Page 23 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 5

Evelyn, Age 20

“No? What do you mean he saidno?” There was no hiding the disbelief in Evelyn’s voice.

“Hush! Nora will hear you,” Eden chastised. “Do not make me regret telling you.”

“Nora is out in the woods replenishing her energies. Unless she’s recently developed a wolf’s acute hearing, she’ll know nothing of this.”

Eden went to the window. Nora always returned on the same path and would be easily visible if she emerged. She had just informed Evelyn that, a week ago, their father invited King Kellan for a visit in order to get to know Nora a little better. She was now eighteen and the wedding was less than two years away.

It was the same offer he’d made when Eden turned eighteen. The Wolf King had accepted the invite to meet Eden. In contrast, this time around, he rejected the offer to spend some time with Nora, his true mate.

Evelyn found it unsettling and she wanted to know why he declined. It went against what she knew of wolves, of how connected they needed to be to their lifemates.

She stood and walked over to Eden, keeping her voice low. It was more for Eden’s benefit. Evelyn herself had seen Nora run off less than ten minutes ago. She’d be gone for at least another hour

“Did Father demand Kellan come for a visit or was it a request?” Evelyn inquired.

“I did not read the missive. We only spoke of it in passing. He wanted to make sure I was okay with my betrothed returning to our home to get know my youngest sister.”

“Ex-betrothed,” Evelyn stressed.

Eden sighed. “Yes, ex-betrothed. I assured Father I had no personal feelings towards the male. I mean, I only met him once. It was hardly enough time to become attached.”

“True, though, you were engaged to him for your entire life. Right up until Nora walked in the door that day. Father was right to ask you.”

Eden looked at her sister and grinned. “That was sweet of you to say, Evie.”

“That’s me, Sweetie Evie.”

Eden laughed. “Right.”

“So back to the Wolf-Man’s refusal.”

“You really should stop calling him that.”

“Fine.Kellanrefused to visit his mate. His true mate, the one the Goddess created just for him. The other half of his whole. The one single creature alive who would complete him. I didn’t know it was possible to stay away like that.”

Only, Evelyndidknow, she just didn’t understand it. Marrok hadn’t been in one of her dreams since the night he’d touched her bruised skin. Nor had he come to Gwydion to speak to her father.

When he’d vanished with those cuts, she feared something terrible was happening to him. She tried to awaken, but the dreamworld wouldn’t relinquish its hold until it was good and ready.

Sitting in the clearing that night, hoping he’d come back into the dream, she considered broaching the subject with her father when she woke. He wouldn’t be happy about it, but he would understand the ramifications of dodging Fate.

Just as she’d come to the decision to confess her entire dreamlife to her father, Theron appeared in the forest and whispered in her mind.Patience.

The next thing she knew, she was out of bed and filled with rage—Marrok’s rage. Evelyn knew it down into her very bones. She’d prayed every night since for his well-being.

Every once in a while, she would feel random bouts of anger or mania. Not enough to affect her, thankfully, just enough to make her aware.

Since the moment he touched her, they’d established some sort of feeble mental connection. She wondered if he could feel her emotions. If he could, he would know how she longed for him to come for her. She was his mate. What would keep him away?

This was the questionthathad bothered her for years now. She could admit to herself it was why she was upset on Nora’s behalf. Hence her current interrogation of Eden.

“He is King, Evelyn. I’m sure he is tasked with many things and his time is sparse.”

“He was King when he came to visit you and you weren’t even his mate.”

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