Page 5 of Wickedly Yours

If it was possible for me to glare daggers at them, that was what I would currently be doing.

As it was, I was trying to decide why I kept these idiots around.

Probably because, despite it all, they were the closest thing I had to friends. Because I trusted them, I’d recruited each one of them to my side for a reason, and I knew they were right.

Muttering, I let loose a curse under my breath. “I’m going tonight,” I said, finally, not acknowledging their suggestions. We’d do it my way, and then they’d see.

Everything would be fine once I had her by my side. Once she agreed to be mine.

I waved my hand, dismissing all of them as I studied the map once more, my eyes clouding over with red.

Exhaling deeply, I tried to ignore the pent-up frustration in my veins. How long could I ignore my father’s summons? He’d want a report—want to know what I was up to—but I couldn’t reveal my plans.

Not yet.

She’s here.

The thought struck me as soon as I stepped foot inside the bar. I could sense her before I could see her. The knowledge that the girl I had been waiting for was in the same room as me was almostoverwhelming. Every nerve of my body was instantly alert—searching.

The bar was dingy and yet somehow charming. I could sense power and magic in these humans, these witches, but it was faint—nothing like the raw, untapped potential of the demons.

But then I sensed him. The one being I didn't wish to see tonight.

My brother.

Damien was sitting at the bar, nursing a glass of amber liquid, his eyes focused on the dance floor. On the brunette witch dancing beside a blonde, their bodies pressing against each other and laughter spilling from their lips. Laughter I shouldn’t be able to hear from this distance away—given I was still just inside the door, shadows cloaked around me, hiding me from view.

He wouldn't be happy to see me, either. To know I’d disrespected his request for more time. Damien had wanted until the end of the month, and this witch was the reason. His mate. He wanted more time with her.

But I neededher. The blonde whose entire being seemed to light up this room, her smile already warming a piece of my cold, dead heart.

She was nothing like what I’d imagined.

Not that I’d allowed myself to imagine her in all the miserable, lonely years of my existence. I’d waited centuries for her, and even in the darkest of days, I’d known that the knowledge of her was too tempting a fantasy to fall into.

To let myself bathe in her light was more than I could ever hope for.

Even if every piece of me wanted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her out of here, to sink my teeth into the creamy, tender flesh of her neck and mark her as my own.

I wanted to bury my nose into her hair, to bring her scent into my airway until I could smell nothing but her. Until I’d memorized every piece of her being.

She was real. She washere.

My instincts were on over-drive, my thoughts too muddled with her to think clearly. If anyone got too close to her… I growled, my lips curling over my teeth as the thought occurred to me.No.I couldn’t let anyone else touch her or let her go home with anyone else.

She wasmine.

So I watched her. Like a predator stalks his prey. Like a feral beast in heat.

Waiting until the time was right to swoop in and claim her as my own.

THREE

luna

Ghoul’s Night.

I loved how ridiculously into Halloween this town was, and especially that our only bar did these themed nights every so often. There was a special drink menu with spooky drink concoctions, and the speakers were playing classic Halloween hits likeI Put a Spell on YouandThe Monster Mash.For a town of witches, sometimes it was a little too kitschy. But I was happy, and after a few songs spent dancing with my sister—and the two drinks I’d already consumed making me happy and carefree—I headed back to the bar.

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