Page 46 of The Demon of the Wood

Kaemon pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. “I care for you deeply, Melina. And us living together and caring for each other means I want to mate with you. But it can’t be.”

Her chest ached as if he’d plunged a knife into it. “Because I can’t have children?”

“No—no, not at all. Because you deserve better than I can give you.”

“I only want what you can give me. I only want you, Kaemon. Please, let me come back and live with you.”

“It’s not safe, Melina. You will never be safe with me.” He let go of her and stepped back.

She wrapped her arms around her middle, feeling the rejection like a slap in the face. Perhaps it was just safety. Or perhaps it was something more, too. His sister was back, and he could go home now. He could find a proper mate. And she was certain she wouldn’t belong there. A weak, plain human girl.

“I understand,” she said flatly.

He took a step forward, and she stepped back. “Melina, I’m only doing this for your safety.”

She nodded, warring with her emotions, thankful for everything Kaemon had given her. This moment had been an inevitability from the beginning. Their separation as sure as the sunrise. She loved him, and he cared for her deeply. But that was it.

“Goodnight, Kaemon,” she said.

He stared at her, hurt shining in his eyes, before he nodded and left. The door shut behind him and she held out for as long as she could before she covered her face and sobbed into her hands.

A knock sounded bright and early the next morning on the loft door. While Melina had been an early riser out of necessity in her uncle’s home, she found she enjoyed sleeping in and staying up late far more. Blinking and rubbing her eyes awake, she sat up in bed, confused. Her stomach hurt horribly, but she took in a deep breath, intent on ignoring it. She was eating enough now. She didn’t know why she felt this way. Perhaps Aife would know. She hoped she wasn’t falling ill. She had so much work to do on her orders today.

Rap, rap, rap!

The soft knocking made her stumble out of bed and pull on a heavy winter robe as she came to the door. She opened it a creak and saw Enid standing there, grinning at her. Enid’s grin turned into a comical grimace when she took in Melina’s appearance.

“Did I wake you?” she asked.

Melina shook her head, but when Enid gave her a reprimanding look, she chuckled. “Yes, but I don’t mind.”

“I’m going to eat breakfast, and I thought you might like to join me.” Enid gestured down the stairs.

Meat cooking and the smell of herbs wafted up, greeting Melina’s nose and making her stomach rumble. Since coming to the inn, she rarely woke early enough for breakfast. The morning meal had been something she’d shared with Kaemon as well, and she’d had less motivation to go down by herself and eat. Enid’s unwavering smile and earnest eyes made her want nothing more than to get to know Kaemon’s sister, though.

She nodded. “I’ll get dressed and meet you downstairs.”

Enid slapped her leg. “Great! I was hoping you’d say that!”

Enid left her to change, and Melina did it hastily, taking the most time to brush out her tangled hair and braid it carefully as Silenus had taught her. When she finished, she went to the dining hall and saw Enid already sitting at a booth, a mug of warm black coffee in her hands as she read.

“What are you reading?” Melina asked, sliding onto the bench opposite her.

Enid held the papers up. It was news, the kind she had heard of from Medeis, the ones the elves had, too. A piece of magic infused parchment that updated the letters on it from different reports. She let out a gasp of excitement.

“I’ve never seen one of those before!” she said, and Enid slipped it over to her. She took it, flipping it around, surely thinking she’d see something that gave away the illusion. But there was nothing. “The High Fliers,” she said, reading the title at the top.

Enid snatched it away, flashing that dashing grin of hers. “Petty old gossip pages. You don’t want to read that.”

Melina didn’t say anything, didn’t even mention that she’d seen Enid’s name in the first paragraph. That was the demon’s own business. She wouldn’t press.

“How long are you here for?” Melina asked as the morning waitstaff brought plates of food to them.

Enid must have ordered while she was getting dressed. There were plates of meat, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy. Her mouth watered, even as she looked at the mountain of food. Enid took a plate, piling it high and handing it to Melina. She didn’t protest, even though she knew she wouldn’t be able to eat all of it, thinking of Kaemon and his tedious care to make sure she was fed.

“As long as Kaemon is staying, I suppose,” Enid said, taking a bite of the sausage and eating with the same speed she’d seen Kaemon eat with.

Melina’s hand stilled on the fork. Had they talked about Kaemon leaving? Of course they had. He knew now that his family loved him and wanted him. He would go home, and she would not be surprised if it was soon. Her stomach lurched, and she took a quick bite of food to quell the rising emotion. “Kaemon is so happy that you’re here.”

---