Page 43 of Hellish Witch (Playing with Demons #3)

Epilogue

T wo weeks later…

A hiss of laughter pierced the sunny morning.

I shifted on my knees in the short grass and shot a glare at the furball mocking me. “Really, Cookie? It’s not that funny.”

My enormous hellcat familiar sprawled on a plush fur blanket. I’d laid it in the sun behind my cabin just for her to be extra comfortable while I worked.

Ungrateful ball of fluff.

Her angular feline eyes, the same blood-red shade as mine, narrowed.

She gave an indignant meow and another hacking hiss. It is, though, silly cub. Claws are for slashing the soft underbelly of your prey, not digging holes like some bored hellhound. Her raspy words were spoken straight into my mind, clear enough to drip with mocking.

“It’s called gardening ,” I huffed back, accidentally brushing mud on my cheek as I swiped back a stray curl, but my lips twitched at my familiar’s sass. “My trowel broke, and there’re only two more left to plant.”

Hearing her voice in my mind—actually being able to speak to her—was going to be a double-edged sword from my absent magic, but I cherished it anyway. The hellcat had been a prickly kitty ever since Killian and I had made it back into Hell a week ago.

She’d waited for me at the portal the whole time. Days of watching and waiting, and if she was to be believed, many successful hunts of demons she considered stupid enough to become prey.

I hadn’t asked too many questions about that part, but I had given her the cat-shaped shortbread I’d bought in the human realm just for her. A hungry hellcat was a dangerous one.

Reuniting with my familiar had been beautiful and heart-warming. Until she’d hissed at me for taking so long and tried to bite me again.

Even with my magic gone, the bond sang between us.

She hadn’t stopped sassing me, but like a complete sap, I’d still used the last ingredients stashed in my pantry to bake her a whole batch of darkberry scones this morning. I’d saved a few for Killian too, but I had no idea where he’d snuck off to.

We’d only got back to the Hybrid Kingdom last night. After giving a quick summary of events for the monarchs and enforcers, followed by a long telling-off from Rex, we’d finally gone to bed.

Separately.

Until Killian had snuck into my bedroom in the middle of the night. I’d woken up this morning in his arms, feeling safer and happier than I could ever remember being.

I scooped another hole in the ground, getting even more dirt under my scarlet claws, and buried the next set of seeds in the mud.

Given how close my cabin was to the Bloodwood, the tall trees cast a dappled shade over the end of what I considered my garden. Nobody really bothered with fences here, but I was set on expanding my plant patch.

I may not be able to heal with magic anymore, but I knew how to make a mean salve or two.

Cookie lifted her head, angling her face over my shoulder.

I had a second to brace.

Something knocked into my side. White softness wrapped around me, and then I was rolling along the grass in a cloak of feathers. The sunny garden and blue sky blurred in a dizzying tumble.

Silver glinted in Killian’s eyes as he cuddled me tighter than a basilisk, pinning me beneath him in a way that had my blood heating.

He flashed me a fanged grin like the psycho he was. “Need a hand, sweetness?”

I quirked a brow, barely resisting the urge to squirm beneath the delicious weight of his muscular warmth. “You’ve got mud all over your pretty pigeon wings now.”

“Worth it,” he murmured, eyes dipping to my parted lips. “Seems your gardening is going better than the last time I found you at the edge of the Bloodwood.”

“You mean that time you stalked me in the dead of night like some creep?” I poked my tongue out at him, and a playful giggle bubbled up my throat.

His voice dropped to a husky rasp. “We both know I was stalking you long before that, and have been every day since.”

I threw a mock glare his way. “You know, you’re not meant to say crazy shit like that.”

“And why not?” He pouted. “You’re my future mate.”

“How very presumptuous of you.” I snorted. “You haven’t even asked me.”

He bared his fangs in the biggest grin. “Yet.”

I sucked in a needy breath.

Demons claimed their mates at the height of passion. A wild, primal way to propose compared to the human style on one knee with a ring. Just the hint that it was something on his mind had heat pooling low in my body, sparking anticipation.

He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips, and my heart swelled.

We’d left my rotten father and his coven two weeks ago. Though the journey back had been easier than the way there, we’d still run into complications along the way: another hunter squad on Earth and some thieves staking out the Bloodwood that Cookie had thoroughly enjoyed mauling.

The danger hadn’t stopped Killian and me from growing closer with each passing day.

And well into the night.

Killian’s lips feathered over mine as he spoke. “Besides, I’ve already moved my stuff into your cabin.”

My brows shot up to my horns. “What?!”

Mischief glinted in his stormy eyes. “You didn’t think I had your pretty kitty out here distracting you all morning for nothing, did you?”

“Killian!” I gaped up at him. “You can’t just do things like that.”

He frowned, like he was actually considering my words, before the expression smoothed with an infuriatingly sultry purr, “And yet I did.”

Before I could get a word out, his lips crashed against mine. He devoured any protests I might have had with his drugging kiss.

The persuasive incubus nipped my lower lip, fang stinging just enough to have me moaning into his mouth. “Killian…”

“Yes, sweetness?” His forked tongue lapped at the wound he’d created, stealing the tiny drop of blood. “Are you trying to play hard to get, little witch? I’ve already waited years, but if you really want to torture me longer, I’ll kick your neighbour out and move in next door until you’re ready.”

I pursed my kiss-swollen lips. The demon was actually being serious.

“You’re really diving in horns first here, aren’t you?” I mused.

Storm clouds swirled in his expressive eyes. “When it comes to you, sweetness, how could I not?” He tapped the centre of his bare chest, where his tattoos had been wiped. “My heart is yours. It was even before you forged me a new one.”

