Black Spring

“We knew that you wouldn’t let us do that,” Puck said. “That was why we needed you to turn into Bad Maddy, because then you might come over to the fun side. Failing that, Lucifer would have Junior as a tool to get you to do what we wanted.”

“So my son was just a means to an end for you?” I said.

“No,” Daharan said before Lucifer could speak. “Your son is very important to the future of this planet. He has a destiny that will affect the course of humanity. Lucifer wanted that destiny in his hands, so he could pull the strings.”

I didn’t want to hear that my baby had a destiny, or that he was important to humanity’s future. I wanted him to just be my own, my own little angel, the last tangible symbol of the love I had for Gabriel.

Much of this must have shown on my face, because Daharan said gently, “His destiny is a long way off. You still have time to be his mother, and for him to be your son.”

He turned again to Lucifer. “And before I return you to the loving bosom of our mother, I want to ensure that you understand that Madeline and her son are no longer subject to your influence. They are protected by me always, and are no longer of your line.”

“You cannot do that,” Lucifer said. The color returned to his face in an instant as his anger rose.

“He already took care of that part himself,” I put in. “He took away all the magic that came from his bloodline.”

“From you, yes,” Daharan said. “Not from your baby. Please bring the child to me.”

Lucifer reached toward his brother. Daharan stared at Lucifer’s hand until the Prince of Darkness dropped it at his side, clenched in a useless fist.

“Daharan, you cannot,” Lucifer said. “Do not take him from me. He is mine. He belongs to my blood.”

“You forfeited your rights by your actions,” Daharan said.

He turned toward me. I was frozen in place, shaking my head from side to side.

“I’m not bringing him outside,” I said. “He’s safe inside, safe from him. Lucifer can’t break down the door and take him. If I bring my baby outside, he’ll snatch him up and run away and there won’t be a thing I can do to stop it.”

“I will stop it,” Daharan said. “Madeline, you must trust me. I have never meant you or your child harm.”

I looked up at Nathaniel. He shook his head. “It is too risky. He may be working with the other three. This may be a performance all for your benefit, to ease you into thinking the child would be safe if you brought him outside.”

Daharan nodded, almost as if he were acknowledging the wisdom of Nathaniel’s words. “I understand why you would think such a thing. But I assure you, with all of my heart, that I mean only to protect the child.”

“Then go inside and do whatever you need to do,” J.B. said. “Why should Maddy have to bring him outside?”

“Because Lucifer needs to see what will happen, and to understand that the child is lost to him forever. I do not believe you wish to invite him into your home, as the invitation will never be able to be rescinded,” Daharan said.

I nodded. There was a reason I’d never invited Lucifer inside—once he came in, I’d never be able to get rid of him. Although Puck had gotten in, because of the jewel that I’d been tricked into taking. And as I realized this, I looked at Puck in puzzlement. If Puck could get in, and he and Lucifer were working on the same side, then why hadn’t he just materialized in my living room and snatched the baby away?

Unless Puck didn’t really give a damn about Lucifer’s ambitions, and was still working some separate plan of his own.

He noticed me looking at him, and winked. I swear that Puck can read minds. Or at least my mind.

Now was the moment of truth. Nathaniel and Beezle had told me not to trust Daharan, that just because he’d never revealed an agenda didn’t mean he didn’t have one. And I had always insisted that Daharan was exactly what he claimed to be, and that they needed to stop being so suspicious.

“I don’t like this,” J.B. said, and Jude whined in agreement.

“You know how I feel,” Nathaniel said. “And I know you have always kept your own counsel with regard to Daharan.”

He spoke as if Daharan were not right there, listening to every word.

“Regardless of what you choose, I will defend your child with my life,” Nathaniel said. “And you. Always.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, and I wiped them away impatiently. “I know. And you know that if there’s a chance that the baby will be free from Lucifer forever, then I have to take it.”

He closed his eyes, like he’d known I was going to say that.

I felt almost no confidence in this decision. I trusted Daharan, but I wasn’t certain he’d be able to fend off a truly determined Lucifer. Could I really risk my baby? Could I take this gamble?

Daharan’s eyes, though fierce with fire, told me that I could. The first time I’d met him I’d felt like I was coming home. I’d never had a father, not really. Not someone who would stand between me and the world, and keep me safe and warm in a way I’d never been.