Page 119 of Shadow Witch

“I just…humans don’t kidnap other humans for the purposes of romance,” Paige defended.

Luna shifted her eyes side-to-side. “Uh, I mean, yes, they do. Have you never read dark romance?”

“Oh, please. That’s…okay, never mind.” Paige shook her head. “ I mean, can we just move on?”

“Aw, Paigey, she’s just teasing you,” Devon said as he slid his arms around her waist and kissed the tip of her nose.

“Aw, Dev, you are so in love!” Luna grinned at him as she clasped the compass between her hands.

“I am, and my wife wants to find her mom. So, let’s find her mom.”

“Okay, I do know what this says. But…I sort of need a favor first before I’ll tell you.”

“What?” Paige barked as Drucinda held her back.

“What’s the favor?” Devon asked.

Luna rose to her tiptoes, her features pleading. “Please, please, please, can we stop on the way and pick up Caleb, and then bring him back here with us and you can convince Dad that he’s suitable?”

“Whoa, Luna, I’m not even entirely sure he’s suitable,” Devon said with a shake of his head. “I mean…seriously?”

“Yes?” she said, her nose wrinkling and a smile-like wince spreading on her face. “He’s not that bad.”

“Luna, you can do way better than some skulky vampire who makes eyes at every woman he meets.”

“He doesn’t. The whole steamy vampire thing is just a front. He loves me, I know it. He just…won’t admit to it because Dad won’t accept him.”

Devon rolled his eyes. “Luna, you are so beautiful and you’re a really cool person. I just feel like you could do so much better than this. I’m sorry but–“

“Maybe we shouldn’t rush to judge,” Paige interrupted with a shrug.

Devon shot her an unimpressed glance.

“I’m just saying…you know, you keep telling me that I have all these prejudices, but it sounds like you all do, too. I mean, maybe this Caleb guy is perfectly lovely.”

Devon shook his head. “Paige, he’s not perfectly lovely, he’s a mind-controlling vampire who–“

Luna shook her head as she jabbed a finger at him. “He’s not! That’s such a harmful stereotype. It’s exactly why people like Paige are afraid of all of our people.”

“We are not the same as his type.”

“His type?” Luna crossed her arms and grimaced at him. “Now, who sounds like they’re filled with prejudice.”

“Luna…” Devon heaved a sigh as he set his hands on his hips.

“I vote we give this guy a try.”

Devon shot her another glare. “Hon, mind if we have a private conversation?”

“Yeah, I kind of do. I have my opinion. I’m allowed.”

He wrinkled his nose as he grabbed her arm and dragged her across the room. “Paige, I get that you want to find your mom, but I’m not going to sacrifice my sister to do it.”

“I’m not asking you to do that. Maybe we meet Caleb and then say he’s the jerk we thought he was, and that’s it. No harm, no foul, and we get to find my mom.”

“Look, Paige, I know my sister, okay? This business that she just wants us to meet him and give him a chance is bull. She wants me to convince my Dad to let her marry this skeevy guy, and I’m not going to do it. She deserves way better.”

“So did you, according to your Dad and sister,” Paige shot back with a shrug.

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