Page 69 of The Demon's Delight
“I want you to have one, Hailon. But we can wait to choose a set, if that suits you better?”
I hadn’t considered anything of the sort, but now such a thing seemed incredibly attractive.
“My brother could enchant them for us if you like.”
A ring seemed to make everything very official, very quickly. I was not averse to the idea of marriage, but I hadn’t adequately prepared myself for that step. Seemed strange, to go straight to accepting a mate and avoiding marriage, but my mind wasn’t always logical.
“These are all lovely, but there’s plenty of time for that later.” There was one with a chip of obsidian, the stone a rough triangle shape imbedded in the metal band, that I picked out to look at closer. “Where did you get them?”
“Same place you got the rings in your pouch, Moonflower.” Bodies, then. I should have been put off by that, but I understood. If nothing else, he wasn’t wasteful. “Except that one.” He grinned. “I’ve had that one with me since just after I fell.”
I gasped and handed it back. “Why don’t you wear it? If you’ve had it that long, it must be precious to you.”
He turned it over in his palm before putting it back into his pouch with a shrug. “Never was much for rings, I guess. And that one in particular is too small for my hand. I kept it because it was unique, but it was never really for me.” He put the pouch back into his pocket and went over to the fire.
He’d managed to find a couple of small fowl in the high grass and carefully removed them from the hastily made spit they’d been roasting on.
Seir prepared our plates and presented mine to me with a proud smile. “Should be tasty enough, though I wish I had some seasonings.” He dropped down next to me, sitting cross-legged on his bedroll.
I was reminded of our first meal together in the little cabin outside of Olinbourg. The meal was much the same, though I felt completely different from that woman who had been weak, hungry, and unsure of how to get home again.
“You alright?” Seir was watching me closely, his own food going untouched until I took a bite.
“Fine. Just thinking about that first meal we shared.”
He grinned, tearing into a leg quarter from his bird. “You were so hungry. I was very impressed at your appetite.”
“Impressed?” I asked, choking a bit as I laughed at his moony expression.
“Absolutely. You are indeed a dangerous woman, Hailon. You were so beautiful taking your vengeance in that house. I’m fairly certain I fell for you the moment I saw you, but watching you take my dagger from my hand and dispatch those men?” He heaved a dreamy sigh. “Then you wanted to argue with me about helping you leave, carrying you, all of it. When you sat down at that little table in the cabin, I expected you to pick over your plate, but you dove in wholeheartedly and ate more than me.”
“I should feel embarrassed about that, probably.”
He shook his head, eyes wide and tone earnest. “No, not at all. I would have found and cooked a dozen more birds if you’d wanted them. You deserved—deserve—to eat your fill at every meal. To be satisfied in every way.” I blushed, and as though he just realized what he’d said, he smirked. “You went without even your most basic needs being met for months, after being taken, held against your will. It’s all mad, honestly, what you went through. I was just excited I could provide something to help you feel better, to start to heal.”
From most other people, his words would have felt over the top. But he was being completely genuine, and it warmed me.
“Feels like a long time ago.”
“It does.” He paused to chew. “I owe you an apology.”
“Another one?”
“Many,” he nodded enthusiastically. “I should have been keeping better track of the time. I should have prepared for being called back if I didn’t check in. I’m sorry I left you here all alone.”
“How does time move in Hell?”
“Much slower than here. I was there perhaps a couple of hours.”
“It was most of a day up here.”
“Oh! Speaking of.” He dug around in the pocket of his trousers and produced a small mirror. “Something else to teach you. I needed to use a portal to come back, and the best option took me through my brother’s collegium. I can’t wait for you to meet them.” He smiled wide.
“Your brothers?”
He stood, clearing our now empty plates. “Yes, and their wives. I have options for you, Hailon, should you want to explore your powers more. There are people who can help us figure out what it might mean that you’re a null. After you see to your aunt, of course.”
“Okay.” Excitement bubbled in my chest. I’d never really dreamt of a life beyond our little house in Ravenglen. We had our routines, Aunt Sal and I, and life was often difficult, even if we never strayed outside of them. But now… it was wonderful to have options. I could understand completely why Seir took such enjoyment out of novel experiences. I didn’t realize how small of a box I’d been living in before getting this odd chance to wander the realm with him.
