Page 26 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 6

Marrok’s hand drifted toEvelyn’sas he released her from his arms. He tugged her alongside and started strolling the tree line.

The little zaps of power flowing through their touch were stronger than the last time, but not as strong as they would be if they were together when awake.

He held up their joined hands. “Do you feel this?”

“Yes. When our skin meets, it’s like our energies increase tenfold at the point of contact.”

“Exactly. This is us touching without truly touching. We are in the dreamworld, Evelyn. We are not actually together. Things are muted here. Subdued.”

“Hmm.”

“What do you meanhmm?”

“I thought things were rather exhilarating back there.”

“You would if you’d never been handled as such.”

“Handled?” she sniffed, trying to extricate her hand. “Wonderful. I suppose it wasn’t quite as earth-shattering for you as it was for me.”

Marrok refused to let go, amused by her defiance. “Let me clarify. What we just shared? It was powerful. Exhilarating. Life-altering. As awe-inspiring as it was, it was only a fraction of what we would feel if my skin came into contact with yours outside of a dream.”

“Oh,” her brows drew close then quickly lifted towards her hairline. “Oh.”

“Yes.Oh,” he mimicked her voice and she laughed. His demon chuckled, liking the sound.

“Well, that certainly makes shaking hands a complicated task when first meeting your saatus.”

“It does, indeed.”

“Is it always like that? Every time mates touch?”

“No. The first contact sparks what we call thebjesnilo—the mating frenzy. It lasts as long as it takes to complete the bond.”

“How do you complete the bond?”

His incisors, smaller than a vampire’s, but larger than an elemental’s, stretched. “First is to simply touch. Initially, it does something to connect our spirits on a superficial level. Sometimes mates feeleach other’semotions even when they are apart.”

“Yes, I’ve felt a few moments of your anger.”

Marrok stopped walking, staring down at her. “You shouldn’t have been able to. By superficial, I meant when we touch, my spirit calms in reaction to yours and you can pick up on it. How do you knowyou were sensingmy emotions and not your own?”

Evelyn shrugged. “I just know. The first time was the night you were cut.Not very longafter you awoke, I did, too. I nearly went blind with the rage coursing through me. Instinct told me it was yours. I assumed you were about to tan the hide of whomever cut your arm.”

The image of coming upon his long-dead wife’s shattered tomb flashed in his mind. Evelyn squeezed his hand.

“I just felt it again. Should I not have told you?”

“No, you will always tell me the truth, whether or not I want to hear it.”

Evelyn nodded and squeezed his hand again. She sensed he wasn’t prepared to talk about whatever it was that had ignited his fury.

“What happens after the initial touch?” she asked.

“Sex.”

Evelyn coughed and Marrok smirked. “Mating frenzy,” he clarified. “It spurs the drive to couple.”

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