Shadow Demons Read Online Free Page B

missed my old self. I’d gotten so used to playing the part of Harper, the cheerleader, that I’d almost forgotten who the real Harper was. I pulled a bright pink ribbon from my drawer and tied it around my wrist.
    “You look amazing,” Jackson said when I stepped out on the back patio. The light was fading in the twilight sky and shadows danced across his face.
    I bit my lower lip and tried to hide the fact that my cheeks were about as pink as my tights. “What’s the plan?” I asked, trying to act normal.
    Jackson grabbed my hand and pulled me in close. He held his warm body tight against mine, moving a strand of hair away from my face. All of the awkward tension from the other night was gone and we were just us again. “I want to show you something,” he said.
    My breath caught in my throat and time stood still as our eyes locked. God, how did he have this ability to make everything else seem so insignificant?
    He leaned close, his lips brushing against mine. I lifted my face to his, losing myself in his kiss.
    “I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” he said, pulling away but keeping his hand firmly entwined with mine.
    “Me too.” My stomach did a little flip. “So where are you taking me, anyway?”
    Peachville wasn’t exactly a thriving metropolis. There were no movie theaters or romantic restaurants. There were a couple of fast-food places and one very outdated bowling alley. I had no idea what normal people did for weekend dates. Drake had only ever taken me to parties or over to his house to hang out. Beyond that, I wasn’t too experienced in the art of dating in Peachville.
    “You’ll see,” he said. He pulled on my hand, and I followed him back toward his house. I expected him to pull me onto his bike, but instead, we walked right past it. When we stepped into the darkness of the forest, my heartbeat quickened.
    I paused. “You’re taking me into the woods? I mean, are you sure it’s safe?”
    Jackson’s lips curled into a smile. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Trust me.”
    Trust. A very tricky word. I took a deep breath and studied his sparkling green eyes. My whole life, I’d never been able to really trust a single soul. Was I really willing to put that trust in a demon who had killed so many witches in the past? I looked at him. He would never be Wrath to me. He was simply Jackson, and in my heart, I knew he would never do anything to put me in danger.
    “Lead on,” I said, gesturing to the darkness.
    Jackson led me through the dense trees. Dead leaves crackled beneath our feet and twigs slapped against my clothes as we navigated the maze of tree trunks. We headed west of the ritual path, deeper into the forest than I’d ever been before.
    The moon shone through the branches just enough to tease my sight. Dark shadows loomed all around, and I held tight to Jackson’s hand.
    The fresh evening air caressed my skin, and an electric excitement flowed through me. I imagined what it would be like to come out on the other side of these trees to find another world far away from Peachville where Jackson and I could have a future together. Someplace where we could be ourselves and not worry about the whole demon vs. human thing.
    When we finally did emerge from the forest, I gasped at the beauty of the place.
    “Whoa,” I whispered, staring out at the most beautiful lake. Overhead, there were so many stars, it was as if my wish had come true and a portal to a new world had opened before us. “What is this place?”
    “Brighton Lake,” he said. He moved behind me and slipped his hands around my waist, pulling me against him.
    “I had no idea this was even back here,” I said.
    “Technically, this all belongs to you,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places on the property. I knew you’d love it out here.”
    The beauty of the lake consumed me. The breeze coming off the water was cold and smelled faintly of roses.
    “Are there