I don’t know why I’m surprised to see her. I heard she went back to the demon realm after Allie and the king recastthe bargain, but it’s still unexpected to see another witch in the crowd.
She walks over flanked by two demons, one male and one female, and pulls me into a quick hug.
“What are you doing here?”
“Long story,” I say, then gesture at the goblet in her hand. “Help me find a glass of that wine and I’ll tell it to you?”
She nods and loops her arm through mine, leading me away to the refreshments.
I shoot one apologetic glance over my shoulder at Callum, but he just smiles before he lets Finn pull him off in the other direction.
A breather is probably good.
A little time apart to decompress and regroup.
I’m sure we’ll find each other later.
But damn if I don’t miss him the minute we’re on opposite sides of the room.
I try to ignore it while I dive into conversation with Emilia and her two demon paramours, giving her the abridged version of my adventures with Callum before asking her all about how she’s been doing since she got back here.
I’m happy to catch up with Emilia, and happy to get to know Finn better when he leaves Callum with what must be some other acquaintances and comes over to join the fun.
He reminds me of a golden retriever. With his blond hair and wide smile and an energy about him that’s contagious. It makes me want to smile, too, like he could light up the entire room with his big personality.
As the night goes on, that initial impression turns out to be entirely correct.
Finn is the life of the party.
Always ready with a joke or to fill someone’s drink, always making sure the whole table is included. He's got a sixth sensefor knowing just how to keep the good cheer going, and does so until it’s probably way, way past time Callum and I went to bed.
I don’t want this night to end.
I don’t want to face the fae queen tomorrow.
Strangely, though, that’s not even the largest part of my worries.
The largest part of my worries is currently sitting on the opposite side of the room. And I’m here, already missing him.
38
Callum
“So you have a mate.”
Finn drops onto the bench seat next to me, two tankards of ale in hand. I take the one he offers me and indulge in a polite sip, but drowning my sorrows is the furthest thing from my mind tonight.
Well, maybe not the furthest, but the better part of me knows alcohol won’t do a damned thing to fix what’s wrong with me.
“Aye, I do.”
Finn gives me a knowing look. “That’s all you’ve got to say about it?”
Instead of answering, I look for my star.
She’s sitting at another table, deep in conversation with Vayla and Emilia. The three of them are laughing, and it’s just another thing to admire about my mate—the ease with which she always seems to adapt to whatever situation she finds herself in. Watching them, seeing the way the candlelight hits her face and how beautiful she is when she smiles, makes my chest ache.
“Callum,” Finn prods, and I’m not sure how long I’ve left his question sitting there unanswered.
