Page 118 of The Demon King's Destiny

Marrok’s mouth twitched. He bent down to nuzzle her cheek, inhaling deeply. Herelaxedinto the aroma of midnight dew on a desert rose. His mate’s scent was as unique as she was.

“You scared the hell out of me, Evelyn.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he whispered, planting a kiss under her earlobe. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know. I just don’t like seeing you like this.”

“Like what?” he asked, pulling back to see her face.

“Upset. Vulnerable.”

Marrok sighed. “You’ll have to get used it, I suppose.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything in my entire life. I love you more with each passing day. The more I love you, the more upset I’ll be if you are ever harmed. You are my one and only vulnerability, Evelyn. Nothing else in this world matters.”

Tears streaked down her face and Marrok wiped them with his thumbs.

“Shh, don’t cry or I’m going to think you hate hearing me profess my undying devotion.”

Evelyn snorted through her tears, slapping lightly at his arm with her one functioning hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. I like it very much and you know it.”

Marrok’s mouth brushed across hers, featherlight. His tongue glided across the rim of her lips, tasting her tears. Her breathing grew ragged and he caught a trace of her arousal.

“Even injured from a nearly-fatal wound, you desire me.”

He pressed his forehead to hers, his heart filled with wonder. She was such a mixture of attractive ingredients. Intelligent. Beautiful. Strong. Fearless. His saatus hadn’t needed him, she’d taken care of Dmitri herself.

“I’m so proud of you, Evelyn.”

Evelyn laughed, trying to hide the pain from doing so. “You’re proud I’m so attracted to you?”

“Smart-aleck. I’m proud of you for fighting him off. You took his head and set him on fire. That was a nice touch, by the way, ensuring he was dead.”

“Actually, I set him on fire first. I needed to distract him so I could get to my sword.”

“I’ll be sure to thank your father for teaching you to fight. He and your sisters will be here tomorrow.”

Evelyn swallowed. She’d mated before her father even knew about Marrok. It wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.

She yawned, feeling drained.

“Sleep, little mate. I’ll be here when you wake.”

“I need to tell you what Dmitri said.”

“We can discuss it later. Close your eyes and let me watch over you.”

“Okay,” she replied sleepily, drifting off to Marrok’s melodious words whispered in the old language.

* * *

“I think the room’s a little crowded,” Evelyn whispered to Marrok.

“I think we can all hear you,” Kellan whispered back from his spot on the bed closest to the door. The entire group laughed.

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