Emeriel cleared her throat. “Tell me about you and Lord Vladya. How is his… health?”Aekeira brushed her hair, the bristles gliding in gentle strokes from root to tip. “It’s gotten much better. There are still days when things are hard—when his episodes are really bad. The voices in his head grow stronger, and his beast becomes ruthless. But we have learned to navigate those days together, better than before.”Her strokes faltered, the brush pausing mid-air as the light in her eyes dimmed. “Even so, those days, though rare, remind me of the inevitable… that he won’t always be here.”Emeriel balled her hands into fists in her lap. She wanted to rise, to wrap her sister in the kind of hug that could chase away the pain in her voice. But hesitation rooted her in place. I haven’t hugged her to comfort her in over two years. How do I start now?Aekeira took a deep breath, her eyes clearing, the heavy misery leaving her. “But we won’t let days like that rule our lives—or his."The sadness
UREKAI:In the days of old, the Urekai stood out as the strongest and most powerful beings in the world. The ancient tongue called them ‘fearsome beasts’ for:Like werewolves, they could transform into beasts. Like vampires, they consumed blood.And walked among humans with no one the wiser.The ageless, peaceful, selfless beings preferred to keep to themselves. Despite being feared and distrusted, they never responded with aggression. They granted passage to any species wishing to enter their lands beyond the great mountain and welcomed everyone. But five centuries ago, an unexpected species attacked the Urekais during their one night of weakness. The humans.While protecting his people, Grand King Daemonikai lost control of his mind, going feral. Becoming a danger to the same people whom he had given everything to protect. Although it seemed impossible, the Urekais managed to capture their king’s beast form, imprisoning him in a secure cage, ensuring he could never escape.But
Twenty-one Years LaterPRINCE EMERIEL. “He’s so pretty,” a voice murmured. “It’s the feminine prince,” another one said. The third man had lust in his eyes. “No man should have hair that gorgeous.” Prince Emeriel ignored them all as he moved from the palace grounds into the building, head held high. Just because he was used to the unwanted attention, didn’t mean it didn’t make his skin crawl. He might have lived as a boy all his life, but it didn’t exactly keep him all that safe. Men of Navia would stick their phallus in anything with a hole, especially if it looked remotely feminine. But Emeriel’s senses were always on high alert. Which is why he was probably the only twenty-one-year-old virgin in Navia.That, and his sister, Princess Aekeira, always did everything in her power to protect him. To make sure his secrets remained tightly hidden. A carriage accident had taken their parents fifteen years ago, and King Orestus had adopted them. That tyrant made life a living
PRINCE EMERIEL Stepping outside the next morning, two warriors stopped before Emeriel. "The king summons you, my prince," One of them said. "Your presence is needed in the courtroom."Shit. That foolish minister wasted no time ratting on him.Emeriel let the way to court. It’s just whipping, he will be fine.But, as he walked down the hall towards the door, it was eerily quiet. Something was wrong. The court was always noisy from the outside. Mutterings, murmurs, arguments were always expected. His worry deepened when the door opened, and all eyes didn't turn to gaze at him condescendingly. Instead, everyone's eyes were fixed at the center of the king's court. Emeriel's eyes followed theirs. Two men dressed in all-white apparel robes, with long, straight, waist-length black hair stood, appearing harmless. But a longer glance had Emeriel noticing muscles barely concealed under their robes, their slightly tipped ears, and their incredibly unnaturally handsome faces that were comp
PRINCE EMERIEL.Aekeira cried for over an hour after they left the courtroom. At first, she had been angry, shouting at Emeriel about his foolish decision. And then, she broke down, crying as if her heart had been shattered. Now, they were left alone in a tiny room on the boat. Emeriel remained quiet throughout his sister's breakdown, the weight of his decision finally sinking in. By the Light-gods, he was now a slave. Lower than a lowborn. Lower than a carpet servant. And not just any slave, but a Urekai slave. Or many Urekai, Emeriel had no idea yet.He would serve those heartless, ruthless beings who despised humans.“You're a pretty boy; you will not lack masters to service.”A shiver coursed down Emeriel's spine. They were going to violate his body. What he had always dreamed of would finally coming true. Only now, it wouldn't be just one beast, it would be many. As many as his master wanted.They would spread him apart, subjecting him to that dreadful act of sex.Emeriel sw
PRINCE EMERIELEmeriel was horrified. I must rescue Aekeira! We need to escape!"I know you are there, pretty prince. I can smell you," Lord Vladya's voice rang out.Emeriel gasped, frozen in place as Lord Vladya’s imposing figure emerged from the door. His cold, lifeless gray and yellow eyes fixed upon Emeriel.Instinctively, Emeriel took a step back. Then another. Lord Vladya smirked. "I would advise against whatever thoughts are brewing in that little head of yours. You have no inkling of where you are, do you?"Emeriel could only discern they were in the tallest, most fortified fortress he had ever seen. He shook his head, his fear palpable."You are in Ravenshadow," Lord Ottai said, coming up behind the scarred Lord.Ravenshadow? The Ravenshadow!?No, by the Light, this cannot be happening."R-Ravenshadow Citadel? The home of the f-four grand rulers of the Urekais. The Whispering Abyss of great power?" Emeriel blurted out, unable to contain his terror any longer.Lord Ottai sno
