The portals we take through the demon realm don’t feel so jarring this time. Still will never be my favorite way to travel, but at least I know what to expect.
We make it back to the city and wind our way through the narrow streets and alleys until we reach Callum’s building. I move to start climbing the steps, but he grabs my hand to stop me.
“What—”
Callum’s face is white, his features pulled taut. His eyes are trained on something above, and I follow his gaze to see a figure near his front door, hand raised to knock.
The demon waiting on the threshold is female, older, still tall like I’m beginning to realize most demons are, but slightly stoop-shouldered with age.
“We’re leaving,” Callum says under his breath.
“What?”
“We’re going somewhere else. We’re not staying here to—”
“Callum?” The older demon woman finally spots us. “Is that you?”
Callum turns and drags me after him—out of the building, down the street, then toward the hub we arrived through earlier, designated for demons to come and go with their portals.
Though it’s already full evening, the streets are still busy, and the demon woman must not be very fast, or she’s just not that interested in keeping up, because when I look back, there’s no sign of her.
As we approach the hub, I dig my heels in.
It does barely any good.
I’m sure Callum’s got at least a hundred pounds on me, probably more. He’s determined to get away from her, whatever his reason, and it’s not until I use my other hand to dig my nails into his forearm that he releases his grip on my wrist.
“Ow,” he complains distractedly, looking at the line of demons waiting to portal out like he’s judging whether he can muscle his way in and skip the line.
“Callum,” I try now that we’re not actively fleeing. “Who was—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Fuck this.
I might be the one who wasn’t ready to go all-in on the mates thing. I might be the one who ran away from him initially, and Goddess knows I’m not great at being emotionally honest.
But Callum is just as bad, in his own way.
He’s been keeping something from me. Something that has to do with the truth about what he’d really use his winnings for. And even though he didn’t owe me that truth the first time we had this conversation, he sure as hell owes it to me now that we’re about to drag our asses back into Faerie and face the queen.
“Enough,” I say. “Callum, you’ve got to tell me—”
“Not here.”
Before I can open my mouth to argue, he’s fixed his eyes on something at the far edge of the square.
The demon woman.
Face creased in concern, with one hand raised and her mouth open, but it’s too far away to hear what she’s saying.
They look alike.
It’s impossible not to notice.
Despite the strands of gray in her hair, the deep brown is nearly the same shade as Callum’s. Their features are similar, though hers are slightly less angular and softened further with age.
And she’s looking at Callum like her heart is breaking.
