Page 66 of Destined for Eternity
Ariel made a shooing motion. “I will protect them. Don’t worry.”
With one last hesitant look, Kerbasi headed out of the house. He had to flash from the outside because of Melena’s protections and would have to do the same at Cori’s home, but it wouldn’t add much more time or trouble. Locks wouldn’t be a problem for him either with his powers.
He hadn’t been gone more than a minute when Cori sensed Bartol nearby. Relief filled her, and she sat up straight. “He’s here.”
“Bartol and Remiel,” Melena said, glancing up from where she observed Heidi examining the baby. Concern filled her blue eyes. “I didn’t expect him as well.”
Cori waited in anticipation for Bartol to make his way up to the room, but instead, she heard him go into the bathroom down the hallway. Remiel poked his head into the room. “We will clean up first before entering. Melena, could you provide a set of Lucas’ clothes for Bartol to wear?”
“Of course,” she said, hurrying from the room.
Remiel disappeared behind her. A moment later, he returned fully clean and donning a fresh robe. She supposed Heaven’s minions didn’t have to shower with their nifty powers.
“How did the battle go? Is everyone okay?” Cori asked.
The archangel’s gaze fell on Sybil where Heidi tended her on the dresser, and he smiled. “I suspect your battle went better than ours.”
Cori clutched the sheet covering her. “What do you mean?”
“Most of the demons are dead, but some of them fled before we could catch them. We also had a few losses on our side.” He paused and gave Cori an apologetic look. “But it’s best we discuss that later.”
She wanted to know more, but just then Heidi finished with the baby. Thankfully, the midwife had a spare diaper in her bag that she’d put on Sybil. The werewolf handed the child over to Melena, who’d just returned, then headed toward Cori. “I need to check you over next and make sure you delivered the full placenta. Everyone except Melena and the baby should leave the room.”
Remiel and Ariel left the room together, closing the door behind them.
Heidi had Cori lay back as she felt her stomach and did a full examination. After inspecting the placenta and cleaning her up with the spare towels and the water Melena had set aside, she let Cori sit up and hold the baby again. Sybil was just figuring out how to latch onto her nipple after quite a few attempts when Bartol came into the room. He wore a pair of Lucas’ dark slacks and a white t-shirt, but no shoes.
“That’s my cue to go,” Melena said, and squeezed Cori’s hand. “I’ll check on you in a bit.”
Bartol’s eyes homed in on her and the baby. Moving in slow motion, he made his way across the room. “I’m sorry I missed the birth.”
“It’s okay.” Cori smiled up at him. “You were needed somewhere else more.”
He stared down at their child, wonder in his eyes. “It doesn’t feel that way right now. You have no idea how much I’d have rather been here instead.”
Bartol was covered in raw wounds, but at least they were healing and none of them were severe.
Cori shifted slightly to give him a better view. “We have a daughter. I told everyone her name is Sybil.”
He caressed her cheek. “Thank you. It means a lot that you’ve chosen that name.”
The baby unlatched from her breast and stared at Bartol. She seemed so fascinated by him. Cori adjusted Sybil in her arms and held her up a little. “Would you like to hold her?”
“That would be…” He hesitated, staring at his daughter with apprehension. Then he took a deep breath, relaxed and held out his hands. “Yes. That would be wonderful.”
Carefully, he took the baby from Cori. He held her like she was made of the most fragile glass and brought her close to his chest. “She is amazing.”
Before her eyes, she watched as her mate transformed into a different man. “Yes, she is.”
“I cannot believe she is ours.”
Cori thought about telling him how they’d almost lost Sybil, but she’d wait until after Bartol wasn’t holding her. It would only frighten him more, and she wanted this moment to last as long as possible.
“You’re doing well,” she said, impressed with how relaxed he appeared. “First, you propose to me in front of a big audience, then you even hug and kiss me while they watch, and then you hold your daughter. How are you pulling all this off?”
He leaned down and kissed Sybil on the forehead. It was so gentle and sweet that it brought tears to Cori’s eyes. There was no fear in his expression now, only love.
“I thought it would be hard, but it’s not,” he admitted, never taking his gaze from his daughter. “It helps that I’ve been working with Eli almost every day since I last saw you at my cabin.”
