the world that many mortals didn’t learn until they were in their teens or early twenties. It helped with facilitating their power transition at birth, which still needed to be done.
But the little darling had to be in her body for that.
Come on, sweetheart, she cooed. I feel you nearby. Find yourself and show me those pretty brown eyes. She’d seen them once initially, the alarm in them nearly breaking her heart. The poor tiny soul had felt her body deteriorating and had fled as a result. But she was mostly put back together now, confirming her seraphic birthright.
More minutes passed.
Then a sigh came from Leela as the heartbeat returned. There you are, she whispered fondly. Show me those eyes, sweet girl.
The child couldn’t actually hear Leela’s mental words, but she would sense the warmth and comfort in her essence. She was a fertility Seraphim, which meant she specialized in birth and fertilization. That also made her excel in the art of sex, similar to the fabled succubus. Only, Leela didn’t require gratification for survival; she just liked it.
A snort came from behind her, Balthazar’s hand finding her hip as he pressed his lips to her ear. “You and I are going to have a long conversation after this, Lee,” he informed her, the words whisper-soft and meant for her ears alone. “How’s she doing?” he asked in a louder tone, masking his previous statement under a guise of general curiosity.
She shivered and idly wondered if she could pretend she hadn’t heard his statement. But a nibble to her earlobe told her that would be impossible.
Only Balthazar could turn a gory moment into something sensual. She was covered in blood and unspeakable fluids, and he somehow made her feel clean and real and powerful.
She shook her head and faced him, causing his hand to drop from her hip.
He met her gaze for a brief moment, a hint of knowledge lurking in his brown irises. Then he looked down at the bundle in her arms, his lips curling at the sight of two big beautiful eyes staring back up at him.
“Well, hello there, little LJ,” he cooed. “I see you have your mother’s eyes.”
The child blinked.
He pressed a finger to her nose. “That’s all Jay,” he informed her softly. “But the cheekbones are definitely Lizzie.” Dimples appeared on his cheeks. “You’re stunning, little beauty.”
A hint of understanding echoed from her eyes, her lips moving in a sucking motion. Leela giggled. “Yes, yes. You need to bond.” She glanced up at Balthazar once more before moving around him and toward the waiting parents on the bed.
Lizzie’s eyes were huge as Leela brought forward their child, her irises glimmering with more tears. But these were the happy kind, not sad ones. “Oh, she’s alive!”
“I told you; she just needed to heal a little,” Leela said softly. “But yes, she’s very much alive, and quite a survivor, if you ask me.” She smiled fondly down at the little one who made another sucking motion with her lips. “She’s also impatient. You exchanged power during the birth, but she needs a little more.”
“How do I do that?” Lizzie asked.
“She’ll guide you,” Leela assured her. “Can you help Lizzie sit up a bit? It’ll assist with the process.” The question was for Jayson, who promptly shifted on the bed to move the pillows around and give her the space she needed to properly nurture her child.
Already Lizzie’s body was healing. Within an hour or two, she’d be back to normal. Assuming she repaired herself like a typical Seraphim. Hmm, but her gestational period had been a bit prolonged, so perhaps she’d need more time here as well.
Regardless, she’d recover quickly.
And bonding with her little one would help.
Leela stepped forward after they finished situating themselves on the bed, and slowly lowered the child to Lizzie’s waiting arms. If she was alarmed by all the blood, she didn’t show it.
“Oh, she’s so beautiful,” Lizzie said, awe coloring her tone.
“She looks just like her mother,” Jayson replied, stars in his eyes as he stared down at his child.
Leela moved away from them, intending to give them a few moments of peace. But Balthazar stood right behind her, his warm body cradling hers and his hands finding her hips once more.
She shivered at the intimate touch. He was always bold, but this felt more like a claim. As though he knew he had a right to grab her. Because it was grounded in history and mutual affection.