32. Zain

THIRTY-TWO

zain

H e was gone. It was done.

But she wasn't with me.

I sat next to Luna's bedside, where I hadn't moved since bringing her back to our rooms. There was more to take care of, but I wouldn't leave until I knew she was going to be fine. So I'd watched the healer work, tearing away the bloodied dress, her hands moving over Luna's body.

She used too much power. I never should have let her, never should have?—

I worried my hands in my lap, unable to focus on anything else.

"They're okay," the healer finally said, cutting off my line of thought. She stood up straight, done with her examination.

"Luna and the—" My throat was dry. "The baby?"

She tipped her head. "It might take some time before she wakes up. Using that much power seems to have weakened her significantly, and her body needs time to repair itself." She looked over at Luna's sleeping form. Too still and still so pale. "But she's strong. And, luckily, so are the babies." The healer gave me a small smile.

Time stood still. "Babies?"

"You didn't know? They're twins."

Shaking my head, I could barely drag my eyes away from my wife. "I'd suspected she was pregnant—her scent had changed, but I…" I trailed off. I'd never imagined. Twins.

Fates, she was strong.

"She's six, maybe seven weeks along. My powers in this area are limited, so I can't tell you the exact timeline, but I can definitely sense two souls. Twins are rare in demons, so you can think of this as a gift from the fates." The healer reached out, squeezing my shoulder before giving me a small bow.

"Thank you," I said, swallowing roughly as I tried to keep my eyes from filling with tears. I reached out, grabbing Luna's hand and squeezing it tightly.

Her warmth was coming back, which I took as a good sign. Once the color returned to her body, I'd feel better.

"I'll leave you alone now, Your Highness. Let her get some rest. She needs it."

"Okay."

I sat holding her hand until nighttime fell, watching her chest rise and fall as she slept, and then I kissed her forehead, promising to exact the vengeance we both deserved.

Grabbing my sword, I let the door close softly.

"It's done," I said, the door shutting behind me. I wiped my hand over my face, letting the events of the evening sink in. "It's over. It's all over."

"You look like absolute shit," Asura muttered, running her hands through her chopped green bob.

"Ha. Thanks," I huffed, rolling my eyes.

"How's she doing?" Lilith asked.

Six demons stood outside the doors, hardly a breath to be heard. Talon and Thorn, their blonde heads pressed together, Kairos and even Novalie. All of them just waiting to hear how Luna was doing.

"She'll be fine," I promised, keeping the other nugget of information to myself for now. "The magic just took a lot out of her. The healer said after some rest, she should wake up. She'll be okay."

Sighs of relief went through all of them.

"Thank you." The words were a struggle to get out. "For staying by my side all these years. I don't deserve your loyalty, but I'm damn glad I have it."

"You deserve all of this, Zain," Lilith said, a little twinkle in her eyes. Was she… crying? "But don't stay out here with us." She pushed me back towards the bedroom. "Go wait with Luna."

I dipped my head in a nod, unable to say anything else.

Luna was still laying in our bed, sleeping, her hair spread out over black satin sheets that made her look like the moon. So bright. So beautiful. And all mine.

Slumping into a chair next to her bedside, I finally closed my eyes. The effects of today—all the energy used, of being awake for so many hours—had taken its toll on me, too. Even though I was powerful, even my body had its limits.

All I needed was a moment of rest, and then I'd be right as rain.

That was what I told myself as I succumbed to sleep, letting it take me under.

Daylight's reddish rays streamed through the window when I cracked my eyes open, stretching my arms and neck from the uncomfortable position of sleeping in the chair.

But she was awake. In a clean dress. Like someone had helped her bathe.

"Zain," she whispered, her hand resting over her heart.

"Luna." I stood, unable to stand another minute apart from her. "You're awake."

"I have been for a little while, but you looked like you needed it more than me."

I let out a huff of air. She had no idea. "How are you feeling?" I asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking her hand so I could kiss her knuckles.

