The Demon King's Destiny

by C. A. Worley

  Chapter 24

  Marrok slid under the covers next to Evelyn, lying so they were facing one another. He pulled her hands up to rest on his chest then wrapped one of his arms around her waist.

  He was completely nude, as was she. His erection, thick and heavy, rested against her hip. Evelyn battled the urge to reach for it.

  “I thought you wanted to pull on my memories,” she tried to joke.

  “I do. Skin-to-skin allows me the clearest picture.”

  “Can demons lie?”

  Marrok chuckled. “Yes, but other demons always know.”

  “I’m not a demon.”

  “I know,” he said with a glint in his eye. “I like it, makes things more interesting. Now, as much as I’d rather roll you over and have my way with you, I need you to concentrate on the dreams.”

  Feeling suddenly very serious, Evelyn swallowed. “These memories were different, Marrok. I think—I think they might hurt you.”

  His face softened and he kissed the corner of her mouth. “The past is the past, Evelyn. I promise not to react as I did. Once I can glean anything important from the memories, I’ll bury them, leaving them where they belong.”

  Trusting him, she closed her eyes and concentrated. She tried to remember things in the order they’d come to her. If they occurred chronologically, she didn’t know. Marrok would have to be the one to figure out if the order mattered.

  Marrok rested his forehead against his mate’s, giving her a few seconds to push the memories into the forefront of her mind. The first few came fast, snippets of Melena moving her mouth without sound. With him. With Favin. Even with her father.

  Finally, the vision settled, just outside of the small chamber adjacent to the throne room. He was looking down, smoothing out the silken fabric of a bright blue dress. He could tell from the bracelet adorning his wrist he was seeing from Melena’s viewpoint.

  Voices carried from inside the chamber. Brennen often met here with small groups of demons, so it wasn’t surprising. Melena waiting to meet him, however, was.

  As far as Marrok knew, she’d never worked directly for the king. She’d told him her family had offered up her services and Brennen swiftly gifted her to Marrok.

  The door opened and she looked up into the face of her cousin, Caleb. “Come,” the male commanded.

  Melena entered and the heavy wood slammed shut behind her. Her head jerked and Caleb stepped in front of the door, as if he meant to block her exit.

  What have you gotten us into, Cousin? she silently wondered.

  Two other males were seated at the worn table. One had black hair and beady dark eyes with black covering the places where she should have seen amber. Something about him was not quite right.

  He was dressed in fine silk as opposed to the leathers most of the Sundari wore. His fingers were covered in jeweled rings, the sizes of the gems were ridiculous. He was soft, like a female.

  The King, her mind sneered a second before her eyes swung to the other male. Messy tufts of sable stood out in all directions from his scalp. His clothing was old and tatty, the brown leather faded to light tan in places.

  The juxtaposition of the pauper next to the sovereign was stark. Melena’s expression blanked as the Prajna’s bemused emerald green irises looked her up and down obscenely. She was used to being ogled by demon males. She was not used to the probing attention of a vampire.

  “My liege, may I introduce my cousin, Melena. The Seer I was telling you about.”

  Almost forgetting herself, Melena swiftly bent into a low curtsy. Brennen stood and she tracked the movement of his feet. They stopped in front of her and she waited for him to allow her to rise.

  “By the Goddess, Caleb. Your description wasn’t hyperbole. She’s exquisite.”

  “Yes, she is, Sire. Still, I believe it is her visions you will be most attracted to. Knowledge is power, after all. You know our purpose. You know we seek to—”

  “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” the vampire harshly reprimanded. “We don’t speak of such things where others may overhear, demon.”

  “Of course, D—”

  “You fool!,” the vampire interrupted again. “I told you not to use my name! Learn to hold your tongue or I’ll be promoting this beauty to your position immediately,” he seethed.

  “M-my apologies!” Caleb stammered. “Melena will be discreet. She is my heir. I’m sure Brennen knows we serve his interest, and his interest only.”

