Page 50 of Raising the Sun

I sniffed. “It’s not just the Stockholm talking?”

“Come now, do you think I would place my heart so deliberately in the hands of justanyone?” He gave me a pointed look, making me snort—the sound was wet and gross, but he didn’t seem to care. A testament to his affections, to be sure. “No, the adoration I feel for you has come naturally. It is not forced, it is not required. Itisstrange, as I’ve never known it, but that makes it no less true. I cannot promise I will excel atromance, my dear, you may need to be patient as I navigate, but I’ll try. Be assured that, foryou, I’d do anything.”

As far as declarations went, it was pretty darn perfect, though it wouldn’t have been Ash if he hadn’t tacked on, “However, I do excel at everything else, so why would this be any different?”

I shook my head in fond exasperation. “What about your home?”

“Well, I happen to have grown quite accustomed to a cosy little flat above a very pretty flower shop.” He propped himself on my knees, rising to brush his lips tauntingly over mine before dropping his voice to a filthy rumble. “The bed, especially, is extremely comfortable. The company is not bad, either.”

“You want to live with me?”

“My dear,” he purred, smirking wickedly. “I already do.”

With a laugh, I tangled my fingers in his hair and kissed him as if it were the first time, giving zero shits about the possibility that it could be shown on TV. I wanted everyone to know. Wanted them to see that he wasmineand I washis, and witness just how fucking electric the spark was that burned between us.

I’d never expected reciprocation. I’d known about my own feelings for weeks and been aware of our compatibility even earlier than that, but I’d been terrified of offering up my heart only for it to be broken whenever he left. To find out that he’d been harbouring the same feelings, to know that he cared forme as much as I cared for him had adrenaline rushing through my veins, triggering the swell of confidence that had wavered.

The contest.

Ash, ever observant, withdrew, and kissed the tip of my nose before standing. He held out his hand, smiling broadly.Everything is okay.“Now, enough dawdling. Tell me the plan so you can win that trophy.”

I took his offered hand with an enthusiastic nod, an idea rushing to me as soon as my gaze landed on my worktable, on the orange phoenix feather and the sunny tarot card peeking out from one of the baskets.

I know exactly what to do.

“And in third place… Isaac Miller from Miller’s Meadow!”

Tears streamed down my face as I weaved through the cheering crowd, my shoulders numb from the congratulatory taps of my peers. My legs shook as I climbed onto the podium, palms still smudged with soil and flecked with leaves, sweating as the bronze trophy was handed over to me.

The weight of it felt solid and real.

Not a dream.

The cameras panned to me, but my gaze drifted to my workbench, to the arrangement standing proudly on display.It was a phoenix—could it really have been anything else? Its fiery, cascading tail was built from sunflowers and Naranja roses, its head a bird of paradise, and my cheeks ached with the width of my smile. I was thrilled. It was beautiful. A showpiece worthy of third place.

I sought out Ash, our eyes locking through the crowd, and his mirroring grin was all delight and affection. It said ‘I had faith in you; you deserve this,’ and two months ago, I wouldn’t have believed him, but now…

How could I not?

After my brother had slipped me the address of that magic shop, when the man behind the counter had promised to make all of my dreams come true, I hadn’t believed him either. I’d thought I was a lost cause. That even if spells and hexes were real, I didn’t deserve their help or guidance.

But fate had a wicked sense of humour, and the magic I’d once refused to acknowledge was the reason I now felt happier than I ever had before.

Demon summoning, as it turned out, was definitelynota crock of shite.

EPILOGUE

THREE MONTHS LATER

AMADEUS

“Are you ready, petal?”I smirked down at the resplendent creature below me, my belly heating with a want that hadn’t dwindled a day since our first meeting.

He was naked, while I stayed fully clothed. Well,nakedexcept for the orange ropes that were woven around his torso, trussing him up like the prize that he was. They also coiled around his legs and arms, keeping him restrained to the bench that he lay upon. I stood astride him, my legs at either side of his hips, my skirt pooling over his thighs, my feet planted firmly on the ground. I wouldn’t lower myself until he’d given his approval, but judging by the way he was practically drooling, I’d say it would soon be granted.

My Isaac was so eager to please, and endearingly curious. After so many months together, he’d grown more awareof the extent of my experience in the bedroom—the vast range of depravities I enjoyed—and had offered himself up as my sacrifice, asking to be introduced to something new every so often.

He really was a gem.

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