In the middle of the 2nd month of pregnancy, nine months before Aleksander and Hope's meeting at the shrine...
Aleks was lying on the terrace with two pillows under his head and back. The sun was shining and he was looking up at the blue sky. After the news of his pregnancy, he had slowly calmed down. He ran a hand over his stomach, still incredulous that he was carrying Belial's child in his belly.
It had taken time to accept that he, too, could get pregnant as a man. But now he was more than happy about it, even if he was a little afraid. Despite his pregnancy, his coaches continued his training, only... differently. He wore protective clothing specially made for him around his stomach to protect him and his child.
Nevertheless, he had to learn to fly and also to defend himself if he found himself in the precarious situation of being attacked during his pregnancy. Demons were far more resilient than humans in this area. Aleks hoped that this was also true of him because of his angelic side.
Belial stroked his belly every night and talked to her child. Aleks couldn't help but smile every time, because he never thought he would develop such tender feelings for their unborn child. Even in bed, Belial was more restrained, considerate. Sometimes he was overcautious, but Aleks couldn't blame him.
He himself had just completed two hours of flight training with Nero. He was getting better and better and was close to making a vertical take-off. And yet he still held back, afraid to do too much, to endanger his child. I still think like a human. Aleks sighed. Could you blame him? He had lived as a human for twenty-five years. A few months in hell doesn't change much, even if he had already adapted.
Footsteps approached the angel, who was sunbathing on the terrace, and stopped briefly next to him. A shadow fell on Aleks' face and he opened his eyes. "This looks very comfortable," the deep voice of his demon sounded.
Aleks laughed. "Yes, but my demon is cozier than any pillow," he replied cheekily.
The corners of Belial's mouth twitched and he sat down with Aleks on the terrace floor. He pulled his angel into his arms, who snuggled up to him. He took a deep breath of his mate's scent – roses and rain at sunrise. He began to caress Aleks' white-blonde hair, as he often did.
"Will Zack and Lucan be able to find the key?" Aleks asked in a worried voice. Two days earlier, the two had left. Aleks prayed that they stay safe. He hated to put this burden on his brother, but he couldn't look for the keys in his condition. It was just too dangerous.
"They will, Tsuka. Zack is the most capable seeker and Lucan is an excellent warrior who will protect your brother," Belial replied, reassuring his angel a bit.
"Soon our family will get bigger," Aleks said, looking at his demon. "I wish my parents would get to know our child," he added with a sad undertone.
Belial stroked his arm reassuringly. Aleks' mother had died because of him and there was still no trace of his father. They only knew that he was an angel and what he looked like, but not his name.
"What about your parents?" Aleks asked. Belial hadn't told him much about his past until now. Aleks was curious. His demon made a strange expression on his face.
"If I'm not mistaken, they would still be living in the east of Astaroth's territory."
Before Belial could prevent it, Aleks had straightened up and turned to face him. "They're still alive?" Aleks asked, his eyes wide.
Belial looked at him confused. "Yes, if they haven't died in the last fifteen years – otherwise I would have noticed. Why?"
His mate punched him on the shoulder. "Why didn't you say that?" his angel asked excitedly.
"My sister lives with them, I left centuries ago," Belial said, not knowing what his beloved was getting at.
"You have a sister?!" Aleks asked a tad louder than before.
Belial nodded.
"I want to get to know her," his heart said with a serious expression. He had assumed that Belial had no relatives because he had never mentioned them. Now he simply nonchalantly dropped such a bombshell.
"Now?" Belial asked, confused.
"Yes, now or tomorrow. We will pay them a visit tomorrow. I want to meet my in-laws and sister-in-law," Aleks said in a firm voice.
"Parents-in-law? Sister-in-law?" Belial was not familiar with these terms, and he looked at his angel in confusion.
Aleks explained it to him and Belial nodded.
"Well, then I'll send a raven to announce us," Belial said, getting up to do so. He didn't know why his mate was so eager to get to know his family, but if it made Aleks happy.
