Lucifer: Godless Reawakening

Chapter 319: Bad timing

Having a child was something William had always believed would be difficult.

His origin had always been an obstacle, one he knew would make it incredibly complicated for Emma to bear his child.

It wasn’t just because of what he was. Emma’s connection to the other side posed its own challenges. She was an apostle, a woman blessed by a higher angel.

Under normal circumstances, the two of them should never have been able to stay together.

Yet somehow, they had defied their origins and forged a bond that no one could sever.

But having a child?

Neither of them had truly allowed themselves to think about it.

At least, not for a very long time.

And yet...

Against all their fears...

"Emma."

William breathed her name, his voice trembling.

"You... aren’t lying, right?"

Emma shook her head.

"Not at all. I’ve been feeling a little strange these past few mornings, but I didn’t think much of it. But now..."

Her words trailed off.

William slowly exhaled and wrapped his arms around her.

A smile spread across his face. The tension left his shoulders as he held the woman who had given him everything.

And now...

She was going to be the mother of their child.

"Are you happy?" Emma asked softly.

Her eyes were closed as well, her arms wrapped around his back.

William tightened his embrace.

"You don’t even need to ask that. You already know the answer."

He knew how much Emma loved children.

And because of the complications surrounding their origins, he had always feared that he might never be able to give her what she truly wanted.

A family of their own.

But now, as he held her in his arms, that distant dream no longer felt impossible. It felt real. Tangible.

And for the first time in a very long while, William allowed himself to simply be happy.

He placed a hand on her stomach and slowly closed his eyes.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the moment he focused on her belly, he felt something.

Perhaps it was nothing more than excitement.

Or perhaps he could truly sense it.

Either way, he couldn’t shake the feeling that another life was growing within her.

A tiny life that belonged to both of them.

The thought alone made his heart swell.

A smile remained on his face as he lifted his gaze to Emma and gently held her waist.

"Emma..."

He spoke her name softly before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her lips.

Nana immediately covered her eyes with both hands and turned away.

Emma, meanwhile, was far too happy to care about anything else.

She returned his kiss with equal affection, her eyes slipping shut as emotions she had held back for so long finally surfaced.

Her arms wrapped around the back of his neck as she leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace.

For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade away.

There was only the two of them.

And the future they had never dared to believe was possible.

But then...

"Emma?"

William’s smile vanished as he suddenly felt her body go limp in his arms.

There was no response.

"Emma?"

This time, there was a note of urgency in his voice.

He gently pulled back and looked at her face.

Her eyes were closed, her body completely unresponsive.

She was still breathing.

But she wasn’t waking up.

William’s expression darkened. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Not only because she wasn’t responding, but because he couldn’t enter her mind.

The connection that had always existed between them had been abruptly severed.

And that could mean only one thing.

She’s been summoned.

...

"This... is the worst possible time you could have chosen."

Emma’s frustration was unmistakable as she glared at the golden-haired angel standing before her.

Raphael raised both hands defensively.

"I know, I know. I’m sorry, alright? But this was an emergency."

His voice carried genuine sincerity.

Emma let out a slow breath, trying to calm herself.

"What could possibly be so urgent that it couldn’t wait another minute?"

Raphael winced.

"Actually... I already had to wait."

Emma blinked.

"What?"

"I had to wait for his influence over you to weaken before I could bring you here."

He pointed accusingly in a vague direction.

"Blame your dear husband for being ridiculously cautious."

"..."

For a moment, Emma simply stared at him.

Then, in a hesitant voice, she asked,

"William... can actually resist you now?"

Raphael rolled his eyes.

"Not exactly."

He paused before adding,

"His influence on you is just absurdly strong. If I tried to force the summon while that connection was at its peak, it could have hurt you."

Emma’s expression gradually turned serious.

"The astral bridge is a delicate thing," Raphael continued. "When two beings become as deeply connected as you and William are, interfering with that bond recklessly is dangerous."

For once, there wasn’t a trace of humor in his voice.

Only concern.

Emma calmed down slightly before speaking.

"Alright. Tell me. Why did you bring me here?"

Instead of answering immediately, Raphael gestured toward a chair.

"Sit first."

Though reluctant, Emma complied.

Only after she had taken her seat did Raphael begin.

"Actually, there’s something I should tell you first. Without my permission, you would never have been able to conceive his child."

Emma’s eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Raphael met her gaze calmly.

"My blessings could have been used to completely reject him. Even now, if I were to descend into your body, you wouldn’t be able to protect your unborn child."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Raphael noticed the shift in her expression, the sudden chill in her gaze.

Even so, he continued speaking without hesitation.

"So..." Emma said slowly, her voice growing heavier with each word. "You want me to be grateful for your benevolence?"

Raphael immediately shook his head.

"No. Not at all."

He folded his hands together.

"However, in exchange for granting you that freedom, I want your lover to do something for me."

A brief pause followed.

Then he corrected himself.

"Or rather... for all of us."

Emma’s frown deepened.

"What exactly does that mean?"

Raphael’s expression grew noticeably more serious.

The casual tone he had carried until now gradually disappeared.

Seeing that alone made Emma’s heart grow restless.

For a being like Raphael, a high angel, to seek William’s help...

That was not normal.

Not even remotely.

And if the request was important enough to interrupt one of the happiest moments of her life just to deliver it...

Then whatever Raphael was about to say was likely far more serious than she wanted to imagine.