Page 77 of Demon's Beauty

“You have no idea.” She moves to drain the cauldron into containers that will travel better. “We’ll recruit as many healers as we can to help brew and run to patients through the city, but it will still be a headache.”

I contemplate that as I help her work, the offer right on the tip of my tongue.

I could help. I could come with so you have an extra set of hands to ease the burden.

But I can’t quite make myself say it.

Not because I don’t want to go.

Far from it.

I would love to go. The challenge of this potion and the delicate intricacy of the brew, the complicated logistics ofmaking sure it gets to the fever patients who need it, all of it sounds like work that would scratch my brain in the very best way. Complex work. Necessary work. The kind of work that makes me a better witch, a better healer.

The coven is still waiting, though.

My Ascension.

My life.

Everything I’ve been avoiding.

And… Finn.

Goddess, I can’t wrap my head around the tangle of it all.

It’s a balm to have even this afternoon of work to take my mind off it, and as Vayla and I get everything squared away for her trip to the coast, a new distraction blows into the workroom like a tornado.

“Vayla!” a familiar voice calls out. “You here? While I was in the frost realm, I found a merchant selling those minerals you were—oh.”

“Hey, Seren.”

My sister walks into the room like she owns the place, like she’s been here a hundred times. And maybe she has.

How very painfully little I know about her life really kills me sometimes.

But where do we even start with getting ‘caught up’ after nearly a decade on the outs?

After what happened to her in Faerie a few months ago, how Callum brought her to me for healing, and the brief conversations we’ve had since then, I’d like to believe it’s possible.

Even if I don’t know where to begin.

“Hand them over,” Vayla says, reaching out to accept the leather pouch Seren gives her with a grin. “This is fantastic. You don’t know how impossible these are to get in this realm. Emilia is going to look at me like I’m a goddess when she has themin her bath tonight.” She pauses, grin growing even wider. “And you know what? I think I’ll go make that special delivery right now.”

She bustles out of the workshop, leaving me and my sister alone. Seren sits down on the stool opposite me at the table where I’d been working, and studies me for a few long moments.

“Did you and Finn have a good time on your little outing?”

“You heard about that?”

Seren shrugs. “Word travels fast. Especially when it has to do with witches. We’re big news in this realm, apparently.”

I hum, not sure if I like that or not. “Interesting. And yeah, it was… it was a pleasant trip.”

More scrutiny from my twin. From eyes that are a mirror of mine and have known me since before I really knew myself.

I hate getting that look.

Thetwinlook. The look that tells me she’s about to really piss me off.