Page 111 of The Demon's Delight
“Any time. Always,” Rylan said. “Your apartment will remain yours until you tell us otherwise.”
“But I think you will. Like it.” Seir was practically vibrating with excitement as he tugged me to my feet.
“Alright.”
I shared a quick goodbye with everyone, but it felt strange, leaving right that moment. They’d all done such kind things for me, but also seemed to understand and even encourage Seir to take me away. It dawned on me slowly that it was likely the same as with Ophelia, and they knew more than I did about what was happening.
Out on the campus grounds, Seir led me to a stone wall. He spoke a series of words, and a black door appeared. He took my hand.
“It’s going to feel strange, Moonflower, but hold on to me and you’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I trust you.”
He smiled, and then I was walking with him into the portal, completely unprepared for what was waiting for me on the other side.
Chapter 47
Seir
“Oh, no,” Hailon complained, eyes scrunched shut as she wobbled on her feet. “That’s awful. You can’t possibly enjoy doing that.”
I chuckled. “It’s not so bad when you get used to it.” I pulled her into my body, resting her cheek against my shoulder while she slowly breathed through her nose.
“Does the sick feeling go away?”
“Was it really that bad?” Concern seeped in, and I lifted her chin with my fingers to look in her eyes.
She smirked. “That was terrible, Seir. I felt like my skin was turning inside out. But if you say it gets better, I believe you.”
“Do I need to carry you? I absolutely can. In fact, that’s a good idea—” I reached to grab her up, and she jumped away.
“No, thank you,” she chuckled. “I can walk just fine.”
“You said I’d get to carry you, Moonflower. When you agreed to be my mate, you said that. Asked for it even. When does that start? When do I get to carry you around without you fighting me about it?”
She turned her eyes toward the sky and sighed, then put her arms out.
“Really?”
“Don’t make me change my mind.”
Without hesitation I scooped her up and walked us away from the ruins, watching her slowly take in where we were, awe on her face.
The stone kin had made tremendous progress in the little time they’d been working. They’d gone for the day, but there were some supplies still scattered not far from the bank of portals.
“I don’t… Are we in the glade?” Her voice went raspy as she looked around. She patted my hand, telling me she wanted to be put down.
“It was the perfect solution, Moonflower,” I said, setting her on her feet. “I can help Coltor keep watch on the portals here, so he can take a break from this post, and I can help my brother Tap by moving over some of the active doorways he’s in charge of at the crossroads to these ones, maybe even spend some time helping him organize his library of deals. I can visit Hell as often as I need to, then come right back. Most importantly, it’s safe here for you. There are heavy wards, no people. You’ll be protected. You can skim whatever magic you need without harming anything.” I was all but exploding out of my skin with excitement and she was stunned silent, her mouth hanging open. “You can go back to see Ophelia whenever you like. We can visit d’Arcan often. They can come here just as easily.”
I took her by the hand and led her beyond the hot springs. There was a perfect spot, just past where the grouping of trees fanned out there across from the pools.
The structure half blended into the greenery, and Hailon stopped walking, eyes shimmery in the afternoon light.
“You did all this… when? How? It’s only been days.”
“I had lots of help. So much. I’ll owe Magnus and the rest of the stone kin into the next century at least. Though I think youhelping expose councilman Brookes may have bought us a little bit of favor.”
It was my favorite time of day to look at her, with the glow of early sunset caressing all her features.
