Page 43 of Facet

I leaned in and ran the backs of my fingers over the slope of her cheek. “When I think about how I almost lost you tonight, I start to panic. I fought my feelings for you for so long, and now I don’t know why. I’m not my mother, and I know that now.”

She blinked and her plush lips lifted at one corner, a testament to the tenacity my woman had in spades. “You are a wonderful person, Damien. I’m such a lucky girl to have you.”

“I don’t deserve you, but I’m glad you feel that way, baby. There’s something you need to know—something I should’ve told you before I almost couldn’t tell you.”

Her brows drew in and worry filled her gaze. “Okay?”

“I love you.”

Her lips parted, and she gasped.

I gently pressed my thumb over her mouth. “No, I don’t want you to say it back because I told you. I just want you to know that I’m certain of my feelings. Not because you almost died, but because you’re you.”

Her fingers were cool as they wrapped around my wrist and moved my hand. Then she gave me a serene smile. “Damien, I think I’ve loved you since the first day we met.”

At her declaration, I reached for the back of her neck to pull her in for a kiss. It was featherlight and more of a brushing of my lips on hers, but it saidyou’re important to meandI cherish youbetter than any words could’ve.

We followed my brothers back, our hands clasped on the center console the whole way.

Willow was out cold by the time we parked outside the clubhouse. For a moment, she scared the shit out of me. I actually sucked on my finger and placed it under her nose to make sure she was breathing. The relief that hit me when her warm exhale hit my skin was beyond explanation.

Once I got out of the vehicle, I slipped my cut back on. It was easier than to risk dropping it and getting my ass handed to me.

She didn’t wake through me lifting her out of the truck, nor during the walk through the common area. As carefully as I could, I laid her on my bed. She mumbled in her sleep a bit when I undressed her to get her bloody clothes off, but she slept on. I got a warm washcloth and cleaned her up the best I could—still, she slept.

It was mind blowing to look at the spot she’d been stabbed and have absolutely no sign of it. When Angel healed someone, it might be faint, but there was still a scar. With whatever Séamus had done, it was as if the wound had been completely erased.

When she started to shiver, I tucked the covers over her and kissed her cheek. She snuggled into my pillow, and I grinned. Then, I went in search of my father.

“Salvation”—HollywoodUndead

“Wanna go out back?” I asked Séamus when I found him at the bar with a glass of whiskey.

“Sure.” He brought his glass and followed me outside. We took a seat in the chairs we’d first talked in.

Full of trepidation, I stared at him. “What’s up?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of digging. For one, I think I found the spell your mother used to call me to you.”

My brows shot up. My mother had left that night and she wasn’t returning my calls or my text messages. I knew she’d seen them because they all showed that she’d read them. “You know where she is?”

“No, but now we can use the same spell that she used on me to call her to us. What I don’t understand is how she was able to get a blood magic spell from a witch.” Séamus appeared contemplative. Then he bit his lip and looked away.

“Considering I grew up thinking she was a witch and I was a warlock, that doesn’t surprise me. For all intents and purposes, she was a practicing witch,” I replied with a shrug.

“But blood magic is a whole different animal. People think they know what blood rituals and all that crap are, but true blood magic is a close kept secret. A witch that knows blood magic won’t share that lightly. I only got the information because I have a trusted contact that is in with a powerful witch. I have that trusted contact because I’m one of the most powerful demons in existence at this time. Where would your mother get it from? And why did she have it?” He frowned.

“Maybe from a friend?” I asked.

“How well did you know any of her friends?”

“I… I guess I didn’t—don’t. She was always too worried about my next ‘dad’ to be bothered with friends as far as I know,” I sighed. It was crazy how you could live with someone your whole life and not know them at all.

Something in Séamus’s expression gave me pause. “Is there something else you aren’t telling me?”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs with his steepled hands over his mouth. “Actually, yes. I kept something from you because I didn’t think you’d believe me. I had literally just popped into your life, and you didn’t know me in the least. I still don’t know how you’re going to take this or if you’ll believe me, but you need to know in order to protect Willow.”

My spine stiffened, and I unintentionally mimicked his pose. “What about protecting Willow?” I practically growled.

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