Page 99 of Demon's Beauty

You know what?

I’m not thinking about that right now.

“Well,” I start, mind suddenly, horribly blank. “I’m… from the human realm.”

She laughs. “I’d gathered that much.”

“And I’m a witch. A, uh, a magick user.”

“Are there a lot of magick users where you come from?”

“Not really. And those of us who are have to stay hidden.”

“That must be very difficult. And lonely.”

“It’s not,” I hurriedly assure her. “I mean, sometimes. But I also come from a coven of other witches like me, so I’ve never felt alone.”

The words aren’tquitetrue, but I don’t need to trauma-dump all over Finn’s mom.

“Tell me about this coven of yours. Finn mentioned that it keeps you very busy.”

Keeping it as high-level and upbeat as I can, I tell her a little about my history with the coven. How I grew up there, the things I learned, the work I do now as an apprentice.

I deliberately leave off the part about Ascension and potentially sealing myself off from any kind of committed relationship.

Instead, I turn the conversation back to her.

I ask her about her life here in Gales Harbor, and she regales me with everything that makes it such a special place to live. She tells me about the work she does with the city’s council on educational and community-building projects, adding with a wink that some of the money settled on her when she divorced Finn’s father has been put to good use improving the lives of the city’s residents.

An interesting tidbit I tuck away for later.

Finn hasn’t said much about his family, but I suppose I haven’t asked or volunteered much information, either.

Probably a misstep since I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into here, but I suppose it’s too late to do anything about that.

When we’ve exhausted the small talk, Lynore takes a long sip of her wine before diving into what we’re really here to talk about.

“I would ask you what your intentions are with my son, but Finn has made me promise to be on my best behavior tonight. So instead I’ll tell you this.” Her eyes go distant for a moment as she gazes out over the city lights. “Finn is a sensitive soul. And he often hides that under all his… well, you know.”

I huff a soft laugh. “All his charm?”

“Precisely. Finn didn’t have an easy time growing up with the expectations his father put on all our children. Our sons, in particular.”

“What kind of expectations?”

She sighs. “That he only existed to be his father’s perfect picture of what a male should be. That he needed to sacrifice himself on the altar of advancing our family’s standing, to always be stoic and deny himself his emotions. Finn was never meant for that.”

“No,” I murmur. “I don’t imagine he would be.”

She gives me a long look, considering. “Have you met his father yet? The Lord Nighfall?”

I shake my head.

“Be careful there,” she warns. “If I know my ex-husband at all, I know he’s scheming about how to use your mate bond with my son to his advantage.”

“How would he do that?”

“The court is all about who you know, your proximity to power.”