Zeev POV
Dimly, I became aware of that damned cold concrete floor again.
“How are you feeling?” Ash’s voice-from the top of the stairs this time. Keeping their distance from me. I smiled grimly.
“Like road kill.” I responded, trying to turn over, groaning as I went.
“Yeah well, Cael pumped enough power into you to light up a city. You sound more like yourself.” Ash said hopefully.
“No, I sound more like the pre-Cael version of myself. He tried to rewrite me.” I spat. Ash flinched.
“Ah, there it is. Not back to normal I see.” Ash sighed. “Harlee wants to see you again. Don’t ask me why after what you did, but she said her soul can’t take the separation much longer, so I caved.” Ash sighed again and ran a hand through their short hair. They now had a streak of green in the front that fell over their forehead, and I remembered once running my hands through that soft hair. Loving that slender frame and the delicate creature it housed.
“Stop, Zeev. You’re not yourself and you’re just tormenting both of us with things you’re incapable of right now.” Ash’s voice sounded resigned, almost as if my betrayal had been inevitable. A part of me reached for them, but Ash shook their head. “Do you need help up?” Finally, it occurs to me that Ash is flanked by Sands and Sam. Damn, brought them all in today. I laughed.
Harlee POV
When they brought Zeev to the bedroom it was like watching a prisoner’s walk to execution. All that was missing was the chains. My shoulder twinged and I couldn’t hide the spike of fear that ran through me, but my chest was hurting so badly. An ache that gradually decreased as Zeev neared. The need to be close to him overrode my fear, and I found myself struggling up from the bed.
“Zeev.” I breathed. He looked at me with a wry look. A look that seemed to say he could sense my fear and hesitation bound up with that insatiable drive to be near him.
“Not afraid of me?” Zeev sneered. I shook my head.
“Terrified.” I answered and his eyebrows shot up. I guess he didn’t expect me to be so honest. Then he sighed.
“We had once moved past those days. I guess we’re at square one.” He said ruefully.
“Well you’re the one that tried to eat me.” I retorted, then stiffened, afraid of his reaction, but he just laughed madly.
Zeev POV
Sam pushed me down on the bed and I snarled at him.
“You don’t have to be rude.” I griped.
“And you don’t have to be a smart-ass.” Sam snapped.
“Says the literal Prince of Hell.” I retorted.
“Keep snarling at me like that and I’m going to put my foot so far up your ass it’ll screw your head back on straight.” Sam growled back. I tsked.
“Touchy.” I remarked. Harlee held out a tentative hand towards me and when it made contact I nearly jumped out of my own skin. I felt my Form ripple and she froze, eyes huge, staring at me.
“I promise, I won’t bite. Again.” I smiled, letting my sharp teeth show. Harlee tried to repress a shudder, but I felt it echo through our link. I sighed. “These guys have threatened to lock me away if I do.” I tilted my head at the others crowded around us. Harlee swallowed.
“I.. need to touch you Zeev. My chest, it hurts.” Harlee’s voice was plaintive, almost a whine, really. I closed my eyes. I knew, I felt it too. I nodded my head, one stiff jerk, and she ran her hand further up my arm, moving slowly. If I twitched a muscle she paused until I stilled again. “Can I.. sit beside you?” Harlee asked. Her palm now rested on my bicep. I gave her another terse nod, but Ash objected.
“Ash, sweetie, I’m pretty sure it’ll be fine. And if not, I have all three of you to protect me, right?” Harlee cut Ash off, not bothering to look at them. Ash looked stunned.
“She called me sweetie.” Ash muttered. I held Harlee’s gaze, despite there being rampant fear in her eyes, she refused to look away. She licked her lips nervously, I missed that look used seductively. Now, she just looked like she wanted to bolt. But she awkwardly crawled onto the bed beside, holding her stomach with a grimace. For a moment, the madness in my mind was gone and I reached for her.
