Page 57 of The Demon King's Destiny

She had great faith in Fate. It was the only thing she could hold onto bearing witness to his prior pursuit of another. Though, she did question to what purpose she was being shown these particular memories.

She’d learned Marrok had moved Melena into his home immediately after Brennengiftedher. Evelyn still cringed at the baseness of treating a sentient being in such a way. Though she was jealous of the raven-haired beauty, Evelyn did havesympathy for her situation.

From the dreams, Evelyn knew Melena’s room was across from Marrok’s. The first night, he’d walked her to her quarters, cupped her face in both hands, and told her to knock on his door if she needed anything, no matter how inconsequential her need may be.

The female’s eyes had flared and swirled, an odd reddish blue mixed with the amber. She moved her mouth in speech, though Evelyn heard no words. She’d felt a whisper of power skirt across Marrok’s skin, followed by a surge of responsibility towards his new charge. He vowed to keep her away from Brennen and his uncle’s mind games.

During these dreams, Evelyn watched Melena as Marrok had watched Melena. The she-demon was often the center of his attention. He stared at her when they shared meals. When she walked the garden below his balcony. When entertaining guests.

Melena had totally ensnared him.

The worst of it was Evelyn’s having to endure his inner dialogue of attraction, of his plans to seduce Melena slowly. Was this what he typically did with lovers? What he was doing with Evelyn?

She didn’t judge him for wanting Melena. She’d felt his loneliness, the longing to touch and hold onto something he thought precious wasn’t a character flaw. If anything, it made him even more endearing. Marrok had wanted to be the other half of a couple, desired to share his life with a female.

Life under King Brennen was misery incarnate. Any soul worth anything deserved some semblance of happiness in its life.

With this last thought, Evelyn shuffled closer, sliding her arms around his waist. Her forehead rested against his sternum. She loved how his arms automatically came around her in return. In this space, all was right in her world. In this space, they belonged to one another.

So, of course, she had to go and ruin it.

“Who is Melena?” she asked as delicately as she could.

Under her hands, Evelyn felt Marrok go stock-still, his muscles immediately hardening.

“Where did you hear that name?”

“I dreamt of her.”

“She was here? Like Jasper had been here?”

“No. I dreamt your memories again. Quite a few of them this time.”

Marrok forgot to breath. What trick of Fate would force his mate to witness his past? It couldn’t have been pleasant seeing him with someone else.

“What did you see?”

She couldn’t voice it, didn’t know where to begin. She feared saying aloud she observed him falling for the she-demon would give the past power. Evelyn wanted to live in the present. Unfortunately, she knew to do so, she would have to understand, and get over, Marrok’s past.

“Look at me.”

Evelyn slowly took in a breath, steeling herself to face him. She was met with bright amber, her indication he was experiencing strong emotion.

“What did you see?” he asked again.

“Take it from my mind.”

“What?”

“I saw a lot. Much of it seemed personal. I’m not positive I can articulate it all. Can you pull the memories from my mind?”

“If that is your preference.”

“It is. Go ahead.”

Marrok splayed his hands on both sides of Evelyn’s head. Closing his eyes, he sifted through her mind, searching for Melena. He feared what he would see—feared what Evelyn had seen.

A series of moving images played in his mind’s eye. The day he met Melena, some of their early days together. Amazingly, the memories weren’t as painful as they used to be. In fact, he experienced them as an almost detached observer.

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