Page 40 of Demon's Beauty

On her, though?

It might as well be the realm’s finest gown.

All day, I’ve been trying to keep my eyes from wandering, trying to keep them at a respectable height and not leer after my mate like some kind of lecher.

But goddess, she looks good.

Even the demure cut of her dress can’t hide the contours of the body beneath. Wide, luscious hips and a softly rounded stomach. Full breasts I am absolutely, positively not looking at. Shapely thighs, and an ass unlike anything I’ve ever—

Soleil looks up, catches my eye, and I immediately turn away as a blush stains my cheeks.

A blush.

An honest-to-Goddess blush.

When I realize, it just makes that color rise higher.

I hope like hells she can’t see.

Wouldn’t that just be fitting, after how I’ve been mooning over her this afternoon, for her to see how absolutely unraveled she makes me with a single glance.

I was more honest with her than I meant to be when we spoke in the tent.

Goddess, we only justmet. I had no business spilling my heart out like that.

Something about Soleil makes me forget myself. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise, given who she is to me, but something about her makes it impossible to remember I should take this slow, give her space, perhaps woo her a little with the charm I’ve so carefully cultivated over all these years.

She’s absolute chaos for my sense of dignity and control, and as much as it pains me, I wouldn’t change it for anything.

“Finn,” Glenson says as he walks over and claps me on the shoulder. “Anything to report today?”

“Nothing. All peaceful around here.”

“Good, good.” He sounds a little distracted as his eyes roam over the assembled group. At least until they land on…

“Any sign of the drakons?” I ask, and he looks back to me.

It’s likely just my imagination, the way his gaze lingered on Soleil.

Just my overwrought nerves and the way my balance has been entirely knocked off-kilter.

Glenson shakes his head. “They won’t bother us here at camp. For all their fire, they don’t like the torchlight or the scent of demons. Fierce beasts, but solitary ones who would much rather be left alone.”

I nod, glad for that. I’ve only ever seen a drakon from afar and am not keen to run into one up close and personal.

“Come on,” Glenson says, nodding toward the center of camp. “I think they’ve just about gotten dinner ready.”

The meal is simple but delicious. A handful of game birds other guards hunted down this afternoon, some wild parsnips, a few loaves of bread and fresh butter brought with the supplies.

Petyr is apparently the best cook in the group, and he’s made a feast of the simple fare, which we all take with gratitude as we find our seats around the fire.

Someone must have found places for a few bottles of liquor within the supply caches, because that’s flowing, too. Laughter, conversation, delicious food, strong drink, and a crackling fire to keep us all warm in the chill of the mountain night, the evening has all the hallmarks of a party.

A rough-spun party, but a good one.

As always, my eyes seek my witch as soon as I have a spare moment to notice she’s not beside me.

Soleil is seated near Vayla, finishing her own meal and taking a tentative sip of the liquor. Her nose scrunches, she has to fight back a cough, and I can’t hide my grin.