I nodded again half defiant half inviting and stretched my hands toward his neck like a child silently asking to be carried. He rolled his eyes with a low snort but obeyed, sliding his hands around my waist and effortlessly lifting me onto the back seat. The second seat was slightly raised, perfectly shaped for a passenger.
He swung onto the bike right after, handed me a sleek helmet adorned with cat ears, and smirked. “Put it on, kitten.”
I slipped it over my head, and to my shock, the cutouts fit perfectly around my costume’s cat ears. How did he plan this so flawlessly?
He just grinned again, turned the handle, and the motorcycle came alive with a thunderous roar that echoed through the lot. I squealed, startled by the vibration beneath us, and instinctively wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. There was no way I was letting go now.
“The finishing touch to your costume,” he said over the noise, his voice muffled through the pumpkin helm. He reached back, his hand brushing my neck and then I felt it.
A shimmer of energy, a slight pull and suddenly, a chain appeared around my throat. Two hearts dangled from it: one threaded through the other. The metal felt heavy, almost alive. He tugged it gently until one heart settled firmly against my skin.
I gasped, coughing slightly at the sudden movement, and he loosened his hold immediately.
“You’re insane,” I whispered, clawing playfully at his waist with my nails.
He only chuckled, low and dark. “I’ll be anything for you.”
And with that, we shot down the road, so fast the wind itself couldn’t catch us.
XI
We practically flew to the park in just a few minutes on that high-speed motorcycle. The place was absolutely packed with people in Halloween costumes, still celebrating even after the holiday had technically passed. They’d turned it into a two-weekend festival of chaos and charm and it was, in some strange way, magical.
The sky above was already swallowed by darkness, but the park glowed with thousands of bright orange lanterns. Garlands of tiny lights wrapped around poles and trees, flickering like living fire. Huge pumpkins were scattered everywhere, as if local farmers had competed to grow the biggest ones just for this night.
Shai drove straight up to the entrance and parked effortlessly without any hesitation or a ticket, no problem. Demons always had their magic tricks and aces up their sleeves,didn’t they? He gave a slight nod, confirming my thoughts, and got off the motorcycle first. With a flick of his wrist, the engine went silent. Then, before I could even move, he lifted me off the saddle in one smooth motion, setting me down in front of him like a porcelain doll.
I couldn’t help staring. He looked sinful in every sense of the word even with that sinister pumpkin hiding his face. My lips parted instinctively, and I caught myself licking them before I could stop.
That’s when a loud engine broke through the night. A dark blue sports car pulled up fast and stopped right in front of us, blocking the parking lane. The headlights went out abruptly.
“Well, that’s one way to park,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Shai’s response was immediate, he gripped the chain around my neck and tugged me closer, his hand firm on my waist. His attention was locked on the car.
“Is something wrong?” I asked quietly.
“It’s time we head to the party,” he murmured, his voice lower than before.
But just as we turned to go, I caught sight of a tall, blond man stepping out of the car. He was dressed in a sharp black suit with black demonic horns on his head and he was just like the kind that screamed “rich vampire-demon at a Halloween party.” The fake fangs and the hint of blood at the corner of his mouth made me snort under my breath.
To my surprise, Shai didn’t laugh. He froze, watching the man with unsettling intensity. The blond circled around the car, reaching for the passenger door but before he could open it, the door flew open by itself. He jumped back, startled.
A woman stepped out, she was a stunning creature with an almost unearthly beauty. Her long dark-cherry hair whipped around her face as the wind caught it. She pulled up the white hood of her flowing dress, giving her the appearance of aghostly figure from another world. But it was her eyes, her cold and piercing dark green eyes, that made me turn away almost instinctively.
“Let’s go,” I said softly, tugging the chain myself this time.
Shai blinked as if waking from a trance and smiled faintly. He took the lead again, the chain slipping lightly between his fingers as he guided me forward. People turned to look as we passed, some whispering, some smiling, and I couldn’t help grinning. It seemed they appreciated our little performance — the demon and his kitten on a leash.
The whole park was dotted with pumpkins of every shape and size, each one glowing from within, some lit by real candles, others by flickering bulbs. The air was thick with laughter and mischief. Only adults wandered here, dressed in every kind of costume imaginable, some of them were classy and mysterious, others were so revealing they were practically had translucent costumes, bodies were shimmering under the lantern lights. It took me by surprise.
“Is this, by any chance, the kinky party club we’re going to?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, almost,” he laughed, tugging me forward by the chain as if we were putting on a show just for the crowd. Heads turned as we passed, they were certainly curious, entertained, maybe even a little envious and I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
The trees around us burned bright in red and orange hues, their leaves carpeting the ground like fire. The air was crisp, yet it felt warm, a kind of warmth I hadn’t felt in years, the kind that spread from the inside out. Warm because of him. Because of Shai.
The carousels roared on both sides of the path, filled with costumed thrill-seekers screaming in fear and delight. Halloween music pulsed through the park, a mix of eerie violins and playful beats that wrapped the night in rhythm. I caughtmyself smiling wide, genuine, unguarded smile soaking it all in like a child seeing magic for the first time.
