Page 14 of The Demon King's Destiny

Nora licked her lips. “Demon. With you, Evie. I think you were dancing with a demon. A very large one with dark hair.”

“Really?” Evelyn attempted to hide the excitement in her voice.

“I think so. It was so fast I only saw fragments. Gah. What a useless talent.”

Eden wrapped an arm around Nora. “Perhaps not. Some information is better thannone.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Well, did you get a threatening feeling, like the demon was dangerous? Like it was a warning?”

“No. It was nothing like that. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He was almost … I don’t know. It’s so jumbled.”

“Then trust your gut. If you ever see this demon, you’ll likely remember the vision and the feeling will come back. You’ll be the one to know whether or not he’s a threat. Maybe it’s not control of an element, but your visions could be extremely important.”

“Doubtful, but I’ll take it under advisement.”

“Good. Come now, let’s let Evie rest.”

Nora bent down to her sister in an awkward hug. “Sorry about your face.”

“Sorry about yours, as well,” Evelyn retorted and Nora huffed in good humor.

Eden put out the lamp and led Nora through the door. “Call for me if you need anything,” she said in that mothering way of hers.

“I will.”

The door closed and Evelyn turned to her side, trying to get more comfortable. Relaxing, she drifted off.

* * *

Evelyn opened her eyes and found herself in the clearing. She sagged in disappointment. She was almost looking forward to the nothingness she’d been feeling this last week after she drifted off.

The elixir had done its job in making her drowsy. She’d mistakenly believed it would also prevent her from dreaming. In addition, it didn’t prevent her from feeling the ache of her wound in the dreamworld.

“It’s about bloody damn time,” a voice grumbled behind her.

Startled, but unafraid, Evelyn turned her head, looking over her shoulder. Her hair slid across the side of her face, cool against her tender skin—a safety blanket she hid behind. She feared her blemished appearance would act as a repellent to the one person’s attention she desired.

Sitting on the ground, leisurely leaning against the trunk of the nearest tree like he didn’t have a care in the world, was Marrok. The quiet hum of his power radiated into the night air. Her breath caught in her throat.

One long leg stretched before him. The other was bent and his arm rested atop his knee. The shadows hid part of his face, but she knew it was him. She would know this male anywhere.

Evelyn allowed herself a moment of scrutinizing his form before her brain registered his complaint. His terse indictment diminished her excitement to see him. Two years of anticipation fizzled and died faster than it took to get her breath back.

Bristling, she replied, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize we had an appointment.”

He leaned forward, the sharp angles of his face emerged from the dark, more pronounced by the moonlight. “I don’t appreciate your sarcasm. You pulled me here, then were nowhere to be found. I’ve been stuck in your woods for hours.”

“Impossible. I’ve only just fallen asleep. And I didnotpull you here.Iget pulled her nightly. Something else is doing the pulling. I am not the puller. I don’t even know how to do such things. And why were you even asleep before dark? The only males I know who sleep in the early evening are drunkards. Are you drunk? Or a drunkard? I don’t associate with drunkards. Do you think …”

The more she ranted the more animated she became. Marrok stared at the odd female as she prattled on, his stiff posture loosening.Confounding little witch. Surely, she’d run out of oxygen soon.

“Are you even listening to me?” She took a step towards him with clenched fists.

“No.”

He could smell a trace of magic wafting off her, spiced with indignation. Did the little female think to attack him? The corner of his mouth lifted.

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