Page 86 of Salem's Fall
A rush of emotion surges through me, warm and overwhelming, and I race over to the cat as soon as Damien puts the car in park. “Lucky!” I murmur, bending down to scoop him up into my arms.
He presses his furry little head against my chin, purring loudly, a steady vibration that seems to echo my own relief. It’s as if he’s been watching over me all along, guiding me to this very moment, and now—finally—he’s returned to let me know I’m safe again. I hug him tighter, savoring the warmth of his small body against my chest.
Maddie slips out of the car behind me, her face pale and exhausted. Before she can say a word, Lucky jumps out of my arms and darts toward her, stopping just short of her feet. His tail flicks, ears flattening like he’s debating whether or not he actually cares. But then, after a long pause, he lets out a soft, rumbling purr. Maddie lets loose a shaky laugh, blinking down at him in surprise before gathering him into her arms.
“Ugh, you little menace,” she mutters, pressing her face into his fur. “I swear if I had died, you wouldn’t even notice.”
Lucky tolerates the affection for exactly three seconds before letting out an indignant meow and squirming free. Helands gracefully, giving her shin a single approving headbutt, then struts off like the whole thing never happened.
The butler from earlier—Edward—appears at the front door then, his expression calm and composed. It’s almost jarring to see someone so serene after everything that’s happened in the past few hours.
“If you’ll follow me, Miss Madison, I’ll escort you to your room,” he says to my sister in that smooth, courteous tone, as if he’s been expecting her.
Who knows, maybe he has?
This was probably Damien’s plan from the start—to bring Maddie home safe and sound tonight. If only I hadn’t shown up and ruined everything.
Maddie hesitates, glancing at me, searching my face for reassurance that it’s okay to go inside the house with this strange new man. I step closer, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face, my chest tightening at how small and fragile she looks.
“It’s alright, Mads,” I tell her. “We’ll be safe here.”
Her lower lip wobbles, and before I can react, she flings her arms around me, squeezing so tight, it knocks the breath out of me. “I was so afraid, Jamie,” she says. “I thought—I thought I was gonna die.”
I swallow hard, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Not a chance. You’re stuck with me for the long haul, kiddo.”
She sniffles, then pulls back just enough to look at me, her brows knitting together. “Are you okay? You’re shaking.”
“I’m fine. I was just really worried about you.”
“I love you, big sis.”
“Right back at ya,” I murmur, a little choked up. “Now go get some rest, okay? I’ll check on you soon.”
“How about some fresh clothes and a nice warm meal, Miss Madison?” Edward asks Maddie, escorting her inside.
Maddie perks up with almost comical enthusiasm, likesomeone just flipped a switch. “Do you have cheeseburgers here?” she asks brightly. “And fries! Oh, and a chocolate milkshake!”
A laugh bubbles out of me despite everything, warmth settling in my chest. Yep. That’s my Maddie.
“Whatever you desire, Miss Madison.” Edward’s lips twitch like he’s trying to hide a smile. He turns to my cat next, addressing him as if he’s a human. “And we’ve got fresh salmon in today for Mr. Lucky as well.”
Lucky darts to Edward’s side, his tail flicking like he understands every word. And honestly, after everything I’ve seen these past few weeks, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does.
I laugh as I watch my sister and my cat vanish into Blackthorn Manor, both following Edward and his promises of delicious food like he’s the Pied Piper, and they’re powerless to resist.
And then, it’s just me and Damien.
He watches me with an intensity that sends a thrill down my spine. There’s a softness in his eyes, something vulnerable and longing, that I haven’t seen before.
“You know I meant what I said back there, right? That I’d die for you,” he says, stepping closer, his gaze holding mine. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I would’ve bled for you. Burned for you. Without you, I’m already dead.”
He looks down, his composure cracking for just a moment. “Believe me, I know how that sounds. I know we haven’t known each other that long, and I never thought I’d feel this way about someone so fast. But it’s true.”
His hand lingers on my cheek, warm and steady. Everything else fades. The Veil. The danger. The darkness lurking just beyond these walls. All I can feel is him, his presence wrapping around me like a promise, binding us in a way that feels deeper, older, than anything I’ve known.
His arms wrap around me, pulling me close, and for a splitsecond, we just hover there, caught in the space between hesitation and surrender. Then his lips find mine.
The first touch is soft, almost careful, but there’s a fire beneath it—something restrained, aching, waiting. And then, all at once, the restraint snaps. His fingers tangle in my hair, his grip tightening around my waist as he deepens the kiss, pouring into it everything we’ve left unsaid. It’s desperate and consuming, a kiss that feels like a confession, like an unraveling of everything we’ve been holding back for so long.
