"I find that hard to believe." Zaiper sputtered, his voice thick with indignation."She went into heat her first night in Ravenshadow, Zaiper." An arrogant smirk played at the corners of Vladya’s lips, because he simply couldn't help himself. He was enjoying messing with Zaiper too much. "It's really impossible to hide one's identity when heat is involved, don't you think?"A noisy inhale swept through the crowd. Then, stunned silence."That's right," Daemonikai added. "She is also Syren."The high lords looked utterly dumbfounded. For some, their anger melted away, replaced by a glimmer of hope. A could-she-be-mine kind of hope.Even Ottai had his jaw on the ground before Vladya nudged him subtly.The fourth ruler quickly recovered, adopting the expression of someone who had always been in the know.Poor, cute Ottai. Vladya hid his amusement."That was why we had to conceal her identity," Vladya continued smoothly. "If she remained female and Syren, all of you would have been on her
EMERIELEmeriel walked in a daze, her legs heavy and her mind numb. The grand king led her through the corridors, stopping before a door in the southern wing."Stay here." He turned to leave."Your Grace..." Emeriel reached out for him, fingers hovered in the air, trembling.King Daemonikai glanced at her outstretched hand as if it were a venomous serpent. Without a word, he walked out, the heavy door closing behind him.Emeriel stumbled towards the bed, collapsing onto the cold mattress. Exhaling a shaky breath, she stared ahead blankly.He had saved her. Her secret was out. Everyone knew.It still felt… surreal. Like a nightmare she couldn't wake from.He hates me now.But he had protected her. She had almost died. Lord Zaiper had been so eager to see her dead. If not for... if not for the other grand rulers, she would be in a cold, hard cell. Or lying lifeless in the courtyard.Looking at her unsteady hands, her eyes grew wet again. This was not how she had envisioned her return.
Ottai stopped mid-step, his hand reaching out to grip Vladya’s arm, and he leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Wait... Was she the 'business' he had to take care of for a few days? The female in heat who imprinted on him?""Uh-huh." Vladya's eyes shifted toward Daemonikai, who walked ahead, his face stony and unflappable. Ever since the gathering, Daemonikai had said little beyond what was necessary in court."Shit. How did that happen?” Ottai hissed, stealing glances at the grand king. “If he did not know she was a girl, how did they… how did they manage to spend her heat together?"Because no one meddles with those crazy bitches called fate. Vladya did not know all the details, but it seemed Daemonikai had met Emeriel under a different identity, not realizing who—or what—she truly was."Even if Daemonikai’s side of the bond was dormant, it would be fully awake now," Ottai murmured, more to himself than to Vladya. "Not only did they nurture it through the heat, but no
Emeriel couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. She stared at her hands as though they held all the answers to making the violent windstorm around her calm again. Picking up the spoon, she forced herself to take a small bite of food.The moment the warm food hit her tongue, her stomach growled hungrily, reminding her just how long it had been since she last ate. So eat, she did. Slowly at first, but then hunger took over.Emeriel devoured the meal as if it was her last. She barely noticed Lord Vladya watching her until the last crumb was gone. Then, reality came crashing back in."Are you here to punish me too?" she asked, defeated.Lord Vladya’s look remained steady. "Why?"She shrugged, her hands dropping to her lap as she looked away. "You gave me instructions to avoid him, to never be found out.""I also told you that fate was a fucking bitch who knows how to mess with people just to get a good laugh. You were never going to win against that bond.” Lord Vladya tilted his head sli
GRAND KING DAEMONIKAI Her body moved with his, every sway and arch designed to seduce, to lure him deeper. Sweet, breathless moans filled the air, wrapping around him, intoxicating him. Daemonikai thrust into the warmth of her, unable to get enough. He had to get deeper. "Yess," Galilea moaned. Her fingers brushed against his arms, featherlight, as her bright blue eyes locked onto his. Looking at him as if the very sun and moon, rose and set around him. He liked that. "Mine." Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her neck, breathing in her scent. Such sweet, sweet scent. "Yours," she gasped, her voice trembling with need. "Always yours." Daemonikai could feel the familiar, dizzying rush of his orgasm building. But he didn’t want this to end, not yet. He needed more. More of her, more of the moment. He— Suddenly, the world around him shifted. The warm intimacy shattered like porcelain. Blood. Blood everywhere. Screams tore around him, piercing and chaotic. The sweet moans wer
Daemonikai's eyes snapped up, locking onto hers. Eyes that had been asleep mere seconds ago were now blearily open. She rubbed them to shake off the remnants of sleep.He had to leave before the pull of this bond dragged him into a storm he was not ready to face.“Go back to sleep.” Daemonikai said crisply, turning toward the door. “Wait, please.” He heard a shuffle and his jaw locked tight. He couldn’t do this. Not now. Not like this.“Stay over there,” Daemonikai snapped. “Do not come close to me.” A sharp intake of breath came behind him, and though he did not want to—gods, he did NOT want to—Daemonikai turned to look at her. Hurt flashed in her eyes, before she quickly masked it, swallowing tightly.“As you wish, I would not…” her voice wavered, her hands fluttered helplessly before falling to her sides again. “I will not come closer. But please, do not leave.”“Why?” “Just…” She looked so small, even smaller than he remembered. So fragile, lost, and achingly vulnerable tha
