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  The Demon King’s Destiny

  Fate of Imperium

  Book 3

  By C.A. Worley

  PUBLISHED BY:

  C.A. Worley

  The Demon King’s Destiny

  Fate of Imperium Book 3

  Copyright © 2019 by C.A. Worley

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author, except for brief quotations embodied in reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated.

  This book contains mature content and is intended for adult readers.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  A huge thank you to my readers! This has been my most successful series to date, and I’m feeling indebted to those who took a chance with me.

  I’d also like to thank the Indie Author community for all the encouragement, kind words, and advice. I’ve yet to meet a self-published author who wasn’t supportive.

  Lastly, a big shout out to my Beta Buddy and Critique Partner, Kay Uno, for her feedback and encouragement. You’ve been a blessing.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Note From Author

  “Three days and this house shall fall.

  One menace to kill them all.

  Northland, Eastland, and Southland quest.

  Heed the threat from the West.”

  ~Prophecy from Elora, Evelyn’s mother

  Prologue

  “Come closer, little one,” the hoarse voice reverberated through the woods.

  The hairs on Evelyn’s neck and arms stood at full attention as the demon’s ensorcelled vocals echoed off her skin. Thankfully, his voice was the only thing he’d managed to get through her protective barrier.

  She ignored the male, lowering her head and concentrating on her doll. Her long auburn hair fell over her shoulder, like a dark silky curtain hiding her face from the insidious creature.

  More and more he had been visiting her dreams. With each visit, he grew bolder. Tonight, he’d ventured all the way to the edge of the clearing, watching her from the tree line. It was the furthest he’d ever dared.

  In this dream, she was sitting on a blanket, playing with a handful of toys. Her two sisters were nearby, chasing each other through the tall goldenrod of the small field beside their home. Evelyn didn’t bother calling to them. They weren’t capable of seeing the demon when he visited.

  He wasn’t like her sisters in this dreamworld. Eden and Nora weren’t actually here. They were pieces of Evelyn’s subconscious, intangible and incapable of being anything other than what her imagination deemed them to be.

  The demon was real. Corporeal. He’d meant to be here. He had somehow broken through and now lurked in her forest.

  She’d yet to get a good look at him, but she could sense his magic. Dark and dangerous, matching the exaggerated bass of his speech. Demons were known for their low tenor, but this one’s was aberrant, almost otherworldly.

  The first time he’d broken through, she reached out with her senses to get a feel for his power. It felt cold and crude when he pushed back, like a cold wet tongue testing her flavor.

  It had made her feel sick. Something about it was … wrong.

  “Let me into the meadow, girl. I only want to talk.”

  It was obvious he was lying. Her magics whispered to her and warned her to keep him away.

  Evelyn wanted him to go away forever. She’d never been able to make him, no matter how many times she wished him gone.

  Being unable to control her dreams was maddening. All she could do was put up a barrier and wait him out.

  The demon had shown every night for a week now. Evelyn was worried he would eventually figure out how to reach her in the clearing.

  Tonight, before she closed her eyes, she prayed to the Goddess of Sanctus Femina to either keep her safe or to make her strong enough to keep him at bay. She had an ominous feeling she was getting ready to find out if either of her wishes would be granted.

  The male growled in frustration and Evelyn’s grip on her doll tightened. Still, she refused to look up.

  Silence stretched as she sat on her gold and black blanket. She knew he was still there, probably pretending to be gone. Evelyn was not to be tricked. She could still feel his ugly magic.

  Demons could use their powers to creep into the minds of others. They could control those they held under compulsion. Evelyn believed such powers were unnatural.

  Her father, King Edward, had assured her she could shield against an attack, that her will was strong and she would not be vulnerable. Evelyn wasn’t keen on testing his theory.

  Her strategy was to figure out how to simply make the demon go away, or to learn how to wake herself from her dreams. Despite her strong will, she hadn’t been able to do either. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t continue trying, or that she wouldn’t stand her ground when push came to shove.

  Evelyn waited patiently for him to leave. Staring at the worn and ragged figure in her hands, her fingers itched. Her powers were swirling, waiting, anticipating a confrontation.

  Though she was young, only six years of age, she was not weak. If he broke through the barrier, she would be ready.

  Something hummed through the atmosphere in the distance. Steadily, it grew louder, reminding her of a fast-approaching storm. The air thickened with electrical currents and Evelyn raised her face to the heavens.

  A blinding light shot across the sky. She tracked it with her eyes until it disappeared, landing among the treetops, somewhere behind the trespasser.

  The bad male growled again and ran towards the place where the traveling light vanished among the greenery. It was just beyond her line of sight.

