Page 39 of Demon's Beauty

And Finn, thankfully, doesn’t seem like he needs anything more from me right now.

“If we’re all wrapped up here,” he says, nodding toward the entrance to the tent. “I think dinner is nearly ready.”

I let out a breath, grateful for the reprieve, and follow him into the deepening twilight.

It really is stunning here.

Night is falling fast, with the sun just barely dipped down behind the tallest of the peaks, but there are torches scattered about the clearing and a big bonfire burning in the middle that throws flickering firelight over the circle of tents.

As we make our way to where a couple of the guards are spit-roasting some sort of game bird over the fire, Finn pulls another question out of thin air.

“Does your name mean something? I don’t know if I’ve ever met a demon who has it.”

I glance up at him, a little shy, though I can’t put my finger on why. “It means sun. My mom is an astrologer—someone who studies the movement of the planets—and she gave me a name that means sun and Seren a name that means star. A little on the nose, if you ask me, but she does love a good theme.”

A wide smile spreads over his face, and it makes him look so much more like sunshine than I’ll ever be.

“Sun. I like it. It suits you.”

I snort. “Sure it does.”

“You disagree?”

I stop walking and turn to face him fully. “I mean, just look at me. Not exactly the picture of bright and happy sunshine.”

“I am looking at you,” he murmurs, gaze searching my face.

His crimson eyes leave little fires burning everywhere they touch me, and I make myself look away.

“Come on,” I say, trying for exasperated but landing somewhere closer to breathless and flustered. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

14

Finn

The sun sets quickly this high in the mountains. So quickly the camp is plunged into darkness and torchlight just a few minutes after Soleil and I part ways as we head toward where everyone is gathering for dinner.

She’s gone off to find Vayla and give her an update about the work we completed in the healers’ tent, and I try to keep myself from looking for her.

Minutes.

We’ve only been apart a few minutes.

And yet.

From where I stand, near a handful of the other guards who’ll be staying for the full time we’re encamped here, my eyes have a mind of their own. They keep wandering away, sliding over the tents, the fire, the guards, until they find her.

And then they’re caught.

Utterly, completely caught. Making myself look away is a monumental effort that only lasts a few paltry seconds until I’m searching for her again.

When I glance over once more and find her deep in conversation with Vayla and an apprentice healer who joined the expedition, I let them linger, ready to dart away at a moment’snotice so she doesn’t catch on to how pathetic I’m being right now.

My mate looks radiant today.

Even after the tough start the day got off to, there’s no one else in this camp—likely no one else in any of the thirteen realms—who can compare.

Soleil is wearing a plain, practical black dress. Long, with sleeves that go to her wrists and a high, square neckline. Over it, an emerald green shawl draped around her shoulders to ward off the evening chill. It’s a nice outfit, nothing even remotely scandalous or seductive about it.