Page 115 of Demon's Beauty

Facing challenges, holding her ground, putting me right in my place.

“I do say so.” She lifts her chin. “And besides, I’ll have to learn to do it myself someday, won’t I? When the two of us…”

Her words trail off, and the dread in my gut twists again.

When the two of us are fully mated.

It’s a little quirk of the bond—when a witch mates a demon, they eventually get some portalling magick as a part of the bargain.

But it only happens when the mate bond is sealed. When the pair commits to a lifetime together, sharing both their magick and their lifespans.

I squeeze Soleil’s hand again.

“Yes, that’s exactly what you would have to learn to do.”

She doesn’t say anything else as we reach the front of the line and portal away.

She doesn’t say much as we jump from spot to spot in the realm, even though she’s gotten remarkably steadier each time we portal.

We’re both mostly quiet as we approach the court and pass the guards, still walking hand in hand, but with a distance between us I have no idea how to bridge.

Soleil barely makes any sound at all until we reach the court’s central chamber.

A surprised gasp slips through her lips. She stops dead in her tracks as her eyes lock onto someone at the other side of the cavernous room.

The witch waiting in the atrium has a mass of flaming orange curls, and freckles spread all across her nose and cheeks.

Soleil’s face pales, and her voice comes out with a slight quaver when the other witch approaches.

“Marianne. What are you doing here?”

34

Soleil

It’s disorienting, how quickly two worlds can collide.

There I was, lost in my misery, obsessing over the stupid remark I made to Finn about learning how to portal, and now I’m face-to-face with a Crescent witch who I never in a million years expected to see standing in the demon court.

“I thought I might be here on a rescue mission,” Marianne says, then eyes up Finn and our hands where they’re joined. “But it looks like you’re doing just fine.”

Finn’s grip on me gets a little tighter, but I give him a reassuring smile.

Marianne gives him one more appraising look, then turns to me. “Is there somewhere we can—”

“The queen of the demon realm, come to court!”

The booming proclamation is made by a steward standing sentry near a doorway into the atrium on the far side of the room.

Queen Allison Ashblood enters the room surrounded by a few courtiers and a familiar human face.

Joan was another Crescent witch who didn’t make the cut for continuing tutelage. She and Allie stayed pretty close from what I’ve heard, and she’s also found her own demon mate.

Her own big, scowly, formidable-looking mate, if the dark-haired demon standing next to her is any indication.

Allie’s eyes get wide when they land on me and Marianne, and she makes a beeline toward us. Courtiers part to make way, and I’m struck once again by what a commanding presence she has here.

“Soleil,” she says warmly as she reaches us. “Good to see you back. How did everything go in Gales Harbor?”