Now the other brother surged forward, a loud, animalistic snarl ripping free.
It was Chaos who hauled him back by the neck of his shirt. “If anyone’s going to flatten his smug face, it’s going to be me.”
I blew him a kiss. “I think you mean pretty.”
War flipped me the bird. “Sit on it and twirl, angel.”
“Ooh, like a music box. I didn’t realize you were into that. Merri, my sweet little crabapple, you’ve been holding out on me.”
“Lucifer, where is the bone?” Gabriel asked, exasperated.
“I’m almost one-hundred percent sure it’s in Notre Dame. Give me a moment and I’ll be able to tell you for certain.”
“Hang on. We’re not letting him just leave without some kind of assurance he’ll return, are we? Not for nothing, but Satan isn’t exactly the most trustworthy.”
I shot Hades a withering stare. “I would think I’ve proven myself by now.”
“Proven yourself about as honest as a mob boss in a casino,” that annoying dog said.
If I had a chance, I’d neuter him at the first opportunity.
“Too late,” he yapped, making me wonder if I’d spoken out loud. “Already taken care of. I am a responsible, good boy.”
Kiki picked him up and rubbed his ears. “The very goodest boy.”
“Damn straight, toots.”
Grim stepped forward. “I will accompany him.”
“So will I,” Evander said.
I rolled my eyes. The last thing I wanted was my idiot brother spoiling all the fun.
“Me too.” All four horsemen joined me as we whipped our gazes to Merri.
“No, you certainly will not.”
She opened her mouth to protest Grim’s harsh correction, but stopped when Malice took her hand.
“Hellcat, you can’t risk yourself. You’re already a target, considering who your mother is, but now? In your condition...”
The reminder of Merri’s pregnancy filled me with a healthy dose of trepidation and pride. Getting her with child had been my ambition for so long, but now that it had happened, I couldn’t quite shake the fear of what that meant for her. She’d have a target on her back for the rest of her existence, just because of her connection to me. Add to that the child, who, let’s face it, was more than likely mine, and she was practically doomed.
Before I could continue my unexpected spiral, Dahlia snickered. “Welcome to the club, Mer. You thought your mates were overprotective before? Just wait. They’re going to be insufferable for the next nine months.”
“Months?” Rosie said with a laugh. “Try decades.”
“Baby girl, it hasn’t been decades for us.” Remi sounded almost wounded.
“It feels like it sometimes.”
Remi turned to Asher. “I can’t tell if she means that in a good way or a bad way.”
Asher patted his knee. “Both.”
“I’m not helpless,” Merri said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“No one said you were, kitten. But none of us will be able to focus on the task at hand if we’re worried about you and the baby. You know that.” Sin’s gentle words earned him a modicum of respect from me. Perhaps he wasn’t just a handsome himbo.