Page 56 of The Demon King's Destiny

Chapter 14

Three weeks later …

The first thing Marrok noticed when he opened his eyes was the incandescent glow of soft yellows and whites dancing under the canopy. Before him, where the wide path gave way to the meadow, was a table with a pewter candelabra standing in the center.

He also saw a bottle of wine and two flutes, already filled. What he did not see was his mate. He concentrated, using his inner demon to sense if she was near. After the blood exchange, he should be able to detect her presence.

Evelyn was right behind him.

Grinning, he spun around and plucked her off her feet. He buried his face in her neck, hugging her harder than necessary. His demon purred. Meeting only once a month was taxing on his spirit.

“Miss me?” she laughed.

“Yes. I came close to dreamwalking a dozen times just to steal a kiss.”

“You don’t have to steal when it is so willingly given.”

“Then I’ll gladly take what you’ll give,moj draga.”

Their mouths met and Evelyn slid her arms around his neck, holding the back of his head. His kiss was tender and sweet, not the rushed passion she’d assumed he’d bestow. She couldn’t decide which she preferred.

Evelyn kissed along his chin and around to his ear, playfully nipping his lobe. Skimming her nose along his neck, she inhaled deeply, loving his exotic scent.

“I missed you, as well.” More than she wanted to say. With each passing night, she grew more and more restless. She prided herself on being strong, but her dreams were testing her will. She needed Marrok’s reassurance.

“Good.”

Slowly, Marrok lowered Evelyn to her feet. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Keeping it clasped, he led her to the table.

“Did you do this?” he asked, handing her one of the wine glasses.

She nodded, taking a timid sip of the sweet alcohol. “I’ve been practicing, seeing what I can make work here. It can get rather boring dreaming of the same place repetitively, so I figured I would try new things to pass the time. I thought we could try sharing a meal. Do you like it?” she asked, taking another sip.

“I would have preferred you conjured a bed.”

Evelyn spit her wine out, right onto Marrok’s chest, who in turn began a deep, rich belly laugh. Wide-eyed, she started wiping at his shirt, babbling an apology. If her sisters ever saw her act thusly, she’d never hear the end of it.

He took Evelyn’s drink and sat it on the table, along with his. Marrok grabbed her hand, tilting her reddened face by her chin with his other. His eyes glimmered in the candlelight, full of amber with very little black.

The corners of her mouth turned down, resenting his bemusement a little. At least he had the manners not to make fun of her.

“After what we shared with one another last month, the mention of a bed shocks you?”

“A bed implies intercourse.”

“I could have taken you on the blanket just as easily, Evelyn.”

“I know. I was caught off guard, is all. Here I was thinking ofsittingdown with you and your mind was onlyingdown with me. You’re the one who insisted on going slow.”

“This is true. Though I hardly believe your inquisitive brain hasn’t thought of lying with me. I was merely pointing out a bed would be a nice place to recline as opposed to a blanket on the ground. We may have jumped a bit further than I’d planned last time, but I’ll not push you into anything, Evelyn.”

“I know.”

Marrok was an honorable male. She trusted him with her body, more than he knew. If not for the constant dreams of late, she probably would have conjured a bed.

She’d had quite a number of dreams centering around Marrok and Melena together. Luckily, she never saw them exploring the physical side of things. Watching the beginning of their relationship was torture enough.

With every stab of envy and resentfulness, Evelyn reminded herself that she was Marrok’s saatus—not Melena—and he would have no other mate. It was preordained.

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