THE GRAND HIGH COURT OF RAVENSHADOW FORTRESS, URAI.GRAND LORD VLADYAThe court had large walls, decorated with fancy paintings, fine carpets, needlework, and detailed fabric designs.Two raised platforms stood out.The first held three big chairs with fancy gold designs. Behind it, a second platform rose even higher, holding a bigger and more decorated throne.Sitting on the three big chairs were Grand Lord Ottai, Grand Lord Vladya, and Grand Lord Zaiper. The single throne behind them, which belonged to Grand King Daemonikai, was empty."From the screams that echoed last night, I take it you went ahead with the plan, Lord Vladya," Zaiper said calmly, his manhood forced into the mouth of the slave girl kneeling before him."You are correct, Lord Zaiper," Vladya answered simply."We agreed the plan was not wise, did we not?” Zaiper expressed, his grip tightening on the slave's hair as he pushed her head down. “It’s time to accept that King Daemonikai is long gone. There’s no need to ke
GRAND LORD VLADYAVladya stayed silent. He felt nothing about the girl's death either.Maybe he would have felt guilt or something like it if he still had a soul. Sadly, his heart was now an empty space where his soul used to be, and his conscience had died five centuries ago.Along with his former bondmate. And best friend.Lord Vladya rose from his chair. "I must remove her dead body from the forbidden chambers. The young prince will go next." His lips tightened in disapproval. "This means Lord Ottai and I must make another trip to the human lands. This time, we will travel across the twelve kingdoms and take all the princesses, even the daughters of the wealthy. We made a mistake bringing back only two. We should have taken at least fifty.""That course of action could potentially trigger another war," Ottai protested."I would not mind one," Vladya deadpanned without emotion. "In fact, I welcome any fight that comes my way."As always, Ottai tried to keep the peace and gave him a
Emeriel frowned as Madam Livia added, "At least, I think that's what the Urekai call people like you."A Syren?Emeriel shifted uneasily, feeling confused. "What does that mean?""It is what the Urekai call non-Urekai who can go into heat. It means you are able to bond with a Urekai. Your body is changed enough to mate with them, with new glands and all. Hades, you might even be a Soulbond."Now, he felt even more confused. His face must have shown it because Madam Livia took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well, let us start again. What do you know about Urekai bonds and bondmates?""I know that what humans call marriage, Urekai call bonding," Emeriel began. "It is rare for a Urekai to find their Soulbond: the one person meant to be their true partner. Their soulmate. Only Soulbonds can have children easily. Most Urekai pair up through contracted bonding—they choose their own partners. It is not because they do not want the bondmate nature made for them, but because finding a Soulbon
PRINCE EMERIELEmeriel was at a loss for words. His wide eyes stared at Livia in shock and disbelief, as if the older woman had suddenly grown a second head."I do not want this," he blurted out, voice rising with panic. "I do not want any part of it.""We cannot choose to be a syren, Emeriel," Madam Livia said firmly. "Many human females have tried to become one over the centuries, even doing extreme things, but it simply does not work that way." She paused, her voice softening. "There are countless females who would give anything to be in your position right now.""But I do not want it!" Emeriel exclaimed, springing up from his seat, unable to sit still. He paced the length of the room anxiously. "Let them have it. I do not care. I do not want to be a syren, a bondmate, or anything else!"Livia looked at him silently, her expression saying more than words ever could.Running a shaky hand through his ponytail, Emeriel stopped and turned to face her, his chest rising and falling with
Emeriel had seen Grand Lord Vladya and Grand Lord Ottai, but not the one called Grand Lord Zaiper. Whenever his name was mentioned, the Urekai maids and human slaves would all look terrified. Every single one of them."He is the worst of all the grand lords," The slave girl, Amie, had whispered to him the day before, her eyes wide as she looked around to make sure no one was listening and the hallway was empty. "Lord Ottai can be sweet when he wants to be, and Lord Vladya is very scary. But like Lord Ottai, he is fair and just in his leadership. But Lord Zaiper?”Amie had glanced around again. “He is a monster. His slaves die every day. Some starve, others are tortured for fun, and some are even raped to death. His slave masters are the worst, and Lord Zaiper does not care. He does not even see us as human."Emeriel's eyes had widened to the root of his hair. “This lord is worse than Lord Vladya?""Actually, Grand Lord Vladya is not that bad," Amie had stated firmly. "When it comes to
PRINCE EMERIELEmeriel carefully wiped the stained glass with a washcloth. He had been assigned to clean the fourth layer of the southern wing this morning and had been at it for the past hour.Last night, Emeriel had dreamed of the king’s beast. It was strange.He had never seen the beast before, yet somehow, for reasons he could not explain, it occupied his thoughts. To the point of entering his dreams.But why?It was a question he had asked himself over and over, without finding an answer.As he scrubbed the glass diligently, he hummed softly, running the cloth over the surface until the dirt was gone. Just as he reached for his rinsing water, he heard voices growing louder."What about the land beyond Crystal Waters?" a woman asked."It is not within my power to grant you that land, and you know it," Grand Lord Vladya replied.His tone was surprisingly gentle, lacking the sharpness Emeriel had come to associate with him."But you are also a grand lord. Surely you can make this ha
