Page 18 of Spookily Yours

Was I strong enough? Powerful enough?

Maybe I was going overboard, but this was all to get the demon out of my house—out of my life. Wasn’t it?

“It will,” he said, his voice strong with conviction. “I believe in you.”

I turned away, not wanting him to see the warmth on my face.

* * *

“What are you doing?”

“Goddess!” I jumped, practically smudging the chalk lines I was drawing on the ground. “Luna! What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t respond to my text. It’s the full moon—we always spend it together.” She pouted.

We did—usually with the coven—but I needed this to work. For Damien’s sake. And I couldn’t risk them all finding out.

“And also… I brought cupcakes.” Luna heaved up the box. My mouth watered at the sight.

“I’m sorry. I just…” I looked down at my partially drawn circle and winced. “Had something I needed to do.”

She didn’t look surprised. “It’s okay, Wil. As long as you’re being safe?”

Was I? I was living with a demon in my house, for goodness’ sake. Even though he’d been so cute when he’d curled up at my feet last night. When I’d caught him resting his head on my ankle, I’d almost sobbed from how adorable it was.

Sometimes it was hard to remind myself that he wasn’t a cat when he snuggled up with me. I’d miss those moments the most.

But maybe he needed it too, that connection—however temporary it was.

As soon as I broke the curse, fixed him, he’d be gone.

“Yeah,” I finally said, feeling sadder than I thought I’d feel about that very prospect.

Luna brushed my shoulder. “Do you need anything?”

“I think this is something I have to do alone,” I said, straightening my spine. The moment I said the words, the rightness spread through my body.

And I knew I’d spoken the truth. I had to do this alone—for Damien. I couldn’t explain why, but it was an undeniable fact.

My sister nodded. “Okay.” She looked around the room. “Where’s the new cat, anyway? I want to meet him.”

I blinked. “He’s…” Where was Damien, anyway?

He’d been laying in the patch of sun that came through the library windows earlier. It made me snort, because only this demon could sunbathe, still claim hewasn’t a cat,and make it endearing.

The worst part of all of this was I was losing another cat.

Meow.He didn’t jingle anymore, since I’d taken that damn collar off.

“Oh! Hello there.” Luna bent down, extending her hand out to Damien, who tilted his head as he sniffed her unconvincingly.

“This is my sister,” I said to my cat, aware that this was only awkward for me. Because my sister had no idea that the cat who was currently rubbing against her was practically royalty inHell.

“He’s friendly.”

Damien chirped in response, rubbing against Luna’s ankles happily.

Except for when amanis around,I thought with a snort, and Damien’s head whipped around to look at me.

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