Page 82 of Spookily Yours

“That he was mine. That I was his.” She used her hands to indicate everything around us. “Maybe I’m supposed to behere, you know?”

“But… Your bakery. Our lives. You’re leaving everything behind.”

She fidgeted with the ring that sat on her finger. “Lately, I’ve been thinking, well… I don’t know how to describe it. Like I was missing something. And when he asked me to come with him, I didn’t even have to stop to think about it. I just… said yes.”

“But he’s a stranger. You don’t even know him.”

Luna blinked. “Well… That’s not entirely true.”

“What?”

But… Damien had told me he’d been sent to the human world to find her. When would Zain have had the time to meet her?

“We’ve met before. At the bar.” She shrugged. “And a few other times.”

“You didn’t think to tell me youmet someone?”I dropped my voice, hoping she couldn’t hear the hurt. “I’m your sister, Luna.”

She sighed. “I know. But you were all wrapped up in Damien, and I didn’t want to pop your bubble. Plus, it’s not like you were one hundred percent truthful with me, either.”

“Right. Well,maybeI should have told you about his, er…demon-ness. In my defense, I thought I was doing the right thing. Keeping him safe.” I didn’t think I’d needed to keep her safe too.

Luna laughed. “I don’t think he needs you for that.” She staring off into the distance at the palace gardens, the silence growing between us.

“A witch cursed him,” I offered. “That’s the spell I did. Reversing it.”

“I thought I would hate it here,” she admitted. “This place. I thought it would behell.But it’s not. People are free to be whoever they are here. Monster and demon alike. It’s nothing like Pleasant Grove.”

“No, it isn’t,” I murmured. The moon was high in the sky, and the sky was scattered with stars—constellations I didn’t know, didn’t have the names for.

Luna picked up my hand, squeezing it tightly. “I don’t know what will happen, but I can promise you I’m safe here. I’m not here against my will. I chose this... I choosehim.”

“Okay,” I whispered, squeezing back. “And if you decide this isn’t what you want anymore?”

“Then I’ll come back.”

Back, she said. Not home. Because maybe Pleasant Grove wasn’t her home anymore. Not when her soulmate was here.

“Okay,” I agreed as we dropped hands, still staring out at the palace’s surroundings. I still couldn’t believe a place like this could exist in the demon realm. How much that we’d been taught was wrong.

But maybe… hiding Damien had never been the right thing to do from the beginning. Maybe I needed to show the other witches that demons weren’t all bad. That they were capable of love. Life.

“There you two are,” Zain said, wrapping an arm around Luna’s shoulders. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Damien stepped to my side, and I instantly wanted to bury myself in his warmth. It hadn’t been that long since he’d touched me last, but I’d already missed it.

“Hi,” I murmured, slipping an arm around his middle.

“We were just getting some air,” Luna responded. “It’s a little stuffy in there.” She tugged at one sleeve of her dress.

My sister’s demon prince—herfiancé, I had to remind myself—chuckled. “They’re just fascinated by you, my bride. Give it time.” He kissed her cheek.

I was surprised at how tender and loving he seemed to be. Was it all an act?

She sighed. “I know.”

He turned his attention to Damien and I. “Did you two enjoy the party?”

“Oh, yes,” I said, thinking about the demon wine. Definitely not what we’d done in the shadows. “It’s been lovely.”

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