GRAND KING DAEMONIKAIGrand King Daemonikai bolted upright, his chest heaving as he fought for breath.The remnants of watching his son taking his last breath clung to him as he staggered to the window. He gasped for air watching the first rays of dawn paint the sky.His chest ached, and his heart burned.But the suffocating discomfort that woke him was something else. Someone else’s pain. So vivid and real as if it were his own.A long draught of water did little to soothe his parched throat. He returned to the window, his gaze sweeping over the fields below, painted in hues of gold and amber.The misery that pulled Daemonikai from the dark hands of his nightmare, dragging him back to his fractured reality, was beginning to fade, leaving him with questions. Questions he could no longer ignore.His family was gone.There was no one else with such a profound, personal connection to him. So, whose pain had he just felt?Dressing in his robe, Daemonikai strode out of his chambers.Time
Daemonikai’s insides turned cold, like a dash of ice water had been forced down his throat. Dread filled his gut. "It's me, V.D.""How dare you invade my space? I should rip your throat out." Vladya was looking at him but not seeing him. His eyes were wild with an intent to kill.“Scent my neck.” The words tasted like acid on his tongue, but it was necessary. Alphas do not bare their necks. He, a grand king, should not be in such a humiliating position, with another alpha breathing at his throat. “You know you want to, big guy. Come on, do it.”Vladya lunged, burying his face in the crook of Daemonikai's neck, breathing deeply. His beast whined in betrayal, feeling so let down by their male side, its head hung low.But this was Vladya. His V.D. The grand king closed his eyes and held still, Vladya’s breath hot against his skin. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here," he said, keeping his voice calm, his stance non-threatening.Vladya released another burst of pheromones, meant to provoke. To as
A series of emotions flitted across Daemonikai's face—shock, pity, disbelief. He grappled for words, his mouth agape, then snapped shut without a sound."But you know how unreliable, dangerous, and dark those spells are!" his friend exploded. "We outlawed them for a reason, you and I. We made that decision, remember? What the hell were you thinking, Vladya Theriozydovkar Skyvakto?""Not the full name," Vladya grumbled, almost amused. He might have smiled if he wasn't certain Daemonikai would throttle him for it. His friend was beyond furious."How could you!?" Daemonikai roared, the veins in his neck pulsing. "How could you do something like that, dammit! You should have turned a blind eye! You should have resisted! No matter how tempting it was, you should have held it in!""I wanted to save her!" A primal roar of his own filled the room. "I was prepared to save her by any means necessary, soul be damned! I never even gave it a second thought. So what if I lost the most important par
By dusk, Daemonikai slumped against the doorframe, frustration simmering beneath his skin, his energy drained.Spending the entire day in Vladya's residence, he had observed a lot. Feral was like a slow-acting disease, typically taking ten to fifteen years to fully manifest after the first symptoms appeared. But Vladya's case was different, because he wasn't fighting his.It had been less than two years since the signs began, and already the affliction had progressed at a pace faster than a person in his eighth year of battling the madness.The vacant stares, the uncontrollable shift from male to beast, the insatiable hunger, and so on. Vladya’s madness was closing in... with terrifying speed.Though they remained indoors all day, they'd tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Working together in Vladya's study, playing cards, they even shared meals.Wegai kept the grand king informed, bringing him constant updates, but to Daemonikai, the world outside this residence was irrelevant
Daemonikai’s head snapped up. "What do you know?""She works here in Blackstone. I know where to find her," the stoic soldier said quietly."A maid?"Yaz shook his head, hesitating. "A slave. Human."The air between them stilled. They were standing out in the open, but the silence was so thick that a pin drop would have echoed through the halls. "Say what now?"“Yes, Your Grace. She’s a newly acquired slave," Yaz explained. "Barely a year ago. Lord Vladya and Lord Ottai traveled to the human kingdom to acquire her and her brother to serve your beast."That wasn’t news to him, Ottai had told him of this journey. What was completely unexpected was the surrounding implications.The idea that Vladya, emotionally detached, always-in-control Vladya, was drawn to a human girl, enough for his severed beast to fixate on her, was... staggering.He glanced at Yaz. "Bring this girl to me."Yaz bowed and turned on his heel. Just as he vanished down the corridor, Ottai rounded the corner."Your Gra
The grand king's eyebrows shot up. "Vladya? Why would he do—"A wild growl cut through the air, and the slightly ajar door slammed open with a loud crash. Lord Vladya stormed out. Or rather, what would have been him?Aekeira gasped, stumbling backward. Her neck straining as she tilted her head up, up, up, to meet his gaze. His face was contorted, his fangs bared into a fierce snarl.Towering over seven feet tall, he was a blend of man and beast. She kept backing away, moving on reflex until her back collided with the wall. Aekeira had never seen a Urekai in half-shift but it was just as terrifying as their full beast form.Lord Vladya was upon her in an instant, his massive frame crowding her against the wall, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his skin. His face mere inches from hers, he looked fierce and wild. Angry.But then again, when was he not? The knot of anxiety in her stomach began to loosen. If only slightly. Ironically, Aekeira realized she was more
