“Unfortunately, the demons have always favored you—they cannot resist the light you hold, even though they shun goodness in most other forms. They tricked or captured many o you into servings lifetimes by their sides, and that is how Mattla got the idea to grant the male demons sons birthed by humans—but only Seers. It would greatly reduce their rate of procreation, seeing how rare you are, but it would break the negotiations between the males and females, ensuring that the demons would not unite and overrun us.

“I tried everything to plead for my children, but the other gods had already decided. Because the demons favored you, you were selected, and the only way I am allowed to interfere is by ensuring that there is a sanctuary on each continent where those who cannot endure their fate can seek refuge.”

Selma stared at her. “I’m sorry… I’m some sort of a… shaman? I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I’ve never been accused of being particularly wise. And I haven’t given a whole lot to charity, either. No beacon of light within me, no superpowers of any sort. I can just see demons.”

Bealith smiled. When she spoke, her voice pitched with sorrow.

“It was the trade-off for ensuring you could reproduce with demons. Naught but an echo remains of what you were—the light in you had to be dimmed to make room for a demon’s claim. But your sacrifice has meant the world isn’t overrun with their darkness.”

Sacrifice? Something about that phrasing made it sound awfully willing, and Selma didn’t remember being asked to swap magical powers for the ability to be impregnated by demons.

“Why are you telling me all this? If you can’t protect me, then… then I will need to go back to them.” To Kain. There was a distinct lack of despair at that thought. Then she remembered what—or who—else she would be bringing, and anxiety finally nestled in the pit of her gut.

She was pregnant. With a demon’s offspring. Kain’s offspring. He was going to lose whatever control he still had over his temper once he found out. Noble intentions or not, he’d made it clear he never wanted a mate, and even though he’d sacrificed his beliefs to save her, she didn’t think he would be particularly happy with adding a baby to the mix.

Not to mention how she’d cope once she allowed the knowledge to take root, which wasn’t something she could do just yet—not when she had to focus on getting enough information out of the goddess in front of her to ensure her survival.

Swiftly she pushed away the hazy image of a white picket fence and sunny afternoons on a porch swing, even as her hand found and rested against her lower belly of its own accord.