Page 44 of The Demon of the Wood

Enid sighed. “He didn’t believe it would be you. It’s tortured him, thinking you’ve been dead all these years. I think…” Enid shrugged. “Well, you know, he had to make a decision that day, to save one of us, and he chose me—”

“It was the right choice,” Kaemon cut in.

“I have a feeling you’re just as overbearingly protective as he is.” She looked at Melina for confirmation, and Melina nodded. Kaemonhumphed,affronted. “I think if he hoped it was you, and it ended up that it wasn’t, it would have crushed him. I came on my own instead because I could feel that you weren’t dead.”

“I’m glad you’re here, Enid. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“That we do, brother, that we do.”

Melina cleared her throat. “I’ll go get you two food, so you can catch up.” She gestured back to the booth Enid had been sitting at, then walked off.

“What’s this business about not being mates when you are?”

She fixed Kaemon with her perceptive gaze, the one she’d had even when they were children. But at that moment Melina was back with water and pints for them. She smiled brightly at Enid, as if it were her own long-lost sister who had returned for her. But she bustled off quickly, leaving them alone to talk. Kaemon watched her walk away, the spring in her step, her long hair swishing behind her and how she went to Aife, and they whispered and giggled.

“You are so absolutely, gobsmacked, in love with that woman,” Enid said and laughed.

Kaemon sighed and shook his head, but didn’t deny it. What was the point of that? He was certain anyone could see it, and he didn’t care. Melina was the most deserving of love, and she’d had so few people love her. If he could love her enough to make up for all that lack, he would, and he would never cease giving it to her.

“She doesn’t know about the mate bond,” he said.

“Why in thedarkest pitnot?” Enid asked. “I can explain it to her if that’s the problem. I know you were always modest and didn’t like talking about those things as much and—”

Kaemon waved his hand. “That’s not the issue. It’s not safe for her to be with me. I was attacked not too long ago by Hunters. I believe her uncle is looking for her and knows she's with me.”

Enid’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling in a snarl, and he went cold from the predatory gleam in her eyes. “Tell me who and they are marked. I will take them out, brother.”

He shook his head. “There’s no need for that. I don’t even know who they are, and the Hunters are not to be trifled with.”

Enid’s wings twitched angrily. “You need to come home with me. It’s not safe out here alone.”

Kaemon blinked. “Are you and Dryston… not angry with me?”

Enid cocked her head to the side. “Kaemon… angry? Why would we be angry with you?”

“I shared the ritual with Cillian. I’m the reason they killed our colony. Our parents.”

Enid reached across the table and took his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “No, Kaemon. No. They were planning it all along. That’s why they requested we take the temple down. They knew that the ritual caused our power to dip and weaken us. It was a setup from the beginning. You may have helped them connect the finer details, but it was going to happen either way. We love you, Kaemon. You’re our kin, our own flesh and blood. You belong with your colony.”

“When I was… While I was a prisoner.” His words came out haltingly and Enid’s face lit with rage when he saidprisoner. “They said that they contacted you all about negotiating for my release. And that you weren’t interested in it. I thought that you hated me.”

A low rumble escaped Enid’s chest. “They are liars, Kaemon. They didn't contact us about you. We thought you were dead.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “We held a funeral for you. A priest sent your soul off. I remember Dryston holding it together during the ceremony, as the new lord. The Magic had shifted to him that day of the attack. That’s when he knew mom and dad had died. It was mid-flight as he took me back.

“We held mom and dad and the entire colony’s funerals first. Dryston sent out teams to search and search for you. When we finally held your funeral, he was stoic only for the ceremony. Then I followed him back to the study and the moment the door shut, I held him as he wept. We have never hated you, Kaemon. We could never hate you.”

Kaemon knew he was crying, but he didn’t have it in him to care. Her words seemed to stitch up an old wound that had been slowly bleeding him out for the last decade.

“Come home, Kaemon,” Enid begged.

His gaze slipped to Melina. She served other customers, but her eyes flew to his as if she sensed his attention on her. Worry lined her face, but he gave her a weak smile and she returned it, going back to work.

“And bring your mate with you,” Enid said.

Kaemon swallowed. Fear still lingered with him. “I don’t know that she would want that. We’re really just friends, Enid. We haven’t talked about any of this and I—”

He stalled. Would she want that? Was it even wise? She had just started making a life for herself here. She had a business, friends. He’d seen so much joy on her face lately. He didn’t want to command she fly away with him to another continent, to a world of underground caves and full of predators. She would be safe, but would she feel safe?

“You don’t have to decide right now. I wouldn’t mind sticking around here for a bit, anyway.”

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