The warning from the old woman at the store rings in my head. “Pay attention to the price of your desire. Nothing is given without a cost.” Is there too high a cost for what I want? I answer the question in my head quickly. No.
This time he chuckles. “We have a deal.”
He holds out a hand. I stare down at it for a second. That feeling intensifies. The one that warns me against whatever I’m about to do. Taking a deep breath, I place my hand in his.
He tosses his head back and laughs. “It is done.”
The smoke surrounds me again. This time it happens a lot faster than the last time. When it clears, I’m back in my bedroom…alone.
“Wait,” I call out to the empty space. “What do you want?”
I never get my answer. My phone rings. I quickly grab the cordless device off its holder.
“Hello?”
“Is this Ms. Reynolds?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Ms. Reynolds, this is nurse Denise from Corner Memorial.”
Nasiah’s hospital. Did the creature not fulfill his part of the deal?
“Ms. Reynolds, you’re never going to believe this. All her vitals have improved. The doctor checked multiple times. It’s like a miracle has occurred. We’re watching her for any changes, but I think your baby girl is going to be fine.”
I choke on the tears that come crashing down my cheeks. My baby will live, and I get to keep my man. Hanging up the phone, I feel higher than I’ve felt in the last few days. I couldn’t wait to tell Romeo in the morning.
I take a seat on my bed. Something catches my eye. Sitting on my nightstand is a folded piece of paper. It looks old and out of place. I pick it up and open it.
It’s a contract. It says that I owe a debt and it will be collected at random. My heart sinks when I see my signature at the bottom of the page along with the name Raziel. Right beside it is the title, Dominus, along with a symbol of a circle and the Greek Xi symbol.
I close the contract and stick it in my top drawer. I wouldn’t worry about the debt or what that creature will want from me. Right now, I’ve gotten what I wanted. I get to keep my man.
Chapter one
Wedding Day
Nasiah
Present Day…
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I admire all the work that went into my appearance. My makeup is flawless. My natural curls have been straightened and molded into an elegant updo. The white custom-made mermaid-style dress fits my plus-size body like a glove. I felt beautiful. If only I could fight off these jitters.
Today was my wedding day, and despite everyone trying to make my day about them, it was turning out to be a good day. However, the feeling in the pit of stomach would not ease.
I love Jamieson. I met him three years ago while out at a bar. He was tall, with caramel skin and deep waves. We talked for hours that first night. Three months later we made it official, and it has been nothing but good since then. I’ve never questioned whether he loved me or if I loved him. However, something felt off. It’s been that way since the day he asked me to marry him. It’s as if I’m doing something I’m not supposed to do. Which sounds crazy.
My phone chimes behind me. I go over to the small makeshift makeup table and pick it up.
Jamieson: I can’t wait to see you walk down that aisle to me. I love you.
A smile immediately spreads over my face.
See, this is why that gut feeling is insane. Admittedly, love hasn’t always come easy for me. Growing up as the outside childin a toxic threesome gives you trust issues when it comes to love and relationships. All my life I’ve known that I was not my parents’ first priority.
In their great love story, they are the stars of the show, and there are no side characters. For nearly thirty years my mother has been content being my father’s sidepiece. She has made it her life’s goal to keep him happy and coming back to her.
When he was away with his wife and daughter, she constantly worried about what he was doing and if he would come back. She’d drive herself crazy and end up spending days depressed in bed.
