I never knew this is how love feels. It's like I'm permanently on cloud nine, or

drunk on dopamine.

Her chest rises as she steadies herself, and then her words cut through me like lightning.

“I think..... it's time we tell Aspen the truth.”

For a moment, I forget how to breathe. My mind blanks, my heart stumbling in my chest. Tell Aspen? Already?

I know we had talked about it before, but I thought it would take a little bit of time. Maybe until she forgives me or we are an item.

Shock holds me in place for about a second, and then it crumbles under the tidal wave of pure joy crashing through me. Knox roars his approval inside, his

excitement like a thunderclap.

Sadie notices my stunned silence, and a small smile tugs at her lips. "You're speechless."

I actually laugh, shaking my head. "Because I am. I didn't expect that."

The tension breaks, and for a moment, we just sit there smiling at each other like fools. Like maybe, just maybe, the world is finally tilting in our favor.

She tilts her head, eyes soft. "Is tonight okay? Maybe... bedtime?"

My jaw nearly drops. Tonight? My heart stumbles all over again. I fumble like an idiot for words. "T-Tonight?"

"Yes."

The finality in her tone leaves no room for doubt, and then it sinks in-she's ready. She trusts me with this.

I can't hold it back. I pull her into a fierce hug, crushing her against me, pressing a quick, clumsy kiss to her cheek. For the first time in my fucking life, I feel like a baby.

The happiness bubbling through me feels too big for my chest. My head leans against hers, my pulse racing so fast it's dizzying.

This feels like a dream. I was honestly afraid. Afraid that I'd never be with her and Aspen. Afraid that I'd messed up too badly for there to be a second chance. I was afraid that I'd spend the rest of my life without them, but the goddess has been faithful.

Even though my chest feels heavy, hope is alive, easing the tension inside. Everything is falling into place and att I can hope is that it continues to do so because I want this with her so fucking much.

"Sadie..." I whisper, though the rest of my words fail me.

When she pulls back, she doesn't move far. Her gaze lingers on me, then drops to my lips. My breath

stills. She leans in, tentative bu

met

and my whole body goes taut V anticipation. I tilt toward her ready and probably very desperate—

The door swings open.

We both jerk back as Piper freezes in the doorway, her eyes wide. "Oh-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.”

Knox snarls in frustration inside me. "Remind me to throttle our sister later... She has the worst fucking timing."

"It's okay," I force the words, even though everything is anything but okay.

Piper looks between us, flustered. "I can... I can come back later."

I'm about to tell her it's fine when Sadie straightens, her hand tightening in mine.

Her voice is calm, but her words land like a grenade.

"No stay, we were just talking," She says,

eyes on Piper and a kind of

s is there. One Pet

directed at Piper in a long time.

"I-I don't think—” Piper begins but stops mid-sentence, staring at Sadie with something close to fear.

I frown and turn back to look at Sadie. I freeze when I realize what has Piper scared.

Sadie's eyes are pinched together, but that's not what bothers me. It's her eyes. They keep shifting from her normal black eyes to pure white.

Power surges and fills the room. All of it coming from her.

"Is that why you're here?" she asks Piper, her voice distorted a bit; it's deeper and full of authority.

"What?” Piper asks in confusion.

"Your pregnancy."