Page 79 of The Demon King's Destiny

Melena wiped off the knife on the fabric of her dress, cleaning both sides before dropping it back onto the table. She took two irregular breaths, then pulled something from her pocket.

Holding it up, Marrok could see it was the vial she’d taken from Bogdan. Melena uncorked it and held it up to her reflection, as though she was toasting it. “See you in Hell,” she whispered.

She emptied the contents into her mouth, holding her lips tight to force the revolting concoction down. She stumbled to the large fireplace and threw the cork and glass into the flames. She sank to her knees, waiting for the dark magic to work.

Marrok’s mouth went dry. He felt like the world was dropping out from under him. The vision dissolved and he released Evelyn as though she was made of fire.

“Marrok?”

He held up a hand, recalling the black swirls marring his wife’s chest. There was no mistaking the words. Sephtis Kenelm. Of course, Caleb had been a part of its plotting and evil deeds. His membership in the brotherhood made sense. It went hand in hand with his contemptible personality.

Melena would never have offered herself up to such a cause willingly. He would not believe it.

The group came be long ago, possibly a millennium or more, to stop warring factions. To ensure the fair and just rule of each race, to balance the power of Imperium so no one group would rule the other. It’s entire purpose was to keep one faction off of the throne of others, caring little for those who suffered for it.

If Marrok was to believe what he just saw, his wife had all but guaranteed he would find his saatus. So long as Melena was alive, he would never have looked for his mate.

His wife knew his saatus was not a she-demon. Melena’s death put Evelyn in danger because the brotherhood would never allow an elemental to rule the Sundari demons.

We’ll be forced to act, Bogdan had said. Melena insisted they wouldn’t need to. She didn’t know Marrok was going to kill Brennen and take the throne. He’d never confided in her, choosing to keep her away from the ugliness of his secret plans.

The conversation now made sense, but Melena was not a she-demon who would be part of a group willing to murder for the sake of their own twisted views of fairness. She wasn’t like Caleb. She wouldn’t have taken his place in the group when he died, earning the mark. It wasn’t something she could hide.

It’s possible, the demon spirit murmured.She died the day after Caleb. She wouldn’t have had it on her body for long. No, Marrok’s inner voice denied. Melena would never agree to participate in such treachery. He couldn’t reconcile it with his knowledge of who she was as a person.

He stared at his mate. “That wasn’t real. I do not believe it.”

“It’s what I dreamt, Marrok. Everything else has been a memory, most of them yours. You’ve seen them. You know I experience your past.”

“Yes, I can validate the parts that involved me. These parts with Melena, where I am not around, I think your imagination has made them up.”

Evelyn recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “You think I’ve made them up? To what purpose?”

“You tell me,” he snapped before he could stop himself.

He immediately regretted his tone. What was wrong with him? He knew Evelyn would not act with malice towards him. She gained nothing from planting false dreams in her head for him.

They are not false. Trust our mate,his demon spirit hissed.

Marrok scrubbed his face with his palms, trying to get his bearings. He was feeling dizzy, spinning out of control. His demon was trying to surface, to take over. It took most of his energy to maintain his hold over it.

Nothing made sense. He needed to think straight, just for a moment, then he could sort this out.

“I would never lie to you Marrok. You can hear any falsehood I could come up with. The truth never dies, remember?”

He closed his eyes. He knew she was right.

“When you found her, after she died, was she in a yellow dress? In front of the fire?” Evelyn pressed.

“Yes.” It had been saturated with her lifeblood. The poison had flooded her heart with its dark magic to the point the worthless organ had exploded right out of her chest.

“How could I possibly know that?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m not trying to hurt you, Marrok. I’m trying to show you everything I have seen. I think they’re warnings. There were other dreams this week. I think I finally learned why she was so often moving her lips without sound and why you have no recollection of it. She spelled you somehow.”

“Evelyn,” he warned.

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