Page 69 of Accidentally Vacationed with an Incubus

“Surprisingly well,” I admitted. “I’ve had a lot of support. I’ve reconnected with old friends... and made some new ones.”

“Glad to hear it.” There was a brief pause, filled with the faint rustling of papers in the background, before she continued, “Listen, I’m really busy tying up loose ends before I leave, so I can’t chat for long. But I’ll be in the area tomorrow—are you free for a catch-up?”

It felt like a lifetime ago that she and I had stood in front of that prison, when she had looked me in the eyes and told me, “You’re going to have to forgive yourself at some point, Jen.”

Back then, I had thought it was impossible, that she had been foolish to even suggest it. But now? Now, I wasn’t sure when it had happened—whether it was meeting Devlin, Rowan and Brooke’s unwavering support, or the Cadmuses’ quiet forgiveness—but at some point, I had started to let myself live again. To stop punishing myself.

I was still a long way from forgiveness, but it no longer felt like an impossibility.

“Um, sure. Tomorrow evening would be great.”

“Wonderful. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jen.”

“See you tomorrow, Ward—Izzy,” I corrected myself, smiling as I ended the call.

Devlin’s voice broke the silence. “Who was that?” he asked as I slipped the phone into my back pocket.

“The warden of the prison I was in,” I said.

“Ah, yes. The mysterious, unidentifiable magical creature who suppressed your magic,” he mused. Then, with a slow, assessing tilt of his head, he asked, “Speaking of which—has it come back yet?”

I blushed, suddenly remembering that the only flicker of magic I’d regained had been squandered on an orgasm.

I lifted my hand, flexing my fingers, trying to summon even the faintest trace of power.

Nothing.

Not a single drop of magic in me.

Then, a thought struck me. Devlin. He had lost his ability to return to the Shadow Realm. It was the whole reason we had struck our bargain in the first place—because he couldn’t go back. Had he even tried since then?

I chewed my bottom lip, debating whether to bring it up. What if I reminded him—what if I were the reason he suddenlypoofedback to his own realm, free to roam as he pleased? Would he come back to me? Or would he chalk this up to a fun adventure—just another temporary indulgence before moving on?

He wants you, Jen, I reminded myself.

I let his words from last night play over in my mind.“I intend to stick to the promise I made to myself—to only do what I’m comfortable with, with someone I’m comfortable with. That’s you, Jen.”

I exhaled slowly. My voice was quiet as I asked, “Have you been able to return to your own realm?”

His face blanched, shadows flickering at his fingertips before he stuffed his hands into his pockets. He took a few measured steps, his silence stretching. “Um,” he said finally, his voice a little too casual, “I haven’t really thought about it. And to be honest with you, I’m quite happy to stay here for the time being.” Then, after a beat, he added, “That is... if you’re still happy to have me?”

I should’ve told him to go back. I should’ve told him that I was falling for him, and that it would be better for both of us if we stopped now before it was too late. That it would break me if he found his fated mate and had to leave me behind. But I couldn’t find the words.

And so, I made my choice. To let my heart inevitably break in the future, just so it could heal in the here and now. “You can stay for as long as you want, Devlin.” I sucked in a breath, readying myself to finally talk about Rowan’s stalking and the whole messy mate situation when, for the second time today, I was spared.

Just as the house came into view, so did Brooke.

She was sitting on the love swing, rocking it violently as she chattered animatedly to BooDini, who sat beside her, its tiny sheet hands clamped onto the chains for dear life as if fully expecting to be flung from its seat at any moment.

The second she spotted us, Brooke’s head snapped up.

She leaped gracefully from the swing, leaving a visibly relieved BooDini behind as she beamed and strode toward us, meeting us halfway up the lane. “Jenny!” she squealed, throwing her arms around me in a hug. “And Devie!” Before Devlin could react, she had already latched onto him, her arms looping around his shoulders.

I watched as his entire body stiffened. His face blanched, his bourbon eyes narrowing as she pulled away. He was assessing, waiting to see if his incubus touch would take effect—if Brooke would suddenly go weak-kneed with lust.

A mix of fear and jealousy curled tight in my chest, bracing for the worst. But nothing happened.

Which was... odd.

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