The three of us sit in a triangle formation—Luna to my left and Celine across from me.
Pulling out my phone, I read over the spell again just to be sure I’ve remembered the exact wording.
I reach for each of the girls’ hands and close my eyes.
Reciting the words feels foreign and not at the same time. I practiced a little when I wasn’t with Valen. It’s a different language, but it’s similar to English. I’m sure I fumble over a few words but try to stay as close as possible to the original.
I open one eye and look around, frowning when I see that nothing has happened. “Ugh,” I groan. “Did it work?”
“I don’t know,” Celine supplies. “It’s a protection spell. Maybe there’s not?—”
The space on the floor where Valen’s shirt is seems to open up, the items disappearing into a massive shimmering red and orange hole. I grapple forward when I see the necklace about to fall and sling it behind me. I would never forgive myself for losing something that must be so precious to my mate.
“What is that?” I gasp, shielding my eyes from the sparkling colors.
“You’re the witch! Shouldn’t you know?” Luna shrieks, scuttling back from the hole.
“I’m kinda new at this whole thing,” I retort as a breeze fills the space, lifting our hair. Pom Pom whines from his spot in the corner.
That’s when the lights begin to flicker.
“I don’t like this,” Celine cries. “I don’t like this at all. This was a terrible idea!”
The lights go out entirely, and when I look toward the windows, I watch them go out all across the city.
“What the fuck?” I mutter.
The lights flicker again, and I swear I see a shadow of a man.
“Who’s there?” Celine asks, which freaks me out further because if she saw a man too, then…
The lights come back on and I scream, because thereisa man. A very tall, pale blond, scary-looking man with tattoos, glowing golden eyes, andhorns. He surveys us all in confusion before he zeroes in on Luna.
He cocks his head to the side and stepsoverthe salt and candles.
Luna scuttles backward but stops when she collides with the armchair.
The giant man crouches in front of her and reaches out with surprising gentleness considering his formidable appearance. He grabs a strand of Luna’s hair and rubs it between his fingers.
I can’t see his face, but I swear I can feel him smile at her.
“Wife,” he croons.
She snarls at him and exhales one word.
“Demon.”
CHAPTER 42
AVA
As quickly asthe intruder is in front of Luna, he’s thrown up against the wall. The movement is a blur. A boom sounds that feels as if it rattles the room. A few frames I have hung on the walls fall off.
Pom Pom, having had enough, yips in fear and darts into the bedroom.
I hope he didn’t run across broken glass with his little paws.
An animalistic snarl echoes through the space, and I watch as the unknown man is thrown against the other wall so quickly I can barely track it. A huge body-shaped dent is left behind.
