Page 39 of Wickedly Yours

My eyes widened. His lips weren’t moving, which meant he was... speaking into mymind?Oh, Goddess.

So I need you to stay here until I do,he continued, his intense stare boring into me.There are wards around this room to keep you safe. Only Novalie and I can enter without express permission. Be good.

He cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead before whirling out of the room without another look, leaving me to puzzle over the last few hours alone.

I sank into my new bed, ignoring the pulse of emotions running through my body. My skin was still vibrating from every place he’d touched me, and I brushed my hand over my forehead.

Could he read my thoughts, too? I didn’t know demons could speak through thoughts like that.

Why did it feel like the more time I spent with him, the more questions I had?

Novalie was all too happy to help me get into the bath.

The warm water was a welcome relief. I’d felt slightly grimy ever since I’d watched Zain slice those demons to bits earlier. A shudder ran through my body. Not a memory I wanted to relive.

Shutting my eyes, I leaned my head back against the tile, enjoying the blissful heat running over my body. Before she’d left, she’d filled the pool with a sweet-smelling oil and set out a fluffy robe for me. I’d never had anyone wait on me before, and it was strange, but I didn’t completely hate it. Maybe it was because she was so kind and eager to help me.

It was at odds with what I’d believed in, even from the demons who had come upon me in the alley earlier.

How could anyone compare this place to Hell? No, I was pretty sure this wasHeaven.There was no other word for it.

The bathing pool wasgiant,and it even had a water fountain that flowed in, steam billowing from its surface. I wondered if it was powered by some sort of underground hot spring, despite the water's lack of odor. I could bathe here every day for the rest of my life and not complain.

The rest of my life?I rolled my eyes, trying to make myself remember that this was temporary. Once Zain knew I was safe, he’d deliver me back to Pleasant Grove.

Back to mylife. To my sister. To the bakery.

Oh. Shit. I hadn’t even figured out what was going to happen with our shop or even texted my sister that I’d be gone. Halloween was tonight, and the coven always got together for a party. Willow would be wondering where I was. This was practically her favorite day of the year. What would she think when she realized I was missing?

I winced, sinking further down into the water so only my eyes remained above the surface. I’d practically run off with a man and not even thought about what I was going to do.

What was I going to do? I was going to marry him.

I let my body relax, the fears of the day slowly melting away.

My eyes shut, and a velvet touch brushed against my mind.

Let me in,it seemed to ask, but I couldn’t.

I didn’t know how.

Not yet.

TWELVE

zain

What’s wrong?” I whirled on Kairos as soon as the door shut behind us. He was my war general, my right-hand man. If he was interrupting… I could only assume the worst.

“Is she okay?” Kairos asked, his demon tail flicking.

“She was a bit shaken up, but—I think so.” I looked back at the closed door like I could see through to her. “I just hope she can forgive me in time.”

“There’s always hope,” he said, clasping a hand on my shoulder. He had seen so many battles in his lifetime, and yet he still hadn’t become the same cynical asshole that I was. “Even in a place like this.”

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him away from me, leaning against the wall. “Those demons shouldn’t have been in the human world. How did they even find her in Pleasant Grove?”

“Maybe they followed you.”

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