“Harlee? Are you ok?” I asked. But Ash, Sand and Sam put up a cry and before I knew it, I was halfway across the room. Harlee looked beside her on the bed and blinked in confusion, seeing only an empty space. Sam had me pinned to a wall, growling. I laughed. “When did you take up the protector’s role, Sam?” I taunted. He growled harder and cut off my air supply with the arm across my throat. It’s a good thing Demons don’t need to breathe. But Harlee didn’t remember that.
“Sam! No! Don’t kill him!” Harlee cried, holding her own throat as if it pained her. She dragged in a rasping breath and struggled off the bed again to waddle towards us. She must be nearing her due date, surely.
Demons don’t need to breathe Harlee.” Sam informed her softly, but he eased up the pressure on my windpipe. She blanched and swayed a little.
“Oh.” She replied, and then simply crumpled to the floor.
Harlee POV
Ash’s hand was on my abdomen and they had their eyes closed, as they knelt beside me on the bed. There was a strange tugging sensation on my skin. It was uncomfortable.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to sit up with a grimace and shove Ash out of the way. Ash’s eyes popped open and they winced, running a hand through their hair.
“Harlee.. I didn't think you’d wake up so soon. I’m.. feeding our child..” Ash winced again.
“You’re doing what?” I tried to keep my voice level, but it still rang across the room. Ash ducked their head slightly and a pained expression came over their face.
“The baby.. It’s like me..” Ash murmured softly, spreading one long-fingered hand over my stomach. I began to hyperventilate. I hadn’t really thought about it until now.
“I’m carrying a Demon?” I screeched. “Get it out of me!” I don’t know what else I yelled, but Ash’s expression turned hurt and suddenly Sands was beside me, murmuring and he touched my lips and my forehead and the panic drained, and then I was just.. gone..
Zeev POV
“Well that went over like a lead balloon.” I commented. Sam elbowed me in the throat making me choke. Seems I hadn’t been as forgotten as I thought I was. How sweet. A bruise appeared on Harlee’s throat and she began to cough.
“Sam! How many times do we have to remind you!” Sands reached out a hand and healed the injury on the unconscious Harlee, making my throat feel better by proxy as well.
“Still worth it.” Sam muttered. I walked around him to sit on the edge of the huge bed. Far enough away from Harlee to keep them from worrying, but close enough to ease the ache in my chest.
“So where’s Cael in all this?” I asked, watching Ash go back to work. They muttered to Sands that Harlee was feeling dizzy, so probably had low blood sugar again. Did they never feed the girl? Sands left the room swiftly.
“Recovering.” Sam replied shortly.
“Sleeping.” Ash waved Sam’s reply off.
“Same thing.” Sam retorted. “He dumped a lot of his Grace into this one and look at him, still mad as a hatter.” Sam tilted his head in my direction. “The boy’s not limitless, despite his power. And he’s been carrying all the weight for us, while Harlee’s been.. ill.” Sam’s voice softened. I examined him curiously. Hmm, seems our old Sam was really smitten with the girl lately. I filed that away as something that might be useful later. I had an irresistible urge to reach out and take Harlee’s exposed ankle. I felt my hand creeping in that direction and Sam growled.
“If you want to keep that hand, I suggest you keep it right where it is.” Sam snarled. I grinned.
“Oh come now Sam-you wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt Harlee, now would you?” I asked. The growl that ripped from him rattled the window panes. See? Information already put to good use. “Speaking of hands, losing and keeping them. I see you have both of yours again already.” I commented, just to keep him riled up. He bared his teeth at me as if wishing he could do more than bite my hand off.
“No thanks to you. Harlee offered me her blood. I put it to good use.” Sam sniffed.
“Still, you must be pretty low on juice about now.” I remarked. “I never asked..” I said as if just thinking of it. “How many souls does it take to power an Arch Angel? I mean, I’m going to assume you’ve been snacking on someone besides Harlee.. Does she know how many you’ve killed?” I taunt. Sam rushes towards me, but not before Harlee’s voice interrupts us.
“Killed?”