Page 32 of The Demon King's Destiny

“Repeat that.”

Favin didn’t bother with formal address. He typically only called the King ‘Sire’ when others might overhear.

“I woke up with that in my hand.” Marrok nodded to the white lace lying on his desk. He was sorely tempted to hide it away from Favin’s eyes, but he felt obligated to present irrefutable proof.

The pair were sitting in his study. He’d just confessed to his Second, revealing the series of dreams he’d had and his discovery of his saatus in those dreams.

Marrok started from the beginning, from the night he’d killed Brennen, and ended with how he awoke just hours ago, having somehow brought the material back with him.

He left out the part where his hand had also been holding the fabric around his engorged member. Favin could surely pick up the scents of both Marrok and Evelyn. Close as he was to Favin, Marrok would never discuss intimacies between he and his saatus.

Favin and the other men already knew he had dreamwalked to Brennen all those years ago and it was in thedreamworld he’d taken his uncle’s life. Marrok had kept quiet about Evelyn, preferring, at the time, not to deal with the fallout from his warriors knowing he had no intention of claiming his mate.

Now, with his decision to keep Evelyn, he’d have to explain how he came about the knowledge he had a saatus living in the Kingdom of Gwydion—the king’s daughter, no less.

Favin’s shields were up, his face blank. He was good at hiding his emotions, maybe even better than Marrok. His Second only employed these mechanisms when he was truly upset with Marrok.

“You’ve known, all this time, that not only you had a saatus, but exactly where she was?”

“Yes.”

“And you did nothing about it?”

“She was a child the night we met.”

“That was almost fifteen years ago, Marrok. It’s been long enough. You know better than to deny the wishes of the Goddess. What if our troubles were because of your refusal to claim your mate?”

“I do not believe I caused anything. The rogue problem began long before the night I killed Brennen.”

“That may be, yet it hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s gotten worse.”

“Which is exactly why I kept my distance.”

“You deny Fate thinking there would be no consequence for it? Damnit, Marrok.”

“I avoided her because it is not safe for her in the Southland. She’s twenty years old, Favin. Barely an adult. Do you think she could protect her mind from the strength of a rogue? Even if I’d planned to retrieve her, where would I take her? Do you think I would ever put her life in jeopardy? Do you think it would be fair to lock her away for her own safety? Trust me, I did not make this decision lightly. I knew denying the bond would take a toll. I just didn’t see any other way.”

Favin nodded at the undergarment. “Judging from the scent of things, I’m guessing something—or somebody—changed your mind.”

Marrok growled, snatching the lace and burying it deep in his pocket. He pointed a finger in his Second’s face. “You’ll not speak of herscent, Favin. Not ever again.”

Favin could feel his friend’s unstable power dancing across the space between them. It wasn’t because he was succumbing to madness. No, Favin had provoked the King’s jealousy. He smirked.

“As you wish, my lord.”

Marrok’s posture relaxed. “My reasons are my own. What matters now is that I’ve found her and I’ve come to terms with the fact I need to keep her. I want to keep her.”

Evelyn was the key to maintaining his sanity. He’dmade peacewith his reality, accepting his attraction to both her body and mind as ways to stave off the aloneness in his life.

“I’m happy for you.”

“Don’t, Favin. I don’t know how to make this work where she doesn’t end up harmed in some way. I only showed you her … the garment because I needed you to know I was being truthful about finding her and about being able to pull something tangible through the dreamworld.”

“I would have believed you. When have I ever not taken your word?”

Marrok’s gaze dropped to the desk. “I didn’t want you think I was losing my mind. All demons know our bodies can be vulnerable during a dreamwalk. I’ve never heard of anyone taking something and waking up with it.”

Favin shrugged. “Being that only a handful of demons are powerful enough to dreamwalk to anyone other than their mate, and, thus, powerful enough to, say, remove a heart while doing so? I don’t thinkcoming awaywith a small token from a dream is entirely outside of the realm of possibilities. Besides, she’s an elemental. It could have something to do with her powers, as well.”

---