Page 88 of Wickedly Yours

zain

She was magnificent. Her teeth gnawed on her lower lip, and her brow furrowed in concentration as she attacked the shadow dummies I’d summoned repeatedly.

The sweat formed on her brow as she worked on creating a beam of pure moonlight in her hands, directing it towards the shadows. There were a few patches of dead grass—iced over—from where her shots had missed, but I was fascinated by the light that poured out of her.

It was iridescent; the sheen containing a magnitude of colors like a rainbow, and yet, in the right hands…Utterly lethal.

This was why the fates had chosen her for me. Not only to rule by my side, to be the other half that brought me back into the light… But to be a power in her own right.

I didn’t need to fight her battles. She could do that herself. She’d been fighting for the chance her whole life. Who was I to stop her?

No. I wouldn’t hold her back. Not from fulfilling her destiny.

The destiny that we would fulfill together once we got backto the palace. If she was ready, and if I was. I felt stronger now—did I stand a chance?

“I think that’s enough for the day,” I said, watching as she panted, sweat soaking the thin blouse she’d worn. “You don’t want to over-exert yourself.”

“One more,” Luna said, a look of concentration in her eyes.

All I could think was my mother would have loved this woman.Iloved this woman.

My fierce, dedicated queen, who’d never shied away from whatever life had thrown at her. Every time I thought she’d draw the line or pull back, she’d surprised me.

Fuck, I loved her ferocity, the intensity with which she loved her sister. Every bit of her.

I watched as she let another bolt of light hit the shadowed form square in the chest and then wrapped my arms around her.

“Good job.” I kissed her cheek.

She scoffed. “I think I hit the lawn more than anything else.”

“It’s a start.” That was the important part. “And the lawn will grow back.”

Her eyes twinkled as she looked back at me. “Thank you.”

I scoffed. “You don’t have to thank me. Don’t forget, I forced you to come here with me.” My tone was playful, even though I still doubted myself sometimes.

Luna whirled on me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Don’t say that.” Her voice was soft. “Iwantedto come with you.”

“You did?” I raised an eyebrow.

She nodded, though the gesture was subdued. “Do I seem like the kind of person who does something that she doesn’t want to do?”

“No.”

“Exactly.” She kissed me softly before adjusting our positions so she could interlace her hand with mine, leaning on me. “What’s next?”

Even though I knew we needed to go back—to return to my responsibilities as crown prince and to all the different issues facing me at present—I couldn't bear to leave the peace that we'd found here. It finally feltright.

Like maybe things were working out exactly the way they needed to.

Could she love me?

Sometimes it felt like she did. When she looked up at me, with the brightest smile on her face, I let myself hope.

It wasn't something I'd ever considered before finding Luna. Ever since I'd lost my mother, I'd practically shut out the idea of falling in love with someone. No woman was worth the time or energy, not until her.

My mate.

---