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Jamie McGuire

Eden

For Mimi. Thank you for being there for us in every way you knew how. For your support, love, and your smiles.

For Beth. You said I could, and you always have.

Chapter One

Tomorrow

Happily Ever After. That was The End, right? The hard part was over. It was smooth sailing now. I lay in bed next to my handsome, celestial Prince Charming, the tropical breeze blowing through the window screens of our little Caribbean hut, waiting for the sun to rise so I could begin my wedding day.

Funny how Happily Ever After isn’t the end after all…at least, not when Hell is trying to kill you.

That trivial little fact was easy to ignore with the light rain tapping the tin roof, and the palm fronds brushing against our casita as the wind gently pushed its way through the trees. The first glimmers of sunlight danced along the ceiling as translucent dashes of warmth. Those shuddering, glowing dots above me were the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. Jared Ryel was the second. He smiled, waiting for my eyes to focus.

“It’s tomorrow,” he whispered.

Splatters of pinks and purples had just breached the windows, and the rain had all but left us for the bigger island, reduced to droplets. The fading purple splotches on Jared’s forehead, cheek and chin stood out in the early light, and they brought back a flood of memories from the days before.

He and I had already survived the impossible — coming face to face with one of the most frightening beings in Hell and a few hundred of his minions, human and demon alike. Simply celebrating another day would have sufficed. That was the moment realization hit, and Jared’s eyes brightened with amusement as my sleepy expression perked.

“It’s today?” I said softly.

I reached up to touch his skin, and the residual marks from his skirmish with Shax.

Jared pushed himself onto his elbows, and then leaned his head closer to my stomach. “Good morning, little Bean. ”

“Bean?” I said, one eyebrow shooting up.

“Yes, she’s no bigger than a bean. That’s what the book says, anyway. ”

“The book. ”

Jared reached to the floor, pulling up a thick book, its cover dripping in hideous pastel colors and childish writing.

“I thought I should be prepared for anything that might come up. ” Jared flipped through the pages, and then peered up at me, waiting for approval.

“Is there a chapter on balance-disrupting angel babies?” I said, grinning when Jared’s eyebrows pushed together.

He tossed the book to the floor and then playfully situated himself over me, nuzzling my neck.

“Jared!” I squealed, making a poor attempt to push him away. “Stop!”

“I’ll stop if you say it,” he said, his voice muffled against my skin.

“Say what?” I laughed, wiggling in vain.

Jared lifted his head to look me in the eyes. “Bean,” he said, his eyes a soft blue-gray.

I pressed my lips together, forming a hard line, but when he tickled me again, I caved. “Okay!” I pleaded. “Bean!”