupt change in topic confuses me, but I simply nod. I am always a little hungry these days, even if I’ve already had a feast. Maybe it’s a good thing this pregnancy has been so short. I fear for all the extra pounds I’d have collected otherwise.

Although, how do I tell them that because of this baby, I’m going to need to feed fromsomeonesoon? I really hope the guys get here before I have to explain any ofthat.

About an hour later,and after some extremely awkward conversations, there’s a loud boom outside. It couldn’t have happenedbeforemy parents asked all those damn questions, could it?

Guessing at what the noise means, I attempt to jump to my feet, only to awkwardly shuffle my way upright instead. I rush out the door as fast as my swollen ankles will carry me, following my parents, Forrest, and his husband to the source of the commotion.

Three men are all attacking the barrier like wild beasts. Two with magic and one, very inadvisably, with their bare hands.

“Eden!” Rio roars, pounding his fists against it and wincing with every hit.

“Oh…” Kit whispers beside me, “I don’t know if you should be scared or turned on,” he muses, sounding like he decided on the second, and my eyes go wide as I turn to stare at him.

I swear my brother-in-law has even less of a filter than I do.

“Kit!” Forrest exclaims, doing his best to sound scandalised.

“What?” His husband shrugs. “That barrier’s made to keep witches out. Every time he touches it, it’s zapping the fuck out of him. That’s pretty tough. Don’t act like you don’t notice or appreciate it.”

“Rio!” I gasp, waddling as fast as I can toward the crazy man. “Stop! You’re hurting yourself! I’m okay. This is my family!”

At my words, the attacks stop, and the men all freeze.

“This won’t keep out demons, by the way,” Ash says casually as he materialises beside me, much to the annoyance of the hunters still stuck on the other side of the barrier.

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