19. Luna

NINETEEN

luna

Y awning, I stretched my arms, feeling sore in all the best places. The past few days had been good. Great. It felt like Zain was opening up to me, and I was just happy to spend more time with him again.

This morning, I'd finally gathered my pride and asked if I could use the kitchen, wanting a distraction from all the bustling about the palace. I didn't have to lift a finger, which felt strange, considering it was my wedding, too.

It was rather easy to commandeer the kitchen, especially given I was marrying their beloved Crown Prince. Though sometimes I wasn't sure if they worshipped him or were terrified of him. Maybe both. When he was with me, he was like a little puppy, but I saw how broody he was with everyone else.

Either way, I had a kitchen, and thanks to a little begging to Zain, I had access to all of my ingredients from my bakery in Pleasant Grove. He'd opened a portal for me, though I'd barely had enough time to grab all my supplies before he closed it again.

The smell of baking cookies instantly made me feel at home .

All I needed was a cup of my sister's legendary coffee to feel better.

I wished I could call her. If only my phone worked here. In so many ways, I wished this world wasn't a realm away from my sister.

Tomorrow, I was getting married. I would be someone's wife.

My world was changing right before my eyes.

I'd dreamt about the two little ones again last night. And when I woke up, my surroundings still strange to my eyes, I couldn't get those golden and lavender eyes out of my mind.

So strange. Because they felt so familiar. Like I should know who they were. Was I seeing the past—Zain's past? But who was the little girl? I'd never met a single witch with eyes of a purple hue.

What would he think? Maybe he'd be like the others—brush it off, tell me I was just making it up. But I didn't think so. He'd always seen me, listened to me, in a way that I knew he wasn't faking.

Suddenly, it all felt so real.

I cared for him—I knew that in the depths of my soul—and even with everything that had happened, I still felt a rush of anxiety and apprehension. Maybe it was that my family wasn't here. A rush of sadness passed through me, thinking about our parents.

Would their spirits be able to find me here, looking over me as I said my vows? Or was that just the hope of a naive girl?

"Somehow, I knew I'd find you here," came a familiar voice.

My head whipped around, though I couldn't find any words as I saw the head of light brown hair come into view.

"I heard someone needed an older sister," Willow said, a grin spread over her face.

Happiness pooled in my chest, and my heart felt full .

My eyes instantly flooded with tears. She was here.

Before I realized it, my feet were flying, and I met her halfway across the room.

"Hi, Lune," she whispered, wrapping me up in her arms.

"Hey, Wil," I said back, burying my face in her shoulder. How did she know all I wanted was to have her here with me?

"What's wrong?" Willow frowned when we finally pulled apart, wiping at the wetness that had collected on my cheeks. "Why are you crying?"

I shook my head. "They're not—I'm not sad. They're happy tears."

Because she was here , and the last few weeks had been surreal, to say the least. I was still trying to adjust to this life, surrounded by demons and beings I'd barely known. Meanwhile, my support system was back in Pleasant Grove.

Her green eyes stared back at me as she cupped my cheeks. "I couldn't miss my sister's wedding." She gave me a warm smile.

"Is Damien with you?" I asked, peeking around her but not seeing her dark-haired demon. I knew one of Zain's bodyguards was outside—the constant protection never faded unless he was with me.

"He went to check on Zain," Willow said, her nose sniffing the air as she smelled what was baking. "Did you make pumpkin chocolate chip scones?" They were her favorite.

"I was feeling a little homesick," I admitted. "And when I told Zain about missing baking, he helped me out." And now I had enough supplies for at least several dozen different desserts. Plus, the pantry here was stuffed full of new ingredients I was already coming up with ideas for.

"No complaints here. You know I'll never turn down one of your scones."

"Do you have your dress?" I asked, changing the subject. I'd been dying to see all the details of the wedding. Zain insisted it was a surprise.

"Oh." My sister looked down at the deep plum dress she had on. It was nothing like the gown she'd worn to the ball, but it was pretty. The color somehow made her eyes even brighter, the silhouette making her curves stand out. "Right. Damien mentioned…" she trailed off, looking over at me.