  Tempted as she was to investigate, Evelyn remained on her blanket. The sounds of her sisters’ play vanished, replaced by the echoes of snarls and grunts coming through the trees.

  The noises disrupted the quiet of the forest. It sounded like two ferocious beasts locked in battle. A loud crash echoed, then silence fell.

  Evelyn stood, concerned. Through the break in the trees, she could now see the shadow of a form rising to its feet.

  “You’ve gone too far, Uncle!” the voice roared.

  “No, I haven’t gone far enough! You’ll never be King, Marrok. Over my dead body will you take this throne from me.”

  “I didn’t want the bloody throne, Brennen. Now you’ve left me no choice.”

  The two males moved far too fast for her to track. Suddenly, a body landed
against the magical barrier separating the clearing from the forest, the one she’d built to protect herself.

  The invisible shield pulsed with purple and white sparks. An enormous male jumped to his feet, black eyes glaring at her through shiny black strands of disheveled hair.

  Marrok. The bad male had called him Marrok.

  For a heartbeat, he remained locked on her and she couldn’t draw a breath. His eyes widened slightly before quickly slanting down in displeasure.

  Movement behind him caught Evelyn’s attention. “Look out!” she yelled.

  Brennen’s eerie tentacles of magic flew out of the woods. Marrok dove to the side and the ethereal appendages battered against Evelyn’s shield, trying to punch through it.

  “You’ll never get to her,” Marrok seethed, searching the shadows for signs of his uncle’s location.

  “Then neither shall you.”

  A huge vortex of murky grey magics came out of nowhere, whirling like a nest of vipers around Brennen as he stepped out of the underbrush. His eyes were wide, crazed. His mouth contorted as if he was lifting a great load.

  Shite! Marrok cursed to himself. Brennen was completely out of control. He looked one last time at the youngling, praying he could hold off the menace.

  “Run!” he hissed at her.

  Dropping the doll, Evelyn ran for her life.

  * * *

  Marrok jackknifed off his thin bedding on the cave floor, clutching at his chest. His pulse raced as he felt for his heart.

  Still there.

  He could feel the pounding of his blood against his palm. A sheen of sweat covered his skin, cooling him in the damp air. The pain from the dream remained.

  His pectoral was sensitive to his touch, burning with irritation. Marrok’s trembling hand lifted and came away bloody. Deep gashes from his uncle’s claws had shredded his shirt, easily slicing through the skin and muscle below.

  He’d dreamwalked—or had he been summoned? His uncle had been surprised to see him, so it wasn’t Brennen who sought him.

  The girl. It had to have been the youngling with the strange eyes.

  Some demons could enter the minds of others, especially when they were sleeping and relaxed. Sleep made more than just the physical form vulnerable.

  He could only imagine the terrible things Brennen must have done to obtain knowledge of who the girl was. The male had purposefully broken into the child’s dreamworld.

  To do what? Marrok didn’t know. Whatever Brennen had planned, his uncle deserved the consequences he’d brought upon his own head.

  Marrok lowered himself to his back, grinning at the thought of the Sundari royal guards finding Brennen’s open chest. Missing a heart.

  “All is well, Sire?”

  Marrok’s head jerked towards the sound of Favin’s voice. He could barely see the dark-haired male lying across the alcove. The night’s fire was almost completely out.

  “All is well, Favin. Tomorrow we shall return home.”

  “Truly?” his Second whispered.

  “Truly. We’ll tell the men in the morning.”

  “But, how …?”

  “In the morning, Favin.”

  “Very well, Sire.”

  Marrok closed his eyes, dreaming of the child who’d just handed him the kingdom.

  Chapter 1

  Evelyn, Age 16

  “You don’t seem at all disappointed, if you don’t mind my saying,” Evelyn noted to her older sister as they walked arm-in-arm along the walking path.

  Eden’s mouth curved downward at Evelyn’s observation. She must have hit a nerve. It was her forte, even though she hadn’t meant to nettle Eden about the King of Burghard.

  “How can one argue with Fate?” Eden replied.

  “Ooh, kudos for evasiveness. You’re good at this game.”

  “It’s not a game,” Eden sighed.

  Evelyn twisted her lips. “I know it’s not.”

  They meandered through the trees surrounding their home. Several wide walking paths had been created long ago so the children would not get lost in the woods.

  The people of Gwydion loved being in nature. They were elementals and had an affinity to the natural state of the things in the world.

  It was calming to be among the greenery. It was why Eden and Evelyn had ventured outdoors after what had been a rather taxing day for their family.

  “I—I am loathe to admit I am relieved,” Eden finally acknowledged.

  “Why? You are certainly entitled to your feelings.”

  “It hardly seems fair to Nora.”

