Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Phebe tightened her hold on Sapphira. “It…” Phebe pressed her cheek to Sapphira’s head. “I was soulless. When they took her from me, I was soulless until I found her again.” Phebe put her finger under Sapphira’s chin and lifted her pretty face. Sapphira’s cheeks were wet but her eyes were haunted. They always were. We had all suffered heinous atrocities at the hands of The Order and the disciples, in accordance with Prophet David’s teachings. But I feared Sapphira had suffered the worst of all. I knew only the tip of the iceberg with regard to the horrors she faced. When I let myself think of her young but heartbreaking life, I wondered how she would ever place her trust in anyone again. I felt my baby move and sympathetic devastation washed through me. Would she ever fall in love? Would she ever be in a position to have a child of her own? If it had not been for Flame, I would not have. I prayed she found someone to lead her from the darkness into the light. Someone worthy of her sweet nature, and fragile heart. Someone who would adore her and keep her safe from the ghosts of her past.
“We will know them now,” Phebe said, and kissed Sapphira on her cheek. Sapphira’s loving smile toward her mother was almost my undoing. My emotions were on edge at the moment. But when it came to Sapphira, my heart was always open. She reminded me of myself before Flame. I would do anything I could to see her happy.
“Phebe?” Lilah said carefully. “Are you pregnant?” I held my breath waiting for the answer.
“No,” she replied. But her cheeks flushed with redness. Phebe reached into her pocket and slid a ring onto her finger. “But I am engaged.” She dropped her gaze. “AK has asked me to marry him…” Her smile radiated pure happiness. “And I said yes.”
“FUCK YES!” Beauty jumped from her chair and rushed across the room to hug Phebe. One by one we stood and congratulated her. “Right. When were y’all thinking?” Beauty asked. “’Cause y’all know I’m planning the whole fucking thing!” She clapped her hands. “The new clubhouse is nearly finished. It’ll be fucking perfect.”
The door opened behind us and Styx walked through. I laughed when he took in the scene before him with wide and somewhat fearful eyes. “Prez! There’s gonna be a motherfucking wedding! Get ready for me to be around more than usual.” Styx nodded at Beauty.
“Papa!” Charon wriggled out of Mae’s arms and waddled across the room to Styx. I rarely saw Styx smile. But as he lifted Charon into his grasp, his son’s chubby arms wrapping around his neck, Styx’ smile was unmissable. Mae walked over to greet them. Styx put his hand on the back of Mae’s head and pulled her to his lips. The way he met Mae’s eyes showed, without words, how much Styx loved her. Loved them both.
I could not take my eyes from the sight. My stomach turned in trepidation. In my mind’s eye I could see Flame as the perfect, doting father. But I simply did not know how he would react when our baby was finally here. I closed my eyes and felt him laying kisses on my stomach. He did that daily, worshipping our baby before it was even here. He slept with one hand on my bump and the other clutched around me. But I still saw fear flicker in his eyes. Sometimes I awoke to him pacing the floor beside our bed, examining the scars on his arms, tracing up and down his veins with his fingers.
“Maddie?” I opened my eyes to find Bella beside me. “Are you well?” I nodded and found myself watching Styx take Charon into the kitchen. He was whispering into Charon’s ear. I fought a lump in my throat.
“Styx talks to Charon,” I said to Bella. Our sisters were gathered around Phebe. She was so happy. She deserved so much to be happy. I found Styx again. He was drinking a beer, guiding Charon outside onto the porch. And all the time he spoke to Charon. Styx, the Hangmen Mute, spoke with ease to his son.
“Most men change when they become fathers,” Bella said. I sat down on my chair. She sat beside me. “I have assisted many births with Ruth.” Bella’s eyes lost focus as she thought. “When they see their child, something changes within them. Like an age-old instinct to love and protect this small baby switches on inside them.” She smiled. “It is truly a beautiful and powerful thing to see.” I glanced down at my hands. I was fiddling with my fingers. Bella must have seen this. “Flame is doing better?”
My husband’s face popped into my mind. He was doing better. Better than months ago. But there were times I saw him stumble. A few days here and there, a week of difficulty… there were days when he believed the flames were too much for him to handle. There were nights he sat beside the bed watching my stomach in case something was to go wrong with the baby. Nights when his poppa’s voice convinced Flame that he was evil. Nights when Flame dreamed that Isaiah came to him and blamed him for his death. Those were the worst occurrences. When he broke, Flame dropped to his knees and told me he feared he would kill our child.