Page 35 of The Demon of the Wood

“It is, though not all take part. Some enjoy that, others do not. I am not one who would enjoy having another’s mate, nor sharing my own,” Kaemon said, his gaze full of weight on her for a moment, before flicking up to Silenus, something like a warning there, his eyes holding the look of a predator to prey. She shivered and Silenus’ hands stalled as he swallowed loudly.

Silenus’ hands resumed their previous motions. “Well, that is good information to know, Kaemon. I will lock that fantasy away.”

Kaemon shook his head and sighed. The satyr chuckled and Melina eased. Though the way his stare had settled on her when he said that felt as if some hidden meaning waited for her to uncover it, some idea he wanted her to have. If only she could read his thoughts. And if only she wasn’t too much of a coward to ask.

seventeen

Kaemon

Theweatherwarmedagain,and the sun shone, hitting the snow with a blinding light. Kaemon spent hours shoveling pathways to the shed, the river, and into the woods. He came in one morning, having woken before Melina, to find her sitting by the fire, stitching her dress. The wintry days in the cabin had given her a brilliant head start on the outfit, and he was delighted at how excited it made her to see it come together.

She glanced up as he entered. Her long braid, the one Silenus had taught her, sliding over her shoulder with the movement. He’d seen how happy the satyr’s compliments made her. He’d never considered voicing his inner thoughts out loud, had never thought it would be something she’d enjoy hearing. But jealousy had ripped through him so viciously that night that he’d been fumbling over himself for days now, trying to find a good time to slip in a compliment, to see how she would respond. It had been ridiculously hard, his mind often going blank when he wanted to, or the moment feeling too heavy if he did. Not to mention they’d been stuck in the cabin, and he had this fear that she didn’t want to hear those things from him, that she would hate it, and neither could escape the other if he did. He took in a deep breath and braced himself.

“You look beautiful today, Melina,” Kaemon said, the words coming out stilted and awkward. He cursed himself for it. He wanted it to roll off as easily as it did for Silenus.

Seeing the satyr flirt and touch Melina and how she melted toward him had made him want to throw Silenus out in the snow, but he wasn’t that type of male. Melina was friends with Silenus and clearly enjoyed his company. If she wanted more from him, then she should have it. Even if killed Kaemon. Even if it ripped his heart right out of his chest.

Her eyes dipped down shyly, a smile lighting her face that made his heart seem to stall, roaring back to life with a thunderous beat. He would definitely have to say things like that more often if it would make her smile like that.

She bent over and focused on her stitches. “You don’t have to say those things, Kaemon. I know Silenus was teasing you, but I appreciate everything you do. Compliments are nothing compared to how you’ve provided for me.”

He could hear a swift fluttering in her chest. “I want to say them. It felt so obvious that I didn’t think of saying it out loud, though I’ve noticed it often.”

Her eyes flicked up to him carefully, biting her lip as she assessed the truth of his words.

“I always think you’re beautiful, Melina.”

“Well, you’re very handsome, Kaemon. If we’re being honest about how we see each other.”

He swallowed, his mind emptying. He hadn’t expected that in return, and now he didn’t know how to respond. What did one say to that? Thanks? That didn’t seem to convey how earth shattering those words felt, how they seemed to lift his spirits higher than his wings could take him, how they left his body warm like the inside of a baked pie. And it certainly didn’t convey how desperately he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Thinking he was handsome didn’t mean she wanted that. Even if it gave him a threadbare hope that she might.

The moment passed, though, so he only cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head. “I’m going hunting today. I’ll be back before dinner.”

She gave a hum of acknowledgement, a soft joy on her face, and he had the urge to cancel his hunting plans and sit here with her all day, as they had been doing for the last four days. But they needed more meat, and he would need to make a run to Orc Haven soon enough, taking pelts to sell.

The depth of the snow made trudging into it take longer, but soon he found tracks and followed them, climbing in the trees and hopping from branch to branch until he spotted an elk. He pulled out his bow, stringing it and observing. Other noises rose to his ears, noises of talking, and his skin prickled. He remained still. Humans came through the clearing, shooting the elk with their crossbow, their raucous shouts and laughter a garish sound as the elegant creature fell to the ground. But he noticed something else, the marks on the sleeves of their jackets, and his mouth went dry. They were from the Hunters Guild.

“Not the beast we came for, but it will fetch a good price!” the tallest, burliest man said.

“Maybe we will get this and that devil, and what a good hunting day it will be!” another man said, and they all laughed.

They had come for him. His hands felt clammy, and he wanted to flee, but he couldn’t. Their arrows would have poison on the tips to inhibit his natural abilities and healing. There were about fifteen of them, and he wasn’t confident he could take them all on. Kaemon had never properly learned to fight; he’d been too young when he’d been taken. Other than the normal roughhousing of siblings, he’d only had fitness training and some hunting.

He stilled his breath, taking in everything he could. Each man had a crossbow and sword. He saw nets and restraints, likely poisoned as well. He thought of Melina and rage surged in his chest. If they took him and then found her, they wouldn’t save her. They would ravish her and leave her for dead because she’d been consorting with him.

He needed to get to her.

The men were setting up camp, though, and he wracked his brain for a way that he could leave unnoticed. There was no opening in the treetops for him to fly and he couldn’t jump from limb to limb as most weren’t strong enough to hold him. He would have to wait it out.

But then, his foot slipped, too lost in thought, and a twig fell. The men jerked their heads around, searching for the source of the sound.

Shit.

The tallest man-made eye contact with Kaemon and let out a cry, directing all men to him. Kaemon’s instincts took over, and he barely knew what happened next. One minute he was in the tree, the next he descended on the Hunters in a fury. Darkness moved about him, something like a freezing hot tempest swirling in his wake. He felt an arrow pierce his left wing, then another in his leg, his arm, his other wing, but he kept going, taking out men as he went, until there were only three left and they fled in terror.

He gazed around at the carnage he had caused and vomited.

Dizziness filled his head and each step back to the cabin was stumbling and unsure.

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