Page 108 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 28

“Promise me you’ll remain out of sight, Evelyn,” Marrok requested, sounding far calmer than he felt. The scouts had reported a large mass of rogues were about to exit the woods south of the palace.

“I will,” she swore, looking between the arrow slits from her spot on the roof. Though the palace wasn’t a fortress like the one in Terenuskit, it wasn’t without some structural advantages in case of attack.

“Hale won’t be here for hours yet.”

After he and Evelyn finished dressing, Marrok had sent for the vampire, asking Thereon for reinforcements. His men to the south were cut off from him and he had already called for those available in the northern parts of Sundari. Still, they would be outnumbered if the majority of the rogues were headed this way, and it would take hours for his missive to reach Sanctus Femina.

He should have asked for one of the vampires to remain with Evelyn at all times, but he’d never thought the entire colony could have escaped at once.

Marrok had also been reassured by the priest this was where they needed to be. He wasn’t one for blind faith, but he trusted Theron.

“I want you to leave with Hale if we haven’t gotten things under control by the time he arrives. He can teleport you around the entire continent, if need be.”

As Viktor’s primary messenger, Hale had to be familiar with the geography of each kingdom. He’d visited as many locations as he could in his many years. He would be the best person to keep Evelyn on the move and away from Dmitri.

“I can only keep up the barrier if I’m here, Marrok.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Reluctantly, he’d agreed to allow Evelyn to use her magics to create a barricade, as she had done for years in her dreams.

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“I know. But Hale will take you away if I tell him to take you away. Understood?”

Evelyn didn’t reply, unwilling to lie to him. She slapped her hands on the side of his head and yanked him down for a kiss. She poured all her feelings into it, all her passion, her love, and her worry.

Marrok groaned, his heart constricting. His mate’s sugary lips unraveled him. Panting, he rested his forehead on hers.

“You’ll do whatever you have to do to stay alive,moj draga. I don’t care who you have to maim or kill, you’ll do it.”

“The same goes for you, my love.”

His eyes closed, basking in the sweetness of his mate’s affections. He wanted to return the sentiments. He would, after this was over and she was safe. For now, Marrok needed to harden his heart. He would not enjoy killing his own people.

He turned to his men. The archers were in place, one for every other arrow slit. A dozen more were near with the sole purpose of protecting Evelyn. Hundreds more were below, spread along the outer walls, waiting for orders.

Marrok squeezed Danil’s shoulder affectionately. He knew his friend wasn’t happy to be on the roof instead of in the trenches with him, but he needed someone he trusted to stay with Evelyn.

“Guard her with your life.”

“I will, my liege.”

Marrok planted one more kiss on his mate and took off towards the stairs. He would be on the ground for this fight, needing to lead his men from the front. Unlike Brennen, Marrok would never hide behind others.

Evelyn watched Marrok’s retreating back until it disappeared through the door to the stairs. Four armed men quickly chained it shut, locking out anyone coming from inside.

The message on its way to Hale would instruct him to come directly to the roof. Before he departed, Marrok had him enter every wing and any other possible locations where Evelyn might be found, including the roof. The vampire might be the only way off the top of the palace for a while.

The brontide of rolling thunder carried over the large space from the woods to the outer wall. Evelyn could feel the vibrations under her feet and she placed her hands on the stone in front of her.

Danil’s shoulder brushed hers as he moved close to peer through the slit. “Here they come,” his low voice announced to those on the rooftop. “Hold steady.”

They’d rigged the ground with explosives, about fifty yards from the palace’s outer wall. Favin had instructed Evelyn to place her partition between the minefield and the wall.

Evelyn lifted her hands, gathering her powers to erect a barrier of air currents. The Southland was far more arid than the rest of Imperium so there wasn’t much water to pull from. She hoped she could move the wind fast enough to slow the rogues’ progression.

“Not yet, poppet,” Danil cautioned. “Let as many as possible set off the explosives first.”

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