Page 14 of The Demon of the Wood

“As you please,” he said.

A small bucket sat outside the door to slough the scraps into. Snow almost covered it entirely, but she dusted it off. Then she took a damp cloth and cleaned the plates more, placing them away on the counter. Kaemon tended the fire, but turned as she finished.

“You should sleep in the bed,” he said.

She shook her head and gestured to the bearskin rug. “I’ll sleep here. You should have your bed.”

He frowned. “I’m not letting you sleep on the floor.”

“I’m quite used to it and this rug is far more comfortable than the stone floor I had before,” she said, as if it were normal. His face showed surprise, and she realized perhaps it was not normal.

“You’re sleeping in the bed,” he said in a tone that brooked no disagreement.

She stiffened. It didn’t settle well with her, having him sleep on the floor. If she could only make herself as little of a nuisance as possible, she would be fine. “No, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Kaemon dipped his chin, a hint of the predator he was in his gaze, making something like a thrill run through her. “Get in the bed, Melina.”

She flinched, then went still.

The frown disappeared from his face. “Am I frightening you?”

She shook her head, but tremors ran through her hands. “I’m sorry.”

His face fell. “No, I’m sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. I won’t touch you in any way that you don’t want me to.”

She looked at him warily. “What if I deserve it, though?”

“Why would you deserve to be hit, Melina?”

She wrapped her arms around her body, that old familiar feeling of shame filling her. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “If I break something, or if I don’t cook the food the way you like, or if I’m being lazy.”

Anger flashed through Kaemon’s eyes, and he stroked his jaw, his nostrils flaring. Her skin prickled, though she had the distinct feeling he wasn’t angry at her. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up and held out his arm for her to see. Scars crisscrossed along his forearms of varying sizes. Some were white and old, some still an angry red.

“I know what it’s like to have others hurt you and say that it’s your fault. But you don’t deserve it. And I won’t hurt you. I swear it.”

Her chest tightened, realizing he’d felt some of the horror she had. Who had done it to him? Indignation filled her on his behalf. “I can sleep on the floor, Kaemon. I don’t mind.”

He nodded. “But I do. It will get cold in the middle of the night and the bed is warmer. I run hot, so I'll be fine.”

She finally agreed, readying for bed, and Kaemon turned away as she pulled on the nightshirt. She crawled into the bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.

“Goodnight, Melina,” Kaemon said, and her heart did a happy flip.

The last time anyone had said that or expressed good wishes for her in that way was before her mother died.

“Goodnight, Kaemon,” she said.

She dropped swiftly to sleep that night, her dreams restful, her belly full for the first time in a long time.

seven

Kaemon

NightmaresclaimedKaemonasthe storm wailed outside. It was the same nightmares that visited him often. The day was bright and warm. The advisor of the human king had told him about the elk in the woods. Hunting was something colonies of demons did back home, and he had yet to make his first kill. His little sister, Enid, had already made hers and he was itching for it too.

His father forbade them to leave the castle on their visit. They were haunted by three demon guards apiece.

“He said there are so many elk in the forest!” he told his father. The king had even told them to use the woods as they pleased.

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