Page 43 of Wickedly Yours

“So we finally meet your witch,” one of the two females—with dark hair secured in a long braid and matching horns that curved from her forehead—said, a look of amusement on her face. Two wings rested on her back, like a bat.

“Took him long enough,” the other said, blinking at me with snakelike eyes. She was gorgeous, and I knew I was staring, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away. Her hair was green, chopped to a bob at her shoulders, and her skin was almost… scaled?

What fantasy novel did I hit my head and wake up in the middle of?I was too busy taking them in that I barely paid attention to what they said because this couldn’t be real.

They were demons, and yet, they were so…other.There was an ethereal quality to them I’d never seen before.So completely different from the pair of demons that had been outside the coffee shop earlier today.

How had it been only hours since that? It already felt like I’d left Pleasant Grove days ago.

“This is Luna,” Zain’s deep voice said, causing a shiver to run down my spine. His hands rested on my shoulders, and a surety flowed through my body. Somehow, this was where I needed to be, and it was like my body—no, mysoul—recognized that.

“Um. Hi,” I said, offering a small wave to the group.

“It’s nice to meet you, Luna.” One of the two identical men spoke—the one without the facial scar—as he bowed slightly at the waist.

“This is Talon and Thorn. My guards. They’ll be your guards now as well.”

Guards?My nose scrunched up. “I thought we said?—”

“I promised you I’d keep you safe, did I not?” He said thewords low against my ear so the others couldn’t hear, and, well… I couldn’t argue with that.

That was the entire reason I was here.

“I’m Talon,” the onewiththe facial scar said, a grin spreading over his face. They both had honey blonde hair, only a few shades deeper than my own, with silver eyes. “I’m the older one.”

Thorn rolled his eyes. “Which you never let me forget.”

“And I’m Asura,” said the green-haired beauty as she shoved in front of them, peering at me with those slitted eyes. “Ignore those two. I normally do.”

The twins both gave a huff, though there was no malice in the tone. They’d clearly all known each other for a long time. It made my heart ache for my sister, even though I’d only seen her yesterday. I hadn’t gotten to say goodbye.

Zain kept me held tight against him.

“Come on, Z. You know we won't bite. Let us get a good look at our future queen, will you?” The dark-haired girl propped her hip against the table, her wings fanning out behind her like she was stretching her muscles.

Queen?My eyes widened.

“This is Lilith,” Zain said, a little grunt escaping his lips as he disconnected himself from me, pressing his lips to my forehead before moving to his desk.

“Your wings are—” I blinked, standing in front of her. Gods, they looked completely different from Zain’s but no less amazing.

“Beautiful, I know.” She batted her eyelashes.

“Do you... I mean… can you fly?”

Lilith laughed, the sound erupting through the room. “I can, and I do. Often.”

Careful, Moonbeam,Zain thought into my mind.You’re going to make me jealous.

Right. He had wings, too. I wondered what that was like. My cheeks heated once again, but I couldn’t help my childlike wonder at how they differed from humans and us witches.

They all shared a look, and then Asura spoke. “How much do you know about demons?”

I shook my head, my eyes connecting with Zain. “Not that much, I’m afraid.”

Lilith frowned. “Zain, did you not tell her?”

“I didn’t exactly have a chance.” He rubbed the space between his eyebrows. “Someone sent blood demons to the human realm.”

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