Page 9 of The Demon King's Destiny

“Come on, Nora,” Eden cajoled, pulling Evelyn’s attention back to her youngest sister.

“I’m famished,” Edenputher arm around Nora. “I’m sure breaking for sustenance will do us good. Evelyn, are you coming?”

“I’ll join you later. I have something to see to first.”

As the group scattered, Evelyn headed to one of the larger paths at the south end of the tree line. She followed it until it turned near the small creek.

Several boulders sat in the bend of the stream, worn with time. She climbed to the top of the tallest one and sat, staring at the lazy current below.

She closed her eyes and listened to the melody of the bubbling brook. Gradually, her muscles relaxed and her spirit settled.

Evelyn’s strongest power was her affinity with water. For the past few days, the creek had been calling to her. All Gwydions had some connection to a specific element. Evelyn had control over many, but water was her greatest bond.

She’d had a restless mind lately. More and more she had been unable to focus, feeling uneasy. There was no explanation for the knot of anxiety she felt.

Even her dreams had been affected. Mainly, she wasn’t dreaming. For the first time in many years, she wasn’t being pulled into the clearing nightly.

As she drifted off each night, she was met with darkness. It swirled and danced around her in murky shades of grey and black. She could see nothing beyond the force holding her in its clutches.

Concerned by what it meant, she’d remained close to her sisters instead of coming to the stream to meditate. Yet the water called for her.

Trusting her connection to her element, she returned today. As always, it calmed and centered her. She found herself drifting off to sleep, lulled by nature’s symphony.

“You probably shouldn’t fall asleep up there,” a male voice suggested.

Evelyn’s eyes popped open and she swung her head to the right. She recoiled when she realized she was only inches from the sometimes annoying, yet unfairly attractive, face of Jasper Rollands.

She bolted upright, his presence too close for her comfort. Jasper was a young man from town, training to be a soldier in her father’s army—training hard from the looks of him. His body bore the fruits of his labors. Tall and muscular, he was the center of much attention, particularly from the young females.

Evelyn, much to her dismay, wasn’t immune to his charms. She kept her distance because of it. She had plans for herself, and they didn’t involve a roll in the hayloft with the gorgeous male beside her.

“I’m perfectly safe,” she retorted once she had her wits about her.

“Even from rolling off? I’d hate for you to hit your pretty little head, hard as it may be.”

Evelyn snorted and he chuckled. Jasperwas usuallygood natured, at least, he had been before his teen years. When they were small they’d been playmates. Once he hit puberty, he stopped coming around as much, but she still considered him a friend of sorts.

“Move over,” he grunted, hopping up onto the boulder beside her.

Evelyn scooted as far as she could without falling over the edge.

He frowned, brushing his sandy blonde hair off his brow. “I’m not contagious.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I know. But your large body barely fits up here.”

“Right.” His focus drifted above her discolored eye. “What happened there?”

“Eden happened.”

“Your sister attacked you?”

“Yes. It was hilarious.”

“Looks like it.”

They grinned at one another. Jasper turned away first, throwing some pebbles he was holding into the stream.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked.

---