Page 8 of Demon's Beauty

“I’ll talk to him,” I lie. “The next time I’m in Traverdale, I’ll be sure to stop by and speak with him about what help he might need.”

“Good. I’ll write him and let him know.”

Great. And I’m sure Eoghan will be waiting every day for my visit.

“Will you be in court for long?” I ask, more than ready for a change in subject.

My father shakes his head once, brusquely, like he does everything. “I’ll be off later this afternoon. Just have a conversation with the guard, a brief audience with the king, and a few meetings to take.”

“That’s all?”

He gives me a droll look and seems to be about to say something else when someone across the atrium catches his eye. He raises a hand to flag down a passing courtier and strides off without a goodbye.

Well. So much for joyous family reunions.

But he’s busy, I suppose, so filled with almighty purpose that something like a conversation with his youngest son will always take second place.

My father has his business tendrils in a little of this and a little of that. Trade, farming, speculative investment. Mostly it all boils down to stewarding the wealth that generations ofNighfalls have built before him and trying not to muck it up too much.

It’s all very boring, actually, and very trite. And I’m even more boring and trite for finding it so.

So I’d best find myself a distraction rather than dwell on it.

Callum and Seren are probably already up and about this fine morning, and even if they’d rather ensconce themselves in the Nighfall rooms I’m happy to let them inhabit while they’re here, they’re about to have a visitor.

The prospect of being a bother to one of my oldest friends and the witch who’s made him happier than I knew him capable of being is enough to lift my spirits a little as I head out of the atrium and back toward the wings which house my family’s rooms.

In fact, everything would be perfect if I could only forget I ran into my father at all.

And if I could ignore the faint, nagging ache in my chest that still hasn’t gone away.

Damned heartburn.

3

Soleil

I willneverget used to traveling through the Veil.

Granted, it’s only my third time making the trip through the ether, but I’m already ready to admit I’m not cut out for it.

I wonder how the hell Seren does it.

My sister’s been hopping around realms for almost as long as the new bargain’s been cast, and just the thought of how many times she’s traveled through the Veil makes me queasy.

Allie puts a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Doing okay?”

I must look as green as I feel, but I try to manage a nod. “I’m alright. That was just…”

“I know,” she says sympathetically. “It gets easier after a while, if that makes you feel any better.”

It doesn’t, really, but I nod again and straighten up. Maybe pretending I don’t feel like I’m going to vomit will make me actually feel like I’m not going to vomit.

I study the woods surrounding the stone arch which holds the Veil. They’re still beautiful and rich in early autumn. Mostly pine, but with a few other trees scattered throughout that are starting to show their fiery colors as the seasons change.

In the distance, towering, snow-capped mountains frame the horizon, skirted by miles and miles of dense forest.

The last time I was here, a demon guard was waiting by the Veil to bring me right back to court through one of the portals their magick allows them to summon.