Page 109 of The Demon King's Destiny

“What if some of them make it through before I can get enough wind speed?”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Let them. A handful is nothing for your royal guard. Your mate alone could take on twenty if he doesn’t have to be careful about keeping them alive.”

“Danil, I don’t want them to die. They cannot help themselves.”

“It is always the innocent who suffer in times of war, Evelyn. Sometimes it cannot be avoided. You’ve nothing to feel guilty about. This whole mess is a symptom of a plague hitting the entire continent. Blame whatever or whomever brought it about. Word is, the other kingdoms are mending.”

“So why isn’t this one?”

Danil shrugged. “Who says it isn’t?”

“But—”

“Move!” he hissed, pushing her from the slit. “The first ones are out of the forest. Do not let them see you.”

The rumbling deepened and she could hear shouts and cries of the approaching herd. The noises came out as unintelligible nonsense, reminding Evelyn of wounded animals instead of grown males.

A series of explosions rocked the night. Evelyn’s hands flexed, gathering more power from the elements around her.

“Tell me when, Danil.”

The seconds ticked by. More and more mines detonated, the sickening screams echoing off the stone palace.

“Now!” Danil whisper-yelled over the noises from below.

Evelyn released her magic. A thick current of air picked up speed, circling the entirety of the palace, just beyond the external security wall.

“Holy Goddess above!” Danil exclaimed when the first few rogues hit Evelyn’s magic. They were picked up immediately and thrown by the sheer force of the currents.

“You’ve created a tornado out there. I think I might be a little afraid of you now.”

Evelyn tried not to appear too smug, taking Danil’s words as a compliment.

“How long can you hold this?” he asked, watching her hands pulse and stretch.

“Hours, maybe? It hasn’t been tested, really. Not in my wakinghours.”

“No battling thousands while living the good life in Gwydion, eh?”

“No. Though it did keep Brennen away from me in my dreams when I was six.”

“You could hold off Brennen at age six? Are you sure you’re fully committed to Marrok?”

“Yes, Danil. Utterly and totally.”

“My loss.”

Evelyn shook her head, blushing. A loud thud landed on the other side of the stone from where she was resting the back of her head. Then two more, causing her to flinch with each one.

“What was that?” She wanted to turn and look out through the narrow space, but she’d promised to stay out of sight.

Danil leaned forward, looking over the edge. “Ah, that was the body of a rogue demon and two of his friends. It appears they are throwing one another over your vortex.”

“They can do that?!”

“Our race is a strong one, my lady.”

“Apparently.”

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