AEKEIRAAekeira was unable to sleep, no matter how hard she tried.On one hand, she was relieved Em had managed to avoid Lord Zaiper's attention in court and hadn't been forced to undress. On the other hand, a part of Aekeira wished she had undressed if it meant the beast would have stayed away.Was Em still alive? Was she suffering at this very moment? Aekeira lifted her head, wiping away her tears before resting back on the pillow.The soft sound of her door handle turning caught her attention. She sat up and stared at the door. Unfortunately, her chamber lacked a lock. When she'd requested it, she was told as a slave, she had no right to privacy and should be thankful she was not in the slaves's quarters.Being in the southern wings of the fortress did provide some advantages at least. Unauthorized individuals rarely ventured to this side. So, who would come here at this time of night?"The door opened and Grand Lord Vladya entered.Aekeira's breathing quickened, her heart poundin
So Emeriel conversed with Aekeira from where he sat, often needing to convince his sister that he was fine. Aekeira was a worrywart, not that Emeriel could blame her.During one of Aekeira's secret visits, she brought several books she had 'borrowed' from the library to help him fight the boredom.Feasts, plentiful feasts, arrived as Grand Lord Vladya ordered the soldiers to bring meals to the forbidden chambers on a more regular basis. Once the soldiers dropped off the food by the metal gate, Emeriel would retrieve it and bring it inside. The beast would growl, its eyes tracking his movements. But when it realized Emeriel had no intention of leaving, it would calm down.Emeriel would consume a small portion of the food before offering the rest to the beast, which it always accepted. Ironically, Emeriel had eaten better in the past few days than he had in ages. Had the beast truly heard that strange call?The question bothered Emeriel, weighing on his mind more than he cared to admi
“I have issued an order. Do not defy it, my ass." Sinai mocked as she rummaged through her closet. "As if I'm going to sit idly by while that boy remains there any longer."Her maids stood nervously, waiting for her instructions, feeling helpless in the tense atmosphere.Sinai finally found the garment she was looking for: a form-fitting gown that accentuated her curves, particularly the upper part of her backside. After putting it on, she turned to her maids. "The meccai leaves?""Here, my lady." One of them handed her a cup of hot tea.Sinai took the wooden cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Meccai leaves heighten the scent of her blood, making it more tempting. Irresistible.She settled into her dressing chair, and her maids took it as their cue to attend to her hair. As they styled her hair, Sinai seethed with anger, her hands clenching into fists.To hell with Lord Vladya's command, he would come around eventually. It's not as if he would punish her because of a mere human,
GRAND LORD VLADYAVladya stiffened. There was no way he would think or discuss her. So, he maintained his silence."That girl must be too good, huh? For you to mount her. Repeatedly. I know you don't do humans, let alone unwilling ones, so it kind of baffles me, is all. She must be really sweet."Lord Vladya remained silent, refusing to dignify Zaiper's words with a response.Zaiper grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "So, are you done with her?"Yes, Vladya was done with her. He had already made that decision, and intended to stick to that resolution this time."Because if you are, I'd like to pick her up. I want her to scream for me this time.""I'm not done with her. Keep your paws away," Vladya retorted, without giving his words a thought. What in Ukrae...?"Well, that is a shame. I can't wait to carve that pale skin up. She'll look good in designs, don't you think?"Vladya ignored him, mostly because, for some reason, his anger flared unexpectedly at Zaiper. The urge to strike Zai
"Yes, I have been meaning to do that for quite some time now," she sneered.Emeriel cupped his cheek, anger simmering deep inside him. It was one thing to be despised by everyone due to his species' actions, subjected to enslavement and mistreatment. But to be singled out and targeted by this female, despite having done nothing to deserve such treatment, was an entirely different matter.Mistress Sinai grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking it viciously. "How dare you get close to the king's beast?""You were there," Emeriel's said in a cold tone, his eyes burning fiercely. "You attended court that day. It was he who took me away. I did nothing wrong! Nothing!""You did everything wrong. Why is my Daemon fixated on you? A filth like you?" She spat, tightening her grip on his hair."You would have to ask him that, and I am not filth. I am of royal blood, Mistress Sinai. A human, yes, but from a pure bloodline of royalty. You call people filth, yet you yourself do not possess a royal li
EMERIEL"Secure the bindings," Mistress Sinai commanded one of her soldiers.Emeriel was suspended, his arms spread wide and tightly bound. The ropes dug into his skin as the soldiers ensured they were secure. His gaze shifted to a large basin of boiling water in the corner of the small underground basement. Steam rose aggressively from it, showing its scorching temperature.Whips made of cowhide and leather, as well as spiked ones, were scattered about. There was a crown filled with thorns, a branding iron, and many other tools Emeriel had never seen before.Emeriel swallowed nervously. Fear of the impending pain settled deep in his gut, though he refused to show it. A branding iron?His eyes followed the movements of a maid, who appeared to be preparing a fire pit. Did Mistress Sinai intend to brand him? Force him to wear that crown with its piercing thorns digging into his skull?"So, you must be enjoying these little niceties, aren't you?" Mistress Sinai smirked, moving closer to
