Page 49 of Wickedly Yours

“Are you okay?” Willow tightened her arms around her sister, like if she held tight enough, she could pretend this never happened. But ithad.

And it was my fault. I could have prevented all of it if I’d been honest from the beginning. If I’d just asked her to come with me, instead of manipulating the entire situation.

“Brother.” Damien turned to me, face stone cold as he stepped up in front of me. “We had an agreement.”Those red eyes practically bore into me, and I wondered how it was I who sat up here, burdened with a power I didn’t ask for, while he’d been resorted to… what?Being my father’s attack dog?

But I had a role to play now. So I rolled my eyes, somehow both annoyed and amused. “We had no such thing.”

“I said?—”

I shook my head. “Damien. I don’t want to fight. I…” Just wanted her.

My eyes slid over to Luna, watching her cheeks light up as she talked quickly with her sister, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was captivating.Enchanting. There was no other word for it.

“She’s hersister,Zain.” Damien spat the words.

They wounded me, and I let that sliver of remorse show, if only for a moment. “And you’re…” I trailed off, looking between Willow and Damien.At the connection between them, and it was clearer than it had ever been what exactly they were to each other. But I wanted him to say the words out loud. Why he hadn’t wanted to return, he’d found more than just a human to care for. He’d found…

“Yes. Willow’s my mate.” He chuckled. “Funny that you sent me to findyourqueen, and it led to me finding my witch as well.”

The girls were still speaking in low, hushed voices, and I hoped they were caught up enough in their conversation so as not to overhear ours.

“You’re not planning on returning, are you?”I knew the answer before I asked, but I still had to ask. Had to prepare myself for the genuine possibility that this newfound happiness he’d found would keep him even further away from me.

“No.” My brother’s eyes were filled with longing as he looked at his mate. “I want to stay with her.”

“You love her.”

Damien nodded. “Yes.” I could feel the truth in his words.

“Will you be staying, brother? I’d love to get to know your mate.” Not permanently, but at least for tonight. Because Luna might have been putting on a brave face, but I knew how muchhaving her sister here during one of her first nights in this place would put her at ease.

“I don’t—”He shook his head, but Willow chose that moment to come back over to us, sliding her arm around my brother’s waist. She looked up at him, a silent conversation happening, before looking back over at her sister.

“Let’s go home, Luna,” Willow said, offering a hand.

But my brave girl shook her head, looking over at me. “I…” she joined me, coming back to my side in front of the throne.Luna let me take her hand in mine, andthe rightness spread through me. That warmth I felt from just her touch, soothing.

“I know it’s crazy, Wil,” Luna told her sister, giving my hand a light squeeze. “But… I feel like I have to do this. To see where it goes.”She glanced over at me.

“Are you sure?”

My witch nodded, the action loosening her blonde curls, bringing them down over the delectable white dress. “I want to do this.” In that moment, I was so captivated by her bravery. All she needed was a tiara, and she would look like a princess. Soon, she would be my princess, and I’d adorn her with the finest jewels in the realm, have her practically dripping in them. “We made a deal,” she finished.

Willow’s gasp echoed through the hall.

A demon’s deal was not forthe faint-hearted.Luna’s words to me, once. But what we’d bargained for hadn’t been her soul. I just wanted her heart. Not that she knew that.

“We’re having a ball tonight,” I announced, changing the subject. “You two are welcome to attend if you want to stay. I’ll be announcing my betrothal to myfiancée.”

A bit much, don’t you think?She flashed the gemstone that sat on her ring finger.

The giant moonstone that had been mined just for her. Thesetting that I’d had designed with her in mind. Would she flee if she knew the truth?

Willow’s eyes darted to Luna, the look of surprise not abating.

Maybe I should have gotten one bigger.

You’re insane,Luna said, her head shaking at me just slightly.

---