My hand fell to the side of Hawk’s far too big pants and gripped the handle of my knife as a voice called from the other room, “It’s just me, humans and ex-human. I’ve come for a visit with my favorite girl. If you’re ill-prepared, then tell me to go.”
Erin smiled before she called out, “We’re in the kitchen, Lix.”
They all relaxed, but I remained tensed to kill until one of the creepy skelleins stepped into the kitchen. He wore a checkered tie with a picture of Porky Pig on it. A red fedora, tilted slightly to the side, was perched on his head. The outfit was absurd, but I’d seen far worse on some of them.
His jawbones pulled into a grin, and his feet clicked against the floor as he walked toward Erin. “There’s my favorite riddle genius!” he cried as he opened his arms to her.
“Lix,” Erin said, and the radiant smile on her face was one of love and friendship as she rose to embrace him. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“It takes far more than a demon army to take me out,” he said. “My beautiful unicorn tie didn’t fare so well, but that’s no skin off these bones.”
I couldn’t help chuckling as Vargas rose from the table and gestured for Lix to take his seat. Lix removed his fedora as he settled at the table and removed a flask from the pouch tied around his waist. I’d seen some of the other skelleins in camp, but I’d never been this close to one or seen them drink.
Lix took a long swallow before recapping his flask and returning it to his pouch. My hands gripped the table as I resisted looking under it to see if the liquid was pouring all over the floor.
“Isn’t it a little early for drinking?” Erin asked.
“It’s never too early for fun, my dear. And after yesterday…” He retrieved his flask and drank some more. “There are only four skelleins left, including me.”
“Oh, Lix.” Erin rested her hand over his.
The skeletal creature sat with his head bowed before he smiled and patted her hand with his other one. “Some of us are still on the other side of the world. We’ll see them again.”
“Of course you will,” Erin said.
I couldn’t stop myself from marveling over the closeness of their relationship. Out of all the demons I’d met, the skelleins unnerved me most. Those eye sockets may be empty, but they bored straight into me, and how could they possibly retain liquid when they were nothing but bones?
When Lix’s empty eye sockets swung toward me, I felt them examining every inch of me as Lix took another shot of alcohol. Then he turned back to Erin. “How are you both doing? We haven’t had much time to catch up.”
“We’re good,” Erin said and took Vargas’s hand when he rested it on her shoulder. “Or at least we were. Yesterday…”
Tears filled Erin’s eyes, and she wiped them hastily away. The reminder of yesterday caused my stomach to turn, and I set my remaining toast on the plate.
“Yesterday was bad,” Lix agreed. “But many of our enemies were destroyed.”
“And we do have some good news,” Erin said.
I stared at the wall while she told him about the baby, and they exchanged more hugs. I barely listened to their words as I tried to decide my next step. I had to find out how Sandy and Zanta were; as much as I dreaded the answer, I had to know it.
“I needed this good news!” Lix said as he sat again and slapped a hand on the table. “We must celebrate!”
“Afterthe baby is born, we can celebrate. When we know everything is going to be okay.” Erin rested her hand protectively over her belly. “But not until then.”
“It’s a very healthy baby,” I said.
I didn’t realize I’d spoken the words out loud until all their eyes swung toward me. My mouth went dry, and I gulped down my coffee. I’d intended to keep my mouth shut, but sometimes the damn thing had a mind of its own.
“Sorry.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “I, uh…”
I’d been trying not to look at Hawk, but now my gaze darted to him. When he clasped the hand I was digging into my knee, I was annoyed by how much his touch soothed me. I wasn’t ready to have my life hinge on the existence of someone else, but I couldn’t deny the connection between us.
“How do you know that?” Erin asked.
Instead of shoving Hawk’s hand away, my fingers entwined with his while I spoke. “Ever since I was a child, I could see a person’s soul. Unlike everyone else in this world, I know who to stay away from by looking at them. The baby inside you has a strong heart and a beautiful soul.”
Tears filled Erin’s eyes as her hand flattened over her belly. “Really?”
“Yes.”
