Page 52 of Wickedly Yours

“Now presenting, the Crown Prince and his fiancée, our Princess-to-be. Prince Zain and Lady Luna!” The room erupted into cheers as the demon finished his proclamation, stepping back into the shadows.

Princess of the Demons.Goddess. Had the fates really predicted this? Maybe they were wrong. Or maybe Zain was. Because how could I possibly be the one they’d imagined being their queen?

I wasjustLuna—just me.

Zain squeezed my hand as he guided me down the stairs, and I was careful not to step on my dress. My new wardrobe also included dozens of heels, and though I’d never felt clumsy before, I was terrified about tripping in front of everyone.

It was like being under a giant microscope as we headed towards the front of the ballroom with everyone watching us.

I eyed the golden crown sitting on Zain’shead. His tux was black, adorned in golden accents that brought out his eyes, and I kind of liked that we were each other’s mirrors.

His black and gold to my white and silver.

His darkness to my light.

We reached the dais, Zain stepping up the steps first and then offering me a hand. My breath caught in my throat. Earlier today, only one throne had graced the throne room.

Tonight, two sat side by side.

His—and mine. Neither was taller than the other, just a matching set. My heart fluttered in my chest.

It was like he was claiming me as his equal.

And I didn’t know what to do with that.

We danced for what felt like hours till my feet felt pinched in the brand-new pair of heels, and I begged for a moment of respite to sit down. He agreed, leaving me on my throne as he grumpily went to mingle with some of the demon lords—which was perfectly fine with me.

If I was introduced to one more person tonight, I thought my brain might explode.

I glimpsed Willow and Damien in the corner, both sipping on what Zain had informed me was demon wine. It was a gold, sparkly substance, though I’d only had a few sips of my own before I’d been swept off to dance with Zain.

Luckily, it had been easy for me to fall into step with him, to let him guide my body even through the complicated waltz. Somehow, it was like I always knew where he was going to go, how he was going to move.

Because despite everything, I still trusted him.

Zain’s companions surrounded me the moment I was left alone, and even though I’d just met them earlier today, I couldsee the easy playfulness between them. How easily they all teased each other.

“So, how long have you all known each other?” I asked. Perhaps getting to know them would give me a deeper insight into Zain’s life. The parts he hadn’t told me about.

“Alongtime,” Asura commented, taking a drink of her sparkly beverage. “For each one of us, Zain changed our lives when he took us under his wing. If not for him, I’d probably still be living in the slums somewhere.” She’d changed into a form-fitting, one-shoulder dress, not bothering to hide the scales on her arms or the markings on her face.

“The slums?” A sickening feeling formed in my stomach. “The demon realm has a place like that?” Looking around this room, all the wealth and power displayed, I couldn’t imagine anyone living in poverty here.

She sighed. “Unfortunately. But in rescuing us?—”

Lilith draped an arm over her friend, her strapless crimson dress showing off her cleavage. “You’re making him soundsoft,Asa. He had his reasons for bringing us in under his wing.” She winked, flaring out her left wing with the same movement.

Asura shrugged off Lilith’s arm, giving her a small glare, before turning back to me.

Thorn snorted. “It’s not like you can blame him. He’s the product of his own upbringing.” His blonde locks were styled now, brushed back with what I assumed was gel, which made the horns on his forehead even more prominent. Without the facial scar, I probably wouldn’t have been able to tell the two apart.

“What was he was like growing up?” I frowned, looking down at my hands, the glass I’d hardly touched since it was given to me. “Zain hasn’t told me very much about his childhood.”

Talon nodded his head. “Kairos was there for most of it.He’s the closest in age to Zain, though you’d never guess it. He doesn’t like to talk about what it was like, though. Losing his mother. Enduring his father’s punishments.”

“It wasthatbad?” I whispered the words. Somehow, I knew they wouldn’t be answered.

I looked over at Zain, who had once again settled into his crown prince persona. With all that swagger and self-confidence, he practically oozed power.

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