  The air in Marrok’s lungs halted. Melena did know she was next in line after Caleb. She’d been in league with them from the start, or at least complicit with the group.

  She’d been complicit with Brennen, as well. This meeting had to have occurred before the day Marrok met Melena, if she was being introduced to Brennen.

  Marrok’s uncle had used his words carefully that day in the throne room when he’d announced she was a gift. He’d implied it was the first time he’d met the female he’d heard much of from her father.

  “Gentlemen. Let’s move on from such topics. Rise, Melena, and join us at my table.”

  Melena straightened and moved to the chair Brennen had pulled out for her. The others took their seats, as well, and Caleb gave her a meaningful glower.

  “So, Melena. Caleb tells me you’ve seen something I won’t like. I’d like to hear it straight from the source.”

  “I’m not sure what Caleb told you, my lord. He neglected to inform me he’d spoken to you.”

  Brennen planted both hands on the table and licked his teeth. “Don’t play coy with me, female,” his low voice groused. “You saw Marrok would take the throne. I want to know when.”

  “My visions don’t reveal time. I only know they are future events.”

  He continued licking his teeth in that disgusting way he did. “Very well. Tell me what you can.”

  Melena folded her hands atop the table. “I saw him with his saatus. He called her his wife and his … Queen.”

  “It could have been a term of endearment,” Brennen guessed.

  “Not when she was sitting on the throne next to his. I’ve had many random pieces thrown at me. From what I could gather, once he meets her, he will take the throne.”

  Brennen growled and Melena held very still. He was known to be impulsive and he didn’t like the answer she gave.

  “Are you able to see at will?”

  “Most of the time.”

  “Caleb told me he’s run through different scenarios with you already? Of decisions I may or may not make?”

  “Yes, my liege.”

  “Then tell me, love, if I give you to Marrok, without conditions, what will happen?”

  Her swift intake of breath was unmistakable. Marrok supposed she hadn’t expected the question. Her eyes darted to Caleb and Marrok could pick up on the heavy dose of betrayal she felt towards her cousin.

  Demons couldn’t lie without detection. Melena would have to tell Brennen the truth. Resigned, her eyes closed.

  Marrok felt power as it built from inside Melena, clicking and whirring like the insides of a clock. Her spine straightened, held stiff by the magic. If she could call forth visions at will, she was far more powerful than she had led him to believe.

  She’d never shared this part of herself with Marrok and he’d never pried. The only time she’d spoken of her visions were when she’d been adamant they would never produce offspring together.

  When Melena slumped, she was breathless.

  “Well?” Brennen prompted.

  She head shook in disbelief. “We,” she gulped, “will marry.”

  Brennen clapped his hands with delight, laughing wickedly. Both Caleb and the vampire relaxed their posture.

  “Oh, my dear. This is far better than what I had originally planned. What a surprise you are. Marriage?! Who would have ever thought it could have been so easy to keep my nephew from his saatus? You are going to be perfect for this. Absolutely perfect!”

  His snigger reminded Marrok o
f a depraved madman who just discovered he’d gotten away with murder and planned on doing so again.

  Melena waited for Brennen’s laugh to die down before speaking. “If I may be so bold as to request, Sire, what exactly are you asking me to do?”

  “You’ll marry him, of course.”

  “This is a … command?” she dared.

  Brennen grabbed her arms and jerked her out of her seat so fast she got lightheaded. “If you want to keep your pretty little head attached to your shoulders, you’ll do as I say. Understood?”

  “Of course, Sire,” she exhaled.

  “Good. Then we have an understanding. Caleb, pour the wine. I’m in the mood to celebrate.”

  He shoved Melena back into her chair and she bit her tongue to keep from crying out. Her eyes tracked Caleb as he carried out his master’s command.

  “You’ll need to be on guard, Melena,” her cousin warned, sliding a glass in front of her. Melena stared at it, saying nothing.

  “Did you hear me?” he snapped.

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll use your magic to shield or to erase memories. Perhaps try planting some, if necessary. Do whatever you have to in order to remain undetected. I know how persuasive your powers can be with unsuspecting dolts.”