My own fluttered at his sweet words, but I pulled a face to cover how easily he made me melt. “An incubus with a honeyed tongue? Who’d have thought?”

“My sweet succubus.” He leaned down, whispering in my ear, “Let me show you the other things I can do with my tongue. Or shall I get you another cake first?”

My cheeks flamed, and my greedy core fluttered at the thought.

“Eww, get off my baby sister!” a familiar voice boomed.

I choked on a strangled splutter, but Killian just chuckled, releasing me long enough to sit us both up in the grass.

Rex stood at the corner of my cabin with a fake scowl on his face. Fists planted on his hips, he arched his arrowhead tail over his shoulder in mock threat, stinger still tucked away. Sunshine caught his fiery ombre hair and set the bright shades alight.

Zoella swatted his arm with a playful huff. “What he meant to say was ‘Aww, what an adorable couple you two make.’”

A dark beast stepped out beside them and woofed in greeting.

Before I could answer Alpha and the chaotic monarchs, a feral hiss rang out behind me.

This is my territory! The hellcat leaped right for the hellhound, and they clashed in a tangle of fluffy limbs and bared fangs.

Zoella’s lilac brows shot up. “Wow, Alpha. And you said you’d made a new fur bestie,” she teased.

I did not! Alpha woofed, batting his paw at Cookie’s crimson tail tuft before the evil beast could stuff it fully in his mouth.

I blinked.

Apparently, I could translate Alpha’s words now too. Before, it had been more of an intuitive understanding, like subconsciously reading body language.

The wicked witch snickered at her familiar. As usual, she looked every inch the badass witch queen. Her tattoos of spiky thorns and poisoned flowers were on display in a clingy sleeveless top and peeked through the tears in her ripped jeans.

Rex grabbed her hand and pulled her towards us with a smoky chuckle. “Don’t worry, little mouse, if your mangy mutt perishes, I’ll get you a new one.”

Zoella rolled her eyes while Alpha growled in the king’s direction.

I snorted, climbing to my feet and dusting the grass off my leathers. “It’s a good thing they’re only play-fighting, then, isn’t it.”

Killian stood, brushing off some grass I’d missed from my thigh. He wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin between my horns.

Rex’s eyes narrowed as he closed in on us, tugging his queen along for the ride. The pair stopped before us, and I felt Killian tense at my back, but he didn’t loosen his hold one bit.

The king cleared his throat, glaring over my head with a toss of his pointy horns. “You’re sure you want this idiot?”

Zoella smacked his arm harder this time, grinning maniacally at me. “We’re so happy for you both.”

Rex rolled his bright-red eyes, the slitted pupil almost disappearing completely before he fixed his intent stare on Killian. “You’re my best friend, Kill. But I will literally disembowel you if you hurt her.”

I snorted. “Relax, Uncle . I’m grown up enough to make my own mistakes.”

“Ouch,” Killian drawled but hugged me tighter despite my teasing.

Rex chuckled. “Well, this is for sleeping with my little sister anyway.”

His fist snapped out.

Killian released me as the punch caught him with a loud crack, knocking him back a step.

I gasped and bared my fangs up at my idiot brother. “Rex!”

Killian only laughed, working his jaw. Mischief twinkled in his stormy eyes. “Oh, we did a lot more than sleep,” he purred.

Rex visibly bristled.

Zoella doubled over with laughter, waggling her lilac brows at me. “This is going to be so much fun. Double date tomorrow night?”

I sighed at them all and, without thinking, reached up to touch the faint bruising already darkening Killian’s cheek.

Nothing happened.

My magic was gone. I’d not felt a spark since I’d given it all to save Killian, but I still didn’t regret it. At times like this, I missed it though.

“Sorry,” I whispered, awkwardly dropping my hand.

“Don’t be,” Killian said, voice fierce. “You’ve given me everything, and I can never repay your courage and kindness.”

Soft fur brushed the back of my hand. Cookie rubbed her side against me, and something flickered in my chest as her blood-red eyes met mine.

I held perfectly still. My fingertips warmed, the faintest thrum of power running through me.

“Eve, look.” Killian’s voice filled with awe.

I stared down at my hand, marvelling at the red-tinged glow. Before I could freak out, I pressed my palm to Killian’s cheek once more. Energy flowed through me and into the demon I loved, soothing and pure.

His eyes met mine, flaring wide. “Your magic…”

“It’s coming back,” I breathed.

Relief crashed into me. I’d thought it was gone forever.

Ugh, I’m the one bringing it back, actually. The hellcat sneezed, twitching her whiskers.

With a swish of her tail tuft into my face like a fluffy slap, she sauntered off, leaving me gaping behind her.

“Thank you,” I murmured at her snootily retreating cat butt.

Cookie ignored me and sidled up to the imposing hellhound, sitting daintily beside him. Her tail flicked out, brushing the tuft over his nose. Alpha snapped his fangs at her, inches from biting off the end of her tail.

They didn’t seem like friends exactly, more like frenemies, but it was adorable to watch.

“It wouldn’t have mattered to me if it never returned, Eve. I love you no matter what,” Killian whispered, brushing his thumb over my muddy cheek.

“Fine.” Rex huffed, dramatically throwing his claws up. “If you’re going to be all cute and shit, I’ll stop punching you for being with my sister.”

Killian bared his fangs at Rex in a wicked grin and swept me up, arms around my waist as he spun me around with a wild laugh, wings flared for balance.

“That’s right, everyone knows you’re mine now.” He let me slide down his front, sending the most delicious shiver through my body, even with the eyes of my family on us.

“You mean, you’re all mine,” I teased, grinning so wide my cheeks ached.

“Sweetness.” He pressed a delicate kiss to my lips. “I always was.”