Page 89 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 23

“Did Evelyn share what’s occurred these past two weeks?” Theron asked from the other side of the desk.

Both Evelyn and Marrok were seated across fromthe priest, having finally emerged from the bedroom. It was late morning, yet Evelyn was yawning repetitively. Marrok hadn’t allowed her much rest. He’d even taken her in the bath earlier, after having had her multiple times throughout the night.

“We didn’t do much talking,” the demon responded, watching with amusement as his mate blushed furiously.

Theron snorted. “Yes, well, you may not want to speak so freely in her father’s presence.”

Of the four factions, elementals were the ones with the strictest views on sex. Pre-marital intercourse wasn’t forbidden, it just wasn’t encouraged as it was elsewhere.

Wolves, vampires, and demons had very different opinions on casual coupling. Marrok thought it was because their lifespans were much longer and it could take centuries to find one’s fated mate. Hundreds of years of celibacy wasn’t anything anyone wouldchooseto withstand.

“I promise I’ll stay on Edward’s good side,” Marrok swore and reached for Evelyn’s hand, squeezing it.

“I think that wise,” Theron agreed.

“Speaking of, why did Edward leave?”

“To get to Nora and deal with …” Theron looked at Evelyn who was twisting her mouth nervously. “Kellan figured out who was responsible for the poisoning. I didn’t add specifics to the message I sent to you on the off chance it was intercepted.”

“Who would bother to intercept correspondence between us?”

“I’m sure you already know the answer to that. It seems the brotherhood is still active.”

“Sephtis Kenelm,” Marrok said aloud, feeling the weight of the declaration sit heavy upon his shoulders. Talking of it in the dreamworld was one thing. Having Theron confirm it was another.

Marrok’s thumb brushed across Evelyn’s knuckles. He debated pulling her into his lap, then thought better of it after how red her face had been a minute ago.

“Who poisoned Nora?” Marrok finally asked.

“A she-wolf. One under compulsion.”

“Only demons can put others under compulsion.”

“Technically, vampires can hypnotize others, but it’s usually short-lived. You’re correct, however. She was under a demon’s compulsion.”

Marrok inhaled. Evelyn’s dreams implied Bogdan was the one who would have inherited the marking. Favin’s intelligence had informed them Bogdan had travelled to Burghard.

“Was it a demon named Bogdan?”

“Yes. I’ll not ask how you know. Rather, I would ask if you have any other information coming through your network, you share it.”

Marrok glanced at Evelyn then nodded. “Of course. In turn, I would ask to handle Bogdan personally.”

“I’m sorry to say you’ll not be getting access to thatmale.”

“Why not?”

“He’s already dead. As is the elemental involved. Kellan took care of one and Nora the other. The she-wolf, a healer named Agatha, got away. We’ve not identified the vampire involved.”

Evelyn let out a shuddering breath, caught somewhere between sorrow and fury. Her fear of what her dreams had been showing her was realized. It was Sephtis Kenelm.

Almost worse wasthe news Kellan’s missive contained, the one prompting her father to ride to Burghard last week. The identification of the elemental member of the brotherhood was something King Edward could not ignore.

“Evelyn?” Marrok’s questioning eyes bore into hers when she lifted her face.

“You knew him, didn’t you? The elemental Noratook care of?” he guessed, both scenting and feeling her wave of emotions.

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