Page 71 of The Demon King's Destiny

Allowing her senses to lead her, she rounded their table and started on the path that led to their little haven. Cylindric lanterns, hanging from branches, were lit all along the trail. Marrok must have added them when he arrived.

Her bare feet grazed across smooth velvet. Frowning, she bent and picked up a pink ovaloff the ground. Petals. He’d covered the trail in flower petals.

Just ahead, surrounding their oasis, at least a dozen more lanterns swung gently in the night breeze. Evelyn could see Marrok’s large outline, backlit by the rays of light breaking through the trees. Tonight, he came to her in nothing but his unbelted pants, which usually meant he was in an eager mood.

She ran into his awaiting arms, as they did each week now. He lifted her easily and her legs wrapped around his waist. The movement caused her nightgown to ride up. Electric currents zapped wherever their skin touched. His fingers dug into her backside where he held her aloft.

Evelyn bent, rubbing the side of her face against his. Marrok had told her this was how demon mates typically greeted one another and showed affection. Then, lovingly, they shared a brief kiss.

He sat with her straddling his legs, lifting her gown over her head. She could feel his erection through the fabric of his trousers and she shifted to center the pressure against her core.

Marrok nipped her lip. “Patience, my mate.”

“Says the male who stripped me naked the second I was in his arms.”

“Someone is feeling saucy this night.”

Evelyn rocked her hips, groaning. “I am.”

The amber of his eyes flamed bright, yet his hands stilled her motion. “We’ll get to that in a moment. We need to talk first.”

“Oh, yes! I have news.”

“I do, as well.”

Evelyn beamed. “You heard from my father.”

“I did. Did he tell you or were you spying on him again?”

“Does it matter?”

“Spying, then.”

She playfully slapped his arm. “Fine. I overheard he was inviting you for a visit after Nora’s binding ceremony.”

“Yes. Wait, binding ceremony? Are they not having a formal wedding?” They were royalty, joining two kingdoms through marriage. It was almost expected to have a large wedding.

“No. They’ve decided they will ride to Castle Burghard immediately afterwards and neither Nora nor Kellan wanted any fanfare about it.”

Marrok hadn’t considered anything other than a full-scale royal wedding for he and Evelyn. Though Melena hadn’t been of royal blood, Marrok was a prince when they wed and Brennen had forced the entire kingdom to celebrate and acknowledge it.

“And what do you want, sweet Evelyn? For us?”

Her mouth twisted in that adorable way she always did when she was thinking. “I’m not sure. I haven’t really thought about it. I only think about a life with you, not about a wedding.”

His saatus wasn’t like other females he knew, especially those who came from wealth. Evelyn humbled him with her admission. He’d wrongfully assumed she’d been dreaming of some grand ceremony when she’d only been thinking of him.

“Think about it, then. I want you to have whatever you want. I’ll be knocking on your door before you know it, and I have no intention of waiting months and months to call you my wife.”

“And what Marrok wants, Marrok gets,” she teased, feathering her lips across his while reaching down to unbutton his pants.

“So it would seem,” his gravelly voice pushed into her skin. He could scent the flood of her arousal, calling to him.

Flipping them over, he tore off his trousers and pushed deep inside his mate. They could discuss trivialities later.

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