Fallen Angels by Natalie Kiest

the microwave.
    “It won’t help.” Devlin broke the silence.
    “Devlin, I will not let my daughter become a killer!”
    “She won’t, if you teach her to stop when she needs to. She can feed and never take a life, you know that,” he said with a wink.
    “Don’t do that.” I rolled my eyes at him.
    “Do what?” he asked while I retrieved Chloe’s warm drink.
    “Make it seem so normal.”
    “It is normal,” he said, taking the hot mug from my hand and setting it on the counter. “If you don’t teach her now, she will turn out like Ravyn. She has to understand it.” His large hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. “Let me teach her.”
    “How and on who?” I asked, stepping away from his touch.
    “You can feed her, show her that you understand. I will instruct her while she feeds. Let it happen before it is too late.”
    “Fine. But I’m telling you Devlin, if she kills someone after this, it’s your head that will roll,” I said firmly. “Put some damn clothes on!”
    Entering Chloe’s room again I knew she could feel my nervousness when she looked at me curiously. “Baby, Uncle Devlin is going to help you understand what you’re feeling. Is that okay?” I asked.
    “He’s not mad at me?”
    “No sweetie, of course not. He understands what you feel more than I do. He wants to help you, but you have to listen to him very carefully and do exactly what he says,” I explained, knowing she trusted and loved Devlin more than Angie and Nebiros.
    “Okay Mommy,” she said, sliding her hand into mine.
    Devlin entered, thankfully fully clothed in his usual jeans and t-shirt. He smiled at Chloe while he approached. “Hey little one, I hear you’re having some fang troubles,” he said jokingly, instantly making her giggle and nod in agreement. “It happens. How about you let Uncle Devlin walk you through this?” he offered, letting her climb in his lap.
    Watching Devlin teach my baby about the oddities of demon life mesmerized me. He would have been a great father and a loving husband. I suddenly felt horrible for the way I had treated him since Chloe was born and Ravyn returned. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was, to make it up to him, somehow.
    My thoughts on any subject quickly faded when I felt my daughter’s small warm hands gently cup my forearm, and then the painful pinch of her fangs. I watched her feed as carefully as Devlin did, while he talked her all the way through it, guiding her on when to stop and how to make it as painless as possible. Chloe didn’t feed long, stopping when the tingle in her fangs disappeared, doing exactly what Devlin told her. 
    He tucked her in, kissing her forehead and whispering something before exiting the room. I smiled down at my baby, watching my blood relax her fully, allowing sleep to come quickly. I couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t stop thanking the heavens for Devlin’s constant help.
    “You look like you could use a drink,” Devlin said.
    I looked up and smiled; he knew me too well. “Yes please.”
    “Of course, my dear.” He smiled back and led me downstairs into the kitchen.
    “Why can Chloe feed from me if she won’t drink human blood?” I asked while he made the drinks.
    “Because you are not exactly human. Your blood is powerful. We were wrong, but I have a new theory after watching her feed from you.” He set the drink in front of me then sat next to me.
    “Well, what’s your theory Devlin?” I asked, chugging half the margarita.
    “Chloe needs the blood of those who created her. She fed on you while you were pregnant. She drank my blood and Angela’s. Therefore she needs the blood of a witch, a demon, or an angel.”
    Devlin’s explanation made perfect sense, again, making me thankful that he was around. He happily served me drink after drink while we talked about Chloe and Abby, though every time I mentioned Ravyn he quickly changed the subject. Soon my comfortable buzz turned into an emotional drunk, and Devlin