The grand king didn't say a word, his watchful eyes on her, expression guarded yet filled with undisguised curiosity, and something else...Aekeira pressed closer to her feral, to hide from his piercing gaze."Mine!" Lord Vladya repeatedly in an angry roar, taking a threatening step forward.King Daemonikai finally looked away from her, glancing at his friend. His expression softened. "Yours," he intoned, crossing his arms behind his back. "She is yours, V.D."Lord Vladya gave a satisfied grunt, turned and lifted her into his arms. He stomped to his bedchamber, and slammed the door behind them, shutting the world out.GRAND LORD VLADYAVladya surveyed the sight before him, satisfied. Aekeira lay bound to his bed, naked, tied securely by the ropes that held her wrists to the headboard, her legs spread wide for him.Her skin glowed in the dim light. She was breathtaking.The voices in his head roared, but he forced them into the background. Lust clouded his mind, his dick so hard it ac
AEKERIAAekeira felt like she was on fire. Her jaws ached, and her throat felt well-used. But she was so aroused, even the soft breeze seemed too much on her sensitive skin. Aekeira was ready for anything he wanted.Until his hand reached for the whip again.Her eyes fixed on the sturdy whip Lord Vladya held, and a wave of apprehension rolled through her. She tried her best to stay calm, forcing herself to breathe evenly. When he raised the whip, her heart skipped a beat, and she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the strike.Where would it land, her thighs, her stomach, or where she was even more vulnerable…A helpless cry escaped her lips. She tried to squeeze her legs together, but the bounds stopped her. Aekeira waited, tense, expecting the blow.But it never came.Slowly, she opened her eyes. Vladya was watching her, his brows furrowed in deep thought. The whip had lowered, hanging limply in his hand as if his will to strike had vanished."I'm... confused," Vladya muttered, alm
“Please stop saying these things to him,” Lord Vladya groaned. “He’s smiling like a thief who just got promoted to head guard. He might forget why we’re here.”Daemonikai smacked him upside the head. “Shut it.” But he was still grinning ear to ear.The healer hid her smile behind a cough. So, the rumors were true. The quickest way to find favor with the Grand King… was to speak kindly of his queen. Or better yet—earn her favor directly.It warmed her to see them this way. Whole. Strong. Hearty. Happy.“Now, let’s return to the original matter. What can you do for us, old healer?” King Daemonikai asked.“I’ll begin work immediately on the herbs. I’m certain something like it exists. Our people have simply never had reason to search for it. I’ll start gathering ingredients, reviewing ancestral scrolls, and see what I can develop. With luck, I’ll have good news for you soon.”“That’s excellent,” Daemonikai said, nodding with satisfaction.The healer turned to Lord Vladya. “And you, Secon
“Can I open my eyes now?” she asked softly.“Not yet.” Vladya raised his hands to cover hers, even though a blindfold already shielded her eyes—just to be sure.He was... nervous. His belly felt tight inside, his hands clammy. He wanted to impress her. Wanted Aekeira to love the surprise.Gently, he guided her forward. Step by step, deeper into the cave until they reached the center. Moving in front of her, he withdrew his hands, and untied the blindfold.He stepped back, waiting.She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the soft glow, then gasped.Vladya tried to see the space through her eyes. The rough cave walls had been transformed. Smooth panels of polished wood lined the interior, holding candle sconces bathing the space in a warm, golden light. A plush woolen rug stretched across the floor. In one corner, a large, canopied bed stood dressed in roses. Across from it a long table, elegantly set with a feast laid, and two chairs facing one another.Her mouth parted as she took it in. “
She gasped as he flicked her clit, over and over again, building tension. Soon she was wiggling, twitching, hips shifting restlessly, seeking more.Daemonikai was burning, yet his mouth never left her breast. Arousal pounded through him, but beneath it—deeper, hungrier—was peace. There was something sacred, yet utterly obscene about this, in how her breast felt against his tongue, the rich rush down his throat, and the soft sounds she made.“Mmm.” His eyes slitted shut as time dissolved. Her moans grew louder, hips grinding against his thigh, but he didn’t relent. Not until her back arched and she came with a cry, her pussy fluttering around nothing.He switched breasts, sealing his lips around the other nipple, drinking her in as his fingers resumed their torment—circling her clit just enough to tease, never enough to satisfy.She squirmed, sobbing, her slick painting his thighs. “Daemon… please. Please.”He ignored her. Not yet.Only when the flow dwindled to drops, then drained int
That night, Daemonikai slept, and saw them.Standing at the river’s edge were his sons—Myka and Alvin. But unlike in the past, they weren’t sad. Their eyes no longer carried the weight of guilt or sorrow.No, his sons were smiling, waving at him.Daemonikai ran from the opposite shore, water parting in soft ripples as he crossed, and when he reached them, he pulled them both into a tight embrace.“Father…” Alvin whispered hoarsely. “I’m sorry.”“For what?” Daemonikai pulled back, his hands firm on Alvin’s face, forcing his boy to meet his eyes. “It was never your fault, and I’m sorry you left the world believing it was.”He turned to Myka. “I’m sorry I told you to protect everyone else. I should’ve told you to save yourself first. Maybe then, you’d still be—”“It’s alright, Father,” Myka interrupted with a smile. “I don’t regret protecting Mother. Or our people. I’m a protector, just like you, and I’m proud of that.”Behind them, a crowd began to form. His people were watching from a
GRAND KING DAEMONIKAIZaiper's screams rolled down the dungeon corridor, bouncing off walls as Daemonikai sawed through his leg with a cutlass—whistling a slow, melodic tune. Blood sprayed, splashing onto Daemonikai’s robes, forming a growing puddle.“This blade’s gone dull,” he said conversationally, examining the edge. “Get me the dagger.”A guard handed it to him from the wall of instruments, so much polished steel behind them.Daemonikai discarded the cutlass with a soft clatter and resumed with the dagger, slicing deep into muscle and tendon, never missing a beat in his whistle.“Please! AHhhhhhh!” Zaiper howled. An animal sound, born of unbearable pain.Daemonikai sawed clean through until the leg detached entirely. He lifted it, holding it up like a prized relic.“I hope you don’t mind if I keep this,” he said casually, inspecting the severed limb. “It’s a clean slice. Unfortunately for you, it won’t regenerate—considering I’ve taken the entire limb. You’ll have to forgive me.
