Page 102 of The Demon's Delight
“That’s the library,” Lovette gestured. “Calla loves to visit. Do you like to read?”
“Yes, well enough. We didn’t have many options for books where I’m from, but I always enjoy a good story. I read the few we had in the house cover to cover many times.”
Lovette nodded in agreement, curls bouncing. “My medicinal guides get the most use, but there are several storybookcompilations that got read so much the bindings gave up between us when we were children.”
We curved around the city, very near to what they told me were the magical council buildings, and Lovette tsked as she spotted her father. He was talking to a group of several men.
“Looks like the meeting didn’t go very well,” Lovette commented, taking in his tense body language.
“I’d be unhappy, too, if I had to go to those boring debriefings.” Imogen’s face scrunched in distaste. “I’ll bet Gaius is thankful to miss them when he’s away.”
Lovette nodded. “He is. Most things about his post are frustrating, but that’s one he takes with great joy.” She looked at me, giving a bright smile. “Gaius is my mate.”
“Are you all mated? I thought it was a very rare thing, but it seems there are quite a few of you.”
“Not all,” Lovette said, and between the quirk in her mouth and the tightness of Imogen’s, I could tell she was teasing her sister. “Though there does seem to be quite an increase in mated pairs around these parts lately.”
I scanned the men standing with Magnus, stopping when I got to the third one. My breath left my lungs as though I’d been punched. The sisters took several steps before they realized I wasn’t with them.
“Hailon? Everything okay?” Lovette asked, following my gaze.
“He’s the last one,” I said, stuck on the thought running through my mind. I honestly couldn’t believe he looked so peaceful, just going about his business as though he wasn’t living a villainous life.
“Last one?” Imogen’s serious, frowning face was shockingly intimidating, especially when she crossed her arms.
I pointed. “The man in the black coat, the one with the mustache. He was part of the group that experimented on mewhile I was held captive in Olinbourg. He’s the last of them to survive.”
“Oh.” Imogen’s surprise melted into something like excitement. “Oh. That’s Brookes. I’ve never liked him. Lovette?”
“Yep, leave it to me.” Lovette darted off, a smile on her face as she sprinted over and approached the group. She pulled her father to the side, very pointedly not looking our way as she spoke to him. After she’d said her fill, she waved to the group, and the five men eyed her with distaste before going back to their conversation with her father.
She made brief eye contact with Imogen, then disappeared around a corner only to appear in the sky above us, flying in the direction from which we came.
Imogen moved us into the semi-dark of an alleyway. “We must be patient and wait,” she said in response to my unspoken question, though she’d pulled a blade from her belt and was twisting the tip on her finger.
Even though I was as tense watching them as I could ever remember being, a sense of relief washed over me. It would be over soon, the wondering if someone was still following, watching. If I was going to be targeted again. There would be nobody left after this.
Then, I heard wings.
Chapter 44
Seir
The portal dumped me out on the grounds of d’Arcan, and my whole body thrummed with relief.
My beautiful mate was nearby, I could feel it.
I sprinted for the doors of the main building, only to have them fly open as I approached.
Immediately my instincts were triggered. “What’s wrong?”
Lovette’s face was determined but urgent, and my brothers were both in a hurry and armed, their wives lingering in the doorway not far behind.
“Your timing is impeccable, brother,” Vassago said, clasping my hand and pulling me in for a hug. “Come, we’re meeting up with Magnus. It seems your lovely Hailon has recognized one of the stone kin councilmen.”
“We’ll be prepared when you get back. Straight to the cellar, if you please,” Calla said.
Rylan surged forward and kissed her soundly. “Of course, Little Owl. We wouldn’t want to make a mess elsewhere.”
