Page 105 of Wickedly Yours

“No,” I whispered.

And then the world went black.

THIRTY

zain

If you’ll excuse me,” I murmured, pushing out of the table, eager to follow Luna upstairs to check on her.Shit,she’d looked extra pale tonight—was she not feeling well? I cursed under my breath, ignoring the look of surprise the surrounding demons gave at my sudden outburst.

Her scent had changed recently, and I had a feeling I knew why, but I hadn’t confirmed it yet.

Lilith stood outside the door, flicking her dagger into the air and then catching it.

“Everything okay?” she asked, her wings keeping her slightly above the ground, sheathing the dagger in the belt at her side.

“Yes. No.” I shook my head. “I don’t really know. Luna just… I need to check on her.”

“You can talk to us, you know? We’re more than just your advisors. We’re your friends.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

She was right. I’d spent the last two centuries surrounded by them, and part of the reason we didn’t have these conversationsanymore was it felt like we knew everything there was to know about each other.

Besides my brother, they were the only family I had, even if I’d built it myself. Bringing each one into the fold, training each one of them to unlock their powers, learning to trust them with every fiber of my being.

“She’s good for you,” Lilith added. “I’ve never seen you so happy as you are when you’re with her.”

“She’s my everything,” I confessed.

“But?”

“Why does there have to be a but?” The words were barely more than a grunt. “I told her I loved her.”

“So?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not hearing an actual problem here.”

“She put two and two together. That I didn’t want to risk her.” I looked around us and pulled her into my study. You could never be too careful. “And she didn’t say it back.”

I’d told her I loved her, and she hadn’t said it back.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “So you?—”

“Yes,” I growled. Shoving my free hand into my hair, I tugged on the loose strands. Why hadn’t I told her sooner? Because I was scared that she wouldn’t feel the same?

Lilith raised her hands up. “I’m just trying to get a grip on the situation here, Zain. What did she say back? Do you think she doesn’t love you?”

You do have me.But that wasn’t the same asI love you, too.

“I can’t risk her. She knows that.”

“You’re an idiot.” She snorted, punching me in the shoulder. “But at least you listened to my advice. It was looking dicey there for a bit.” Lilith shook out her hand, wincing like it hurt.

“Hey.” I frowned. “That’s not?—”

“Whose bright idea was it to kidnap the girl and bring her back here?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “But Ididn’t.”She gave me a look. “Fine. You were right. About all of it.” I shut my eyes, breathing out through my nose. “But don’t tell Asura. She’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

“The end of what?” The demon herself asked, popping out from behind the door.

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