Demi
I read over my words, feeling like they were inadequate, but they were the best I could do. I kissed the paper and hoped Roman never had to read it. That by tomorrow the remainder of the walls around my heart would shatter.
But if not, that Roman would search for me. And that eventually, our souls would find their homes with each other. That Roman would get the peace and love he deserved.
Chapter XLI
Roman
Ifsomeonehadaskedme last week if it was possible to live a lifetime in three days, I would have told them no. But that was before Demi came crawling through my window.
The last three days had been the best of my life—Demi, Junie, and me stealing every spare moment we could. I’d lost sleep just to memorize her: the way her lyrical laugh filled a room, the feel of her smooth skin, the hitch in her breath when I nuzzled her neck, the way she made Junie giggle longer and harder than anyone else ever had. The way she’d looked under the stars last night.
For three days, the void inside me had almost disappeared. Almost. But now it was back, knocking at the door, waiting to swallow me whole as soon as the full moon rose tonight.
A life without Demi was unthinkable. And yet, it was the only future I could see.
I’d hoped that if I loved her enough, some miracle would happen. That even though I wasn’t her one true love, maybe the true love I felt for her would unlock her heart.
And here I was, pretending it was business as usual—preparing for the matching ceremony at dusktonight—when all I wanted was to run far away with Demi and Junie. To a place not even the gods could reach.
But that place didn’t exist.
I’d been desperate enough to ask Jupiter to speak to Zeus. He’d refused, claiming tensions were already too high between Greeks and Romans. Although he felt for my circumstances and wished the fates to be in my favor. I couldn’t rely on fate alone.
So I tried Eros. Again and again. The prick wouldn’t pick up.
Didn’t he care that his daughter was about to be torn from him? Didn’t he care that the world needed her?
I slammed my fist against the desk in my makeshift office, knuckles stinging.Ineeded her.
Jazzy popped her head in, radiating that new-love glow. She could thank Demi for that. But she wouldn’t.
“Hey, we’re almost ready for you. Another great season,” she chirped. “I was worried there for a while, but little Miss Sunshine didn’t ruin it after all.”
I narrowed my eyes, the muscles in my jaw tightening. She was talking about Demi, and every instinct in me wanted to hurl insults back. At first, I held my tongue—I wasn’t supposed to be personally connected to Demi.
But then I remembered Junie’s words before I’d left that morning. She’d hugged my neck, her little arms squeezing tight, and whispered, “Daddy, you have to be very brave for Demi today. It’s important.”
I’d asked her what she meant, but she’d only smiled and said, “I can’t tell you.” Whatever secrets her goddess was whispering to her, I wanted to know. Especially if it meant we got to keep Demi in our lives.
I didn’t know what being brave for Demi meant, but the least I could do was defend her.
“Jazzy,” I said evenly, forcing calm into my voice. “I consider you a friend. And I’ve always appreciated our working relationship and your opinion. You’re the best at what you do. But you’re wrong about Demi. In fact, you should be thanking her for your relationship with Miles. Maybe all the relationships this season.”
Jazzy blinked, her smile faltering.
“What are you talking about? What would she have to do with it? And Miles and I are just friends,” she stuttered, her lie apparent.
“Please,” I said, leaning forward, my tone sharp. “You’re fooling no one.”
Her chin lifted, eyes narrowing. “And you think you are? It’s obvious you have feelings for Demi. You’re jeopardizing your job and our show.”
I didn’t flinch. “You know what? She’d be worth all of it.”
Jazzy froze, stunned. For a few beats she stood immobile, before she shook her head and looked away.
“Roman, I’m just worried about you. I don’t want you to throw everything you’ve worked so hard for away.”