PRINCE EMERIELThe night had descended upon them. Aekeira's face turned pale upon hearing everything from Emeriel. She had not uttered a single word in hours. Instead, tears streamed down her eyes.Emeriel could hardly recognize Aekeira after the "treatment" Livia had given her. Aekeira was incredibly beautiful, well-groomed, and all dressed up in that scanty piece of nothing. He despised the purpose behind her transformation and dreaded the impending arrival of the Urekai guards, who would soon take her away."Let us escape,” Emeriel suggested urgently. “This place is vast, and—" Aekeira shook her head. "I cannot risk your life, Em. Grand Lord Vladya warned you about the severe consequences of attempting to escape. Moreover, if we’re caught, they will undoubtedly discover your secret when they strip you down to whip you. It is simply not an option."Emeriel approached his sister and shook her firmly. "Pull yourself together, Aekeira! You will be forced to serve a UREKAI in its BE
SLAVE AMIEAmie did her best to ignore the screams. They always made her uncomfortable, reminding her of the sickening things the slave masters does to her at the barn. She simply needed to pick up the bathing oil she had forgotten after running a bath for Princess Aekeira.Approaching the quarters, she heard muffled cries, filled with agony. The cries grew louder as she drew closer. Amie quickened her pace, following the sound until she reached the end of the hallway.She stood outside the closed door of Princess Aekeira's chambers. Isn’t Prince Emeriel the only person in there?Amie opened the door and entered the room. A female figure lay on the bed, facing away from her, writhing in pain, completely naked. The figure convulsed and let out a loud sob."A-are you alright?" Amie's voice trembled softly as she approached the figure on the bed.Only whimpering sounds answered her. Amie moved closer to the front of the figure and froze."Prince Emeriel?" Amie couldn't believe her e
Emeriel cleared her throat. “Tell me about you and Lord Vladya. How is his… health?”Aekeira brushed her hair, the bristles gliding in gentle strokes from root to tip. “It’s gotten much better. There are still days when things are hard—when his episodes are really bad. The voices in his head grow stronger, and his beast becomes ruthless. But we have learned to navigate those days together, better than before.”Her strokes faltered, the brush pausing mid-air as the light in her eyes dimmed. “Even so, those days, though rare, remind me of the inevitable… that he won’t always be here.”Emeriel balled her hands into fists in her lap. She wanted to rise, to wrap her sister in the kind of hug that could chase away the pain in her voice. But hesitation rooted her in place. I haven’t hugged her to comfort her in over two years. How do I start now?Aekeira took a deep breath, her eyes clearing, the heavy misery leaving her. “But we won’t let days like that rule our lives—or his."The sadness
“Starving yourself is not the solution,” Vladya added quietly.“She tried to kill Emeriel. My bloodhost—the one person whose existence is tied to keeping me alive—poisoned and almost killed my Soulbond, the one person in existence who is my life.” The words came out in a suppressed fury, vibrating through the room.His hand gripped the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white. “I knew Sinai was hard—vicious, even—but this? This is vile. This makes me question what else she’s done. What other horrors she has hidden.”“You need her,” Vladya said calmly, even as understanding gleamed in his silver-gray eyes. “Bloodhosts aren’t just anyone, Daemon. You don’t have another, nor does anyone else. They are exceedingly rare, you know this. For another to emerge, the current one must die, and even then, it could take years. Many of our kind do not survive the waiting period." “You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”“I wonder about that, you need a reminder, evidently,"
Complete silence.Only the soft rustle of Emeriel's gown and the quiet echo of her last words hung in the air.A single pair of hands began to clap, Vladya's. His eyes shining with a newfound respect. Soon, Ottai joined in, his clap enthusiastic and booming.Then a high lord from the roundtable. And another.One by one, others around the roundtable joined the applause, the sound swelling and reverberating through the grand hall. It was not just polite; it was genuine. Carrying with it an undercurrent of approval.Many high lords nodded, some even wore smiles that were rarely seen in the cold austerity of court.Daemonikai’s chest swelled with pride. It rushed through him, warming him like a draught of fine wine. He had expected a long, tiring resistance. A slow, uphill battle to win over the court.But here she was, his woman, making impressive progress. Already she was bridging the gap with her sincerity and strength.Emeriel raised her head, tears falling from her eyes. She gave
“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