All The Wrong Signs
The Pull

I could feel the heat coming off of my face as Blaze transported, leaving me standing awkwardly as his sister glared at us. I knew she wouldn’t be mad at me. It was her brother she would cuss out the next time she saw him.

“I tried to stop him,” I claimed, half lying. I mean, I told him no. Didn’t I? I couldn’t remember anymore.

“That motherfucker. I told him my library was off limits.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as she turned on her heels, stomping down the hallway. In truth, she should be just as mad at me as she was at him. I could have stopped him. Yet here I was with his come dripping down my legs.

Fuck, I needed a shower.

Walking toward the stairs, I put a hand on my stomach, feeling the baby kick. There was a point in my life where I had accepted that I would never be a mother. Now that I was pregnant, feeling the child that Blaze and I created move in my belly, I couldn’t imagine never feeling this way.

While I was thrilled that Blaze was able to cure whatever had been wrong with me, I wished all the infertile women of the world who’d tried everything could replace a solution to their infertility.

Just not my demon.

Shutting the door to my room, I sighed, knowing that Blaze more than likely wouldn’t be coming back tonight. I knew he was pushing harder, wanting everything to be resolved before the baby was born, but I missed him.

I missed him hovering over me, making sure I was eating. I missed him sneaking into the shower with me. I missed everything.

Grabbing some clothes, I headed to the bathroom. Taking off my dress and undergarments, I looked at my belly in the mirror. I was obsessed with my bump, but I think Blaze loved it even more.

Smiling at my reflection, I rubbed my stomach. “I can’t wait to replace out what you are,” I said aloud. “We should sneak into the human world and replace out.”

Hell didn’t have sonograms, unfortunately.

I wished I could tell my sister I was pregnant. Every single day, I tried to think of a way to tell her about everything that was going on, but she wouldn’t understand. She would never be ok with me living in hell. In fact, she’d probably hire a priest.

Hollie already thought Blaze was controlling because I didn’t talk to her as much as I did before. Hell had no cell phone reception, so every time I wanted to speak to her, I had to transport to the human world with Petra’s help.

I had learned to transport to Blaze on my own. After that first time, he practiced with me, making sure I could follow the connection. He made me promise to never transport alone and although I was pretty sure I could make it back home on my own, I had never tried.

After my shower, I changed into some leggings and an oversized tee. My stomach was starting to hurt a little, signaling me it was time to eat. One thing about this kid, it liked to eat and didn’t give me the option to skip a meal.

Petra was in the kitchen as I walked in and once again I felt my face flush red. Turning around, she took a sip of her tea. “I love you Riley, I really do, but I’m going to have to ban you from my library.”

I faked shock. “Me? Ban your brother, not me!”

Laughing, Petra sighed. “I’ve been summoned to a meeting. I think Gregar might surrender.”

I frowned, “Blaze said…” Closing my mouth, I knew nothing was for certain in the demon realm.

Could this really all be over tonight? Blaze had missed the entire first half of my pregnancy. If this all ended, he could spend my last couple of months with me. We could move out of Petra’s and into Blaze’s home.

I wonder how Blaze would feel stepping foot into his old home. He had been gone so many years there was no way it would be the same house he remembered.

“Blaze says a lot of shit,” Petra said, taking another sip of her tea. “No-one can predict Gregar.”

Nodding, I walked to her fridge and pulling out the things I needed to make me sandwich. “So, do you think you will be back tonight?”

Petra had left me alone before, but never for long. Blaze had always made sure of that.

“Depends on what happens at this meeting.” She shook her head. “I’m only going to keep watch and report back if anything is amiss.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m sure I can replace something to do.”

Setting her cup down, Petra took a long breath. “You know the rules. Don’t let anyone in, don’t leave with anyone that isn’t Blaze or I.”

Fixing my sandwich, I nodded. “I know. Trust me, I know.”

Blaze and Petra both told me the rules so many times that they were burned into my brain. They were like a broken record. I got it. I wasn’t stupid, nor did I have a death wish.

Petra grabbed her cup, taking one last drink of tea before she sat it in the sink. “If you need us, pull. And for the love of God, don’t transport yourself to us.”

Looking up, I frowned at her. “It was one time. Gah.”

She smiled. “You’re glowing, you know. Pregnancy looks beautiful on you.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t the quickie your brother and I had in your library?”

Petra narrowed her eyes at me. “You’ve been around Blaze for far too long.”

I laughed as she smiled, transporting herself away with a pop.

The house was eerie silent when it was only me at home. I was pretty sure Petra’s house was actually a mansion, but she acted as if it was some basic house. I tried to tell her basic houses didn’t have their own private libraries, but she wouldn’t listen.

