Her shoulders slump, and she stumbles a step on the cobbled walkway.
I catch her by the elbow. “Back to the Veil?”
A short, jerky nod is the only answer I need. Opening a portal in the strange, sluggish magick of this realm, I guide her gently through it.
We step out just on the edge of the wards which guard the Veil, and it’s Seren’s turn to lead me forward. She untangles the complex web of magick, stepping us through like it’s nothing more than a cobweb.
We’re both silent until we step into the soft glow of the Veil’s light. She stands staring at it for a moment before she turns to me.
“Want to see if you can get back through?”
I nod and step forward to lay my hand on the stone arch. The Goddess must be feeling generous tonight, because the mist settles deep crimson almost immediately.
But I don’t step through.
I can’t leave.
Not yet.
Not until I know my mate is alright.
Despite it all, I still need to know she’s alright.
Seren is as subdued as I’ve ever seen her. Her usual sparkle is gone, replaced by a haunted, exhausted look in her eyes.
“Do you have somewhere safe you can go?” I ask, though the thought of parting from her now feels like it might rip me in two.
I almost lost her today.
Before we could get to know one another, before whatever this is between us even had the chance to begin, I almost lost her.
She lets out a long sigh.
“I… yeah, I guess I do. Though I’m really not looking forward to explaining all of this to my parents.”
“Your parents?”
“Yeah, I…” She runs a hand down the side of her face. “I kind of… live with them. For now, at least.”
I hum. “And their home is secure? You’ll be protected there?”
A soft laugh, tired and humorless. “It’s safe. Well. As safe as anywhere can be.”
I don’t like that answer.
And though I know I shouldn’t, though I know what her answer will likely be, I can’t stop myself from offering, anyway.
“What if…”
Seren looks over, brow raised.
Goddess, am I doing this?
How many rejections can a demon reasonably endure from his mate before he simply expires from humiliation?
One more, I suppose, as I let the offer slide from my lips.
“What if you came back to the demon realm with me?”
