Page 44 of Heir of Darkness

Luna nodded. “Along with that, no forcing each other to do things they don’t want to do. AKA, not rushing me to have children when I’m not ready.”

“Oh, add something about being allowed to travel. We still have breaks coming up and trips booked,” Cecilia said.

“Kind of weird we have to mention any of this,” Blair grumbled, taking another sip of her drink.

She was right. It was heartbreaking that they lived in a world where their girls’ nights were spent having to write up a contract for how her future husband had to treat her. Luna took another sip, pushing the thought from her mind. It was a necessary precaution, something to protect her.

“Better safe than sorry,” Gianna said. “Add something about mandatory foreplay. If you’re going to be stuck with the same man for the rest of your life, you might as well have a good time when you do fuck him.”

Luna choked on her drink. “I can’t put that in the contract.”

“Actually, you probably should. Especially if he doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Cecilia said.

Her cheeks heated. Unfortunately, he did know exactly what he was doing, much to Luna’s relief, but there was no way she was going to tell any of them about it. Luna cleared her throat. “On to more important subjects, add something about how no matter the sex of the first born, they’re still the heir. I won’t allow them to push aside my child.”

Blair nodded, typing frantically on her laptop. “What about your living accommodations?”

“Oh my God, you’re going to have to move out, won’t you?” Cecilia asked. She gave a puppy dog frown, causing Luna to grab her hand in sympathy.

“She’s going to be a married woman. She needs her own home,” Gianna said. “Or Valerio can move into here.”

Luna let out a laugh. Picturing him amidst the pink and fluffy whites of their apartment was hilarious to think about. “I don’t want to move out.”

“I can bet you money that you won’t be living here when you’re married,” Blair said.

“Well, I don’t want to live with Dante and Allister either,” Luna said. “No offense to you, Gianna.”

“Can’t say I blame you. The only reason I still live there is because all of these apartments were too small. Where would I put all my clothes?”

Everyone rolled their eyes at that. “Fine, I’ll put something about the two of you buying a home of your own, but it has to be close to us and we have to be able to come over whenever we want and have rooms of our own.”

“Perfect,” Luna said.

The drunker they got, it seemed that the more outrageous the list became. But she was going to dinner with Valerio the next day, so it had to be typed up with spaces for the two of them to sign. And as soon as Blair printed out the papers, they all passed out in the living room, promising to regret their hangovers the next day.

Luna gasped awake, holding her head when the hangover struck her just as violently. For the past few nights, she woke up with nightmares of marrying Edward and ending up with the bulletin her own head. Last night, she was shackled to the altar screaming for help, but no one came. They made her feel so helpless and alone. She hated that feeling more than anything.

But with the morning sun came the reminder that at least one nightmare was over. Edward was dead and she wasn’t going to be marrying any strangers ever.

The sun also brought along the reminder that they had had far too much to drink the night before. All she remembered were fuzzy memories of a new contract they were typing up. When she finally looked at her phone, she was reminded of the date she had with Valerio later that night. She roused the girls up, forcing them into looking decent enough for a trip to the mall so she could find an outfit for the night.

She wanted a dress she would feel beautiful in and the moment she put on the silky, pastel yellow dress, she knew it was perfect. The fabric draped down her body like a waterfall, hugging her hips and stopping at the middle of her calves. She finished the look with some diamond earrings she got for her birthday a few years ago and a pair of white kitten heels she stole from Blair’s closet.

She stuck the typed-up stack of papers in her bag and made her way out of the apartment. With prompt orders from Luna, Valerio waited downstairs in the garage. It felt too romantic to have him come up to the apartment and pick her up.

She ignored the comments the girls made and opened the door to leave, only to find Valerio waiting in the hallway. Luna’s eyes widened as she closed the door behind her. “I thought I told you to wait in the car.”

“Why? Are you trying to hide me?” he asked, his brow raised.

“No, I’m trying to save you the embarrassment of my best friends,” she told him. “Are you ready to go?”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, his eyes trailing up the length of her body before moving to her face and locking eyes with her. “Now I am.”

“What was that about?” she asked, shifting uncomfortably.

“Trying to save the way you look into my memory,” he said. “You look magnificent.”

A blush crept onto her cheeks. “You could always just take a picture.”

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