The floodgate of tears spilled over, bathing her red cheeks.“It grew stronger, and stronger, what were you thinking!?” His fists clenched at his sides as he paced the room. “If I had known who you were, we would have never gotten together. I would have avoided this by all means. I would damn well never have touched you during your heat.”Emeriel recoiled as if he had slapped her.But all Daemonikai saw was the reality of their situation. It crashed into him like an avalanche.He would have to mate again. The wide hole in his heart where his family used to be still gaped open, growing wider with every passing day. And now, he would have to do it all over again?Despair turned his stomach. "I cannot do this." The very idea of risking his heart once again sickened him. "I will not do this.” EMERIELOne would think that after hurting so much, for so long, over the same reason, Emeriel would have developed some kind of immunity to this pain in particular. But one would be wrong.Nothing
Emeriel wept.She lost awareness of everything, her problems, her surroundings, even who she was with. Surrendering to the pain once more, Emeriel mourned everything she had wanted and all that would never be hers. She mourned the horrible, horrible life she lived."I wish they had never hidden who I was when I was born. I wish I never had to live like this. So what if I lived female? Being sold to the breeding houses would have been better." Emeriel had never been one for regrets, but in that moment, regret was all she felt. "What's so wrong about becoming a harlot? It's an awful life, but then there'd be no deceit, no crushing secrets... no Urai. I wouldn't have to live like this. We would have never met. I wish my parents never tried to protect me."A hand rested on her shoulder.She flinched from that touch before her mind registered it as… safe. It took her a moment to come back to herself, to remember where she was and whom she was with . She gazed up at King Daemonikai.All the
“Lord Jakal is correct,” Lord Belzebob added, rising to his feet, his chair scraping harshly against the stone floor. “We understand she is your destined mate, Your Grace, but this will truly be difficult for our people to accept. Humans are our sworn enemies. Their treachery has cost us dearly. Should we not be focused on eradicating their kind rather than elevating one to a position of power over us?” He bowed deeply, his head nearly touching the table before him. “Please reconsider, Your Grace.”“Please reconsider, Your Grace!” came the shouted chorus from others in the room, their collective voices tinged with desperation and unease as they bowed.An oppressive silence followed.“I have served as the Grand King of Urai for five millennia,” Daemonikai began, his voice resonating authority and sorrow. “I have always placed my people first—above myself, above all else. There are none here who can claim otherwise. I love my people dearly.”Heads nodded around the room. Some murmured i
PRINCESS EMERIELGasps rippled through the court, stunned silence following. Jaws dropped. The high lords and the grand lords.Only Grand Lord Vladya seemed unaffected, one brow arching to his hairline as he leaned back in his chair.Grand King Daemonikai extended his hands toward her, his emerald eyes softening as they locked onto hers. “Come to me, dearest.”Emeriel moved automatically, her feet carrying her forward before her mind could catch up. She felt dazed, her body acting on instinct as if pulled by an invisible tether.Reaching him, she placed her trembling hands atop his, her gaze never leaving his.“Her name is Emeriel Galilea Evenstone,” Daemonikai announced, his voice unwavering. “Ukrea has blessed me with the gift of her, and today, I officially show her to you so she will be accorded the respect and honor she deserves—as my woman, and as my Soulbond.” A pin could have dropped and been heard. Not a single breath, not a whisper.Or maybe it was just the ringing in Emer
"Come, let's go home," he said, his voice regaining its usual strength. "Hydra Lake has seen enough of us for one day."Raising his voice slightly, he added, "And Ottai has heard enough for today."Lord Ottai was listening? Emeriel pulled back, her eyes widening in surprise. She glanced around, searching for the grand lord.From behind a distant tree, the grand lord stepped out, a sheepish look on his face. He waved at them, awkwardly."How dare you listen in to my conversation, Ottai?" the king growled, his eyes still on Emeriel."I tried not to, Your Grace," he shouted from where he stood, his voice defensive. "But no matter how hard I turned my ears off, they managed to catch a word or two." He paused, looking even more guilty. "Or ten.""Ottai," Daemonikai drawled in warning."I apologize, Your Grace," Ottai said, his tone far too earnest for it to be genuine.The Grand King snorted, shaking his head before turning to Emeriel. “Let’s go home.”She nodded, taking a few steps forwar
