Page 100 of Demon's Beauty

I frown. “Well, I don’t really have any power in this realm.”

“You’ve got more than you know, my dear. Our new queen is a human witch, and you’re from the same coven, aren’t you? Not to mention all the other witches who’ve been coming to this realm and reinvigorating it with the magick cast by the bargain.”

I hum softly, considering that.

“All I’m saying is to be on alert. Lord Nighfall is absolutely shameless in his pursuit of status and position for his family. If he thinks you being Finn’s mate can somehow help him with that, he won’t hesitate to exploit whatever advantage he can.”

“He sounds delightful.”

Lynore laughs, bright and sparkling, her smile so much like Finn’s that I have to blink a couple of times. “You don’t even know the half of it.”

We both fall silent for a few moments, enjoying the view and sitting with everything that’s been discussed.

My heart aches for Finn, for growing up with that kind of father. He’s got so much light in him, so much goodness, and knowing his dad would rather he be someone other than himself is infuriating.

Finn should never be anyone but who he is.

“Finn deserves someone to be sure about him,” Lynore says quietly, interrupting those thoughts. “He deserves to have someone who knows him and accepts him fully.”

“Yes,” I murmur. “He does.”

The rest of it stays unspoken.

His mate should be sure about him. His mate should know him and accept him fully.

His mate shouldn’t be a witch whose life is a mess, one who’s not currently being torn between two realms, with no idea what she’s going to do about it.

Instead of pressing it further, Lynore nods toward the house. “Come on, let’s go see what trouble my children are up to.”

29

Finn

By the time the evening begins to wind down, I finally feel myself relax.

Perhaps it’s the two glasses of wine I’ve had, or perhaps it’s watching Soleil get on so well with my mother and Ellery.

“Tell us more about it,” my mother says, leaning in with her chin resting on her hand. “This work you’ve been doing with Vayla.”

Soleil launches into an explanation of their efforts to gather the blossoms in the mountains, and a layman’s walk-through of the complex process to brew them into usable medicine.

I love listening to her speak.

So much authority in my witch’s voice, so much confidence and expertise.

It’s not a big stretch to imagine her as she would be back in her coven. Teaching students, commanding respect, embodying the leadership she seems born to claim.

I’m filled with equal parts admiration and dread, though I push the latter aside and make myself focus back in on the conversation.

We talk more over dinner, and both ma and Ellery are fascinated by news of the human realm. The cities, thetechnology, all the wonders that sound so different from this realm.

All the things I’m sure Soleil with be loath to ever leave behind.

But I’m not thinking about that.

I’m not letting myself.

All I can do is be here, now, with my family and my mate, soaking in the magick of the evening.