Epilogue

Madelyne

Four Months Later…

“It’s only been five months, Belz. I’m not going into labor. Pregnancy lasts nine months. It’s just Braxton Hicks or whatever. I’m fine. Stop worrying,” I tell my mate just before another contraction almost brings me to my knees.

This is not happening. It’s too soon.

“It takes nine months for humans . On Earth . You are neither human, nor on Earth, Amica Mea. ”

“You’ve seen all the babies being born lately. You know demon pregnancies don’t last as long. I don’t know why you won’t believe us,” Zar mutters.

“Because it’s too soon! I’m not ready, okay! I don’t know how to be a mom . The only ‘mom’ I ever had manipulated me my entire life then kidnapped me and tried to steal my powers. Not exactly a great role model.”

“Sometimes having bad role models prepares you just as much as having great ones. You know what not to do. You know how you were treated and how you will never treat your kids. You can learn just as much from bad experiences as you can from the good ones,” Oz tells me. “Demon parents aren’t always very loving just like some human parents aren’t. But you’re not in this alone. You have four mates who love you more than anything else in all the realms and we’re all going to be here for you and these babies.”

“You’re going to be a great mother, Angel,” Zeph says, wrapping his arms around me from behind and holding up my huge belly.

Hell, that feels good.

“Look at all the good you’ve already done as the Queen of Hell,” he continues.

“That’s not the same thing,” I pout.

“I know it’s not, baby. But it shows your character. And anyone with your kind of character can do anything they set their mind to.”

“And you have us to constantly remind you,” Oz adds.

“Now, can we please go to the birthing cave and call for Addiphine ?” Belz pleads.

Just then my water breaks, splashing all over the floor. Guess I can’t pretend this isn’t real any longer.

Belz glares at me seconds before we’re all transported to the beautiful crystalline cavern referred to as the ‘birthing cave’. All born demons have been born here for as long as any demon can remember. .

“I’ll get Addiphine,” Oz says before disappearing.

“Strip and get in that pool. No more arguing,” Belz demands.

My clothes disappear and Zeph carries me into the warm water. It feels incredible and my body starts to relax. As the magical healing water laps against my naked skin, I lean against Zeph’s chest and float in the water.

Oz rushes back in and is trailed by Addi and her midwife in training. When demons began having babies again we all quickly realized there were not many midwives left, two to be exact. So Addi and her partner Callison or Callie have been training a whole batch of young demons excited to have this as a new job opportunity.

“How are you feeling my dear?” Addi asks as she leans down beside the pool and reaches to smooth my hair out of my face.

“I’m goo… urgh.” My response is cut off by another contraction that slices through my core like a hot knife through butter.

“Oh my, we are moving along quite quickly I see. Let me get everything prepared then I will join you in there.” Addi shuffles off to a table against the wall preparing several sets of newborn needs.

“How many of those are you making Addi?” Zar asks as he hovers over her shoulder watching her and likely internally scrutinizing her every move.

“Four,” Addi replies simply.

“Four?!” He replies incredulously, “she’s not a hellhound, Addi, she is probably only having two, at most three.”

“Three!” I screech from my spot against Zeph’s chest before another contraction pulls my concentration away from them.

When I look up again all of my mates surround me in the large pool and Addi is kneeling in front of me.

“That was an intense one, are you ready for me to check you and see if it’s time to push?”

“It’s time! Because I’m pussshing!” I scream as I bear down and try to evict the first little demon from my body.

“I see a head! Oh my hell, that is a lot of hair!” Addi says from her spot in front of me. “Give me one more good push and I bet we’ll have that head out.”

“You’re doing so good, Princess. Just a little more and we’ll have our first baby,” Oz encourages me, brushing my hair back.

Another contraction hits and my body instinctively pushes as all my muscles contract.

“There we go,” Addi says, “good push momma and four, three, two, one, okay breath Maddy you did amazing, babys head is out. On this next contraction I’m going to need you to give it all you got and you just might meet your first baby at the end of it. Ready? And push.” Addi counts down from ten and I give it my all and just when I think I might die I feel the pop and woosh of my first child leaving my body.

“It’s a boy!” Addi announces as she scoops my son from the water, lying him on my chest and making sure he’s clean and clear.

“Wahhhh” Our son screeches out his first hello to the world.

I don’t get long before a new round of contractions hits and I pass the baby off to Belz to repeat the process all over again, and again, and again. Four fucking babies! I had four fucking babies.

Maybe I am a hellhound.

I snort at the thought and Belz rushes to my side. We are back in our room at the palace now having had four fucking babies Addi agreed to come to us for post-partum checks instead of keeping us in the small recovery room at the cave.

“ Amice Mea, are you okay? Are you hurting? Is there anything I can do?” Belz asks, still carrying our first son Cyrus.

“For one you can give me my son, and for two you can keep your super fertile demon dick away from me for the next millennia or so.” Making grabby hands at him until he places Cyrus in my arms.

With four completely different mates, it stands to reason each of our children would be different. First came Cyrus, he is long and lanky his arms and legs almost seem too long for his tiny body. He has a full head of dark curls that lay flat and piercing blue eyes that he never seems to close as he stares at everyone almost as if he is always calculating the next move. . Even at just a few hours old, he knows what he wants. And nine times out of ten, that’s my fucking tit.

