“So that’s how you steal grace,” I said and stepped forward, slamming my fist into his face. Bones crunched, and this time, I knew they were his. He flew onto his back on the snow and then turned onto his hands and knees crawling away.
I stared at the withered wings, feeling a level of triumph I had never known. I always assumed I would die at his hands and a just fury wrapped around my heart. I sent the first blast of power at him, crushing him into the ground.
“Go to hell,” I whispered and the power leapt out, striking with the full force of a flamethrower at point-blank range. Nothing was left but a blackened patch and I stared at it.
Freedom.
The word had a new meaning and I looked up, crossing the bloody snow to the house that held my future.
A future filled with hope.
Chapter 26 – Naomi
“Where is he?” I screamed as another contraction crushed my abdomen.
“He’s coming,” CJ said and crossed to the door.
A blinding fear filled me and I didn’t understand why CJ would let Lucifer inside. When Damian stepped in the door with blood dripping from his lips I gasped and the next contraction gripped my stomach. I cried out, grabbing the sides of the couch as Raven wiped my forehead with a damp cloth.
As quickly as it started, it faded, and I breathed a few deep breaths in preparation for the next one, bringing my gaze back to Damian.
He wiped his sleeve across his face, grimacing at the maroon swath it left on the coat. He peeled the fabric off, dropping it on the floor.
“He won’t be bothering any of us, ever again,” he said and I blinked, unable to comprehend his words.
Damian’s gaze jumped to Tom, and then the baby wrapped in a towel in his arms. It jumped to Steve and the same type bundle wrapped in his arms. When his gaze returned to me, it was filled with wonder and he moved across the floor, dropping to his knees next to me and pulled my hand to his chest.
His warm smile settled over me and the next contraction began in earnest. It was like this child waited until her father was at my side. My face scrunched into a mask of pain and I saw the worry in his eyes.
“It’s okay,” I squeaked out and relief flooded his features.
“Push,” Jennifer said, looking down between my legs with the same excitement she had with the first two boys. Raven helped me curl forward; holding her hands on my shoulder blades like Jennifer told her to do.
Damian stared at me, awe painting his features.
“Watch for the baby,” I said, each word a pant and he seemed to snap out of his trance, shifting so he could see what was making Jennifer grin like a madwoman.
“Oh, my god,” Damian said, his face flushing with anticipation. “I can see the baby’s head,” he added with a smile. “Keep pushing, sweetheart,” he added with a new level of exhilaration sparkling in his eyes.
The pressure gripped me and I pushed with the last ounce of energy I had and suddenly it released. Jennifer wrapped the third child and smiled.
“You have a girl,” she said and my eyes filled with tears as she handed the third bundle to me. I leaned against Raven and showed her the final perfect child. My little angel looked at me and cooed before her eyes roamed to her father.
“Glad you could make it,” I said breathlessly meeting Damian’s glossy gaze.
“You’ve got two boys and a girl,” Jennifer said glancing at Damian as she swiped up the afterbirth. “And you owe me a new couch,” she added with a smile.
“Do you have names picked out?” Steve asked as he looked at his watch and scribbled down the time along with the date on the paper he had recorded the other births on.
I met Damian’s gaze and nodded. “You pick,” I said, trusting him to pick the perfect names. I was too exhausted to think and in such awe of the miracles bestowed on us.
“Gabriel Alexander for my first born boy,” he said and I smiled, feeling the lump form at the homage to the two fallen angels. Damian traded a glance with CJ and got a nod in response. Alexander was his father’s middle name and I knew he caught the significance.
“Michael for the second.” I said. I needed to honor the man who saved Damian from death more than once.
“Michael Christopher,” Damian replied, completing the homage to those who saved us from Lucifer today although I could tell CJ wasn’t as comfortable with the honor.
“Hey, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did without that little bit of magic I stole from you,” Damian smiled and CJ gave a silent nod looking down at the baby in his arms.
“I guess that’s as good a name as any,” he sighed.
“What about her?” I asked and pressed my lips to the baby’s forehead.
“Grace,” he said before I could formulate a name.
I glanced at Damian as Tommy handed Gabriel to him. The way he looked holding my child made me bit my lip, blinking the tears away and I glanced back at the baby in my arms.
“Grace?” I asked and the baby cooed. I smiled at her and tried the name once more time. “Hi, sweet baby, Grace.”