The Horseman was still part of Biblical prophecy, and they needed him whole—and sane. Reaver was hoping that a few hundred years as a normal person would do a lot to heal the damage to his mind, lessening the pain when he remembered. Reaver didn’t want anyone messing with that delicate process. No one could know where Reseph was, and he didn’t trust his angel brethren not to find him, return his memories, and watch him suffer for all the damage he’d caused to mankind.
Hades’s smile faded, but the amused glint in his eyes didn’t. “Don’t worry, angel. We’ll have fun together. I don’t bite. Much.” He pushed off of Reaver. “I hope whatever you did with Reseph was worth it, because I’ve already sent word to someone who will be very interested to know you’re stuck here.”
Well, this couldn’t be good. “Who?” But then he realized he didn’t need to ask. “You blue-haired bastard. You sent for Harvester, didn’t you?”
“Aw, come on, Reaver, she’ll love to see you.”
Yeah, she’d love it all right. Because there was nothing the black-souled fallen angel loved more than torture.
Torturing
Forty-one
Thanks to Eidolon’s amazing healing ability, one week after giving birth and being declared dead, the demon doctor gave Regan a clean bill of health… and the go-ahead to have sex.
Which was great, except Thanatos didn’t seem interested. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been the very definition of attentive and protective and loving since the minute he’d brought her back to the keep. But he’d also been evasive when she tried to discuss anything serious or intimate, or when she tried to get physical. He’d insisted that Eidolon declare her healthy, but she had a feeling his delaying tactic had been more about avoiding sex than anything else.
She hadn’t confronted him about it—hell, she’d been too busy with the baby to make a big deal of it, but today she was going to get some answers from him.
Regan finished dressing in jeans and a sweater, then checked on Logan, who was sleeping peacefully next to the bed in the cradle Than had made. She lingered for a few extra minutes, fussing with his teeny camo pajamas that had been a gift from Kynan and Gem, making sure his little hands were covered with mittens, and double- checking the monitor. She’d taken to motherhood more easily than she’d expected—the instinct was there, if not the knowledge, and she loved the little guy in a way she’d never thought possible.
Smiling down at him, she rubbed her neck where Thanatos had bitten her in his failed bid to turn her. He might not have turned her, but his bite had killed her, which ultimately allowed her to come back. She’d never have believed that she’d be thankful to have fangs punched into her vein, but she’d repeat it in a heartbeat.
Not that any kind of biting would happen if Than wouldn’t even have sex with her.
A dull ache squeezed her chest, and then it was gone before she had a chance to know what Thanatos had been thinking about. That was one of the side-effects of his deal with Azagoth—his painful emotions would forever filter through her instead of through the tattoos he’d been getting for so long. At first, his memories from the tattoos Azagoth had taken had blasted through her, reducing her to tears she hid from Thanatos. But now they were gone, and she would have to wait for the next one, the next scene of death he’d be drawn to. It would hurt them both emotionally, but she and Thanatos would work through it together.
Taking on his emotional agony occasionally was a very small price to pay for a life with him and their son.
Bracing herself for the noise of a party, she joined the crowd in the great room. The trestle table was covered in food, and a barrel full of ice had been set out to chill bottles of beer and wine. From the looks of things, everyone had been indulging. A lot.
Wraith sauntered over to her, his blonde vampire mate, Serena, on his arm. “Congratulations, Aegi. If you need any tips on raising a kid, I’m there for you.”
“That’s sweet of you.” Serena patted his hand in that universal, yes-dear-I’ll-humor-you way. “But I’m sure Thanatos can mess up a kid as well as you can.”
“I doubt that.” Wraith planted a kiss on Serena’s neck, breaking it off when Thanatos punched him in the shoulder.
“Glad you could make it.” Than slung his arm around Regan’s shoulder as he scanned the crowd. “Glad all your brothers and sister could come.”
“You kidding?” Wraith said. “You Horsepeople always throw great parties. Plus, there’s usually a fight.”
“Not this time, man. Not this time.”
Wraith looked disappointed, but he perked up when Sin, her black hair pulled back into a wild ponytail, came over and handed Serena and him two glasses of Scotch.
“That,” Sin said with a wink, “is the best way to shut him up.” She sobered, turning to Than as Wraith and Serena joined another group of guests. “I wanted to thank you. You and your siblings.”
“Why?”
“Because I started all of this.” She shifted her weight and licked her lips, clearly uncomfortable. “It was my fault Pestilence’s Seal broke. If you three hadn’t gone all out to stop him, we’d be looking at the end of the world.”
“You didn’t break his Seal intentionally, and it was a team effort to put everything right again.” Than slid Regan a smile, which did funny, fluttery things to her insides. “Underworld General, The Aegis—everyone helped to stop the Apocalypse.”
It had been stopped, but so much damage had been done. People had died, governments had collapsed, and entire continents were still in chaos, even though land claimed by demons had reverted back to the humans. It would take decades to recover.
Ares and Limos approached, Cara and Arik with them, and the rest of the guests gathered around. It was so strange to have a group of people surrounding Regan with genuine affection. Strange, but wonderful, and Regan had never been so happy.
“Time for the presents,” Limos chirped. “Ares and Cara have the best one.”
Ares scowled at her. “So much for the surprise.”
She adjusted the flower in her hair—orange, to match her flirty strapless dress. “Trust me, it’s still a surprise.” Her grimace told Regan it might not be a normal gift, like a playpen or a baby swing. “And for the record, I don’t want one when I have my baby.”
Well, that got everyone’s attention. Especially Arik’s. He lost a lot of color. “Are you… are we…”
“Nope.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “But maybe tonight.”
Thanatos and Ares both groaned. “Let’s not go there,” Ares said, and Arik nodded vehemently.
“So.” Cara jumped in, no doubt to save Arik from an incredibly awkward situation. “Do you want your surprise now?”
“This’ll be fun.” Ares’s smirk was downright evil.
“Ah …” Thanatos scrubbed his hand over his face, but Regan laughed.
“Sure. Let’s see.”
Cara darted off, and a minute later returned with a black, squirming bundle of hellhound in her arms. “Every boy needs a dog.”
Regan wasn’t even sure what to say. They wanted to give her baby a demon animal that ate people. A furry land shark. It was enough to make her want to hyperventilate.
“That’s not exactly a dog.” Than eyed the pup warily.
“You’re right,” Cara said. “He’s a harmless puppy. Pestilence killed his family, and he needs a new one. If he bonds to Logan, trust me, he’ll have the best lifelong protector on the planet.”
Regan glanced over at Hal, who never left Cara’s side unless she asked him to go with Ares. Velcro, the hellhound that had guarded Regan, had also been attentive and intimidating, and okay, that sounded pretty good.