  “Ah, yes, I almost forgot,” Brennen mused. “Caleb tells me you can prevent others from reading your thoughts and even plant suggestions in their minds. Quite easily. That must be quite handy.”

  “It can be.”

  His hand came down on top of hers, none to gently, crushing it between the table and his palm. “You’ll not shield from me or attempt to manipulate me. Ever. If I discover you have, I’ll find creative ways to punish you, maybe even imprison your father. I’ll let you watch as I tear him apart one piece at tim.”

  Brennen slid his hand away and returned it to the arm of his chair. “The choice is yours, of course,” he grinned wickedly.

  Still staring at the glass of wine, Melena whispered, “I understand.”

  Brennen crowed at his own dark humor and the memory dissolved into another. It took Marrok a second to recognize they were now in the palace garden. Brennen was pacing anxiously in front of Melena.

  “You’re sure?” he spat.

  “Yes. The vision was of his child. One with dark red hair, like its mother. Marrok will still be king.”

  “I don’t understand. You are his wife! I’ve done everything short of finding this female and cutting her into pieces.”

  Marrok’s demon bellowed with rage—they were speaking of Evelyn.

  Brennen stopped pacing, his face lighting up as though he’d had a life-changing epiphany. “That’s it. I’ll find her and then I won’t have to worry about Marrok if she’d dead.”

  Melena flinched, a storm of panic brewing in her belly. “There’s still time, my lord. I’m not even sure she’s been born yet.”

  “Hmm. Yes, I suppose I can’t kill something that’s not alive. You’ll tell me when you’re certain you know who she is.”

  Nausea moved through her abdomen and up her throat. “As you wish, Sire,” she forced out, swallowing back the bile threatening to come up.

  Brennen watched her doubtfully. “You don’t like the idea of me killing the child, do you?”

  “I—I’m not fond of harming children, no.”

  “Then change the outcome, Melena. Wrap him so far up in your cunny he can’t see his way out or I’ll be forced to take action. One of them will die if you can’t change it. The girl will be easier for me to dispose of. I’d prefer not to take the life of my sister’s child, as well, but I will.”

  Melena nodded, still waiting for her stomach to settle. The vision faded and Marrok was once again looking into the eyes of his mate.

  “Are you okay?” Evelyn murmured.

  Marrok vaulted out of bed and ran into the adjoining chamber, emptying the contents of his stomach into the privy. A cool, damp cloth pressed to the back of his neck.

  He hadn’t even noticed Evelyn when she entered. He turned, sinking down to the cool floor. The stone felt good on his heated skin. “I’m sorry. I promised I wouldn’t react the same.”

  Wrapped in a sheet, she knelt beside him. “You didn’t. This reaction is … different.”

  He huffed. “I’m not sure if it’s from Melena’s nausea or if it’s my own.”

  Melena’s duplicity was a slap in the face. Marrok could concede she’d been coerced and didn’t have much of a choice—it didn’t make her deceit any easier to swallow. He would never betray someone he loved in such a manner.

  Marrok was starting to accept his wife might not have ever returned his feelings. If she could have manipulated his mind, he’d never know if she lied when she told him she loved him or even if his feelings were his own.

  It should have been a crippling blow. He should have been raging over having loved someone who was only playing a game.

  The reality was, his reaction to the memory, the panicked revulsion, had little to do with Melena and everything to do with how lucky he was Brennen had never gotten his hands on Evelyn.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Marrok shook his head. “We can get into the details later. I need to mull some of it over. When Favin and Danil arrive, we’ll sit down with them. Then I’ll need to talk to Hale so he can carry a message back to Theron.”

  “He won’t be back today.”

  “I know.”

  “Okay. What shall we do until then?”

  “I think I’d like to bathe.”

  Marrok got up and added heating stones to the bath, thankful he’d had the foresight to warm them while his mate slept. He opened the spigot and the water whooshed down the chute and into the bathing pool.

