As if she heard him, Poppy’s bedroom door opened.
“What are you girls …” Her words trailed off as she saw him. She blinked, too, as he just had.
She didn’t move, just standing there, staring as if he was a figment of her imagination.
He stared, eating up the sight of her, hair tangled from sleep, wearing pink polka-dot pajama bottoms and one of her vintage T-shirts. This one had the Byrds on it.
“Poppy,” he said. He wanted to walk toward her, but something held him back.
“Sorry,” Emma said, “you can’t leave the circle.”
He looked down, realizing he was indeed inside a circle of some sort of white granules.
When he looked back up, Poppy was coming toward him, her movements slow, unsure.
She paused a couple feet away. They just stared at each other.
Finally, she said, “Are you really a demon?”
He hesitated, then nodded. “I am.”
She nodded as if that was the most normal thing in the world.
“But he’s your soul mate,” Daisy added, then made a face as if she realized being a soul mate with a demon was less than ideal.
Poppy didn’t say anything for a moment, then sighed. “I know.”
“You do?” Killian said, stunned. He’d expected disbelief, anger, disdain. Anything but quiet acceptance.
“Yes,” she said, “but I don’t see where we go with it.”
“I don’t know either,” he admitted.
“But we do,” Daisy said.
Both Killian and Poppy looked at the girls.
“This spell will give total happiness,” Emma said with one of her dreamy smiles.
“But you have to make a sacrifice. Something big,” Madison said with a slight smirk.
“But then you can be together,” Daisy said with a hopeful grin.
Killian and Poppy exchanged looks.
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
Poppy stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.”
He released a pent-up breath, relief washing over him. “That’s what I want too.”
“But what can you sacrifice?” she asked. “Definitely not your designer clothes.”
She looked pointedly at him, and the girls giggled. Then he remembered for the first time he was wearing only a towel. Thankfully, it covered the crucial bits.
He smiled too, but then sobered, thinking, realizing he didn’t have much. He had wealth, but that didn’t seem so important now. He had stuff, but that would be no sacrifice to leave behind. Nothing was more important that her, and he’d do anything to be with her.
He shrugged, feeling helpless. “I don’t know what I have to sacrifice, but I know I would die for you.”
As soon as he said the words, darkness enveloped him again.
Poppy watched as Killian collapsed to the ground. She vaguely heard the girls’ cries and gasps, but all she could focus on was Killian.
She ran to him, falling on her knees beside him. She touched his face, his hair. His skin was cold. His skin a terrible gray color.
“No,” she cried. Liquid dripped onto his motionless face and she realized vaguely it was her own tears. She moved to cradle his head in her lap.
This wasn’t fair. She’d lost enough, not Killian too. Not him. Not when she’d just gotten him back.
Then she felt him shudder. At least, she thought she did. No, maybe it was her own body, heaving, wracked with sobs.
Then she felt him move again.
“He just moved,” one of the girls said as if to confirm her own wishful thoughts.
“I saw it too.”
Poppy cupped his cheek, turning him toward her. “Killian. Killian?”
Just when she’d thought they’d all imagined the movement, his eyes fluttered open. His beautiful golden eyes.
“Poppy,” he said, his voice raspy.
More tears spilled down her cheeks as she kissed him. He reached a hand around her head and kissed her back.
Behind them the girls cheered.
When they parted, Poppy said, “Don’t do that again.”
Killian smiled, albeit weakly. “I don’t plan to.” Then his expression grew serious. “All I’ve wanted was to get back here to you, to tell you I love you.”
She smiled, more tears filling her eyes. “I love you too.”
EPILOGUE
Cheers rose up around them along with Abba’s “I Do, I Do, I Do,” an homage to Killian’s first “fiancée.” The newly married couple turned to beam at their guests.
“So when we came here that first day,” Killian said, referring to the park, “you never guessed you’d be marrying me.”
Poppy leaned toward Killian and whispered, “No, I didn’t. But then I never guessed I’d be married to a demon either.”
“Ex-demon,” he said as he always did when she mentioned being in love with a demon. He stole another kiss, to all of their wedding guests’ approval.
Daisy appeared, hugging them both. “You look so happy.”
Poppy squeezed her sister, who looked beautiful in her red bridesmaid gown. “Thanks to you.”
Daisy’s brown eyes were a little teary, even as she grinned.
Madison and Emma, Poppy’s other bridesmaids, came forward to hug them too. Emma, of course, got emotional, but even too-cool Madison looked a little
“Well, I can see why you were looking for this guy,” Ginger said, coming up to congratulate the new couple. “And believe me, none of my cousins are this handsome.” She winked at Killian.
Killian smiled back. “Thanks, Ginny.”
Ginger looked a little confused, but let the nickname go. Killian had that effect on women.
“Mrs. Mahoney,” Poppy greeted the older woman who was with Ginger, “I’m so glad you made the wedding. I wasn’t sure if you would. When did you get back?”
The old woman nodded. “Got back a couple days ago. Strangest thing. I swear someone was staying in my apartment.”
“Really?” Poppy glanced at Killian, who managed to look totally innocent.
The old woman nodded. “Yes, things were moved all around, and Sweetness hasn’t been acting right since I got back.”
“That cat is Satan. And I would know,” Killian muttered as soon as the old lady tottered away. “And even her dress is covered in flowers.”
“Behave.” Poppy kissed him.
“I’m not that much of an ex-demon.”
Another guest approached the couple. This was Mr. McCarthy, Poppy’s boss from the legal publishing firm.
“Frank,” she said. “I’m glad you could come.”
He smiled, hugging Poppy and then shaking Killian’s hand. “I hear we are celebrating more than a wedding today.”
Poppy grinned. “Yes. Little Red School House Press offered to buy my book. Thank you so much for mentioning me to the editor.”
