Fallen Academy: Year Four (Fallen Academy #4)(58)

We truly loved her with all of our hearts.

“Yeah, we don’t want to bring a stinky baby to the beach games!” I told Asha, tickling her foot. She grinned and kicked out at my hand, pumping her legs in an excited gesture.

As Lincoln pulled her out of her car seat and started to change her, I found myself thinking of Raksha. We’d just had her funeral, and everything was still so raw. Her wife and son were there, and the Fallen Army gave her a proper burial with a twelve-sword salute, and even paid her family a lump sum fee for their loss.

Raphael said that technically Raksha was working for our side by keeping an innocent baby safe, and therefore she deserved a soldier’s burial.

I’d profusely apologized to Elodie, but she’d told me she was actually a bit relieved. Now, at least she could move forward. Not constantly worrying for her wife anymore, and no longer living with the anguish of never knowing if she’d ever see her again, had healed her in a weird way. Every day that Lincoln and I cared for Asha, a little bit of Raksha was kept alive. Raksha kept her safe for us to take home, and I truly felt that this baby was never supposed to be raised by Lucy.

She was always meant to be mine.

“Are your mom and Raph coming?” Lincoln’s face scrunched up, signaling that it was a poopy diaper.

“Yeah, all the archangels RSVP’d.”

My mom and Raphael had been pretty inseparable since we’d gotten back from the war in Hell. I was genuinely happy for them.

“Ooh, can I hold Asha?” Grace’s voice came from behind me, and I spun to pull her into a hug.

Grace and Michael had offered to raise Asha if Lincoln and I felt we couldn’t do it, but I’d kindly told them no. This was Raksha’s dying wish, and Lincoln and I had become way too bonded with her to give her to anyone else. She was our daughter, just like that. Family wasn’t always blood in my book.

“Of course,” Lincoln told her, handing Grace the baby.

“Oh, she has the sweetest little mouth, and those eyes!” Grace cooed.

Emberly walked up beside her mother and rolled her eyes. “She has total baby fever.”

Grace pinned her daughter with a glare. “I do, and since it’s not responsible for Michael and I to have another child biologically, I think we’ve decided to adopt. You both have inspired us. There are orphans being made every day in this war, and they need a family.”

“I think that’s wonderful.” Lincoln grabbed the baby bag, and tossed it over his shoulder as we all walked to the beach. Just last night, Lincoln and I had turned in the paperwork to legally adopt Asha Raksha Atwater-Grey.

“Just make sure it’s a girl. I want a sister,” Emberly told her mother. “I hear brothers are annoying.”

I grinned. “They totally can be.”

Mikey and I had become closer since I returned from Hell. We’d kept our weekly picnics, and he was opening up more about his shifter struggles. After becoming an uncle to Asha, he’d informed me that he was pretty set on having a big family one day, and it brought a huge smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to see my little bro settle down and have some babies.

“Oh my gosh, what is he doing?” Grace moaned, and we followed her gaze to see the archangels playing tug-of-war. Raphael and Michael were on one side, holding the thick rope tightly against Uriel and Gabriel on the other. In the center was a huge mud pit.

Noah stepped up to greet us all. “We haven’t even started yet. I told them they could practice, but it turned into some competitive bro-fest.”

“Get ’em, Dad!” Emberly yelled from the sidelines, and Michael grinned, yanking the rope with all his might. Gabriel’s foot slipped into the mud, but the look of determination on his face was unmistakable.

“Oh, Noah, you were sweet to invite them. I haven’t seen them this excited in years.” Grace grinned.

Raphael was tricked out in Hawaiian garb, complete with floral lei, and Michael was wearing a typical beach bum straw hat.

“Of course! We’re happy to have them,” Noah assured her.

“Except when they win all the events, and skew the results,” Lincoln mumbled.

“Aw, whittle Whincoln is scared of my daddy,” Emberly jived in a baby voice.

Lincoln reached out lightning quick, and scooped her into his arms—careful not to touch her wings. She shrieked and laughed, kicking and thrashing against him.

“Dump her in the ocean!” Grace called out as Lincoln walked her toward the water, to probably do just that.

“Excuse me, but Auntie Shea needs some baby love.” Shea popped out of the food tent, opening her arms toward Asha—who Grace was still holding. Grace frowned but handed over the baby, and Shea tucked Asha into her chest with a smile.

My bestie’s wedding was in six months, and no expense was being spared. Noah joked that he’d probably have to get a second job to afford it.

“I’m next!” Chloe piped up as she made her way over with Luke, to get a good look at Asha.

“No, Grandma is next,” my mother butted in, coming over to kiss my cheek. My mom watched Asha during the day while Lincoln and I worked, and they had such a special bond, almost as tight as ours.

My friends and family had surprised me. When I’d told them that Asha was part Lucifer, part Succubus demon, they hadn’t blinked an eye.