The term of endearment had me cracking a smile. She hadn’t called me that in years.
Lilith seemed so untouchable, but the truth was she was a mother hen, and we were all her little chickens. She took care of us in her way.
After another heavy breath, I recounted the night before. Well, the parts leading up to the delicious sex on the couch. That was probably the part she’d be most interested in, but it wasn’t why I was here.
“I see. That is quite the grand gesture from all four of them. Why do you seem so distraught over it?”
“Because they’d be mortal.”
My aunt blinked at me. “And?”
“And I’m still Famine’s daughter.”
“At the risk of repeating myself . . . and?”
“And I could kill them!”
Lilith sat back and stared at me. After a full beat of silence had passed, she tipped her head back and laughed.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t see how that is at all funny.”
My aunt collected herself and wiped tears from under her eyes before taking a long breath. “Merri, daring, you could no more kill them than you could harm Lucifer at this point. They are your mates. You’re not capable of hurting them.”
I shook my head. “Thehorsemenare my mates. They aren’t human beings. They’re immortals capable of withstanding my power.”
“No, you silly sausage. They are capable of withstanding your power because they’re your mates. Nothing else.”
“But Jimmy . . .”
“Wasn’t your mate, pet. He was your first love, but he wasn’t destined for you. The magical bonds you’ve solidified with your five men are what tie you all together. They could be humans, angels, shifters, or vampires. It wouldn’t matter what species they were. Your bonds protect them from you.”
Relief had me slumping in my seat before one salient point had me sitting back up.
“But they can still die. If not by my hand, then by a car, or infection, or?—”
Lilith raised a hand, halting my words. “You’re not listening, poppet. Your mates will live as long as you do. Your souls are quite literally bound. Those magic tethers? They anchor you to each other. Mortal or not, their lifespans are the same as yours.”
“Even Lucifer?”
Lilith made a considering face before nodding. “I’ve yet to meet a true fated mate bond that survives without its counterpart. They either go mad, seek out death, or fate hasother gifts in store for them. As you know, there can be more than one mate out there in the world. So, if you wanted my best guess, Lucifer is likely to leave this plane alongside you.”
That pit in my stomach slowly disappeared as she reassured me. They wouldn’t die. I wouldn’t have to lose any of them. As long as we won this battle, of course. If that didn’t happen, the point was moot because we’d all be dead anyway.
As if summoned by my thought, there was a rapid knock on the door before Moira popped her sapphire head in.
“I don’t recall inviting you in, Ms. Belladonna.”
“Sorry, not sorry. I came to get you. We know where the last weapon is.”
Lilith shot me a look before setting her teacup inside. “In that case, I suppose I should get dressed.”
Moira winked. “Don’t change anything on my account. This fresh-faced pin-up girl thing you’ve got going on is really working for you. You’re like a raven-haired Sabrina Carpenter.” She made a little claw with her hands before adding, “Rawr.”
Lilith winked as she stood, her robe clasped shut with one hand. “Yes, but we can’t have everyone distracted by me when we need them focused on the task at hand.”
“Good point.”
My aunt swanned out of the room, leaving Moira and I alone.