"So, can you break the curse?" Bruno asked, with hopeful eyes.
"Yes!" River happily squealed, cooing at the baby.
"Did you hear my question?" Bruno said as he fidgeted with Sam's fingers.
"I heard you. He is your son," River revealed, his gaze jumping from one mate to another.
"You cannot be so sure," Sam grimly said.
"Of course, I can. I can feel the direct bond I share with him; it's so strong! He loves me already!" River squealed happily.
"Really?" Bruno asked, a sad yet hopeful smile plastered on his face.
"Yes. The reason you probably can't feel it is because of Lucifer," River said, still smiling down at the baby broadly.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked, dumbfounded.
"You see, this curse was not just made by a powerful angel but also a wise one," River explained, finally giving the trio his full attention.
"Could you elaborate?" Lucifer asked.
"Well, the baby was placed under three curses, but it appears like it's only two. He was placed under a sleeping spell, a graceless wailing spell, and an 'invisible zodiac curse.' The invisible zodiac curse was used by the ancient government of the supernatural world to kill wild 'pets' that didn't have a 'master.' The curse will be placed on the pet, and if the pet is not claimed by anyone within a specified period of time, it will practically turn to dust. This curse was recently placed on your son. The person who did this knew that you would be able to save the baby eventually, but you wouldn't be able to notice the curse because, according to its name, it is invincible. The person who did this wanted your son dead and still wants your son dead; they want war between heaven and hell. But also know that this curse can be made by any supernatural being with a high rank of power. However, this is an angel's deed," River explained softly.
"How do you know all these?" Lucifer asked, gritting his teeth together.
"I can see all the things that happened around your son. He was taken to Heaven," River revealed, which made Sam and Bruno gasp, both shocked to the marrow.
"So, you know the person who did this?" Lucifer asked, looking like a predator.
"Yes. But I'm not telling you. Lucifer, I think you should talk to your Dad," River said softly but firmly.
"Your baby is safe... for now," River said, turning to face Bruno and Sam, who now had tears in their eyes.
"But we have claimed him; he's our son! Why is he not waking up?" Bruno sobbed out.
"Lucifer," River softly called to Lucifer.
"Hm?"
"Stop behaving like a grumpy old man. I'll sketch the faces I saw in the vision," River reluctantly said, turning his face sideways.
Lucifer could only hum.
"It will be alright," River comforted him.
"So, what are we to do now?" Bruno rubbed his face.
"Stay calm," River said with a small smile on his lips.
"How long does he have left?" Bruno sobbed out.
"Well above thirty hours," River calmly said, with a gentle smile on his face.
Bruno and Sam let out a breath they didn't know they were holding.
"Lucifer, hold him," River said, placing the baby in Lucifer's arms.
"You know, the person improvised a bit. Lucifer, look at your son," River calmly urged the Devil.
Lucifer looked down at the baby in his arms.
"He's so beautiful, he looks a lot like Bruno, doesn't he?" River asked.
"Yes, he does," Lucifer said, smiling fondly at the boy in his arms.
Like magic, a shimmering veil started wearing off from the baby's skin. Lucifer curiously looked at the baby and at River, who offered him an encouraging smile. The baby in his arms fluttered its eyes open as he looked at his father with big honey-brown eyes curiously; suddenly, the baby started giggling.
Sam and Bruno snapped their heads towards the beautiful sound made by the baby, both of their eyes widened as their eyes became tear-filled. River stood up from his position beside Lucifer to give room for the parents to reunite with their little bundle of joy. As he announced to them with a gleeful smile:
"Your son is back," he reassured.
"Look, he has Sam's eyes!" Bruno said with a bright smile on his lips, making his mates smile broadly too.
River crouched down to the baby's level and frowned; something felt... off. He knew the baby was now safe, but something still seemed amiss. He looked up at Lucifer to realize that the Devil was already looking at him, their eyes passing a silent message as they briefly glanced at each other.
"He's so cute!" River squealed, his attention back on his nephew.
*cough* They all heard someone clear their throat, but River was too entranced by his adorable nephew.
"Oh, Damien, come take a look at your nephew," Bruno said, looking up at Damien with a smile on his face.
River's eyes sparkled when he finally grasped what seemed off about his nephew, though Lucifer might not be too happy with this discovery.
"River, could you give Damien a little space so he can see his nephew too?" Sam asked, rolling his eyes.
"Where's Monica?" Bruno asked as River absentmindedly shifted on the sole of his feet, creating space for whoever wanted to stay there.
"Probably sleeping; she associates me with felidae, but she's the real cat," River cutely huffed with a pout, tickling his nephew.
"You both are cats," Sam said with a chuckle.
"Whatever," River huffed out.
Damien crouched down right beside River; he could feel the direct bond between him and his nephew—it was strong. Damien felt sort of giddy inside at the feeling. As Damien moved to adjust himself on his sole, his hand brushed against River's, which was placed on the couch's edge. Pleasurable waves of electricity flowed through his veins; this was not only noticed by him. River, who was admiring his nephew, suddenly felt a jolt of pleasurable electricity traveling from his fingertips, through his arms, and down his spine.
River and Damien froze in motion as they both slowly turned their heads to see the source of this pleasurable touch. As their eyes met, River felt a strong shiver run down his spine.
Before River sat a god. Before his eyes was a very beautiful creature that seemed to look at him with curious eyes. River was always the shy one, but he couldn't stop himself from ogling at the very sexy creature before him. His well-defined face, raven hair, and dark orbs made River feel like he was being swallowed whole—perfect chiseled jaw, perfect cheekbones; everything about this man was screaming perfection. But he further froze when he noticed something...
Damien, on the other hand, experienced little to no brain work when his eyes landed on the ethereal beauty before him. He didn't think he had ever seen someone so beautiful in his centuries of existence. Somehow, he started to have a feeling that he didn't deserve to be in this ethereal god's presence. How could a creature be so beautiful? He admired River's straight waist-long platinum hair, his equally platinum eyebrows and eyelashes. River looked so pure that Damien wanted to take him and keep him to himself forever. It felt like everything around them was nonexistent as they stared into each other's eyes.
They were so lost in their little world that they didn't hear when Bruno and Sam were calling their names. Lucifer already understood the situation, so he told his mates that they should go bathe the baby; the little family left the duo in the drawing room.
Then Damien further froze when he noticed something...
A thread...
Not just any thread...
A thread connecting two people...
Not just random people...
But people that were fated and destined to be together...
Mates.