In the evening in bed, Aleks snuggled up to him as usual. "What are your parents and sister like?" he asked his demon.
"My father is a Leviathan like me, who had served under the Prince of Hell, Leviathan, before Astaroth overthrew him. My mother is a Sylph demon with an attachment to the element of lightning, which is very rare."
"Your parents are both men?" Aleks asked.
Belial nodded.
Fascinating. The fact that same-sex couples could also have children had been on Aleks' mind for a while. "Then you got that lightning ability from your mother? Are you half Sylph then?" Aleks asked curiously.
"No, I'm actually a pure Leviathan. As a rule, children of interracial unions have only one race – one that dominates, even if they can inherit certain traits from the other. It is rather rare for a half-breed to emerge. These half-breeds are more powerful than us pure ones, as they carry the power of two races. So you're a rarity, Aleks," Belial explained.
"I see. Are there any other half-breeds like me?"
Belial pondered. "Astaroth is a half-breed, although his second half is not known. Other than Zack, I can't think of anyone else," he admitted.
Wow, so I'm an exception as always...
"My father is rather calm and level-headed, very similar to me. My mother, on the other hand, is cheerful and lively, although you shouldn't underestimate him. They have been happily bonded for more than two thousand years."
"And what's your sister like?" Aleks asked excitedly.
Belial grimaced. "She's... normal. She is also a Leviathan, but has not inherited the lightning connection. She has taken over my father's forge and makes weapons with him."
Aleks couldn't help but grin. Did his demon not get along with his sister? He will see it tomorrow. He couldn't wait to finally meet her. His heart was pounding with excitement.
"So, now everything is in place," Nero said, checking again the armor that protected Aleks' belly. Several wards and obfuscations were incorporated into it, so that Aleks' child was protected and no one knew about his pregnancy, not even Belial's parents. The metal was forged extra-thin and not visible under the top.
Honestly, Nero was worried, but if his Kuro thought it was right, he would let them go without objection.
Aleks turned again and nodded. Then he went to Belial's study, where he was arranging a few documents. "Ready?" he asked his demon, who nodded.
Together they went into the entrance area and Belial opened a portal, which the two passed through with entwined hands.
On the other side, they were greeted by a green lush meadow and wooded air. In front of Aleks stretched a huge house, alone in the middle of nowhere. Wow, this is where Belial's parents live. I'm so excited. At the same time, he was also nervous. He hoped that his parents liked him, after all, he didn't want to be the cause of a family quarrel.
They stepped to the door and knocked. Shortly thereafter, they heard hurried footsteps and the door opened. They were greeted by a beaming face.
"Hello, my son. I'm so happy about your surprise visit," said the demon with dark blue hair and light, milky skin. He had hip-length hair tied in a braid and lemon-yellow eyes. He was really beautiful and a little smaller than Aleks.
"Come in," he said to the two of them, and they entered thankfully.
The house was built of wood and stone. Long dark wooden beams ran across the walls, while the stone wall was plastered white. Everywhere there were pictures of nature scenes on the walls, which made you feel like you were standing in the middle of nature. They were so colorful, detailed, and vibrant. The type looked very familiar to Aleks.
Did your mother draw the pictures in your estate? he asked his demon.
Belial smiled and nodded. Yes, he's the most talented artist I know.
Aleks was fascinated. To have such a gift was truly amazing.
The small entrance reminded Aleks of the entrance to a forest, green glowing stones everywhere and flowers and plants grew in vases attached to the wall in small pots. The floor was made of dark wood planks and covered with an earth-colored carpet. At the end of the small corridor was a wooden staircase that led both up and down.
However, they turned left into a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows that could be opened. So the room would open up and you were practically outside again. The common room was huge and decorated with numerous pots with plants of all kinds. Four large sofas stood in the middle, covered with light brown leather. In the middle stood a knee-high wooden table made of ebony. In the back there was a large dining table with numerous wooden chairs in which numerous floral patterns were carved. Next to it was a passage that led into a large kitchen.