"I should be the one asking you that." Luna reached out, brushing her thumb over my cheekbone. "Are you okay?"

I shut my eyes, relishing the feeling of her touch. "Honestly, no. But I will be. He deserved his end. I just wish I'd been awake when you woke up."

She shook her head. "Novalie helped me. I didn't…" Luna swallowed roughly, sliding her hand into mine. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I didn't know that would happen."

"It's my fault. I dragged you into all of this. I told you I'd keep you safe, but I couldn't even do that. I never should have tied you to me." I looked up at the ceiling, unable to make eye contact with her. "If you want to go back, I can take you." My heart was in my throat.

"To Pleasant Grove?" She sounded shocked. "Why?"

"It's your home."

Luna's grip tightened on my hand. "No, Zain. My home is here. With you." Her voice was soft, so full of love, as she slid her other hand down to my chin, pulling my face down to hers. "I never want to leave your side, ever again."

"Are you sure?" I played with her fingers. "You deserve so much better than me, Moonbeam."

A small smile curled over her lips. "I think you're exactly the man I deserve, handsome. Even if you're ruthless and a little terrifying at times, I love that about you."

"You do?"

"Mhm." She adjusted her position so she could cradle my head in between both her hands. "I love you, Zain. I think I've loved you since you laid on the grass with me, looking at the stars. Since the first time I saw you. I was just scared. Honestly, I'd never felt like this before. I've never been in love before."

"Me either," I breathed, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "I didn't know it could be like this." That I could have so much love in my heart, that nothing would matter to me except for her.

"I thought something happened to you. That you'd…" I couldn't bring myself to even suggest it. All I knew was that if Luna wasn't in this world, I didn't want to be, either. An eternity without her seemed like the worst kind of punishment.

"I'm sorry," she said again, shaking her head as tears sprung loose.

I brushed them away with my thumb, letting our foreheads rest against each other. "Don't cry, baby. It makes me want to burn the world down when you cry."

"I can't help it," Luna murmured, "I just…" She blew out a breath. "I'm a little overwhelmed, is all."

"Understandable."

"What happens now?" She asked, moving the covers off her body and coming to sit on my lap.

"Now we get our happy ending," I promised her. "And they'll put a crown on your head, so everyone else will know what you are. What you've always been."

"And what's that?"

A smile curled over my face. "My queen. "

I kissed her softly.

"I love you. Fates, but I do. You taught me what it was like to love someone and what it was like to be loved in return. No one's ever cared about me, not like you do. I've spent the last three hundred years wondering what it might be like when I finally found you, but my dreams pale in comparison to the reality of you. You're my moon, Luna. Even when you're not around, I can feel my pull to you. You're the brightest thing in my night sky. The thing I always look for to know I'm home. And if I had to do it all again—struggle through every hardship—I would, knowing you were waiting for me at the end."

"Zain." She was crying again. I brushed them away from her cheeks with my lips, kissing each side softly. "How is this my reality?"

"Believe me, Moonbeam. I've been asking myself the same question since I walked into that bar and laid eyes on you. Since you asked me to come up to your apartment. Since you told me you'd marry me." I kissed the ring on her finger. "But I'm the luckiest demon alive, even if I don't deserve you." I rubbed our noses together.

"You do," she said, her voice full of conviction. "You deserve all of this. I just need you to believe that, too."

"I'm working on it," I promised. "I just might need you to remind me every once in a while."

"Mmm," Luna murmured, her eyes fluttering shut. "I think I can do that."

"Good." I kissed her forehead. "I love you." Now that we'd said the words, I couldn't stop them because it was so sweet.

"I love you too." Her lips curled up in a small smile, but then she bit her lip. "And the baby's… okay?" Her hand rested on the small bump—hardly there—of her stomach.

"They're totally fine. Healthy."

"They?" She looked confused.

"The babies."

Her eyes were wide. "Two?"