"Don't look at me. I just showed up." I held my hands up in the air. "He barely let me help with anything."

She giggled. "He asked Damien about human weddings and our traditions as witches. If there was anything specific that we did for our ceremonies."

"He did?" Oh. That was… sweet. For a demon, he was constantly surprising me. No one could really be this thoughtful, right? Though it no longer felt like an act. Maybe it never had.

"Yeah. Turns out explaining the concept of a b est man and maid of honor to a demon is… really fucking weird."

"So is marrying one," I snorted.

"How are you feeling? About all of this?"

"Fine," I answered, staring down at my nails. I wasn't apprehensive about Zain—it was the rest of it.

"Yes, that explains the tears," Willow snorted. "I still can't believe you're getting married. Before me, no less."

"Shut up," I muttered, though there was no malice behind it. "I'm only three years younger than you, anyway." And knowing how possessive Damien was of her, I was sure it wouldn't take long till they were walking down the aisle, too.

She hopped up on the counter across from the stove as I went back to check on the scones.

I propped my hip against the opposite side as I faced her. "Lately, I've just been feeling like… something was missing in my life. And then you went and adopted a cat, and he turned ou t to be your soulmate, and I'm just… I don't know. Everything feels different now."

A sly smile touched her lips. "Because of Zain?"

"Maybe." A flush spread over my cheeks as I looked at the floor. "But even before that, I'd been wanting more. And don't get me wrong, I still love baking, but there's so much about myself that I've never learned. That I never really got a chance to, but now… I want to know how I fit into all of this."

"It's okay to admit that you like him, you know." Willow grinned. "You are marrying him, after all."

"I just… How did you know?" I asked her, fiddling with the crystal on my necklace. "That Damien was the one? That you…" I couldn't quite say the words.

Because as much as I liked Zain—and had since we'd first met—I couldn't quite say that I was in love with him. Not yet. The way it was going, though…

"That I love him?" My sister's warm smile lit up her face, and I could tell she was thinking about the demon who had the other half of her heart.

I nodded, suddenly feeling like a naive girl all over again.

"It would be easier if there was any one thing I could point to. But he makes me feel safe. Loved. Treasured . He gave me back a part of myself I hadn't even known was missing. Part of me had been scared, though. That I'd let myself love him, and he'd leave. That it had been too good to be true. But…"

"But he stayed."

"He did. And we chose each other. Soulmates or not, I'd never found someone who felt like home before. Who saw every piece of me and loved all of it. Someone who'd do anything for me." She shook her head. "Damien's not perfect—not by a long shot. Learning he kept things from me—about his brother, about you… That was hard. But I forgave him because I loved him. "

"I was okay," I said, my voice low. "You know that, right? That I'm fine here?"

"But what if you hadn't been? What if he'd been keeping you here against your will? I just?—"

"I would have told you. Asked you to take me home with you. If I didn't trust him, I…" The words were on the tip of my tongue. That I never would have come.

Willow reached out to squeeze my hand. "I know you're okay now. And I love you. But more importantly, I trust you. And either way, I'm always gonna be here for you, Lune. Even if you decide that all this is too much."

"I know," I whispered back, squeezing just like we always had as kids. "And maybe that's why I can do this. Because I know you've got my back."

"Always will." She winked.

"I love you so much, Wil. I don't think I say that enough. Truly, I don't know what I would have done without you." Willow waved me off, but I continued. "You gave up your life for me, and I don't know if I ever really thanked you for it. The bakery—moving back to Pleasant Grove— everything you did for me. You're the best sister a girl could have ever asked for."

"Oh, Luna. I didn't give anything up. No part of me that regrets any of it. Working together all of those years was the best thing I could have asked for. Speaking of the bakery, though…" Willow twirled her finger in the air. "I might have hired a manager. I hope that's okay with you."

"You did?" I was shocked.

