Page 193 of Fallen Stars

Merissa made to ignore it and carry on but felt a deep and insistent tug when she tried to skirt around it.

“Trick or treat.”

She whirled again, heart hammering, but again, no one was there.

She shook her head before the whisper came again.

“Taste me,” the whispers chanted. “Tastemetastemetastemetasteme.”

Merissa’s eyes narrowed as they focused on the table, and she reached a tentative hand out.

“Yes. Yesyesyesyesyesyes,”the voices keened.

She picked up one of the cakes, sticky in her hand as the scent of plum and cinnamon wafted off it. Her mouth watered.

“Don’t you want a taste?” the voice murmured in her mind again, velvet soft.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she brought the cake to her lips.

“Don’t you deserve it?”

Merissa’s hand trembled. “Yes,” she whispered.

She saw purple swirling beneath her lids, heard a giggle as she opened her mouth.

Let go of your burdens, love, the charm whispered.

She shook her head, a last attempt at resisting, but the charm tried again.

You’ve always been a saint.A soft chuckle swam in her veins.How would it feel, for once, on a day that no one would notice…to sin?

Merissa’s breathing hitched as her teeth sank into the sponge.

That’s it, love. Give in. Give in to me.

The spiced sponge fizzed on her tongue, a thrill racing through her as the sweetness of it coated her tongue. She could taste light—purple—as it slid down her throat, decadent and mellow. It seemed to alchemise with her starlight, calling it forth, begging it to break free.

She wantedmore.

Moremoremoremoremorethe voice begged.

“The spirits are strong here tonight,” a deep voice broke between them. “You should be more careful.”

Her eyes flew open.

A demon towered before her, a red mask covering everything but the soft smirk of his mouth.

A different version of Merissa, the one that existed before she had eaten the cake, would have stumbled back, screamed, ran.

But instead, with the exciting frisson of the charm within her, she took a step forward, the world swaying.

“Hello,” she breathed.

The demon’s lips twitched. “Hello,” he crooned back.

The sound of crazed laughter drifted to her, and she looked beyond to the lights ahead—nearer than earlier for some reason.

The demon followed her gaze before turning back to her.