Page 85 of Spookily Yours

He cocked his head to the side. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Oh.”

“I do though. Have my own house, away from the palace.” He laid his head on my lap. “I’ll take you there sometime.”

I traced a finger over his jaw. “I’d love that.”

“You’re my home, Willow,” he said, taking my hands in his. “I told you that. And wherever you want to be… I want to be there, too.”

“Okay.” I liked the sound of that.

“Home?” He asked again, his voice quiet.

“Home,” I agreed.

* * *

After we’d finally extracted ourselves from the bed, washing up in the giant bathtub once again, we’d put on fresh clothes. I didn’t ask where he’d gotten my clothes from. How his magic worked, exactly.

“I’m sorry,” he offered as we walked back outside of the palace. Despite my initial reservations of the place, I was surprised how beautiful it was.

Damien and I had talked about Luna earlier while we were getting ready. My conversation with her.

“It’s hard to rescue someone who doesn’t want to be rescued.” But if she wanted to be here—if she would be happy—then I’d let her go.

“No.” He took my hand. “I mean, for not telling you. I should have told you that Luna was destined. That my brother would come for her. I’d spent weeks trying to figure out how to get around it. But…”

“I know.” I cupped his cheek with my palm. “But as long as she wants to be there, then… It's her choice. She’s an adult. If she wants to be with her…” My voice choked on the words. “Fated mate,then who am I to say anything? After all, I found you.”

“Willow…”

My body tensed. “He won’t hurt her, right?”

“No. Fuck. No, never.” He took my hands in his. “He might be the heir to the demon throne, but he’d… He’d never harm your sister. Or force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.”

“Okay.” I paused, looking back at the glittering tops of the palace. “We can come back, right?”

“Any time you want.”

Still holding hands, I watched as Damien opened a portal back to my world with his magic. He used the darkness to walk between realms, and it was mesmerizing, almost. How beautiful it was. His magic might have frightened people—but not me. Never me.

“Home,” he murmured, the sound low under his breath.

I love you.I almost missed it, but I knew in my heart that he said it. Could feel the way he felt it, too.

The shadows wrapped around us, taking us back.

Taking us home.

I love you too,I sent back through our tether.

* * *

I felt defeated, like I’d lost something today. It hurt to think about Luna not being here whenever I needed her. She was my little sister, my twin flame—but more than that, she was my best friend. The one who knew me better than anyone else. The sister I’d do anything for.

But looking up at Damien as we stood in front of the old Victorian manor I called home, I realized I hadn’t lost everything at all.

Because he was still here.

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