Hell Bent
Page 26
“You deserved that,” I told him, searching for a clean dress to wear. I desperately needed a shower after a full day of labor, but everyone would want to see her first.
I pinned back my sweaty hair and opened the door to the additional room the Chainlings had added.
It was meant to be a nursery for Sarai, but it was also heaped with gifts from the other Princes. Balaam had sent her a chest of rubies to play with, their insides sparkling like fire, and Pytho had sent a tapestry of lions.
A soft cradle forged of gold, cushioned with the softest mattress, was Abaddon’s gift, but it was Belphegor and Asmodeus’s shared present that made me cringe.
They’d sent knives and swords, all made in miniature replicas of an adult’s weapons. Like they expected her to wield one before she was old enough to walk.
Lucifer, Tascius, and Azazel were all waiting in there, studying the gifts with varying levels of incredulity, and clearly full of anxiety. Lucifer was pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back and staring into space.
I took Sarai from Belial’s arms and beamed at them. “She’s here.”
They crowded around, all of them examining their first daughter. We’d had long discussions, given our unconventional family; they’d all unanimously agreed to raise all of my children as their own.
“She has your nose,” Azazel said.
Lucifer’s eyes softened as he looked up at me. “Everything was worth it for this.”
I smiled back. “It was.”
Tascius picked Sarai up and cradled her. He gave me a nervous look. “There’s one more present. Adranos sent it with very specific instructions.”
That was when I noticed a box with holes sitting next to the cradle. Something inside it whined.
“Do I want to know what that is?”
Tascius and Lucifer exchanged looks.
“Look at this way,” Lucifer said reassuringly. “A bonded hellhound will never let her wander off or get in trouble. Once it knows her smell, we’ll be able to track her anywhere.”
I rubbed my temples. A hellhound.
He’d sent her a baby hellhound.
Belial brightened. “Excellent! I was going to get her one, but this saves me the trouble.”
They all scurried over to the box, holding Sarai over it as Tascius pried off the top.
Vyra leaned in. “So… we’re still inviting Adranos to our family get-togethers, right?”
I watched as they carefully lowered Sarai into the box, ensuring their faces stayed out of the baby hellhound’s sight.
She was the Princess of Wrath, after all. As Belial had predicted, she would grow up with swords and daggers, hellhounds, and pure fire.
She would probably be riding Arcturus as soon as she could hold her head up on her own.
“He’s still invited. I suppose with Belial as her father, it was bound to happen sooner or later.”
Several minutes later, they allowed the hellhound out. It was a tiny fluff of coal-black fur, with gleaming scarlet eyes. Apparently, being the first being the hellhound saw and smelled was the key to bonding it to a person.
The puppy bounded around Belial’s feet, trying desperately to reach Sarai.
“It needs a name,” Belial said, reaching down to scoop up the hellhound. The fluff immediately burrowed itself into Sarai’s blankets, and one chubby hand grabbed a fistful of fur.
“Sprinkles!” Vyra squealed. “No one will expect a hellhound to have a cute name like Sprinkles.”
I crossed the room and wrapped my arm around Belial with a smirk. “Sarai and Sprinkles.”
“She’ll love it,” Belial said confidently. “Who doesn’t love a hellhound?”
I kissed his cheek as the others surrounded us. The feeling of warmth and happiness, of being completely surrounded by family, enveloped me. “I love her,” I said, putting a hand on Sarai.
Lucifer chuckled. “Ready for another?”
* * *
THE END
About the Author
Hello reader!
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Cate loves all things passionate and paranormal, from sexy, hunky warlocks in haunted houses to shredded shifters under the full moon! She lives in the South with her family and pets, and loves every kind of coffee, horror and fantasy movies, and cats. Reading is her favorite hobby when she’s not writing.
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For more books by Cate Corvin, check out the links below!
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