Page 33 of The Demon of the Wood

“I won’t let you pay me back,” he said. She narrowed her eyes at him. “It’s a gift. All of this is a gift.”

They had stopped dancing. Kaemon gripped her skirts in his fist and tugged her against him, his chest rising then falling heavily. Her eyes dipped to his lips, then up again, hand tightening on his arm as she pressed against him.

A loud knock at the door made them both jump back from each other. Who would venture out in this kind of weather? He grabbed the hatchet by the entrance and opened the door carefully, bringing his wings up so that whoever it was couldn’t see Melina.

“Silenus,” he growled, irritated that the satyr had interrupted his moment with Melina. Maybe Silenus was horrible.

“I’ve trudged all this way in the snow, and that’s all you can say?” Silenus asked. “At least invite me in.”

Kaemon sighed, moving aside, and gesturing for him to enter.

sixteen

Melina

SilenuspeekedaroundKaemon’swings and waved at Melina. She grinned and waved back, gesturing for him to come in, then walked over to put water on for tea.

“How did you make it all the way here in this weather?” she asked, a slight reprimand in her voice.

The Satyr placed a hand over his heart. “My adoration for you kept me warm and the thought of seeing your face spurred me on, lovely Melina.”

Kaemon scoffed, crossing his arms and shaking his head. Melina turned to hide her chuckle as she watched the water boil.

“Really, Silenus, why are you here?” Kaemon asked.

Silenus sighed. “Well, mostly I was bored, and this weather doesn’t bother me like it does most. I thought you two would surely be tired of each other’s company by now, anyway.”

Melina poured the water into a teapot and brought it to the table. “Where do you live?”

Silenus untied his scarf, laying it on the table and shaking his head to get the snowflakes off. “There is a large tree a ways away that I’ve hollowed out on the inside. You should come visit me, Melina. You’d find it charming, I think.”

“I would love to come by when it gets warmer.”

Kaemon made a grunting noise, and she looked over to see him moodily regarding Silenus. She wondered what it was about, but she knew they had a bit of a hatefully loving relationship. She wondered if this was part of Kaemon pushing others away. He’d confessed that to her, but what had happened that morning to make him feel that way? She’d woken to him getting out of bed, the feeling of emptiness around her body making her remember that they’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. She’d felt the loss of it by the cool that surrounded her limbs and inside her as he trudged outside in a hurry.

Had she cuddled too close? Been a bother last night? But he said he was afraid of losing people. Silenus was chatting away about his failed attempts at flirting with Naida and assuring them that one day she would warm to him, then Kaemon telling Silenus it wasn’t polite to keep trying when a female makes it clear they don’t want it. Silenus looked at Melina, but she was too busy watching Kaemon.

Her breath seemed to catch every time she looked at him and she didn’t think she’d ever forget the memory of his arms wrapped around her, his warmth comforting her through the night, the feeling of his hands on her as they danced. His hands had grabbed her hips and tugged her close to him. They had been about to kiss, she was certain of it. She had taken up a particular daydream lately, one of her and Kaemon living here, a child running about. It was absurd for many reasons, first being she couldn’t have children and second, she wasn’t certain Kaemon would want her to have any with him.

Kaemon looked at her then and she saw no trace of what had been there before. Had she imagined it? She shouldn’t be a coward. She should say something to him and ask. But she was a coward. Survival was the only way she’d lived until now, and she stumbled over the steps to thrive.

She realized they were awaiting her response. She shook her head and looked at the two males. Silenus was smirking, but Kaemon only looked at her with his unwavering patience. She loved that about him. She had always called her uncle’s estate home; it being the closest thing she’d ever had before. Even if it was full of cruelty and fear. She’d never called the cabin home, very aware that it was Kaemon’s, and she would have to leave someday.

But he felt like home. He made her feel safe, seen and cared for. Kaemon was the only home she had ever truly known, and suddenly, she felt keenly what he meant by being afraid of losing someone important to her. She was terrified of losing him, in any capacity. If they could go on like this forever, she’d be more than content. Happy, blissful. But they couldn’t, could they? Kaemon wanted a mate and children.

“I’m sorry,” she said, finally coming back to herself. “What did you ask?”

“Nothing at all,” Silenus said with a smile and Kaemon rolled his eyes, standing.

“I’ll make dinner,” he said.

Melina stood to help but his hand rested on her shoulder, and he shook his head, nodding to Silenus to keep him company. She settled back with her tea.

“Silenus, where is your family?” She asked.

“They live a few towns over. I have many nieces and nephews, all running about in the forest near Elf Glen. Do you like children, Melina?”

“I love them.”

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