“Some say she was the whisper in his ear, the voice telling him to start the rebellion in Heaven. And indeed, when he was cast out, she followed soon after.”
“So why aren’t they together in a special little love nest in hell?”
“No one knows. But you are aware that it was she who drew up the contract between Limos and Satan, yes?” Before he could reply, she grinned. “Did you not wonder why there was a loophole in the contract? She wanted Limos to get out of it, but it wasn’t for Limos’s sake. It was for her own. No doubt Harvester is even now plotting her way back into Satan’s bed.”
“And killing Regan’s baby to start the Apocalypse would have been a surefire way to do it. Since Satan can’t interfere directly with starting or stopping the Apocalypse any more than God himself can, Harvester would have been a hero, and Satan would have been grateful to finally rule both Sheoul and the Earth.”
“Likely, she was even more desperate to curry favor with Satan, given that Pestilence has his sights set on getting Harvester for himself.”
Reaver’s head snapped back at that little surprise. “Well, well. Isn’t Harvester a busy little thing.” He frowned, because something was tickling his spine. It was a buzz similar to what he felt when he was being summoned by a Horseman, but this was more of a tingle of awareness and less of a call.
“The baby.” He wished he could be happy, but so much could turn catastrophic. “It’s time.”
He didn’t wait for Gethel’s response. He flashed out of there, because this was one birth he wouldn’t miss for the world.
Appropriate, given how the birth was going to affect the world. But for the best or the worst was yet to be seen.
Thirty-four
The labor progressed quickly. Too quickly for Thanatos’s comfort. Regan’s water had barely broken, and now she was panting through contractions. He eased her onto the couch and jogged to the front door, where Decker was outside, pacing and muttering.
“I need Kynan here. Now. Tell him to contact UG. Regan is in labor.”
“You got it.” Decker dug the cell phone out of his pocket even as Than scrambled to call Ares and Limos—on his home phone, since he’d destroyed his cell.
“Get over here,” he barked at Limos when she picked up the phone. “Bring Ares and Cara. Arik. Hellhounds. Whoever you can get.”
“You got trouble?” she asked.
“I’m expecting Armageddon,” he said. “Regan is in labor, and if Pestilence shows up …”
Limos inhaled sharply. “We’ll be right there.”
Thanatos shouted to his vampires to prepare his bedroom for the birth—they needed clean towels, blankets, a fire, and the cradle. They snapped to it as he rushed back to the library, where Regan was walking in circles, one hand on her belly, the other on her back.
“You okay?” He gripped her elbow to steady her when she swayed. “Can I get you anything? Water? Food? Shit, what do females in labor need?”
“Pain meds,” she groaned. “We need pain meds.”
“I’d take the pain for you if I could,” he swore. He’d take it and more.
She blinked her gorgeous hazel eyes, and then she reached up and trailed her fingers along his jaw. “I know you would.”
A flush crept into his face at her trust in him, even after he’d told her he wanted her and the baby gone. He’d die inside, would be nothing but a shell of what he could be with them in his life, but at least they’d be safe from his rage. He just had to find a place that would be safe from Pestilence.
“What can I do for you?” He’d do anything right now. Anything at all in the time they had left.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Then, suddenly, the color drained out of her face. She cried out and doubled over, nearly losing her balance. Than caught her just in time.
“Regan? Honey, what is it?”
“Something’s wrong,” she gasped. “I can feel it.”
Helplessness was a raw ache in his chest. Dammit, where was Eidolon? “I’ll take you to the bedroom.” He started to sweep her up, but she shook her head.
“I can walk.” Her voice was thin, laced with pain. “I need to.” She panted through what must have been a horrible contraction. “Our kid deserves a mom who can walk on her own two feet to the delivery room.”
His chest puffed out and his heart swelled. “God, you’re awesome.”
“I know.” She shot him a wobbly smile and started moving toward the doorway.
Than steadied her, and they shuffled into the great room just as the door flew open. A herd of people ran inside, but the ones he focused on were Eidolon and Shade.
The doctor, carrying two large duffels, hurried over, along with Shade, a blond female dressed in scrubs, and Lore, the Seminus demon mated to Idess. Lore came at Thanatos like a tank, his gloved right hand fisted, and Than braced for a blow.
Lore stopped two feet away. “Where’s your brother? Where’s Pestilence?”
“I’ve got a good idea, and as soon as Ares and Limos get here, we’ll cast our net.” Now that Regan was in labor, it was time to bring the bastard in, and as horrific as the scene in Finland had been, it had provided Than with a damned big clue.
Lore’s big body trembled. “He took Idess.”
“I know,” Than said. “We’ll get him.”
Eidolon shot Lore a sympathetic look as he came up to Regan. “How are you doing?”
“She’s in a lot of pain,” Than said. “She went pale and shaky. She said something’s wrong.”
Eidolon gave Regan a reassuring smile, but the covert glance he cut at Than was the very opposite of reassuring. “Okay, let’s get you prepped. Vladlena’s a nurse. She’s going to help you change while Shade and I set up.” He looked at Than again. “You have a room ready?”
“My bedroom. Follow me.” He helped Regan to the bathroom, and then balked when Vladlena told him to go.
“I insist, Horseman. I’ve already been told I can’t touch her, but she needs to change into a hospital gown, and I need to examine her as best as I can, and I can’t do it with you growling and snarling at me.”
He didn’t even realize he was doing that until Regan patted him on the chest. “It’s okay. You need to get Pestilence. And you need to find Idess.”
Dammit. He needed to be here with her. But she was right. Leaning into Regan, he kissed her, telling her without words that he’d be back soon.
She kissed him back, telling him without words that she believed him.
Thirty-five
Than ran out into the great room, and skidded to a halt as people stopped preparing
Reaver’s sapphire eyes shone with worry. “How is she?”
“I don’t know. And I don’t know how Eidolon is going to help her if he can’t touch her.”
Reaver lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. “If anyone can help, he can.”
“I hope you’re right.” Than’s scalp prickled and Harvester materialized, her black wings as shiny as a raven’s as she tucked them away.
“You.” Kynan got up in Harvester’s face with a snarl. “You helped The Aegis ward against me, and you were going to help them deliver and sacrifice Regan’s baby.”
“You’re delusional, human.” She flipped her black hair over her shoulder in that snooty way of hers. “I did no