"After we talked last time, I hired the new baker. And I guess I'd been adrift for a while, too. Not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. So I decided it was time for me to step back, too. And with Damien, I just…" she trailed off, a breathtaking smile taking over her face.

"You're happy? "

"I've never been happier."

"Good."

That was all I could hope for. A joyful life. Love.

And maybe that was the dangerous thing about dreams.

They always left you wanting more .

A bouquet of violet and light lilac flowers was placed in my arms as I stared at the large doors that opened to the ceremonial hall.

"I'm getting married," I whispered the words like I was tasting them on my tongue.

My makeup was flawless—eyes lined with kohl, a shimmer over my eyelids—and Novalie had loosely curled my hair, not a strand out of place. Somehow, she got the curls to hold, a feat I was attributing to magic instead of whatever tool she expertly wielded.

The masterpiece of a dress Angelique had designed fit me like a glove, the fabric shimmering no matter how the light hit it.

It was the same face that I'd seen in the mirror for the last twenty-five years that blinked back at me. The same light blonde hair, bright green eyes—like Granny Smith apples—and the same porcelain skin and rosy cheeks. I was me. And yet, I was someone completely different, too.

Stronger. Eyes brighter. I looked every bit the role I was filling. Ethereal . They'd truly made me feel like a princess.

My pale blonde strands flowed behind me, and a long, shimmering veil draped down my back. Then there was the crown that sat in my hair, a large moon sitting in the center, dozens of tiny gemstones and crystals spreading out from around it.

Today, I'd become his wife. And one day… his queen. A shiver ran through me at the thought.

Despite all my extensive research and the amount of books I'd read on the subject over the last week, I still had no idea what to expect from today.

Zain had been tight-lipped about the whole thing. Even though he hadn't been vocal about what exactly it would entail, he'd at least been present with me physically . I'd spent the whole last week wrapped in his arms every night.

I could tell something was bothering him, and he hadn't shared it with me. It seemed like stress above and beyond one could expect from a wedding—especially from an immortal, three-hundred-year-old demon.

"Are you ready?" Lilith asked at my side, dressed in a red one-shoulder gown, her wings tucked in behind her, the long black hair braided thickly over one shoulder. Somehow, her horns completed the look, making her look sensual—beautiful.

It was strange how quickly I'd gotten used to everyone's appearances around me. How different it was here than Pleasant Grove, and yet… I liked it here. His friends had made me feel welcome. Like I could rely on them if something went wrong.

And I liked it when Asura or Lilith—sometimes both—would sneak into my room and take me on an adventure. They'd become my friends, and I was so grateful for that.

When I answered, there was not an ounce of hesitation in my voice. "Yes."

"Then let's get you married," Willow said, a twinkle in her eyes. Pride filled her voice, and I resisted throwing my arms around her again.

Hugging her tight like I had so many times since yesterday. We'd spent the entire night talking, catching up on what we'd missed in the last two weeks. Zain and Damien had been close by like neither one of them could let us out of their sight.

We'd both ended up with overprotective men, but I secretly didn't mind. His hand rested on my thigh—possessively, and I couldn't help but wonder if this meant something to him the way it did to me. If he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest like I did?

Worse. The thought flickered into my head, and I blinked suddenly. I still wasn't used to being able to talk with him like this—mind to mind.

Are you spying on me? I said, scowling at the thought.

I could almost feel his smirk. Spying? Is that what we're calling it now?

Zain—

I'm waiting, he said, the thought like a caress against my mind. Don't keep me in suspense for too long, Moonbeam. A man can only be so patient.

I took a deep breath. Rolled my shoulders back.

Willow stood in front of me, dressed in her floor-length lavender gown. "Shall we?"

Then I was walking in, about to swear vows of love and loyalty to the Prince of the Demon Realm.

I thought back to Zain and our conversation in bed. Princess.

My eyes connected with his, standing there in a gilded black suit adorned with lavish details and the crown that sat on his head.

Warmth spilled through my chest, but I still couldn't help but wonder… Was I making the right choice?