Without warning, two sharp fangs sank into Sinai's skin, and the beast began drinking from her. Pain shot through her body, and she hissed in response.The beast did not flood her with elixir to numb the pain or ease the discomfort, as Daemonikai would have done if he were in his right mind. Instead, the beast simply took, over and over.Her heart raced, pumping more blood to meet the beast's unending hunger. This was the key difference between a bloodhost and any other host: a bloodhost’s body constantly produced an endless supply of blood to feed their master—no matter how hungry their master were.As the beast fed, it released pheromones that wrapped around Sinai, and a pleasurable sensation began to spread through her body. Her whole being burned with searing lust, the pleasure growing inside her.Even after two millennia, she had never grown used to this feeling. At this point, Sinai knew she never would.The sensation was simply too powerful, too addictive, and at times, the org
"You should not be here, Em. Please, go away.""And what are you doing here?" Emeriel countered, casting an apprehensive glance toward the imposing metal gates. "Come on, let's leave this place," he urged, taking hold of Aekeira's hand."No!" Aekeira jerked her hand away. "I need to be here. But you, Emeriel, you should not. Leave.""What? No! You do not need to be here. No sane person should be here!" Emeriel seized her hand once more, this time his grip tightened. "Come on, Keira, please, let us go!""I can't, okay!?" Aekeira's voice cracked, tears falling, smearing her makeup.She looked completely tired, as if burdened by the weight of the world. The sight pierced Emeriel's heart like a dagger.His sister no longer tried to withdraw her hand; simply too weary to fight."I cannot leave, Em," she whispered tearfully. "If I do, it will be you who goes behind those closed doors."Emeriel recoiled at the thought.But he quickly recovered. "Fine, I will go to the forbidden chambers—""N
When the final robe was secured, Vladya stepped back and gave a small nod.Daemonikai inclined his head slightly. “Thank you, Grand Lord Vladya.”Under normal circumstances, Vladya would have taken the title as the jest it usually was, but today there was no humor in his voice.He gave a simple, respectful nod in return. “You’re welcome, Your Grace.”The rest of the day passed in much the same way. Daemonikai carried an air of aloof formality that set the tone for the entire ceremony.Everyone in attendance noticed the shift, though no one dared address it openly. Vladya himself kept a cautious distance.By evening, as the people feasted and danced to the vibrant music, he finally stepped away from the event square, seeking a moment of quiet. The slaves’ performance was energetic, but he found little enjoyment in it as usual.He hadn’t made it far before he heard footsteps behind him.“What is wrong with His Majesty?” Ottai asked, falling into step beside Vladya.Vladya did not break
“Let me say this again, in case you have allowed your mind deceive you into thinking otherwise: You had a sexual relationship with Evie and me. No more, no less.”Sinai was hurting, her body shaking. Tears filled her eyes.“I admit I got possessive, that’s why you had to end things then—I admit it! But I can be better now. Let’s rekindle what we had.” She stepped closer, desperate. “Fine, I admit you belong to the human princess; I acknowledge that, alright? Emeriel is your Soulbond, I’ll accept that! B-but you can still be mine too...!”“You are my bloodhost. Nothing else,” he stated firmly.“I know what happened two weeks ago,” Sinai’s words tumbled out in a rush. “If you were with me, I would have handled you better than Emeriel did. I wouldn’t have screamed the way she did. Ravenshadow would’ve never known something was wrong!” Sinai lifted her chin, confident even as tears fell. “I could take you that way. I’m Urekai, Daemon, with my own beast. I’m stronger than she is. I could
Fruits were brought in on polished trays—juicy grapes, ripe figs, slices of sweet melon—and Sinai munched on them with unabashed pleasure.When it was over, she stood before the tall mirror, her reflection finally resembling the female she used to be. Her gown was a masterpiece, woven from the finest silks and subtle jewels that caught the light. Her hair styled to perfection, cascading down her back in sophisticated waves.Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. I have missed this.After today, not only will she be free again, but she will take back what was hers.The soldiers returned.“The Grand King is still in the hunting grounds with the noble lords of court,” one informed her. “You are instructed to wait here for his return. You are not to leave this chamber.”Sinai didn’t mind. Reclining on the plush cushions of the bed, she made herself comfortable as she waited.And waited.And waited.Sunset turned to dusk. The golden light streaming through the windows faded, replaced by sh
