Page 45 of The Demon of the Wood

Enid’s tone made Kaemon give her a questioning look.

She sighed. “I may have technically ‘run away.’ And Dryston may have put a little bounty on my head for anyone who can locate and bring me back.”

“You what?” Kaemon asked, astonishment lining his voice. “Enid why?”

She pulled a face. “He didn’t believe me that you were alive. I wasn’t going to not come find you. And also… he hasn’t let me leave the Darkened City for anything but a couple of hunts and a few flybys for years, Kaemon. Years! He’s so afraid that something will happen that he’s kept us all isolated. He tries desperately to rebuild trust with the other rulers of Medeis, but the cruel lord kept us all hidden away, and everyone sees Dryston’s actions as the same.” She looked around, as if someone might be listening, then leaned forward. “In truth, the House of Shadows is weakened. Has been since the attack, and even before because of the fighting that the cruel lord caused. But it’s no excuse to live as if someone has a target on your back at all times. So, I took matters into my own hands. And since I haven’t been caught yet, either no demon wanted to pursue me because they agree that Dryston is an overbearing ass, or because I’m just so good at evading them.”

She leaned back against the seat rest, a cocky grin on her face. Kaemon noticed that Enid called Dryston an overbearing ass, but said it as if it were, at least partially, endearing. He also noticed the bitter tone that slipped in as she spoke. There was certainly a lot more happening than he was aware of.

“All that to say,” Enid said. “Take some time to figure things out with Melina.”

Kaemon nodded, looking over at Melina again. But hearing Enid talk about the state of the House of Shadows did nothing to lessen his fears. The demons’ reputation throughout the world, it seemed, was truly besmirched. And if they were weakened, would she ever truly be safe with him?

twenty-four

Melina

MelinaleftKaemonandEnid to talk, and they did for hours and hours. She returned to her room, content to lose her day with Kaemon for his sister. The absolute joy on his face filled her with giddiness. She sat by the fire, curled up under a thin blanket as she read. She’d intended to show Kaemon the book. A merchant had come by a few days ago with a few leather-bound volumes of stories and she had enough that she bought two. One she had devoured in a day and intended to give to Kaemon, and another she was currently reading, forcing herself to go slower so she would enjoy it properly and for longer.

She rubbed her head as she read. A small headache had plagued her all day and little pangs in her lower belly that concerned her, but she had felt similar ones often enough when she’d been eating only one meal a day.

A knock came, and she stood hastily, almost running to the door and flinging it open. There was Kaemon, his face at ease for the first time in weeks. She took his hand, pulling him in.

“I’m so happy your sister is here,” she said.

“Me, too.” He tugged on her hand, pulling her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. “I’m so happy, Melina.”

She gripped his shirt, savoring the feeling of his body against hers, trying to suppress the thrill it sent through her.

“I thought they hated me. That they blamed me. But Enid said that wasn’t it at all. They were convinced I was dead, held a funeral for me and everything. Dryston tried to find me, but couldn’t.”

Melina huffed. “Well, he could have tried harder.”

Kaemon laughed. “I don’t blame him. He was so young, too.”

She tilted her head up, and he tilted his head down. They were so close their breaths mingled. She stood on her tiptoes until their noses brushed. “Kaemon, how much do you remember from when you were poisoned?”

He swallowed. “I think I know what you are talking about. I always wondered if that actually happened. But I was too embarrassed to ask.”

“Why were you embarrassed?”

“You pushed me away and then never brought it up. I shouldn’t have done that, touched you like that.”

“I liked it.”

A small growl rumbled in his chest. “Oh?”

She brushed her nose against his. “Very much. I think about it at least once a day.”

He bent further, their lips a mere breath away. “I do, too.”

His lip pressed to hers softly, deeply, his hands tugging her close to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her fingers through the tendrils of his hair. He pulled back, their panting breaths loud between them.

“Your sister said I was your mate.”

His eyes roved her face, searching. “Yes… I didn’t realize that it could be sensed that way.”

“What does that mean? I don’t fully understand.”

---