Aekeira quickly reached into her garment and retrieved the book that Emeriel had read yesterday, but Aekeira had forgotten to return to the library. "Here." she handed it to him.Lord Vladya accepted it, brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply. "His scent is there, but it's faint. it will take more time to track him since his scent is barely detectable.""What about my hand?" Aekeira asked, desperate. "Em loves touching my hand. He does it all the time. That means his scent would be much stronger, right?"Lord Vladya stared at her outstretched hand. He didn't make a move to take it. "I don't need to scent you right now, Aekeira."Goosebumps spread through her body as her name rolled off his tongue. She would never admit it, but her name had never sounded better.That mistress might already be torturing Em. The thought jolted her, bringing her wandering mind back."Please, just do it. I beg of you," she implored.Finally, he stepped forward and enveloped her small hand in his larger
EMERIEL.Emeriel dressed, his fingers working the fabric of his tunic. Across the room, Aekeira paced anxiously, her restless steps loud in the room.Each spoke of her deep worry and unease. Emeriel glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the knot of tension in his own chest."Keira, I've told you not to dwell on it so much.” Emeriel tried to reassure her, smiling despite the knot of tension in his own chest. “Worrying won't make things better."She paused mid-step, turning to face him with troubled eyes. "But why would he want to see you, Em? What if he blames you for what happened in court? What if he accuses you of..." She hesitated, biting her lip. "What if he accuses you of witchcraft?"Emeriel gave her a delusional look. "Witchcraft? Seriously?"Aekeira fidgeted. "Look, Grand Lord Vladya is so strange, Em.” she resumed pacing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “He’s unpredictable. That’s why I’m so worried. You never know what he’s thinking."Emeriel let
PRINCESS EMERIELEmeriel drifted in and out of consciousness.Each time she surfaced, someone was pressing a bitter herb to her lips, cooling her forehead with damp cloths, or coaxing her to eat. It was exhausting, intrusive.Why couldn’t they just leave her to her dreams?Beautiful, sweet dreams of her and her Beloved. Here, in this world of warmth and light, there was no pain, no misery. Here, their bond was alive and flourishing.Here, she could feel his presence even when he was far from the fortress.Here, she felt everything in his heart, not just his pain but also his happiness. His love.In this world, her belly was full and rounded, carrying their child. A child who brought even more sunshine into their already radiant world.Her beloved glowed with joy, untouched by the sorrow of grief and loss.Emeriel did not want to wake from this idyllic dream. If crossing over to the other side brought dreams like these, perhaps she should have crossed long ago.It was beautiful. It
The mix of scents made Daemonikai’s investigation a maddening task. Incompetent fools.If he’d known they’d only muddle the scene, he wouldn’t have sent them to investigate in the first place.Their footprints and scents cluttered every corner, making it harder than ever to sift out what truly mattered. But this wouldn’t deter him.Three hours later, he was still at the crime scene, having retraced every step Emeriel had taken.He combed through the garden, over and over, with a thoroughness that bordered on obsession.Yet, still, he found nothing.Irritation gnawed at him as he prepared to repeat the search yet again.This time, he shifted partially into his beast form to heighten his senses, focusing his nose to distinguish Emeriel’s scent from the web of others clinging to the air. But still… nothing.Very soon, dawn would break. It was time to return.His instincts had been on edge all night from being away from Emeriel. She was safe, he knew, protected under Vladya’s watch. But
Dizziness washed over Daemonikai, a throbbing headache the size of a warship pounding through his skull.The poison could stay in his body far longer than in Emeriel’s, long enough to secure the antidote. Hopefully.“Are you truly well?” Worry touched Vladya’s voice.“My head feels as though it’s trying to split in two,” Daemonikai admitted. “But that's to be expected.""Who would do this?" Vladya wondered, his brow furrowed. "Do you have any suspicions?" “I’m going to confront Zaiper.” he repeated.Vladya's eyes sharpened. “You really believe he could be involved?”“I don’t know, but I will start from him." Daemonikai forced himself upright, a boiling rage building inside him. “Afterward, I’m returning to the site of the attack. If these inept fools can’t find a trace, I’ll track the one responsible myself.”“I’m coming with you.”“No.” Daemonikai put on his robes slowly, his insides rolling. “I need you here, with her. I’ll be back.”Vladya’s concern deepened. “You’re unwell, Daem
