Page 101 of Wickedly Yours

“But—”

Maybe I needed to worry him. Tell him about what I’d seen. As my magic got stronger, so did the visions I was seeing. How many of them were real?

Zain kissed my forehead. “How are you feeling?”

I blinked up at him, surprised by his sudden change of subject. “Fine, why?”

He swallowed roughly. “No reason.”

“Okay… Well, how's everything with your dad?”

After running into him in the hallway, I was even more cautious about bringing him up around Zain. It instantly made his body go on edge, and the tension that ran through his enormous frame made me worry.“The bastard won't step back. Even though I've been practically running this place for years, he just... I didn’t want this to end in violence. And if he succeeded, passed down the crown, then it wouldn’t have to.” A deep sigh came from his throat.

“So we should do it.” I was ready. I felt more confident in my powers than I ever had before. And I’d been studying spells in the library, which had given me an idea. “I told you I’d help.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “I feel like I'm just sitting around doing nothing.” Looking down at my feet, I stared atmy ring. “As your wife, I feel like I should be doing more for you.”

Zain shook his head, wrapping a hand around my neck and pulling me in closer. "You're doing exactly what I need. Being here for me. Just letting me hold you is all I need."He took a deep pull of my scent.

"If you're sure..." I whispered, still wishing I could do more to calm him.

"You smell so good today," Zain groaned, running his tongue along my neck. "What's that smell?"

I blushed. "I might have commandeered the kitchen to make scones and cookies. There's still some left, actually." I grabbed the bowl, unwrapping the cloth that was covering them. "Do you want one?"

His eyebrow raised. "DoIwant one?"Had I ever seen him eat sweets besides mine?Not really.But he smirked, reaching over and grabbing one out from underneath the cloth. Zain took a bite."Mmm. What's in this?"

"Lemon and lavender scones. They’re my favorite." Comfort food. The floral and the citrus surprisingly balanced each other out, and I loved the result. Plus, I'd made the icing from scratch that I drizzled on top.

“Like you,” he mused.

“Huh?”

"You should make them more often," he said, taking another bite.He didn’t offer further explanation for his other comment.

"I guess I should," I said, humming as I popped one into my mouth, too. I felt more like myself when I was baking as if I was figuring out who I was now. It had been a long time since I'd felt content. Even before leaving Pleasant Grove, I'd been... unsettled. Wanting something more.

I’d told him I needed a purpose, and that was true. I couldn’t be his broodmare or just some pretty trophy to sit on a throne. But maybe what I really needed was him. Knowing he loved me.

I might not have had something to do every day, but deep in my bones, I felt...alivelike I never had before.Happy.All of that had to do with one thing.Zain.I rested my head on his shoulder.

I'd just let my eyes drift shut for a moment, and then I'd get back to it.

Just a moment…

Blood. There wasso muchblood.

Zain.Where was Zain?

Lifeless bodies surrounded me. Weapons discarded on the ground where they’d fallen. Kairos’s dark skin, Lilith and her beautiful wings, Asura’s eyes open and lifeless, and even Thorn and Talon are together in life and death. They were all gone.

My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground, screaming in agony.

“Zain,” I begged. “Please. You said you wouldn’t leave me. You promised.”

I couldn’t control the tears that dripped from my eyes. The power felt like it was flowing out of my body until not a speck of that beautiful light I’d grown so used to was left.

And what remained? Nothing. Chaos. Destruction.Death.

This was Hell—the demon realm—on fire.

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