Page 43 of The Demon of the Wood

Another lie. Melina exchanged a glance with Aife, who frowned at the demon.

“What brings you to Orc Haven?” Aife asked.

“Mercenary type things, the usual, you know.” Another falsehood. Melina thought she should distrust her, dislike her, but she found herself drawn to her, comforted by the same familiarity she couldn’t shake.

Customers entered and sat down, so Melina excused herself to take their order.

“Are there many demons around here?” Mary asked Aife.

Aife shrugged and Melina came behind the bar to refill a water pitcher and grab two glasses. “A few here or there. Are you searching for a particular one?”

Melina walked over to the customers, smiling, and pouring them water.

“Nope,” Mary responded. “Just curious.”

Business picked up, and Mary eventually left, heading up the stairs to her room. Melina came up to Aife, talking as they each prepared different orders.

“What do you suppose that was about?” Melina asked.

Aife shook her head. “No idea. Hopefully, nothing bad. Someone could be lying for plenty of reasons, but most of them are not good.”

Melina’s stomach tightened, but she moved about, working as the day wore on. In the afternoon it slowed again, and Mary was back, sitting in a booth and reading. The door opened and Melina let out a small gasp of joy as Kaemon walked in. His eyes landed on her, sparkling with joy, and he strode towards her. He halted, though, as Mary was suddenly up and standing in his vision. He looked at her, struck, his eyes wide. But then Mary’s face collapsed as she let out a sob.

“Kaemon?”

Kaemon’s face mirrored hers, and he rushed to her, pulling her into a hug. “Enid.”

twenty-three

Kaemon

KaemonstaredatEnidlong and hard, disbelieving. He recognized her immediately, though she had changed so much in the last decade. She wore the uniform of the House of Shadows' warriors, weapons strapped to her as easily as if they were another limb. Tears streaked down her cheeks, even as she smiled and let out a choking chuckle.

“You’re alive. You’re alive. You’re alive!” she said, each word more incredulous than the last.

She pulled back, and they stared at each other, laughing shakily. He must be dreaming. But no, he wasn’t. Enid was here. In Orc Haven. “How did you…? Why…?” There were so many questions, too many of them. Where could he start?

“Rumors that a demon lived on Nemus, near these parts, started circulating back to Medeis. I told Dryston I knew it was you.”

“How?” Kaemon couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I just did. I knew it had to be you. I never thought you were dead. But Dryston…”

Enid stopped talking, then glanced at Melina, who stood awkwardly to the side, watching their conversation. Confused, her eyes darted between them, only able to piece a few things together in her mind.

Enid beamed. “That’s why I recognized you. You’re my brother’s mate.”

Melina coughed a laugh, and Kaemon gave a wide-eyed glance to his sister, who frowned in confusion, but then threw her hands up in surrender. “Not officially mates yet?” Kaemon shook his head, eyes pleading. “Oh. Wonderful. A veryclosefriend, then. We’ll talk later, brother.” Enid made a face, then shook her head, clearing it.

“What of Dryston? And Mother and Father?” Kaemon held his breath, afraid to ask.

Enid’s eyes shuttered closed. “Mother and Father died that day.”

There was a beat of silence as grief washed over Kaemon anew. He had mourned them many times over since that day, oscillating between certainty they had died, and hope they hadn’t. Now he knew, and it hit him all over again.

Enid cleared her throat. “Anyway, Dryston is alive and well and is the same overbearing ass he’s always been.”

“Where is he?” Kaemon asked eagerly.

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