A little while later Michael and I left the castle and headed back toward the grassy area. I saw my discarded shoes and purse and picked them up, taking a moment to put the strappy heels back on. I’d had a scratch on my shoulder from Elizabeth’s talons, but it had disappeared when I’d turned back to human again. A quick inspection of my dress confirmed that, other than a small grass stain on the bottom hem, it was miraculously undamaged.
I thought I’d had trouble dealing with Elizabeth’s wrath? I didn’t want to have to face my mother’s for ruining her Versace dress. Talk about demonic.
Michael was quiet on our way to the gateway, which was shimmering where it had been before. I wondered if he was thinking about his new status at the castle. I didn’t know if it would change anything, but I hoped that my father would start treating him with a bit more respect. It was the very least that he deserved.
I couldn’t believe that only a couple of days ago I’d seen him across the cafeteria watching me and had been scared by him. Then again, staring at somebody for ten minutes without saying anything was a bit strange. Also, following them into a park after dark wasn’t the best way to make a good first impression, either. But I’d long since forgiven him for our rocky start.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked when we reached the gateway.
He nodded, and raised his gaze to mine. His eyes were vibrant green again, even more so in the bright light of the clearing. “I’m fine. Here . . .” He peeled off his sweatshirt and draped it over my shoulders. “It’s going to be cold back there. Come on.”
He walked through the gateway and I followed him. There was the sudden lurch, the sensation of vertigo, and then I was back home on the dark, chilly street where my house was. I knew I’d left the dance at about eight thirty, and I figured I’d been in the Shadowlands for a few hours at least. It had to be around midnight. The same time I would have been coming home from Winter Formal if it had been just a regular night.
When we got to my house, we stopped by the maple tree and I looked at him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been thinking about what your father said. He reminded me about the rules. All this time I’ve been thinking that you’re the princess and I’m just a servant. I forgot about the bigger problem.”
“The Shadow/demon thing?”
He wasn’t looking at me. His green amulet glinted under the street lamp. “I like you, Princess. I like you so much, but there are too many problems. I don’t want you to have to deal with this.” His expression tensed. “Not that I’m saying you want to deal with this, at all. I mean, it’s not like we’re together, or anything.” He covered his face with his hands. “I think I need to stop talking now.”
I bit my bottom lip, torn between feeling confused and totally elated by his little speech. “Do you have any idea how annoying you are?”
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“If you don’t stop apologizing, I think I’m going to kick your butt.” I crossed my arms. “And I’m pretty sure I can do it, too.”
Despite himself, he grinned at that. “I’m sure you can.”
There was a pause between us before I said, “Do you know that when Chris asked me to Winter Formal, I’d never been so thrilled about anything in my life?”
He glowered. “I don’t think I’m going to like this story.”
“I thought that this cute guy liked me and I was so happy. He was everything I wanted. Good-looking, popular, and he seemed really nice. I felt so lucky.” I breathed out and watched my breath freeze in the air. “But I knew deep down there was something missing.”
“What was missing?”
I shrugged. “You were.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“I like you, too, Michael. A lot. Too much, probably.”
He raised his dark eyebrows. “Really?”
“Really.” My cheeks flushed. It wasn’t every day I came right out and admitted my real feelings. But Michael seemed to be the sort of guy who needed this kind of thing spelled out for him.
“But what about what your father said? It’s all true. You’ve never known this sort of thing because you’ve lived around humans all your life, but there are rules that can’t be broken. Shadows and demons—”
“I know what he said. And I don’t really care.” I let out a long sigh. “Everybody always tells me what I have to do. Well, I’ve decided that from now on sometimes I’m going to listen and sometimes I won’t. Now, if you don’t want to see me anymore, I totally understand. When I visit my father you can just make sure you’re not around. But if you want to—”
He kissed me then. I wasn’t prepared and I hadn’t adequately puckered but it was okay. In fact, it was fantastic. I smiled against his lips as I kissed him back and hugged him against me so I could warm up a bit. He kept his hand firmly pressed against his amulet so it wouldn’t shock me.
“You’re freezing,” he said.
“It’s December.”
“You should go inside.”
I nodded. “I’ll see you soon. Just . . . just don’t tell my father.”
He smiled. “You don’t think he’ll figure it out?”
“What’s the penalty for breaking the law?”
His smile faded. “I don’t know.”
“Hopefully not the same as the one for touching a unicorn.” Before he could reply to that I kissed him again. “Are all Shadows good kissers?”
“I wouldn’t know.” He grinned. Then he took my hand in his and kissed the back of it. “Good-bye, Princess.”