Taking a bite of my sandwich, I wished I had taken Petra up on her offer to meet Penny. The only other human close and I had postponed meeting her until it was too late and she had her baby.

I’d really like to sit with her and just talk about how we managed to land our demons. As crazy as my story was, I think hers might have me beat. She had actually summoned her demon on purpose after reading a book about Incubus.

Once I finished eating, I made my way back to the library, hoping that I hadn’t lost my place in my book. I didn’t even remember what I did with it when Blaze popped in on me.

My book was still where I left it and thankfully, so was my bookmark. Getting comfy, I opened my book and started reading, hoping that I could focus and it would help me pass the time.

After what felt like hours, I could feel my eyes start to droop, and I knew I needed to call it a night and go to bed. Besides, I needed to get up and let Shadow and Luna inside. Petra preferred for them to sleep outside, but she wasn’t here to reprimand me for sneaking them into my bedroom.

Shutting my book, I felt a hard tug and for a moment I thought it would pull me right on to the floor. It took a minute for me to realize that the tug was in my mind.

Blaze was pulling at our bond. That in itself wasn’t unusual, but he never tugged hard, just enough for me to know that he was there and thinking of me.

Closing my eyes, I tugged back gently.

Once again, he tugged powerfully and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was trying to summon me to him. Tugging again, I used more strength this time and was met by him tugging again.

Something was wrong.

My hands started to shake as I wondered what I should do. No-one was here with me to ask. I had to make a decision on my own. Did I go to him? What if this was a trap? What if he just didn’t realize how hard he was tugging?

Petra had told me no. Blaze had warned me. So what was he doing?

I gasped, grabbing my stomach as he tugged again.

Ok, that was it. Blaze was calling to me the only way he knew how. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself enough to be able to focus on our bond. Just as we practiced, I concentrated on our invisible link and leaped.

I landed with a thump in a dark hallway. My stomach sunk. Was this a trap? Had I transported to the wrong place? What if I was trapped here forever? Would Blaze be able to replace me?

If it wasn’t for the hand that clasped over my mouth, I would have screamed at the top of my lungs. “Shh, little witch, it’s me.”

Blaze.

Turning into him, I looked up, wishing I could see his face. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead against mine. I raised my hands, feeling his face, making absolutely positive that it was him. “What’s wrong?”

Blaze’s lips met mine briefly. “I told you not to transport to me ever again. But that lecture will have to wait. I need a favor.”

A favor? What kind of favor could Blaze need from me? I was so flabbergasted by the idea that he needed me to do a favor for him, I let his other comment slide.

As if he could read my mind, he began talking low, making me wonder just where the hell he had brought me to. “Gregar is losing, and he knows it. He’s called a truce and has invited us to a meeting, but I have inside information that it’s a trap. Whoever breaks the truce first will be severely punished. There is no way around it. He is hoping one of us loses our temper and attacks him first. If not, he is more than willing to face Lucifer’s wrath for killing me.”

“But…”

Blaze sighed. “Your child is a direct heir to Lucifer. If anything happens to me, I have several people lined up to get you to him immediately.”

“But…”

“I know I’m asking a lot,” Blaze grabbed my hands. “I can’t lift my blade against him or I will do a millennium in the prisons of hell.”

“But…”

Blaze chucked, “no buts love. This is why I need you. You don’t have the same ties to the oath as we do.”

I swallowed, nodding. “What do you need me to do?”

Tilting my face up, Blaze’s lips grazed mine. “I need you to pull some of that witch out of you and attack him. You don’t have to kill him, you don’t even have to hurt him. Once I announce you are carrying an heir to Lucifer, you will be untouchable by his men.”

“But…” I frowned. “I’m huge pregnant and you want me to pop out and attack someone and hope you can get word out I’m carrying your child fast enough.”

Blaze let out a long sigh, “you know I would never put you at risk.” He reached down, placing something cold and metallic in my hands. “That blade was made from the only metal that can cause permanent damage to a demon. It’s a rare and valuable weapon. It has taken Petra months to get her hands ahold of it.”

“What do I do?” I asked in a shaky voice.

“You will know, love,” Blaze leaned down, kissing my forehead. “I have to go. Follow the hall all the way down, turn to your first left. There will be a set of double doors. Once you open them, Gregar will have his back to you.”

I swallowed once again. “Then this will all be over?”

“This all ends tonight. One way or the other.” Blaze leaned down, kissing me again. “If things end badly, know I love you. You will be protected either way.”

As Blaze turned to walk away, I grabbed his arm. “I love you too,” I said. “Don’t get killed.”

He chuckled, “yes ma’am.”