Next came Warryck. His bald head isn’t the only thing that sets him apart from his brothers; he's also the biggest. Easily eight pounds while his brothers barely grew to six. He’s big in personality too. And let me tell you, that boy has a set of pipes on him!

Fyn came shortly after. His blue eyes were so pale they were almost shocking at first and the soft short fuzz that covered his head was almost entirely black save for a shock of white in the front above his left eyebrow. He’s the smallest at five pounds eleven ounces. He’s so tiny even I fear I’ll break him if I hold him. Oz, my big softie, luckily doesn’t have the same worry as he cuddles him on the other side of the bed.

Drydan was the last. Thank hell. I love all of my babies. I do. But I would die if I had to do this again. Or hell forbid have more babies. Four is enough. Trust me. Baby Drydan is the second biggest, and by far the quietest. I don’t think I’ve even heard him cry. I can’t tell you how much it would mean to me to have just one baby that doesn’t cry. He might currently be my favorite for that alone.

I am exhausted but before I can close my eyes I have one more thing to do.

“Snow,” I call out before whistling for my favorite girl.

Snow comes bounding into our room stopping short at the end of the bed staring at the bundle on my chest with curiosity.

“Come here sweet girl, we have some people we’d like you to meet.”

Snow slowly makes her way onto the bed crawling on her tummy until her snout lands just below Cyrus’s bum.

“This is Cyrus, Snow.” I pat her head as she sniffs Cyrus before giving him the smallest of licks on the top of his head. She looks to where Oz has Drydan cuddled on the other side of the bed and then back to me almost as if to ask “another one?”

“Yeah I know girl, I was as shocked as you! I had four babies! Can you believe it four fucking babies at one time”

She rolls her eyes at me before turning and hopping off the bed.

Guess she’s not impressed .

Once she leaves the room, Fireball comes running in to check on us. He pulls up short when he sees all the tiny demons then backs out of the room. We really have a full house now. Six hellhounds, five full grown demons, and four mini demons.

It’s going to make for a life filled with noise and laughter, but as I look around at my precious sleeping bundles, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Four more months later

“Warryck do not pull Jerry’s tail! I swear I’m gonna let him bite you one of these days!” Zeph shouts as he chases the boys and their pups across the courtyard.

Little did I know not only do demon pregnancies move faster than average but so does their aging. Now at a little over four months old I would compare them more to a one year old human or maybe even closer to eighteen months. The hellhound puppies also grew fast, they seem to be well into that one year old puppy phase at this point.

With four babies and four puppies they all naturally paired off. Snow had three boys, Jerry, Lee and Lewis, and one girl we named Frosty. Jerry and Cy paired off first and with Ryk and Lee being the little instigators that they are, they make a great team to terrorize Cy by ruining all of his best laid plans. Lewis and Drydan are quite the dynamic duo as well, always sneaking around and scaring anyone who happens upon their hiding place. Fyn is absolutely besotted with Frosty and it helps that she is more his pace. While his brothers can most often be found running about and causing trouble, Fyn prefers a slower life. Often lounging in the sun with Frosty acting as a pillow while they nap away their afternoons.

“Where are my grandbabies?” Mom calls from behind me as she walks into the courtyard with my dad. I’ve missed them so much, but I have to say they do look happy.

Cy tottles by chasing after Lee, no doubt seeking retribution for what Ryk did to his hound. I scoop him up and chuckle.

“Daddy will take care of it. We don’t practice an eye for an eye in this home, mister.”

“Oh my! Look at that cutie! Can I hold him?” Mom practically begs.

“Of course. Mom, this is Cy. Cy, this is your Avia .” I introduce them. Cy takes one look at her and decides I’m chop fucking liver and practically jumps out of my arms the little fucking shit.

Not like I’m the one that grew you, birthed you, and feed you every time you demand it.

Children are so ungrateful.

“He’s gotten so big! I forgot how fast demon children grow. I wish we could have come sooner,” Mom says as she wipes a tear from her eye. “We were just a little tied up with your grandfather and his… issues.”

“Issues? What issues? I thought everything was going well last I heard.” I ramble as my worry picks up.

At that moment an audible pop signals the arrival of one of Avus’s postcards. It lands on the small table in front of me and I hastily pick it up. One the front is a beautiful beach scene with palm trees around the edges and boats on the horizon. Flipping it to the back I see a message scrawled across the blank space.

Neptis,

I am so proud of all you are doing. I bet my great-grandchildren are giving you a run for your money. Hoping to come back to meet them soon. For now enjoying the sun, sand, and my mates.

Luc

P.S. Don’t worry about me no matter what your mother tells you I’m fine.

Well that’s not suspicious at all. I swear to me if he is lying to me I am going to kick his ass.

My mom is still smiling at me in a way that makes it clear her lips are sealed so instead of pushing the matter I decide to enjoy the day and visit with my parents. Who knows when I’ll get to see them again and as I’m reminded every day, they grow up so fast. I don’t want to miss a second of it.

The End… Of Maddy’s Story