Page 124 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
She sprinted out the front door and past the end of her covered porch. Wind blew from every direction, causing the clouds to circle in a strange pattern. Kat waited for them to dissipate, forsomethingto happen that would give her another opening.
Raindrops hit the ground.
Kat stared up at where the moon hid, and she tried. She tried so hard not to cry. She’d tried to keep her hopes up since her talk with Melchizedek, but each day that passed with no news chipped away at her optimism until her heartbreak over losing Nex fractured the little hope she had left of getting him back.
Rain spattered on the ground, dampened her face, soaked her sweater, and landed on the earth beneath her until everything was darker. She stared up at where the moon should be, but unforgiving clouds concealed it. How would she survive another heartbreak?
First her parents. Now Nex. She couldn’t take it. Covering her face with her hands, she sobbed into her palms. Her shoulders shook, and her legs threatened to give out. She grew wetter and colder by the second, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the icy emptiness in her heart.
She dropped her hands, tugging her sleeves down and letting her tears fall. They mixed with raindrops, lost in the myriad of precipitation that washed away the last of her hope. Her eyes slid shut in defeat.
Something touched her hand. A dog. Sniffing and licking at her clenched fist.
Kat sniffled and blinked. A dog with coal-black fur, much bigger than most dogs, licked her hand and gazed up at her. Then a second approached and did the same, gazing up, wagging its tail. Kat frowned. She didn’t recognize them.
A lightpop-swishsounded above her, and she tilted her head back. A polka-dot umbrella shielded her from the rain.
A hand rested on her shoulder, followed by a voice she associated with the warmth of home. “Don’t cry, my angel.”
Unblinking, Kat stared at the umbrella for a moment before focusing ahead. His presence sunk in slower than she meant it to, but she couldn’t move. Her heart fluttered, and she was almost afraid to look back, terrified she was imagining the entire thing. Except she turned, and there he was.
Instead of improving, her crying worsened at the sight of Nex standing behind her. Not quite believing he was real, she said, “You’re here.”
Whether it was a question or statement, neither could tell.
“I’m here.” He stepped closer and wiped tears from her face.
Kat threw her arms around him and sobbed. He led her under the porch and tossed the umbrella aside. Wrapping his arms around her, he buried his face in her hair and relished the feel of holding her, the smell of her vanilla and pear leave-in conditioner, and the comfort he’d only experienced when she was close.
“I thought I lost you.” Kat squeezed him tight, afraid if she loosened, he’d be gone. “How are you here?”
“Melchizedek helped us.” Nex brushed her wet hair back and kissed her forehead. “I’m here to stay, Katherine.” He cupped her face and leaned in, so their lips touched. “Nothing will come between us again.”
Kat’s heart raced, and her lungs struggled to keep up. “To stay? You don’t have to go back? Lilith won’t come for you?”
“Lilith can’t come for something that isn’t hers. I’ve been given a second chance at mortal life.”
Kat frowned. “You mean . . . You’re human?”
“Yes. Human, and here to grow old with you.”
He kissed her, and Kat whimpered. Not just because she wanted him or because she’d missed him, but because the ache that had been in her heart since he disappeared didn’t feel so heavy, and emotion overwhelmed her.Grow old with me.He wouldn’t vanish. He was there to stay. She couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted to ensure nothing could hurt him again.
“Wait.” She broke their kiss. “You’re here to stay? For sure? Nobody will come for you?”
“No one can interfere. Melchizedek made sure of that. I’m here to live my mortal life with you and follow you into the eternal life as well.”
“But what about—” She gasped, remembering the dogs that approached her. “Were those . . .” She glanced to the side. Two giant dogs sat on her porch, gazing up at Kat and Nex. Both their tails wagged when her eyes shifted toward them. “Are those your hounds?”
Nex smiled and nodded, holding Kat close to him as he set his hand on Venandi’s head. “This is Venandi.” He moved his hand to Sicarius. “And this is Sicarius.”
“Oh my goodness.” Kat smiled when he crouched and scratched behind their ears. “They’re precious. How could you tell me I can’t call them puppies?” Kat petted both, and they melted under her touch, tails hitting the ground with repeatedthuds. “Look at them!”
Nex held back the sigh and stood. “You’ll have plenty of time to fuss over them because they’re staying too.” He grabbed her wrists and pulled her in front of him. He cupped her jaw and stared into her eyes, the same eyes that it felt like centuries ago he thought he was staring into for the last time. “How is it possible you’re more beautiful than when I left?”
Kat wrapped her arms around his neck. “I tried to summon you again.”
“Let’s refrain from things like that and not push our luck.” He rested his forehead on hers. “I can’t lose you again, my love. I missed you more than I can begin to explain.”
