Page 20 of The Demon of the Wood

She took the moments of waiting to gaze up at Kaemon. She had never imagined herself in a wood with three magical beings, simply sitting and fishing, but here she was. And next to a demon at that. He was markedly different from what she had expected, how she’d imagined him when she’d heard of the demon in the wood. She had envisioned a dark being with a snarl on his face, horns that would strike terror, and a being that would take as he pleased. Instead, he was the gentlest male she had ever known. And she had seen no evidence of the sexual appetite she’d heard so much about. Though she thought perhaps that was only that he did not want her.

Naida snickered and winked when Melina’s eyes shifted to her. Kaemon looked between them, and she hurriedly fixed her gaze on the fishing line, not wanting to draw any more attention to her ruminations about Kaemon.

The line bobbed, and Kaemon gave a quick jerk on the pole. It bent, something caught and trying to get loose.

“Want to take the pole and bring it in?” he asked her.

She nodded, grasping the rod, and giving a little cry of surprise at how strong the fish tugged.

“Keep it up as much as you can.” Kaemon bounded to the edge of the pool and produced a net, dipping it into the water and pulling it up with a trout in it, the hook secure in its mouth. “You caught a fish!”

He took the hook out carefully, then ran a string through the trout’s mouth and gills, tying a knot, then dipped it back in the water while they continued fishing. The day passed slowly and leisurely and at first Melina felt a sense of urgency. That she should do something, anything, but seeing Kaemon and the others enjoying the quiet moments of the day, she eased into it as well. Kaemon’s wings shrouded around her, blocking the stiff wind. Silenus settled next to her, grabbing a lock of her hair, and thumbing it.

“Will you let me braid this?” he asked.

She nodded, surprised. She had only learned the most basic braid, and she had never been very good at it, though she’d always admired the women in the village with elaborate braids and crowns on their heads.

Kaemon grunted. “We need to head back to the cabin, Silenus. You’ll have to toy with her another time.”

Silenus sighed. “You really are so jealous, Kaemon.” He turned to Melina. “Next time then.”

“You should come for dinner one night,” she said.

Silenus’ face lit up, but a glance at Kaemon showed an expression of torture.Whoops.

“I would be honored.” The satyr planted a kiss on her cheek, and they bid Naida farewell and left.

“I’m sorry about Silenus,” Kaemon said. “He’s a flirt with everyone.”

Melina laughed, and Kaemon’s head tilted curiously. “I don’t really mind. He seems harmless. Does he flirt with you?”

The stiffness in Kaemon’s shoulders lessened. “He used to. I’ve made it clear he should stop, and he respects that. He’s not bad. Just a lot. You can tell him to stop touching you, though.”

Was Kaemon's annoyance with Silenus’ flirtations because he had been touching her? Warmth spread in her chest.

“I like him,” Melina said, realizing she really did.

He had a calming presence as well, not obtrusive, and his touches had felt friendly and kind, not as if lust lay buried there. She had received so little affection since her mother died that she enjoyed it.

Kaemon frowned for only a moment before settling his expression into one of neutrality. “Well, he’s clearly very fond of you as well.”

He didn’t seem happy about it. “Are you upset I invited him for dinner?”

Kaemon shook his head. “No. He will enjoy it, and you are welcome to have anyone over you desire.”

His tone was stilted enough that she wondered about it, but the cabin came into view, and she felt the moment to ask slipped away.

eleven

Kaemon

Kaemonfinishedcleaningthefish for dinner and came into the cabin, seeing Melina shelling nuts. Her hair fell around her shoulders in a luxurious heap of waves. It had been limp and dull when she’d first come, and her skin had been sickly. Now she had already regained her color, and health glowed from her. He wondered if he’d looked similar when Aife and Jorah found him in the cave.

She turned, a soft smile greeting him, and his heart raced in his chest, his head emptying out. She seemed blissfully unaware of the effect her smile and presence had on him. A burden—that’s what she’d called herself, and he didn’t know how to tell her that just her being here lifted a heavy weight of loneliness off his shoulders. She was beautiful. He had not failed to notice that or how his thoughts vanished anytime she laughed or gazed at him for a too long moment. But he knew nothing would come of it. Not only was this no life for her, living in the woods, isolated from the world with a demon, but she was already talking of making money to leave. It was for the best. He would enjoy the moments they had until then.

She held up a bowl as he came by, and he looked down. In it was a golden sauce, the scent of spices wafting from it. “I made a crab apple sauce for us to put on the trout.”

“It smells amazing,” he said.

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