Page 73 of The Noldrin Witch

Knowing that the demon ran low on patience, she walked toward him determined to tell him a few truths she had saved for him. She did not need supervision nor constant reminders of what she already knew she had to do. He was a demon, and she was not yet a witch, but she was not about to let a few inconveniences of rank limit her freedom.

Elise cleared her throat.

“If you came to see with your own eyes that what I told you was true, well, here I am in the castle. Let me do my part of the bargain in peace. If Morgaine says that a year is what I need, so be it.”

But before she could say more, a trail of vapor began to seep from beneath Seth’s cloak. The demon seemed to have entered a state of agitation as he turned his back on her and hurried to a corner of the room.

“Are you well?” she asked.

The demon’s eyes were flaring. “Cover yourself.”

She hurried to grab the cape hanging by the bed. What a prudish demon this was. It was a wonder he came from the lower sort at all. He was so offended by a simple chemise that Elise thought he must be an authority in etiquette down in his own realm.

Unknown to her, the mere sight of her body was sending the demon into combustion. Had poor Elise been aware of this, she would have covered herself before opening the door.

“Have you found the Stone of Raj yet?” Seth asked after he managed to calm himself and the vapor finally came to a halt.

Elise gave a hesitant shake of her head.

“Ah,” the demon complained. “So you want a year for what? Just to look for the stone?”

“If you must know, I was on my way to the gardens, where I know for certain the stone is located.”

“Mortals,” was all he said.

Elise stood there, furious at the haughtiness of the demon. Her confidence was already shaken. She hated to admit he was not completely wrong and that she had taken long enough to find the famed rock.

Wanting to regain some authority, Elise decided it would be best to show Seth she was perfectly capable of doing this on her own. Perhaps then he would stop paying her surprise visits.

“There’s no reason to dwell on what I have or haven’t done,” she said. “If you are here to help me, let’s see to it.”

Seth stared at her and dipped his head.

“Come along, then.”

*****

Elise could hear the demon’s breathing quicken as she walked beside him toward the gardens. The horrid things he must be thinking about her for not being able to find the stone yet. Elise thought the vapor had been proof of his growing anger.

Every time she glanced his way, she found him staring back at her as if he could not decide whether to be concerned or horrified by her company.

Bruno was now flying high above them as if to give them some privacy. The pale blue of the late-night sky lent just enough light to guide their steps. Elise made her way toward the section she had only half explored, the one where she had met the king the night before.

As soon as they entered the maze, the many walls of greenery surrounding them made Elise aware of Seth’s powerful presence. She had been too worried and too offended to be shaken by his tall frame or his handsome face. But having him so near, she felt parts of her body reacting against her will.

He was as handsome as he was irritating. He was also one of the few who understood her situation, and like it or not, that was more than she could say about Kurt.

With the demon’s scent invading her nose, Elise found herself attributing more and more small virtues to his company. She was beginning to think he might have reasons to be annoyed. He was here against his will, and he was helping someone who knew little about magic in either world. But those benevolent thoughts lasted right up until he opened his demonic mouth.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Seth grumbled. “Just because we are alone does not mean you have a chance with me.”

In an instant, Elise found herself fuming. A surge of pride erased all the generous thoughts she had entertained moments before. How dare this demon stumble into her room in the middle of the night only to suggest she was trying to pursue him?

“Again with that?” she snapped. He had made the same outrageous assumption back in the First Bloom. “If it’s because of the chemise, I couldn’t possibly have known you were coming.”

She did not wait for his answer and walked past him with her chin held high.

There were not many things that could offend a person used to the worst outrages as Elise was, but this?