Page 118 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
I smile to hold my tears at bay. “I’m so glad I found you.”
He grabs the back of my neck and leans down, bringing our lips together. The crowd fades away and it’s just my mate’s kiss, his touch, his love. I hold him back, folding deep into the embrace.
He breaks the kiss and stares at me with his icy eyes. “So, here we are. A demon and a witch in love, trying to run a business together.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”
I suck in a deep breath and turn toward the edge of the balcony. “And now,candy!”
I grab two big fistfuls of mini chocolate bars and throw them over the edge, using my magic to slow them down and not pelt the children to death. Apollo grabs one of the bags and flares his wings out wide before leaping from the ledge. I use the wind to help push him up and he coasts over the crowd. Some of them scream, and that was expected, but most of them seem delighted.
He throws candy as he flies, flapping his massive wings with a deepwhumpthat makes me jealous for some flight time with him. Some of the audience leaves, but many of them stay, bombarding us with questions. Everyone wants to touch Apollo’s wings and horns to see for themselves if it’s just areally good prosthetic, and though Ireallydon’t want a bunch of grubby hands all over my mate—especially the women who also touch his pecs and biceps—I allow it.
My mom finds me all too soon and I can tell by her wide-eyed frown that she’s about to have a panic attack. I take her into the apartment away from the crowd, letting Apollo, Irene, and Leonard do the ticket giveaway.
“Hija, what…what is this?” she whispers, and I realize that maybe I should’ve told her beforehand. She seems like she’s in shock.
“I’m a witch, and so are you. Your crystals and sage are apparently not hooey.”
She clucks her tongue and smacks my leg. “Of course it’s not, but it’s notwitchcraft. Ay Dios mio!”
I’m glad she’s more herself. I should keep pushing her buttons.
“What do you call this, then?” I ask, raising my hand and letting my peachy magic twist off my fingers and dance on the wind.
She stares intently at it, her mouth set into a thin line. “It’s a miracle.”
I want to laugh, but I know that would piss her off.
“You can’t be with ademon!” she says, hitting my leg again.
“What if God wants me to be with him?”
She sputters. “He would never!”
“Have you asked him?”
My mom growls in frustration. “Hija, demons are of hell, of the Devil. There is no reason to ask God if He would ever want one of His children consorting with one. The answer is no.”
“What if the devil didn’t make Apollo? What if it was God?”
Her face scrunches in disgust. “Why would He do that?”
“Isn’t it sort of not our place to question His choices?”
She grunts, her brow furrowed.
“Apollo’s not evil, Mom, and I don’t believe he was made by the Devil.” I don’t believe in the Devil, but I know not to say that. “I love him. He’s been the most perfect partner I could’ve ever asked for, and I am going to be with him.”
Tears glisten in her eyes. “But what if you’re giving up your place in heaven?”
She loves me. She doesn’t want me to go to hell. I get it. But I’d go to hell for Apollo.
“Mama, I gave up that place a long time ago when I took the Lord’s name in vain at age seven.”
She smacks my leg again. “He forgives when you ask for it.”
I grab her hand and hold it gently on my lap. “Then He’ll forgive me for falling in love, won’t He?”
