whispers back as Lucas continues to drawl on and on about new beginnings from the raised platform. “It’s just crazy how things changed so quickly.”
“Are you scared?” I query, because in all honesty, I’m fucking terrified. We’re going to a new school, with new people, and new fucking problems. I already know people won’t accept this unconventional relationship, but we decided unanimously that we weren’t going to hide.
“I know it’s silly…”
“There’s no reason to be scared,” I reassure her.
“It’s just with my mother…”
“Whom you haven’t seen since your grandma disowned her.”
“And your powers…”
I lightly squeeze her hand, pushing a tiny bit of heat into my touch. She gasps, not loud enough to draw attention, and gives me a bland look. I simply smirk at her in response.
“Everything will be okay,” I repeat. “Did you know that Cassian and I went to check out the apartment the other day? The landlady reminds me of your grandma. Super sweet. It’s only ten minutes away from school and fifteen away from the mechanic’s shop.”
I decided pretty quickly that more schooling isn’t for me. I spent three-fourths of my time ditching class, and I only returned when Peony did. I landed an internship at a mechanic’s shop in the area. At first, I worried Peony would be mad at me for not pursuing school, but I shouldn’t have underestimated my girl. She was positively thrilled and showed me how happy she was with that perfect body of hers.
“We’re really doing it,” she whispers dazedly.
I lean forward to claim her lips with my own, tasting her cherry chapstick.
“We’re really doing it, baby girl.” I reluctantly release her and begin to walk towards the stage, where Cassian and Karsyn already joined Lucas. Whispers break out amongst the students and parents as we stand side by side, staring down at a confused and flustered Peony.
Lucas’s lips curl into a grin that isn’t entirely pleasant.
“Peony, will you come up here, please?”
...
Peony
What the fuck are they up to?
My heartbeat increases from a trot to a full-on gallop as I join the four of them on stage.
Unbidden, my mind travels to a different night when they called me onto a stage…
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” Lucas begins, his voice drifting over the crowd like an icy wind in December. Cassian, Karsyn, and Elias all wear matching smirks, which only ratchets up my unease and suspicion. “We decided we’re going to start a new tradition.”
I gape at him—at them—wordlessly as they all turn to stare at me. And then, in perfect synchronization, they drop to one knee.
People begin to gasp. Some even begin to scream in shock, crying that this is immoral. I hear someone sobbing in joy, and I don’t need to look to know it’s Mariabella, eagerly snapping pictures on her phone.
“We made a lot of mistakes in our life,” Cassian begins as the rest of the room fades away.
“But loving you has never been one of them,” adds Karsyn.
“We promise to love you until our very last days,” Elias interjects with a soft smile.
Lucas reaches into his pants pocket and grabs a small ring box, slowly pulling open the lid to reveal a silver band encrusted with four diamonds. One for each of my men.
“Will you marry us?”
Someone shouts that we’re going to hell. Another person actually lunges for the stage, before he mysteriously falls to his ass, his pants now on fire. Christian smirks evilly from where he stands with a crying Nana and a beaming Polo.
On the screen that previously displayed the graduates’ names, it now plays the lyrics of a song I’ve never heard before. I recognize the sultry, husky voice as Cassian’s.
“Step by step, it’s hard for me to accept. You jumped in my life. And all of the pain melted away. No time. For regrets. Never looking back again.”
As the song plays through the speakers and tears fill my eyes, Cassian smiles shyly.
“I wrote this the day you returned,” he confesses. “I didn’t understand why until now. I think a part of me always knew that everything would lead to this.”
It takes me a long moment to realize that I still haven’t answered Lucas’s question. I don’t know how it’ll work, a marriage between me and four men, but maybe the hows don’t matter, only the whys.
And the why is pretty damn simple—I love these men, and against all odds and reasoning, they love me in return.
A red-faced, furious principal begins to storm towards the stage, the scene almost an exact replica of that night five years ago.
But now, everything has changed.
Now, I have so much love in my life, I’m afraid my heart might actually burst.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, I’ll marry all of you.”
As Lucas slides the ring onto my finger, a wide, genuine smile splitting his face in two, I realize that all of the pain and heartache of my past led me to this moment. To the four of them.
We may be going to hell, but at least we’ll be together.
Now and forever.
Just one crazy witch and her four charming devils.
About the Author
Katie May is a reverse harem author, a KDP All-Star winner, and a USA Today bestselling author. She lives in West Michigan with her family. When not writing, she could be found reading a good book, listening to broadway musicals, or playing games. Join Katie’s Gang to stay updated on all her releases!
Also by Katie May
Together We Fall (Apocalyptic Reverse Harem, COMPLETED)
1. The Darkness We Crave
2. The Light We Seek
3. The Storm We Face
4. The Monsters We Hunt
Beyond the Shadows (Horror Reverse Harem, COMPLETED)
1. Gangs and Ghosts
2. Guns and Graveyards
3. Gallows and Ghouls
The Damning (Fantasy Paranormal Reverse Harem)
1. Greed
2. Envy
3. Gluttony
4. Sloth (Coming Soon)
Prodigium Academy (Horror Comedy Academy Reverse Harem)
1. Monsters
2. Roaring
Tory’s School for the Trouble (Bully Horror Academy Reverse Harem)
1. Between
2. Beyond (Coming Winter 2020)
Supernaturalette (Interactive Reverse Harem)
1. Introductions
2. First Dates
3. Group Outing
4. Game Night
CO-WRITES
Afterworld Academy with Loxley Savage (Academy Fantasy Reverse Harem)
1. Dearly Departed
2. Darkness Deceives
Her Immortal Legacy with Elena Lawson (Time Travel Paranormal Reverse Harem)
1. Chasing Time
Darkest Flames with Ann Denton (Paranormal Reverse Harem)
1. Demon Kissed
1.5. Demon Stalked
2. Demon Loved
STAND-ALONES
Toxicity (Contemporary Reverse Harem)
Blindly Indicted (Prison Reverse Harem)
Not All Heroes Wear Capes (Just Dresses) (Short Comedic Reverse Harem)
Charming Devils (Bully/Revenge Reverse Harem)
Goddess of Pain (Fantasy Reverse Harem)
Torn to Bits (Shifter Reverse Harem)