  Evelyn mulled over Eden’s words. Today, Kellan, King of Burghard, had come to visit Eden. They’d been betrothed to one another Eden’s entire life. Now that she was eighteen, their father wanted the engaged pair to get to know one another.

  The Wolf King arrived this afternoon, along with his Second, Foley. They’d barely made it through introductions when Fate decided to intervene.

  Everyone was beyond shocked when Kellan scented his fated mate in their home—and it wasn’t Eden. The male was a wolf. Once his beast picked up the scent of their younger sister, Nora, and knew her to be his, all bets were off and the betrothal to Eden was dissolved.

  The issue was Nora was only fourteen years old and far too young to marry. She was also a sickly little thing. But these were obstacles that could be overcome.

  Probably, Evelyn thought to herself.

  Eventually, Nora would grow up. With any luck, she’d also find a way to be healthy. Evelyn chose to be hopeful. It was, after all, preordained that Nora belonged to the wolf.

  She patted Eden’s hand. “You’re only saying that because Nora is young and looks so fragile.”

  “She is fragile.”

  “Physically. Not emotionally. I think we all forget sometimes.”

  “Perhaps. Yet it is still the physical that bothers me. She’s going to live among the wolves in the Northland, Evelyn. What if she’s challenged? She can hardly defend herself against a wolf.”

  “You’re right.”

  Eden did a double take. “I’m right?”

  Evelyn laughed. Those were not words anyone heard out of her mouth very often.

  “It’s obvious. Nora is tiny, especially compared to a wolf. She could easily be harmed.”

  Evelyn didn’t bring up the damage to Nora’s soul inflicted upon her the day she was born. It wasn’t a time for the reminder of how they’d lost their mother or the fact Nora could not wield magic like every other elemental in the Kingdom of Gwydion could.

  “Then why are you so accepting of this, Evie?”

  “Simple. It’s Fate.”

  Eden huffed.

  “I’m serious. Fate. Destiny. The Goddess above. Whatever forces of the world that create such things as mates, such wonders as the ability to shift into an animal, the magic to control the elements, to hypnotize others, or to … wait, what exactly do the demons do? Compulsion? It sounds exactly like hypnotizing. Don’t you think?”

  Eden rolled her eyes. Only Evelyn would boil complex powers of the mind down to such simplicity.

  Evelyn ignored her sister.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she continued. “There are forces at play we will never understand. I can hardly believe two beings fated for one another would not be well-suited for one another. Or, in fact, perfect for one another. Why else would they be fated?”

  Eden looked at Evelyn with newfound respect. She’d always assumed he sister was a hopeless romantic. Maybe there was some degree of practicality in Evelyn, after all.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, Evie, but you actually make sense.”

  “Of course, I make sense. You just refuse to listen to me.”

  They both giggled, continuing their long walk as they did many an evening after dinner. Nora rarely, if ever, joined them, preferring not to venture into the forest and accidently pull energies into herself. It was how she repaired her soul and it took a toll on everything around her.

&
nbsp; After a time, Evelyn yawned and Eden steered them back toward the manor. Keeping their arms locked, they stepped off the path and into the golden field surrounding their home.

  Feeling some part of the universe had been set right today, Evelyn looked forward to what else the future might bring.

  * * *

  Evelyn’s bare toes wiggled atop the soft grass at the edge of the forest. The summer moon’s light created unnatural beams of purple and blue spearing through the trees.

  Bright and shimmering, these were the colors of her dreams. Ever since her mother died, the forest and moonlight had been the backdrop of every sleeping fantasy she could remember.

  She always came back to this spot, at the edge of the clearing near her home. It was a familiar place, a location she visited often with Eden and Nora during her waking hours. In the meadow, they played as sisters did. Echoes of their laughter often broke through to her dreamworld.

  Evelyn did not know what was so special about the area or why she was anchored to it when she slept. She’d tried over the years to drift along the edge or back to her house. Each attempt landed her back in this exact spot.

  She wiggled her fingers, testing the elements. As always, she could feel the magic floating in the air. She had been taught from a young age to trust the elements and listen when they spoke.

  When she had finally learned to control her powers, somewhere around the age of five, she’d opened herself up in her dreams, allowing her magics into her dreamworld.

  Even in sleep the elements spoke. Only whispers of what they were when she was awake, but they were with her in her dreams. Always.

  By now, she’d figured out her nocturnal activities weren’t normal. Something, other than her own power, pulled her here, again and again. Some force hauled her here every time she drifted off.

  A few times, she’d not been alone. Evelyn didn’t like thinking about those particular nights from her childhood. She could still feel the phantom cold of the malevolent demon’s power.