••••••Three Weeks Later PRINCESS EMERIEL“By the power vested in me as Grand King of this court, and in the presence of these witnesses, I hereby declare all Bonds of Human Enslavement broken. From this day forward, you are no longer the property of Urekai but allies. Free people under the protection and respect of this kingdom.”The court was overflowing. Humans filled every space, trailing from the dais down the carpeted aisle, pouring out the doors, spilling into the hallway beyond. Every human in Urai was present.At the front of it all, Emeriel stood tall beside her king, heart brimming with emotion. Her gaze drifted across the sea of faces, landing on her sister. Aekeira was smiling through tears. Just like so many others.Grand King Daemonikai continued, voice firm but warm. “I have already sent word to the twelve human kingdoms, informing their kings that the humans here are no longer captives, but allies of Urai. From this moment, no harm shall befall you—not by royal decre
GRAND KING DAEMONIKAIDaemonikai delayed just outside the dungeon corridor until he heard Zaiper’s first blood-curdling scream. Only then did he walk away from the dungeon hallway. He soon stopped hearing them. Almost a regret.He had instructed the guards to move Zaiper to the deepest, most fortified cell to keep his torture from disrupting the tranquility of the Citadel. But now, for the first time, he wondered about the wisdom of it.Reaching his bedchamber, the scene greeting him caused him to pause.There on the couch, Emeriel sat in sleep's soft embrace, holding their son, Daesovxscar, against her chest. His small mouth had slipped from her breast, milk dotting the taut, dark nipple still exposed to the cool air. Her arms held him close, even in sleep.Daemonikai’s mouth went dry.He was not a male to steal his youngling’s food—he had never done so before—but in the past few days, the thought had settled into his mind like an unsealed scroll. It was all he thought about.“Your H
“Yes,” the male continued coolly. “Vladya feels whole now. The male you always mocked for being cursed, then took away his bondmate. But she returned to him, not merely as a lover who may be compatible with him, but as his fated mate.” Daemonikai’s lips twitched. “Then there’s you. Hanging here like a carcass in my dungeon. With a dead lover, no heir, no legacy. No throne.”Zaiper’s scream tore from deep within his soul. “DON’T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HIM!”“Who? Oh you mean the dead lover?” Daemonikai smirked, adding with a drawl. “I never did tell you, did I? Just how good it felt to kill him.”Zapier struggled even harder. One leg jerked so hard, causing the chain to snap taut, nearly dislocating him, but Zaiper didn’t care, writhing and snarling like a feral.“His spine snapping in two as it struck my knees… that sound... it stayed with me for months. It had a better tone than even the harp.”“Fuck you, Daemonikai! I’ll fucking kill you!” Zaiper was out of control, spitting rage with
“You’ve no idea how fun it was. Playing you like a puppet, note by note, from the sidelines, with you none the wiser. It was... exquisite.” His grin was unrepentant. “But don’t blame me too much, Daemonikai. The real culprit was your pride. You believed yourself invincible. Too strong to be touched, too feared to be challenged. And because of that arrogance, you gave someone like me the perfect opening.”He let out a wheezing cough of amusement. “The Dragaxlovs have always sought the throne, but the Naelzharoth was too powerful. My grandfather shared with me that it was his lifelong dream to sit on the First Throne, yet every minor scheme he attempted to wrest it from your grandfather failed. He was a coward, you see, just like the rest of them.” Zaiper sighed. “Even at a hundred, I knew I was different from those spineless relics. I knew I would achieve great things, and I knew you would assist me. Your casual dismissal, that prideful superiority… always a Naelzharoth, viewing the re