Also, Ottai was utterly lost. Flowing in the sea of confusion, kind of lost. "Uhmm, hello guys? I'm still here," he waved a hand to get their attention.They turned in unison, eyes snapping to him. They’d forgotten he was even there, hadn't they?"You two could at least clue me in on this 'solution' you're discussing," Ottai said dryly, curious.“No,” Daemonikai said at the exact moment Vladya added, “He plans to suck the poison out of her and take it into his own body.”“What!?” Ottai blanched, aghast. But now that he thought about it, it made sense. That explained Daemonikai's sudden shift of mood. He had gotten a solution, no matter how unconventional.Ottai couldn’t believe this. "Your woman and I did NOT go through the fires of hell and that damned cold sea to save you, just to watch you throw your life away like this!""Tell him, Ottai," Vladya encouraged, casting an approving glance.“It’s human and mage toxin, not Urekai. I can bear it until the antidote is found,” he said f
Ottai led them to Frostfall's royal residence. They entered the quiet chamber where Emeriel lay on the bed, face pale and eyes closed. Her breathing too faint.Grand King Daemonikai sat beside her, his hand clasped around hers. He didn't react when Ottai announced their arrival or when they entered the room.“Em?" Aekeira ran to her sister's side, taking her other hand. "Em, please, open your eyes,” she sobbed. “Please… it’s me, Aekeira.”“We’re waiting on Faiwick. He’s searching for the antidote,” Ottai’s voice was low as he explained. “The poison used is quite rare and difficult to obtain. So far, every healer we've checked don't have the kaizan root needed for the antidote."“Kaizan roots?” Vladya's brows drew together. “Those are almost impossible to come by.”Ottai nodded grimly. “It’s not a Urekai poison, it's mage poison.” His voice was tense, uneasy. “If someone sold it here, it’s likely they sold the antidote too. Faiwick is checking with the remaining herbalists and the blac
Daemonikai had tried not to push him into talking over the years, but seeing all this pain in Ottai’s eyes tugged at his heartstrings.“I have no idea what I would have done if I’d lost Morina too,” Ottai shook his head. “The thought alone tears me apart. I can’t pretend to understand what you’ve gone through, but I selfishly wish… I wish you wouldn’t leave us.” He took a shaky breath, steadying himself. “Don’t leave us, Daemon.”“I won’t,” Daemonikai vowed, surprising even himself.It was the first time he had said it aloud, and for once, he truly meant it.Pushing the shadows of grief aside, he spoke clearly, each word a promise. “Not anymore. I’m here to stay.”“Good, that’s good,” Ottai said, nodding in relief. Daemonikai expected to be released then, but instead, he was squeezed tighter. “Now, suffer through this one last hug.”Daemonikai let out a dramatic, insufferable sigh but didn’t resist. “You do realize you’re a full-grown male now? No longer that little slip of a lad wh
GRAND KIND DAEMONIKAI“You’re saying his wife was found dead in the dungeon?” King Daemonikai’s lips pressed into a frown as he strode through the corridors, Ottai and Wegai trailing behind him.“Yes, Your Grace,” Lord Ottai confirmed with a heavy sigh. “No obvious cause of death, either. They were slaves; it could easily be attributed to overexertion.”“Overexertion didn’t kill her before her husband’s attempt on my life, only after, hmm,” Daemonikai entered his private residence and settled into one of the high-backed chairs in the living room. “And what about the others?”Ottai took the seat beside him. "Sadly, nothing concrete."“Well, I’m recovered now.” Daemonikai shrugged off his outer robe, folding the heavy fabric beside him. “If someone else is responsible, I hope they’re reckless enough to try again soon. This time, they will not be so lucky.""It's time to put an end to the crimes happening here in Ravenshadow. In the past, no one would dare bring a crime close to this for
Touch, his beast urged.No, I will not.“Wake up, darling,” Daemonikai coaxed gently."I don’t want to.” she protested, a dreamy smile on her lips.Her hands drifted over her body, cupping her breasts, she flicked her nipples. She let out a soft whine.A bolt of desire shot straight to his dick, his arousal back with a vengeance.“Gods of the Grail,” he swore.“I really like this dream a lot,” she cried with bliss, pinching her engorged nipples.Daemonikai closed his eyes and counted to ten. Then, counted backward from ten.Nope, his hard-on has declared a coup, raging full mast in his pants.His beast, too, was one hundred percent on board…all too aware of her.Emeriel took his hand, parting her thigh, she guided it between her open legs.“Touch me, please,” she murmured, rolling her hips desperately. “I’ve been hungry… so starved for you.”“Darling, you don’t know—”“I need you.”Younglings crying for food, an elder falling from a horse, another bloody war with the vamps.The images
The quiet concern in his tone startled her, and when she looked at him, his eyes were studying her with the same attentiveness that had begun to undo her.She forced a smile, her worry fading like mist under the warmth of the sun. Because she knew, deep down, that it didn’t matter.No matter what side of him re-emerged when they returned to Blackstone, Aekaeira would still love him anyway. "I’m fine, Your Highness."His expression tightened slightly, and for a moment, she thought she had said something wrong. Then, his tone grew firm, resolute. "Vladya."“Huh?”"Call me by my name, Aekeira," he asserted. "Not Lord Vladya. Not my lord. Not Your Highness. Just my name."Her eyes reached her hairline. A blush crept up her cheeks. "B-but…it’s not proper."He leaned closer, his voice soft, but no less commanding. "We’re alone here. Go ahead.""Vladya…" she breathed, tasting the word. It felt strange on her tongue, foreign and intimate, but there was something right about it, too. Her voice