“Nikki,” I reminded him for the millionth time. “And good night, not good-bye.”
“Right.” He kissed me one last time, tangling his fingers into my hair to pull me closer to him. “Good night, not good-bye. Nikki.”
I gave him back his sweatshirt and immediately started to shiver without its meager warmth. I watched Michael walk away, my lips tingling from our forbidden kiss. I wished he could stay here and go to school with me so I could see him every day, but I knew he couldn’t stay in the human realm. He had to live in the Shadowlands and I had to live here.
And we weren’t supposed to like each other in the first place. If my father found out . . . he was going to be very upset.
It would have to be our little secret.
“What are you doing lurking around out here at this hour of the night?” a very unfriendly voice snapped.
I turned to my right. Robert stood in the driveway next to his Chrysler LeBaron. His right arm looked awkward in the cast and in his left hand he held a . . . suitcase?
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Away from you.”
I felt a sudden stab of concern. “Where’s my mother?”
“Inside.”
“What’s wrong with your eye?”
Even in the darkness I could tell that a bruise was developing around his right eye. It looked puffy and sore.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he growled. “Your mother has a mean left hook on her.”
My eyes narrowed and I felt my Darkling swirl inside of me. “As mean as your left hook?”
He glowered at me. “Some women require discipline.”
I clenched my fists. “You touch my mother again and I swear to God—”
“Don’t worry. I’m out of your lives forever. And I never want to see either one of you again.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
He didn’t say anything else. He took his suitcase, his broken arm, and his bruised eye socket, got in his car, and pulled out onto the street. I watched until the car’s taillights disappeared in the distance.
Then I rushed inside, feeling frozen to the bone, but overflowing with concern and curiosity. I found my mother in the kitchen pouring herself a large glass of red wine. A quick check of the wall clock confirmed that it was half past midnight.
“Oh, hi, honey,” she said before taking a big gulp of the drink. “Did you have fun at the dance?” Her gaze moved down the front of me. “Is that a grass stain on my Versace dress?”
“I just saw Robert. What’s going on? Did he hit you again?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “He tried to, but I hit him first. He’s gone. He’s not coming back. It’s over. Four strikes for me now. I don’t think I’m going to get married again.”
I went to her and gave her a big hug.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Her voice was shaky. “Why can’t I find somebody who’ll love me and treat me right?”
“I love you.”
“Thanks.” She pulled back and smiled at me. “Just the two amigos, then, huh? You and me. Like it’s always been.”
I had a horrible thought then. “Does this mean we’re moving again?”
I hated the idea that we would have to leave and go somewhere else to start all over again. I’d lived so many different places and finally, despite my problems with Chris, I was somewhere I wanted to stay. I valued Melinda as a friend. I liked my classes. I even liked some of my teachers.
And would I be able to get to the Shadowlands from anywhere? How did that work? I didn’t know and I couldn’t leave until I knew for sure.
She shook her head. “I’m sick of moving around so much. Besides, you know I grew up near this area. I think I’ve finally found my home again. We’ll stay in Erin Heights for a while, anyway. At least until you finish high school. Is that okay with you?”
I felt a surge of relief. “That’s definitely okay.”
“How did things work out with Chris?”
I grimaced. “Not so well. I won’t be seeing him again.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She stroked the hair back off my face and tucked it behind my ear. “Maybe one day we’ll both get to have our happy endings.”
“I thought you said that was only in your books.”
She shrugged. “Maybe I was wrong. Life is full of surprises, after all.”
I wanted to tell her all about Michael. I wanted to tell her about my father so much, too, but I held my tongue. I’d respect his wishes.
For now.
Maybe someday I’d be able to share the truth with her, both about me and about him. There was a reason he had a painting of my mother on his wall—a reason he wanted to protect her from the truth about him. It was because he’d never forgotten about her. Because he still loved her. Maybe that’s the reason she’d searched so hard to find love but it had never worked out. Because my father was the perfect man for her.
Even though he was a demon.
But then again, so was I. Half demon, anyway.
I’d always believed that demons were evil, but my father wasn’t evil.
I wasn’t evil.
However, there was one person who might disagree with that statement. Chris had seen me in full Darkling form. I was willing to bet that he’d stay very far away from me from this moment forward.
That was just fine with me.
But would he tell anyone what he saw? Was my secret safe? I didn’t know for sure.
Everything was going to be okay, though. I could feel it. And if it wasn’t, then I’d have to do something to make it okay because no one better mess with me or anyone I loved.
After all, mess with the demon and you get the horns.
Cute horns. But still, horns.