"Two years ago, I didn't know how to move forward after losing everything,” he said, his voice low and husky, “I didn't want to move forward. I thought the pain and misery I felt could not get any worse, that I had hit the bottom of the abyss "His eyes, filled with a deep sadness, holding hers captive as he brushed away a stray tear from her cheek. "But then I lost you, and the worst truly came."Emeriel’s breath hitched, tears spilling down her cheeks faster."I tried to forget you, but it was impossible. I didn't realize that you were the thread holding me together all along. Keeping me from falling apart. And when that thread was cut… I had no anchor." His hand gently cupped her neck. "Do you know how many times I wanted to come to you? How many times I had to talk myself out of coming for you?""Really?" she breathed, her voice catching in her throat."I should have chosen you over the damn guilt," he confessed, his voice laced with regret. "And when I went to the great mountains
“But that wall has long since crumbled.” Lord Ottai took her trembling hand away from her face, holding it. “It’s gone, Emeriel. It hasn’t been there for a long time. Your feelings for him returned, no matter how hard you tried to fight them. And while you were with him again, those feelings only grew stronger. You’re hurting now because you’re trying to run from what you already know to be true.”“I haven’t even crossed the m-mountain yet, and I al-already miss him so much.” She turned, tracing the path they had walked. “It hasn’t even been a full day s-since I saw him, and all I want is to go to him. To b-be in his presence for the rest of the day.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “How do I live without him, Lord Ottai?”“No one can answer that question but you, dear child,” He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “I don’t want to live without him. I don’t want to go back to the hell of living without him again.” A choked, shaky laugh broke from her lips as she swiped at her eyes. “
The resolve in Vladya's eyes was the kind Daemonikai hadn’t seen in him in far too long.“I gave this a lot of thought, and do you know the conclusion I came to?” Vladya's lips twitched into a sad smile. “I still want to perform the ritual anyway.”Vladya was willing to try, to fight, to hope, even when the road ahead looked impossible.“You know what? Fuck it. Go for it.” Daemonikai smiled softly, pulling Vladya into a hug, gripping his back with both hands. “Congratulations, brat.”“Thanks, ancient one.” Vladya’s tone was light, but the fierceness with which he returned the hug betrayed his emotions.The soldiers in the middle of drills glanced their way, curiosity quickly masked behind respectful bows. “That girl is so good for you,” Daemonikai said as they pulled apart. “I only watched your interactions briefly, but it told me everything I needed to know. She’s changing you in all the right ways. I wish for you to be genuinely happy, Vladya.”“Right back at you.” Vladya cleared h
GRAND KING DAEMONIKAI“Someone is feeling quite cheerful this evening,” Vladya remarked as he approached.Grand King Daemonikai turned, a smile tugging at his lips, one he couldn’t suppress no matter how hard he tried. “I don’t know about you, Vladya, but I am having such a beautiful day.”Vladya arched a brow as he dipped his head in a polite bow. “Your Grace.”“Spare me the bullcrap.” Daemonikai waved a dismissive hand resuming his pace, hands clasped behind his back.“He whistles too,” Vladya noted, his voice carrying a teasing lilt.Daemonikai stopped, the faint melody in the air ceasing as well. He blinked, surprised. Was that me? He hadn’t even realized he’d been whistling.“You know, you’re fortunate Aekeira doesn’t have our hearing,” Vladya said, moving beside him. “She would have come storming in last night, hearing her sister scream like that all through the night.”“Why are you suddenly all over my business, brat?” Daemonikai smirked, giving Vladya a sidelong glance. “Come
PRINCESS EMERIELShe screamed when Grand King Daemonikai breached her body. Arching beneath him, Emeriel tried to escape the harsh pain tearing through her, but there was nowhere to run. Her fingers scratched his to let go, pushing, struggling. "It really hurts," came out broken and shaky.“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said guiltily, kissing away the tears trailing down her cheek.He pull out, just held himself still above her, tensed with restraint. “I’m all in now. It will stop hurting soon.”It was the kind of pain that came from driving a burning knife into an open wound. But gradually, it began to fade. She felt his tension, the effort it took him not to move, to give her time to adjust.“Move. I’m okay now,” she croaked.He rolled his hips slowly, careful not to hurt her further. Subtle moves to test her readiness. Opening her eyes, Emeriel looked up at him, couldn’t stop watching him. The passion in his expression, the care he took with her. She was greedy for the sight of him
LADY ADISSAHe stepped out of the chamber, letting the door close behind him with a quiet thud, leaning his head against it.“How is he?” Lady Adissa asked as she approached. She tried to keep her panic at bay, but the tremor in her tone betrayed her. “Is he doing any better?”Razarr shook his head gravely. “He’s waiting for you inside.”Lady Adissa’s stomach churned. “But… has he eaten anything at all?”“Not since yesterday,” the head soldier replied, his tone grim.Her heart sank. Grand Lord Zaiper is in the blackest of his moods.Oh, heavens. She gripped her gown so tight her knuckles turned white under the strain.No one knew what had caused his dark mood, though speculation circled around the Grand King’s visit to Greyrock the night his Soulbond was attacked. Since that night, her master had fallen into one of those depressing, aggressive ways that rarely came, but when it did, was downright terrifying.And since then, Lady Adissa had known no peace.“Please go inside,” Razarr