Another pang screamed up his forearm as his angel borrowed strength from him.

“You’re doing great, love,” he murmured, having no idea whether or not that was true.

Her expression was that of a warrior goddess, all fire and fight, highlighted by glorious blonde waves of hair and a face blessed by the heavens. Finding her alluring in that moment probably went against the grain, but Sethios doubted he would ever find her unattractive.

“Wow,” Leela said, awed by whatever she saw between Caro’s legs. An inappropriate reply stalled in his mouth when he felt his daughter’s presence. Similar to how he sensed his father’s arrival, but far more powerful.

“Why isn’t she crying?” he asked, awed.

“She’s content.” Caro’s whisper-soft reply drew his attention to her pale cheeks and discolored eyes. Her irises held an eerie white glow that did not appear natural in the slightest.

“Caro,” he slid closer to her on the bed, both of his hands going to her face. “Talk to me, sweetheart.”

“Is… fine,” she slurred, her eyes rolling back in her head. She began to convulse as magic sifted in the air, and she blinked between her ethereal state and corporeal state, over and over.

“Leela, tell me this is normal,” he demanded.

“It’s normal,” she replied automatically.

He cursed, realizing he’d forced that reply on accident. “Tell me what’s happening.”

“Power exchange,” Gabriel replied calmly. “Which is normal. She’s bonding with your daughter.”

Caro didn’t let go of his hand, nor did her grip lessen, but that didn’t keep him from worrying. He watched as her essence shifted, colors flashing in navy and azure hues as her wings appeared and disappeared, and her eyes blinked rapidly.

“See,” Leela whispered.

It took effort to remove his gaze long enough to see what she held, and then his jaw hit the floor. His daughter was bundled and already clean. “How… ?”

“You were too focused on Caro to notice,” Leela murmured. “And your daughter didn’t cry.”

“Is that common?” he asked, concerned. Most babies were supposed to cry, right?

“For a Seraphim, yes.” Another comment from Gabriel.

“She’s bathing in her mother’s aura.” Leela smiled down at the tiny child in her arms. She’d swaddled her in a towel, hiding everything except her face.

“She looks just like Caro.” His voice broke on the words as a warmth unlike any he’d ever felt caressed his chest. “She’s absolutely perfect.”

He kept one palm pressed to Caro’s cheek while he reached out to brush his knuckles against his daughter’s face. Electricity hummed through him at the touch, escalating his heartbeat.

“So much power,” Leela marveled. “I’ve been doing this for centuries, and I’ve never felt anything like it.” Her blue-green irises lifted to Gabriel. “What have you pulled me into?”

“The future,” the Seraphim replied. “Everything is going to change.”

Her lips curled into a devious grin. “About damn time.”

20

Eternity Redefined

Sethios played with a lock of Caro’s hair while she slept. He’d bathed her—something Leela recommended—and when he returned, the mattress and bedding maintained no signs of what had taken place just an hour prior. The only proof lay asleep in the bassinet beside the bed.