Page 80 of Demon's Beauty

“Star?”

I don’t know who—or what?—the new arrival is looking for, but it only takes a split-second glance at my sister to know it must be her.

Seren practically glows.

“In here!” she calls back, and that glow gets even brighter when Callum steps into the room.

I’ve always found my sister’s demon mate a bit intimidating. Big, bearded, outrageously muscled, he radiates an aura ofstay the fuck away from me.

At least at first glance, but the Callum who steps into the greenhouse seems like a different demon entirely when he spots my sister.

Hisstar, apparently.

“Sorry,” he says, as sheepishly as a huge, terrifying demon bounty hunter can manage. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s all right,” Seren tells him. “Sol and I were just having an argument neither of us was going to win, so you’re right on time to steal me away.”

“You’re leaving so soon?”

Argument or not, something in the center of my chest still pinches at the realization that—like always—our time together is going to be cut so short.

Seren gives her head a rueful nod and gestures to Callum. “Yeah. Sorry, this one over here got us an in on a job we really can’t pass up. I should be back at court before too long, though. Probably before…”

Before Samhain. Before I Ascend. Before things between us change forever. Again.

“Alright,” I say. “I wish you both safe travels.”

“So formal,” Seren says as she pulls me into an unexpected hug. “You always get so formal when you’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you,” I murmur, returning the hug with a fierceness I didn’t expect.

Goddess, will we ever get any proper time together?

Seems unlikely, considering… well, all of it.

So I better savor the moments while I can.

“You’ll make the choice that’s best for you,” Seren whispers just before she breaks the embrace. “I know you will.”

I don’t know what to say to that, and after a brief goodbye, they’re off and I’m left alone with those parting words.

The best choice.

What the hell does that even mean?

Because it’s not just me I’m choosing for, and no matter what path I take, someone gets hurt.

I choose the coven, and I lose my sister in a more permanent way this time.

I choose to walk away, and I abandon the witches who’ve raised me, and the bone-deep belief that I actually could change things around there for the better.

And that’s not saying anything about the new factor in the mix.

Finn.

My demon mate.

My demon mate, who I just had a careless night of pleasure with, who I can’t even begin to comprehend how he would ever fit into my life.