Belial's mother fetched a steaming cauldron from the kitchen and poured them a cup of tea into the cups already prepared on the small table.
Aleks and Belial made themselves comfortable in front of him and Aleks accepted the cup with gratitude. "Thank you for the warm welcome," the angel began.
The Sylph demon smiled. "Oh please, dear, not so formal. My name is Lynn. My mate will be here soon, he must have forgotten the time again," he said with a smile.
"I'd love to, I'm Aleksander Esai, but please call me Aleks," he said to his mother-in-law, smiling. He made a very nice and open-minded impression on Aleks.
As if Lynn had suspected it, a demon with short black hair, green eyes and fair skin entered the room. He recognized the eyes at once, for they were those of Belial. He had his mother's hair, but his father's facial features and stature, as well as the color of his eyes, that much was clear. The Leviathan sat down next to Lynn and pulled him closer. He is his heart, you can see that clearly. Because Belial also made this gesture with Aleks. He had most likely inherited it from his parents.
"Just in time, Tsuka," Lynn said to his mate.
"Sorry for being late," Belial's father told the two guests. "I'm Blain, Belial's father. I'm glad to meet you, Aleksander," he said kindly, but like Belial with some restraint.
Like father, like son.
"I'm so happy that you've finally found your heart, and such an extraordinary one at that," Lynn said, taking a sip from his cup.
Aleks smiled nervously. So they know. "Yes, our meeting was also a bit unusual," he replied nervously.
"I'm curious, how did you meet?" Lynn asked his son.
"He saved and healed me after I was attacked by mercenaries in the human world. We tied the knot and returned to hell together," Belial replied calmly as always.
"As always, short ties with little passion. Who do you think he got it from?" the Sylph demon sighed, whose mate gave him a loving look.
So they talked a little more and Aleks told a little more about their encounter.
"Another question, Aleks. I've heard that you have an angelic sword. Is that right?" Blain asked.
Aleks nodded cautiously.
"Can I take a look at it? Never have I ever held a heavenly weapon in my hand."
Aleks looked nervously at Belial.
"Aleks can't call it yet. It has only appeared twice, and that was in extreme situations, father. I'm sorry to disappoint you," his demon replied. They had tried many times in recent months, unfortunately in vain.
Blain waved his hand in acceptance.
"Well, if that's not my little brother," a voice sounded from the corridor. A tall woman with long blue-black hair and lemon-yellow eyes stood in the doorway and looked at them.
"Hello, Ria," Belial said coldly, but Aleks had noticed that he had tensed up.
The demon sat down to the side and shook hands with Aleks. "My name is Eleuteria, but call me Ria. I'm Belial's big sister."
Aleks politely returned her handshake, but found that she almost crushed his hand. Ouch. Heaven she has a tight grip.
"So you're the poor one that fate has given my brother as a heart," she added in a neutral tone that confused Aleks more than the statement itself. This manner is probably hereditary.
"At least I have a heart and the mates don't run away from me," Belial replied with narrowed eyes.
"After all, I have connections and I'm not a cold stone that bangs a stranger every hundred years," Ria countered.
Aleks watched the exchange of blows with his mouth open. Wow. That's what I call a sibling quarrel. The two continued to dish out until Lynn cleared his throat.
"You two, you are making our guest feel uncomfortable. How about you guys take it out in the forge and I talk to Aleksander in peace," Lynn said in a friendly but firm tone. "Now," he added in a dashing tone, looking at them.
Belial and Ria fell silent.
Wow. This demon simply silences Belial. He wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating Lynn, who was more than two thousand years old.
"I want to see Elyrion. Follow me," Blain said, standing up.
Belial nodded and stood up. Is it okay for you if I go out with my dad?
Aleks smiled. Of course, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about. Together with Ria, the three disappeared and went to the forge in the back of the house.
Lynn stood up as well. "What do you think of a little walk?" he asked Aleks kindly.
"Gladly."