Page 104 of Broken Shadows

I’m forced onto the stool in front of the black, sprawling dresser, watching as Rosa makes quick work of my hair. When she’s done, her red nails graze the circlet of black beads holding the waves of my dark hair into a half-up, half-down style.

“You are amazing. Honestly, I’d be lost without you,” I admit.

She shoots me an incredulous look. “I know.” Pausing as I stand, she says, “If Lorcan doesn’t immediately fall to his knees when he sees you like this, leave him.”

“Oh, wait!” I reach for her bag, rummaging through it until I find the letter. “I almost forgot. I need to grab the letter from Lorcan that I left in your purse.”

I unroll the parchment and trace my gaze over the inky, cursive text. My jaws slacks as I back up against the stone wall to steady myself.

“What does it say?” Rosa asks as I read it twice, the words nestling so deep into the crevices of my soul that my heart aches.

My Witch,

I didn’t know how to tell you this, and I know I should have told you when I first knew, so I needed you to have something tangible so you know my feelings for you.

Love, although a simplistic word, must suffice to express my uncontrollable feelings for you, Little Witch.

There is no word in existence that encompasses the depth, the all-consuming craving I have for you.

I will not say I love you beyond these written words. How can I when my soul fucking growls for you—You are my eternity.

Your Demon

I have to remind myself to breathe after finishing it. I’ve never had anyone love me. Especially not a demon who told me he cannot feel such deep, human emotions. Two weeks ago, I’d have been convinced he was manipulating me, but now?

“Girl, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Rosa teases, then glances around. “Although that is probably the case in this castle.”

I bring the parchment to my chest and close my eyes. “Lorcan, well, he…” I want to show her, but I’m not ready to part with his words, wanting nothing but to hold them as just ours. “He admitted he loves me.”

Actually, his words wereyou are my eternity,which feels so much more pronounced and intimate.

“Well duh,” she says as if it’s obvious, when for me it’s been anything but. “Do you love him?”

“I… I…”

She tilts her head up. “Don’t feel pressured to say it back to him if you don’t. He can swallow his pride. Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt for him to get humbled a bit. Although, maybe do that after we leave Hell, you know, when he’s not in control of what happens to us.”

“No, Idolove him.” My stomach flutters into a thousand butterflies with broken wings.

She taps her crimson nails against her purse. “Well, if you want to be with him, then what’s the problem?”

“Problem?” My eyes widen. “He’s a demon. How can that work?”

“Or is that an excuse so you don’t have to be vulnerable?”

I huff out a breath. “This is why I don’t tell you things.” I tuck the letter in the gap between the wardrobe and wall.

“If you love him,andonly if he’s good for you, then be with him,” she adds cheerily, turning to the door. “You have a habit of catastrophizing. Live in the present with me. It can all be taken from us in a second.”

“You’ve changed your tune on demons,” I say as I follow her, a trail of tulle and lace flowing behind me.

“Hmm.” She shrugs. “I guess Hell will do that to you.”

I tsk under my breath. “Or maybe another demon has you romanticizing.”

She shoots me a glare. “I don’t have a crush on Ezra.”

“Denial,” I sing-song, making her cheeks tint with pink.

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