Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Laurent’s long hair and slender body captured his attention like a magnet, but while he had the crying child cradled against his chest, a whole swarm of tiny human beings lay on a silk robe next to him. Some were bundled in towels, some with blankets, and Magpie’s bodyguard held yet one more baby, rocking it in his stiff arms.
“Laurent?” Beast uttered.
A soft gasp left Laurent’s lips when he looked Beast’s way. His brown eyes spoke of fear when he whispered, “Beast. You’re alive.”
In a heartbeat, Beast was on his knees, with Laurent against his chest, and he kissed the smooth forehead lovingly, itching to squeeze him harder yet not daring to due to the baby’s presence. “What... Marcel?”
“Y-yes. This one is Marcel.” Laurent said, lifting the boy in his arms. “B-but there’s seven. There’s seven of them. There was seven. In the egg.” His breathing sped up, and Beast still didn’t comprehend what happened, but seeing Laurent falling apart instantly pushed him toward reassuring him first. “Magpie said… we used too much blood. I don’t know. I don’t even know anymore.”
Beast stared at the five tiny human beings laid out on the robe, itching to get the seventh one out of the Malachite’s inhuman paws. A scream was dying to rip out of his throat, but when he glanced at the bodyguard again, he knew there was nobody to shout at for this mistake. Whatever Magpie had done to stop Baal from spilling into their realm, he wasn’t there anymore.
“Seven,” he whispered, trying to stay strong, because what was he to do? Throw a fit?
This was it.
This was what they’d done.
Laurent put Marcel down next to his brothers and wrapped his arms around Beast as if he wanted to crush him. “Magpie went into one of the cracks in the ground, and then everything was over. I think… I don’t think he’s coming back.”
He couldn’t believe that a creature like Magpie had done this for them. No matter how close they’d become lately, Beast had assumed when push came to shove, Magpie would have made everyone burn too, if he was to suffer himself. Yet again, Beast’s beliefs about the world around him had been proven wrong.
Beast swallowed hard, resting his chin on Laurent’s head and letting himself enjoy this moment of relief. They had seven children to care for, their home was ruined, and so was the local infrastructure, but they could have died, and the fact that he was holding Laurent in his arms, whole and safe, made him want to burn offerings to any gods out there in an expression of gratitude.
“What matters is that you’re still here.”
Laurent nodded so hard his head hit Beast’s jaw. “I was so scared for you. B-but, we will manage, right? Are our friends safe? Was anyone hurt?”
“I—”
“There you are!” Gray shouted, but when they looked his way, it was impossible not to notice that he was riding Shadow’s back, not his motorcycle. Blood stained the leg of his pants, and when they approached, Beast noticed a sheen of sweat on his friend’s face. Other than the obvious swelling of his shin, there wasn’t anything outright wrong with him at first glance.
“Do you know what happened with the others?” Beast asked, squeezing Laurent against him when his husband tried to pull away. He was not ready to let go yet.
“Knight, Rev and Elliot are coming by car, but it’s hard to drive on the roads now--what?” Gray stopped talking when he noticed all the babies laid out like little angels, not one-third demon creatures about to erupt with infernal cries.
Beast stared at the crumbled facade at the front of the building. “We’ll have to see what we can salvage,” he whispered, afraid to look down, even when one of the children gave a tiny cry.
He still didn’t know what to think, numb with shock. He’d been afraid if he’d be a good father to one, so how was he to make one for seven boys?
Gray cleared his throat. “Beast. I was asking about the kids.”
Beast shut his eyes and hugged Laurent even tighter. “We’ll… think of something. I guess we need a bigger apartment,” he said in a voice that was much weaker than he intended. They needed much more than a bigger apartment. So many things in fact Beast would rather reminisce about almost dying in a shower of burning gasoline half an hour ago than face those unexpected challenges.
Shadow seemed torn, but crouched down and put down Gray in the grass. “And they’re all yours? All these babies?” he crawled close on hands and knees like a puppy eager to meet new friends.
Laurent gave Beast a tender kiss and pulled away enough to sit back on his heels and lift Marcel into his arms again. He took a deep breath. “Y-yes. These are our sons. Not planned but already loved.” It was good that he at least was finding his voice, because Beast was far too lightheaded to speak.