Page 17 of The Demon of the Wood

Instead, she twisted her hands. “K-Kaemon,” she said haltingly. “I have to ask you something, though it feels so indecent.”

He quirked an amused eyebrow. “You have my attention.”

She gave him a faint smile. At least he was in a good mood. “I… well, I don’t know how to say it.” She started pacing, and he cocked his head to the side as he often did. It was so endearing. And there it was again. She stopped and looked at him bravely. “I would really appreciate it if you could stop the magic hold you have on me.”

Confusion flitted across his face. “Magic hold? What do you mean, Melina? Are you experiencing something magical?”

His tail switched behind him and he looked around protectively, as if he were trying to find a threat.

“Are you not aware of it?”

He looked at her, frowning, and shook his head. “What is it? Has someone put a spell on you?”

He came close, his eyes roving over her, searching for any signs of an enchantment. Her body buzzed and that invisible rope between them seemed to come taught.

“Kaemon,” she said, her voice almost desperate. “The thrall you have as a demon on a human woman. The one that makes you so desirable to us.”

His eyes drifted to hers, dancing with merriment, and the corners of his mouth tugged upward. “I don’t have a magic thrall on you. We can’t do that. It’s just a myth.”

She stared at him confused for a moment, then understanding flooded her and she drew in a sharp intake of breath, her cheeks flushing.

Oh, no. Oh gods.

Had she just told him she found him attractive and then tried to blame it on some magic thrall? She wanted to bury her head in the snow outside.

“Well, that is good to know,” she said, her voice far higher pitched than normal. She cleared her throat and walked past him. “Not that I would have known, of course. I had only heard that and assumed it might happen at one point. There are so many things about magic we don’t understand, you see. And It’s good to cover all subjects that could occur. Thank you for clarifying.” She was rambling, making up lies, and Kaemon simply nodded as if it all made sense, which, of course, it made no sense.

He was being nice. He was letting her have her excuse.

“I think I should go gather more walnuts,” she said faintly, throwing her cloak and boots on and rushing out into the cold before Kaemon could say another word.

nine

Kaemon

Kaemonlayonthebearskin rug that night, listening to the soft and steady rhythm of Melina’s sleeping breath. The sound soothed him, setting his usually tense body at ease as he closed his eyes. He could tell she was wary of him, but it was pleasant to have another being here, someone to share a meal with.

The smell of pine filled his nose, and he smiled. She’d decorated. It made it feel like home, but he had never thought of decorating himself. It reminded him of when he was a child, back in the House of Shadows, decorating for the different moon festivals with his family. He would tease his sister and fight with his brother, and they would scramble to get their parents’ attention on only them. His cousins and friends, the rest of the family would come together often for meals, shared near a large, blazing fire and they would sing and play games, until the kids fell asleep, curled up near their parents, only to be carried back to their homes and laid in bed.

His heart ached desperately at the memory, as it always did. But tonight, it ached a little less while he listened to the sound of another soul nearby.

ten

Melina

Astheinitialdayspassed, the weather cleared, and Melina and Kaemon fell into a rhythm. He hunted, ran rounds in the forest, and fished throughout the day. Melina made herself useful around the cabin, and in the surrounding wood, foraging. She did not venture too far out, as Kaemon warned her after the first day that she would be safest sticking closer to the cabin.

“Are there many predators in the forest?” she’d asked.

He shook his head. “Not animals. But sometimes humans come through.”

She understood that well enough and stayed close, even as she became familiar and curious about the entire forest. For the first time in her life, she felt fully free. The first few days’ anxiety had been a constant voice in her head, gripping her gut tightly, and making her afraid of everything she did. But Kaemon was patient and kept to his word of not touching her in any way she didn’t ask. He responded gently to everything she said and never became angry or irritated. Her suspicions slowly fell away, and she watched her back less and less with each day that passed.

Kaemon left in the morning before she was awake, and she often suspected it was to give her privacy to dress and clean herself. One day, after she’d been there almost a fortnight, she heard the door shut behind him, and she peeked from under the covers, still savoring the warmth of them, as he disappeared into the woods. She groaned, not wanting to leave the bed, but she still stumbled out, her feet hitting the cool floor and she jumped hurriedly on one foot to the other to keep warm as she dressed.

As nice as a lazy day sounded, one where she could revel in the bed’s warmth, she had no desire to let him see her that way. She had already taken over his bed, and she hadn’t figured out a way to get him to change spots with her. She’d woken one night, looking over to see him resting easily on the ground, his black curls tumbling over his face, his mouth slightly ajar. A smile crept over her face at the memory. For a demon, he certainly wasn’t very frightening. He seemed comfortable on the floor, but she hated that he gave her so much and she could give him so little in return.

She finished tying the twine around her waist and tucked the shirt in, then grabbed the comb and brushed out her hair. There was a small mirror over the washbasin, and she gazed into it, barely recognizing herself. Her sallow skin had changed to be full of color, the dark circles under her eyes all but gone now. The brown locks of her hair now held a shine she’d never seen before and while she was still all sharp angles, she felt stronger. Kaemon watched her carefully at meals, encouraging her to eat more. It had been difficult at first, her stomach protesting with any paltry amount, but each day it expanded.

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