Page 26 of Demon's Beauty

Maybe it won’t be one more thing I have to feel guilty about.

One more way I’ve failed.

“Great,” Vayla says, already turning back to her work. “Then help me with this, will you? We leave bright and early tomorrow morning.”

10

Finn

Glenson—regardless of his proclivity for imbibing truly heroic amounts of honey wine at my parties—runs a good operation.

Organized, well-staffed, and nearly ready to move out by the time I drag my ass out of bed and arrive to where everyone is staging just outside the court.

“Nice of you to join us,” Glenson deadpans as I stroll up. “At least you’re already outfitted.”

He eyes up the armor I’m wearing. Nighfall armor, because the selection they had available in the armory was truly atrocious.

Instead, I’ve chosen handsome leather armor tailored and cut specifically for my frame.

Well. For my older brother Kieran’s frame. But the two of us have been nearly identical in size since adolescence.

And I’m sure he won’t miss it since he’s currently deployed in the frost realm as an envoy for the demon court.

Despite how good I look, it’s doing next to nothing for my mood.

Not that there’s much in any of the thirteen realms that could help with that, considering.

But the sun is nearly up, and everyone seems to be in fine enough spirits this morning as they hustle and bustle around the staging area just outside the court.

Mostly, I try to stay out of the way.

Goddess knows I’m not suited to being useful.

There are several organized piles of wooden trunks, tightly bound leather folios filled with scrolls, several sets of neatly packed canvas tents.

According to the orders Glenson gives, there are far more guards here for the departure than will be sticking around for the entire trip. Most of them are temporary muscle to portal supplies where they need to go.

Nothing so exciting as being a beast of burden, carrying loads from one end of the realm to the other, I suppose.

Glenson nods to me across the chaos, and I pick my way back over to him after I’ve done my part in stacking crates and seeing them off.

“Having fun?” he says with a crooked lilt to his smile.

“Always.” I give him a wink in return. “I never knew what thrilling adventures the court guard corps got up to.”

He huffs a breath through his nose. “Thank you, by the way. For not… ah… divulging to your father how exactly we know each other.”

“I can’t imagine what you mean.” I pick at a non-existent piece of dirt on my armor.

Another huff. “Well. Anyway. I appreciate it. And I hope my accepting your offer to come along on this excursion expresses at least some of my gratitude.”

The comment draws me up short.

That’s why he let me come along?

Of course that’s why he let me come along.

I’m an idiot for not seeing it before now.