Risk sighed and held his hand out to me. I felt uncertainty in his grip, but I followed him as he led us into our large blue and gray living room and sat on the plush suede couch.
“Once I was in hell, my healing sped up, and I was able to come back.”
I shook my head in disbelief. He had to be even more powerful than I realized. “And we’ll be safe here?”
Risk shook his head, but I could tell he was struggling with words to say. “Envy helped—he owed me a favor. I once saved his mate, and he’s been pissy ever since that I could do what he couldn’t,” he began with a sigh. “His damn ego wanted to even the playing field, so he offered to take the fall for saving you. As we speak, he’s probably causing chaos at the stadium, taking credit for my risk,” my demon huffed under his breath as he shook his head.
“Why?” I asked.
“We decided it’s best if they think you’re in hell. Only very powerful demons can ascend topside, so Envy is telling them that he banished you there. I needed to appear innocent so that I can walk topside. Right now, everyone thinks I’m off healing in hell still. When the time is right, I’m going to go back and help my daughter. She can’t come here,” Risk said with a frown.
My heart squeezed. “Why not?” I asked. I didn’t want him to doubt my involvement or dedication. “Risk, I’m in this. I’m all in,” I affirmed. “I know we haven’t had the talk, but your daughter is a part of you. I’d love her like my own, you know that, right? Her mother doesn’t deserve her,” I said, my voice trembling. I was young and wildly unprepared to raise a child, but she looked like Risk. She had his smile, his bright eyes. Aunt Marie taught me that motherhood wasn’t always determined by who birthed the child, but by who loved them. And I would love her unconditionally.
“We could make her a nursery!” Crow interjected. “Let’s paint birds on the wall. We’d need a rocker too. And a crib. What else do babies need?” he mused.
“I’ll protect her like my own,” Tomb said while putting his fist to his chest in a solemn promise.
I was so proud of my mates in that moment. We were all in this. Together.
Risk smiled but shook his head. “I would be proud to share my daughter with all of you, but Devicka is special. She has a lot of powers within her. I can sense it. They haven’t fully awakened yet, but I feel its allure.” His gaze went to me, and he chewed on his next words. “She’s a Void, Motley.”
My mouth dropped open in shock. I’d studied Voids in school, but only briefly. I couldn’t imagine that perfect baby living such a hard life. Voids were ostracized and feared. They always battled their gift, often times being wholly consumed by it. “The ritual,” I said, as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. I remembered Ms. Cainson seeming to absorb all the power in the room during the exorcism. That hadn’t been her, it was Risk’s daughter.
Risk nodded. “She can’t come here because she would absorb the Between. This place is just a giant orb of power,” he commented while rubbing his jaw. “That reminds me…” He dug into his pocket and pulled out the amulet that Envy had found after the exorcism. “Envy gave me this. Said he was wounded that you lost his gift.”
I smiled with a roll of my eyes. “It wasn’t like the enforcers were going to let me wear magical jewelry to my own execution.”
Risk’s jaw tensed at that last word, but he nodded. “It’s out of juice now, but I’m going to try to get it to work again. Granted, I’m not gifted with this particular magic like Collector was, but I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“Why?” I asked curiously.
Risk pocketed the amulet again. “Right now, Devicka has to stay with her mother. We can’t go back, since everyone still wants the hybrids dead, and my daughter can’t come here, since the Between would be destroyed. As much as it kills me to be separated, it’s the only way to keep us safe. But councilwoman Cainson won’t hurt our daughter. She’s under a microscope right now. And later, when it becomes public that I’m back from hell, I’ll pay her a visit,” he said with a dark look on his face. “Eventually, when Devicka’s power forms, she’ll need something to help her keep the Void at bay.”
Realization lit up my face. “The amulet.”
Risk nodded. “Exactly.”
We looked at each other, and I recognized his conflict. He’d either have to be here in the Between with us, or topside watching over his daughter.
“I’m sorry, Risk,” I said somberly before stepping into his chest and giving him a hug. My heart broke for him. I knew he loved his child. Being apart from her would be difficult, and watching that evil woman care for her would make it that much worse.
“I’ll have to do what I can. I’ll be here with you and go back regularly to watch over her,” Risk said while pulling away. I watched my cocky demon run his hand down his face in worry.
Crow snapped his fingers. “I’ll send Russell to watch her too. He has a direct link to me, and he’s good at being incognito. If anything happens, we’ll be the first to know.”
“We’ll make it work. And once the council is purged, we’ll go back to her. I promise,” Tomb added with a firm look on his face.
Once again, I appreciated the unity my mates were showing. Even so, I had doubts that we would ever go back to
