Page 76 of The Demon King's Destiny

“Was it?” she snapped, her tone woven with the regret currently burning holes throughout her insides.

“I pounced the second you finished seeing my dreams. I’m ashamed I’m struggling with this, Marrok. I know the saatus bond is the driving force for demons to mate. I just thought—I hoped—eventually, you would feel the same way I do.”

“Who says I won’t?” Or that he didn’t? It shouldn’t be so difficult to convey what he felt for her.

Love didn’t quite cover the gnawing obsession that never seemed to lesson in the slightest. She was becoming the center of his universe. Why couldn’t he voice it?

Evelyn was a part of him in a way no other female ever could be, she lived inside his very soul. He was glad it was her, that she was his saatus. If he could have picked the traits of the female destined for him, she would come out looking and acting just like Evelyn.

Though young, she was clever beyond her years. She was interesting and good-humored. She made him laugh more than he ever had. He craved her body, her touch, her undivided attention to the point he worried it wasn’t normal.

Marrok ignored her need for personal space and pulled her into his arms. She allowed it and he hugged her tight.

“Evelyn, what I feel—”

“Please don’t. I know you have a lot to sort out with what you saw. Just hold me for a little while, okay?”

He rested his chin upon her head. “Okay.”

Marrok swayed gently with Evelyn pressed tightly against him. He didn’t want her to wake still feeling as she did now. “Tomorrow is Kellan and Nora’s binding ceremony. We only have a little longer before I arrive in Gwydion.”

“I know.”

“Will you meet me tomorrow night?” he asked hopefully.

Once a week was as often as they ever met now. Evelyn needed to clear her head, which was impossible to do while in Marrok’s presence.

“I need a little time, Marrok. We can meet next week, as planned.”

“You mean you need some space. From me.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “Moreover, I think you need to think on this set of memories. Something was going on with Melena. Maybe Fate is trying to tell you to figure it out.”

Maybe if he did, he could move beyond his past, and, thus, so would she. Evelyn knew how hard it was to accept that Melena forfeited her life to give Marrok this chance with Evelyn. Evelyn would not throw away such a sacrifice. She would work to kill the guilt eating away at her soul.

She didn’t dare bring up the fact Melena had seen him with an auburn-haired child, with Evelyn’s child. She batted away the image. It was too much for her heart to handle tonight. She knew he cared for her even if he couldn’t say the words she wanted to hear. For now, it would have to be enough. She could worry about the future later.

“As always, you are the wiser of the two of us,moj draga.”

Evelyn almost smiled. “Can we stay a little longer, like this?”

“Of course. I’ll hold you the entire night if it is your wish.”

Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut, willing back the tears surfacing with his bittersweet offer.

* * *

“This is it? Everything?”

“Yes, Sire. Melena came to you with very few belongings.”

Marrok took stock of the single trunk Favin had pulled out of storage for him. Melena’s entire life pared down to nothing more than a few pieces of jewelry, some books, and several paintings she’d done on small canvases.

She’d inherited land from Caleb. Dying within a day of her cousin, she’d never been able to claim it. Marrok told her father to keep it for himself.

“It might help if you tell me what you’re looking for, Marrok.”

The king rubbed his eyes. “I’m not exactly sure, Favin.”

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