Page 31 of Demon's Beauty

I open my mouth—to ask him to stop, slow down,something—but immediately snap it shut when I feel a terrible lurch in my stomach.

Not good.

Verynot good.

Mercifully, we only have one more jump before we reach our destination.

We arrive in a wide-open meadow circled by incredible mountain peaks. Like the most ideal, picture-perfect postcard of an alpine paradise I’ve ever seen.

Not that I’m in much of a state to enjoy it as I stumble forward and only barely catch myself before I go sprawling into the beautiful wildflowers and swaying grass that cover the meadow.

“Sorry.”

It’s all I’m able to mutter before I double over and hurl.

12

Finn

Soleil’s thick, lustrous hair is soft and heavy in my hands as I pull it back from her face.

“You don’t need to see this,” she groans. “It’s okay… I’m—”

Her words cut off as she presses a hand against her lips and doubles over. She doesn’t vomit again, but it’s a near thing, and standing this close to her I can feel the tremors wracking her body.

Stupid.

I’m so incredibly stupid.

I should have slowed down and checked in with her more thoroughly. Even if it meant losing the group and showing up late to camp, I should have made sure she was alright with portal travel before subjecting her to that many jumps.

I should have taken better care of her.

“It’s alright,” she says shakily. “I think… I think I’m done.”

I drop her hair and step back as she straightens.

She takes the dark glasses she’s wearing off, and it’s impossible not to notice the shine of tears in her eyes before she wipes at them.

My shame grows even deeper.

I made my mate cry.

It’s only the second time we’ve interacted, the first time she’s really spoken to me. She trusted me enough to see her safely through the realm, and I failed.

“Sorry,” she says again. “I’ve been prone to motion sickness since I was a kid.”

“Don’t apologize.”

It comes out more gruffly than I intended, and Soleil’s eyes snap to mine. Still damp, but now wary and suspicious and just a little bit… hurt.

Fuck.

I clear my throat. “What I mean to say is—Ishould be apologizing.”

Her brow furrows.

“I should have slowed down,” I explain. “Portalling like that, so many times in a row, it’s not an easy thing to handle. Especially for—”