  Evelyn moved to exit and he tugged on the sheet.

  “I think I’d like you to bathe with me.”

  When he’d said the same words this morning, they were playful and full of naughty promises. This came out more like a boy who didn’t want to be alone.

  Dropping the sheet, Evelyn enfolded him in her welcoming arms. She could feel his emotions more clearly through their bond. She wasn’t surprised he was swinging between sadness and rage.

  “For what it’s worth, I do think she cared for you. She went to great lengths to remove herself from it all. In a way, she tried to protect me.”

  “Don’t.”

  Marrok wasn’t ready to discuss it. He wasn’t even sure he could figure out what he was feeling aside from his fury over Melena putting Evelyn’s life in danger.

  Any attempt on Melena’s part to protect Evelyn was weak at best. The fact remained Brennen had invaded Evelyn’s dreams. There was only one way he could have known who she was.

  Evelyn nodded. Instead of speaking, she held him until the bath was ready. Marrok led her into the water and they washed in silence.

  Chapter 25

  “You’re staring,” Marrok accused his friend, whose eyes scarcely left Evelyn’s head of hair. They were seated at the oval table in his study, finishing dinner.

  “So I am,” Danil replied snippily. “You’ll forgive me, but it’s not everyday I get to see a being with hair that’s not black as night.”

  Evelyn cocked her head at the white-haired male. “Do you not ever look in the mirror, then?”

  Danil howled in delight. “Not if I can help it, my lady. I’m the only one in the King’s guard with this coloring. Everyone around is covered in the color of midnight, including the King. Biased he is towards particular colorings.”

  Marrok smirked, tugging on the tail of Evelyn’s braid. “Guilty. Though, I must confess my preference is for red.”

  Evelyn pressed her lips over her teeth, trying not to blush.

  “Very smooth, Sire,” Favin chimed in and Evelyn snickered.

  “I thought so, too,” Marrok shot back, causing the men to laugh, as well.

  She was enjoying watching how Marrok interacted with Favin and Danil. She’d never expected them to rib one ano
ther so. They acted more like brothers than king and guard. She was glad Marrok had them.

  He’d lost so much in his life he deserved to feel like he still had family. Everyone needed connections like these.

  Marrok had told her there were two other males in their close group, Petr and Lazlo. Petr had found his saatus and was stationed in her town, a boon Marrok granted to ensure his friend had time with his female.

  He’d left Lazlo at the fortress in his stead. He’d sent a messenger and hoped to hear back that all was well. He worried about the security of the peninsula and if Lazlo could handle it on his own.

  A knock on the door turned her head.

  “Enter,” Marrok called.

  The door to the study opened and a kitchen maid with short dark hair came inside, pushing a trolley. She made quick work of clearing away the plates. The men grew somber and no one spoke.

  Evelyn thanked her but the girl didn’t reply. She started to ask the girl her name and Marrok’s warm hand touched hers, patting it firmly. She looked up and he gave a subtle shake of his head.

  When the girl left with her load, Evelyn turned to Marrok. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, moj draga. That wasn’t about you. That was Yana,” he said, as if it explained everything.

  Evelyn waited, looking to each male for further information. It was Danil who clarified.

  “We found her two years ago. Rogues had taken her and her sister from their village.”

  Her eyes flitted to the closed door, picturing the girl. She couldn’t have been more than thirteen or fourteen years old.

  “Her sister?” She didn’t clarify. They all knew exactly what she was asking.

  Danil shook his head. “We were too late. There was no saving her. Yana was close to death herself. We were able to kill her captors, to remove her from the cave where they’d held them for over a week. She hasn’t spoken of it. She hasn’t uttered a single word since we removed her from that hell, as far as we know.”

  “Why didn’t you return her to her village? To her parents?”

  “Because, little mate, there wasn’t a village to return to. It was a small farming community, no more than forty demons living there. The rogues slaughtered them all. Yana and her sister were the only younglings. We assume that’s why they took them, to feed off their terror.”