Page 17 of Lucian's Soul

Tessa gasped at the sight of Balthazar. “What the hell happened to him?”

Guilt swamped him for a moment, then Tessa winced as she tried to get down and it vanished. “He didn’t do the task that was set for him and he was punished.”

Tessa pushed at his chest and wriggled to get out of his hold. Lucian wasn’t letting her go no matter how much she pushed. “What the hell do you mean, punished?” she mumbled from his chest. “Punished by whom and why? Surely you don’t mean you? Aren’t you the good guys?”

Xore laughed. “Oh, we are the good guys, but Lucifer isn’t a saint, far from it. Lucifer is not someone you want to cross…ever. He may care for you humans, but he is the big boss and sometimes to keep the masses safe you sacrifice the smaller amount. Lucifer expects from his people, even his brother, one hundred percent or—”

“That is enough, Xore.” Lucian could see Tessa’s eyes getting wider and her face draining of color the more Xore spoke. Lucian knew when he’d told her about everything he had sugarcoated it, even his own image.

He stared down at Tessa as she swiveled and stared at Xore before her gaze rested on Balthazar. “He may be an arsehole, but I don’t believe Balthazar deserved this.” She pointed to him. “A kick in the balls from me, yes, but this…” She shook her head.

Balthazar held a surprised look for a moment before it turned back to stone. Xore chuckled. “Shit, Lucifer, she is perfect for you.”

“I see I am lucky to get the punishment I got and not worse. I forget you humans are more fragile than us.” Balthazar’s eyes trailed Tessa’s body. “In every way.” He shook his head. “So breakable. You may have the grifts from mating Lucian, but being large and pregnant will weaken you, too. I will remember that not only are you fragile, but so are your emotions.”

As Balthazar spoke even Lucian knew Balthazar was losing any sympathy Tessa had for him with each word spewed. By the time Balthazar finished, Tessa was stiff in his arms. Lucian glanced down and saw she gave a nasty glare to Balthazar. “Okay, Lucian, let’s go. My sympathy for him just vanished. He’s a jackarse.”

Smiling, he took his mate to the lounge room.

Chapter Seven

Lucien sat on the sofaand placed her across his lap. Tessa gazed up at him and debated if she should try moving, but she knew he wouldn’t let her go and she thought it best to save her energy to get what she really wanted if she really admitted it to herself, she liked being close to Lucian.

“So…are you ready to answer some of my many questions?”

“Yes.”

It took her a moment to think of the first one. “How much sin do the babies need to feed on now?”

Lucian sighed. “At least every day.”

“What! I’ve been starving them for months?” Her guilt ate at her. “Shit. What about blood? How much should I be drinking?”

He didn’t say anything for a while, just studied her. He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. “You didn’t know.”

“Crap. Tell me.”

“Every day, too. It’s because they are growing so quickly. Demon babies only take six months instead of nine.”

“Oh, God. No wonder Balthazar was angry with me. I’m surprised you’re not.” Tessa felt sick thinking about what she’d done to her children. Hugging her stomach, she whispered, “I’m so sorry. I love you and am so sorry.” She couldn’t stop the tears and a sob escaped. “Have I harmed them?” She gazed up at Lucian through her tears.

Lucian wiped her tears away and pressed a kiss to each cheek. “While you slept I booked into a doctor. From what I can tell they are fine. You seem to have a strong connection to them. Don’t worry, they are fine.”

Tessa buried her head into his chest and let him comfort her. When she gathered herself she hiccupped out, “Where have you been?”

His hands rubbed up and down her bare arms in a soothing motion. “I was out protecting those faulty humans you like.”

“What? What do you mean faulty?”

“The ones that have broken eyes. Although, Zane said he can see me, my demons, and angels.”

“You mean the Vision Australia people?”

“Yeah, them. The angels are really targeting them and trying to wipe them out.”

Turning so she straddled his lap, she stared up at him. “You went and helped the vision people?” Her heart melted as he nodded.

“I don’t know why the angels want them dead. They are faulty and harmless.” Lucian’s brows furred in deep thought.

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