“Argh!”Grand Lord Zaiper grabbed his most prized flower vase, hurling it across the banqueting chamber. It shattered into a thousand glittering shards.He reached for his finest ale gallon next and hurled it, the heavy vessel smashing against the far wall, amber liquid flowing down.The chamber was already a mess. Broken goblets, upturned chairs, and fragments of once-beautiful decorations littering the floor.And yet the chaos did nothing to sate his master’s anger.“That conniving little whore!” Lord Zaiper roared, sweeping his arm across the banquet table.Goblets, charlices, and plates clattered to the floor, the noise loud echoing through the hall.Razarr swallowed a wince, remaining motionless in the corner. He hadn’t seen his master this destructively angry in a while. Lord Zaiper would regret all of this come morning when his fury finally subsided.“How dare she?” Zaiper spat, turning his burning gray-and-yellow eyes on Razarr, who straightened immediately. “Is she mad? Deran
She walked into court gracefully. Fully dressed in her formal princess attire, she looked radiant. There were no visible marks on her skin, no signs of bruises. Or pain.Her eyes shone brightly, filled with life, and on her lips was a wide, unshaken smile.Not a single person stirred as she paused to bow gracefully to the assembled court, before she crossed the floor and ascended the dais, coming to a stop beside the grand king. Then…kissed him.Not a peck nor even a heavy indecent display, the kiss was light. Yet screamed intimate. Free of tongue or theatrics, but every bit as charged with passion as if they were alone. It lingered just long enough to stun the court into an even deeper silence.Pulling back, the human princess turned to Zaiper, looking thoughtful. “Do you have evidence to back up such ridiculous claims, my lord? Since when is it wrong for a woman to scream out her pleasure when her male is rocking her world?” She grinned. “What do you have against screams of ecsta
GRAND LORD ZAIPERIn the Grand High Court, Grand Lord Zaiper stood at the center with his immaculate robes, wearing a face of calm and authority. Everyday he tried to reason with them, yet the results were always the same. Today, he came with a different approach.“It has been over a week since our grand king has been mad—” He glared at Vladya. “—unwell.”The court stirred with whispers.“As you all know, over the past few years, His Grace has faced certain… challenges. They made it difficult for him to uphold his duties to this court and to the people. Perhaps it is time we revisit our sacred text, the Concord of Crowns.”At this, the murmurs grew louder. Uneasy growing.Lords exchanged uncertain glances.Lord Henry rose, brows furrowed. “Are you suggesting we place a vote to impeach the current Grand King and allow the Second Ruler to assume the throne?”“It would be the right thing to do,” Zaiper said, turning to him. “The Concord of Crowns, Chapter Twelve, states an ultimate ruler
The thought of him losing himself that way again was completely terrifying. For one tiny moment, a small, uncertain voice—the voice of the girl whose body was put through the unimaginable—whispered... Run.Take his offer, and run far away."I see the fear in your eyes," his agonized voice was rough. "Oh, Emeriel… where do we go from here, when I’ve put you right back in a place where you have to fear me again?"Her throat worked tightly. Do not waver. Do not falter. "We will get through this," she said firmly. Spoken as much for herself as for him. "I am not running like a coward.""Running does not make you a coward. It makes you a survivor." With self-loath, he added. "Run, Emeriel. Run far away, beyond where these cursed hands can ever touch you again. If I have to resort to binding myself in chains laced with dragonblood and scented leaves from the Forest of Abadin, then you’ll know things have truly spiraled beyond my control."Emeriel took his hands in hers, bringing them to he
“Please, get up.” She tried to pull him upright, but it was like trying to lift a slab of solid rock.“I need you to help me here,” she said in a strained voice, bracing herself as she slid both hands under his arms to support him.Another heavy sigh. But, he moved, pushing himself off the floor. As he stood to his full height, he leaned heavily against her, burying his face into the crook of her neck.“For someone who’s only a dream,” he murmured in a muffled voice against her skin, “you smell incredible.”Then, he pulled back, the haze in his eyes clearing. “Emeriel? What are you doing here? You should be in bed.”“I’m fine right where I am.” Her eyes swept the room again, taking in the disorder. “What are you doing, Daemon? This isn’t you.”He looked away. “Well, it seems I do not know myself anymore, anyway.”“Come, let’s get out of here. We can wait in the study while the servants clean up.”Battle warred in his face. He looked at her with pain and hesitation as though he couldn’
PRINCESS EMERIELEmeriel stood before the tall mirror, staring at her reflection as Amie fastened the buttons down the back of her gown.The fabric felt soft against her skin, designed in a simple yet elegant style that prioritized comfort over extravagance.Behind her, the faint clinking of glass jars echoed as Madam Livia brewed her final portion of the morning.It’s been four days since she fully woke up. Most of Emeriel’s bruises had faded. Her face looked less pale, and the dark shadows under her eyes were fading too.Though her left arm still ached from time to time, the swelling had gone down, and she could now use it without much trouble. She flexed her fingers absently, with caution.“You look so beautiful, my princess,” Amie let out a wistful sigh, stepping back to admire her work.“Thank you, Amie.” Beautiful wasn’t the word she’d use, but at least she looked better than she had in recent weeks. That was enough for now.“Here,” Madam Livia came to her with a steaming wooden