Page 19 of The Demon King's Destiny

“I can pull the memory from your mind, but I’d prefer it if you told me.”

“And what King Marrok wants, King Marrok gets?”

His eyes crinkled and one shoulder lifted. “Usually. Not always.”

Evelyn liked the way he responded, almost playfully. During their sparse encounters, he was always so focused and severe. She hadn’t expected his candid jest.

She released the tension from her lips and said, “I did it.”

“You did it.”

She looked away. “Basically.”

“Explain.”

Evelyn met his glare and lifted an eyebrow, the one still attached.

“Please,” he amended, wanting her to volunteer so he didn’t have to pull it from her mind.

“I fell.”

“Onto your face?”

“Basically.”

The heavens help him, she was beyond vexing. He reached deep for patience and waited her out. She must have felt his annoyance because she started talking.

“I was at the stream, not far into the woods over there,” she pointed. “There’s a set of boulders in one of the bends that I like to climb. I go there to meditate sometimes. Do you meditate?”

“No.”

“Hmm. Well, I was on top of the boulder. Jasper was sitting with me.”

“Jasper?” Marrok’s pupils expanded just as the inherently masculine name slid off his tongue in repugnance.

“He’s a male from town, one who recently joined my father’s army. I’ve known him since I was very young. We’re … friends.”

She waited for the amber to return to his irises. It didn’t.

“Continue.”

“Right. Well, we were chatting and he leaned towards me—”

“Leaned?” he growled.

“Um, yes. Really, it happened so fast I’m not completely sure how I managed to tip backwards like that. One second his face was moving towards mine and the next my face was crashing onto one of the smaller boulders below me.”

Marrok took a step towards her, their fronts a breath apart. “He meant to kiss you?”

“I think so.”

“No lies, Evelyn. I can feel even a half-truth grate upon my skin.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“How inconvenient for others. They must talk in riddles around you. Is this just you or can all demons do this?”

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