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Pretense
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The Emperor's Substitute Bride Traveler's spell
It was bad enough that Daegal was ensnared to a liar but now, he also had to pretend that everything was fine as he held Nerina's firm, yet delicate hand in a gentle grasp and led her to the large balcony where they were to greet their subjects. Daegal struggled to keep the smile on his face, fought to act normal so there wouldn't be an inkling of suspicion from Nerina. However, he may have let some of the warring emotions raging inside him show on his face because Nerina tightened her grip on his hand and whispered. "Are you alright, love?" She asked in a sugary sweet tone and Daegal tried his best not to cringe away from it. "I am fine. I only..." Daegal trailed off as they stopped in front of the huge brass doors that held the balcony beyond. "I am tired, that is all. Everything is exhausting." Nerina gave him an encouraging look and it bothered Daegal as he wondered how she was able to fill in Naomi's shoes like it was nothing. Naomi was great at impersonating Nerina but there
The Emperor's Substitute Bride A plan of action
"This does not make any sense, Az." Daegal shook his head, one hand placed on his hip and the other on the balustrade. "I think I of all people should know how logical a spell that originated from MY kingdom is," Azriel drawled, back against the balustrade and arms folded in front of him. Daegal gave him a withering look that made the corners of Azriel's lips turn up slightly. "It is not the spell itself that poses a dilemma to me, Az. It is the nature in which it was activated. I still am and have been confused but not exactly surprised that a whole other world—where Naomi comes from—exists outside of ours yet the issue is that she made it clear that magic doesn't exist there." Azriel pulled down his eyebrows as he pondered the many possibilities that ran through his mind. Daegal continued. "From the thoughtful look on your face that does not exactly suit you, I can tell that you are beginning to understand me." Azriel glanced at him with humor shining in his eyes. "I am beginnin
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Bitter pill to swallow
'Nothing is ever easy...' Daegal thought as he twirled the bronze dagger in his hand, studying the way the light streaming in from the windows in his study bounced off the shiny blade. The air crackled with sparks of magic as he phased the blade in and out of existence. Making it disappear and then materializing it out of thin air. He ran his finger along the slender length of the beautiful weapon. It had taken Daegal fifteen days in total to craft the dagger. Three days went into steeling himself to become a maker again since the last weapon he made fell into the hands of a now-dead greedy battle commander and nearly wiped out a small village on the outskirts of Estoria. The better parts of the two days were dedicated to learning the spells with Azriel while avoiding Nerina's advances with the excuse of being busy with the affairs of the continent and also planning for the war. As for the war, he spent some hours with his Master of war and the commanders but spared hours to study
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Fancy seeing you here, my Prince
Anger. Happiness. Rage. Joy. Despair. Relief. These were the contrasting emotions Daegal would have let himself get swept in if Naomi woke up from the spell-induced slumber she was in.However, they were all quickly replaced with crippling worry as he held her cold hands. Her face was as pale as death but her chest moved up and down with each shuddering breath she took.It had been almost three hours since he plunged that blade into her chest. Three hours since he fully saw those honeyed eyes again. Three hours since he took Nerina's life just as she had taken his father's.Beneath his anxiety for Naomi, the urge to find a way to bring Nerina back and kill her in the slowest possible way bubbled and writhed but he had to keep a hold on his temper and rage. At least, till he was sure that Naomi wasn't gone as well. That there hadn't been a mistake with the spells he invested into the ornate, bronze dagger."Naomi, can you hear me, my love...? My queen," Daegal murmured into the back
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Naomi's back
"I believe I should leave now," Azriel muttered with a small smile on his face but neither Daegal nor Naomi paid him any attention. So, he crept away and silently shut the door behind him.Daegal held onto Naomi—afraid that she would slip out of his hands again and be lost to him. He kissed her fiercely, tangling his fingers in her hair, and crushed her body to his, feeling the soft planes and curves of her against the hard muscles of his torso.There was nothing else that mattered except her and the stars exploding all around and raining down their droplets of fire on him.Naomi was there with him. Not trapped within the bottomless depths of Nerina's power or the cold inferno that enveloped her moments before—the full realization brought Daegal immense relief. His panic and fear were washed away the instant he gazed into the light swirls of her eyes and witnessed the life contained in them.Daegal didn't want to be separated from her not in this lifetime or the next but the need for
The Emperor's Substitute Bride I love you, Naomi Walker
Daegal dragged a strap of her gown down her shoulder, exposing it, and placed gentle kisses along her collarbone as his other hand pulled the second strap down. Night and day erupted inside Naomi's chest at his touch—electric, soft, and fulfilling all at the same time. Daegal lifted his weight off her further till he was on his knees between her legs. Then he traced his thumb along her lips and watched with hooded eyes as Naomi opened her mouth and sucked on it. "Fuck..." He hissed and Naomi almost chuckled. It was rare for Daegal to swear. She thought him too much of a gentleman to even do much of it in her presence or at court but the thought of him going against his embedded teachings excited her. Daegal's hand found its way to her neck then down as he pushed the pearl-laced bodice of her gown down her chest, taking the thin straps of the dress which had fallen to the middle of her arm, off completely. It was almost painful—the push of Daegal's cock against the laces of his tr
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Plot twist
"You love me?" Naomi repeated slowly, still tingling from their mind-numbing escapade. Naomi yelped as Daegal grabbed and pulled her on top of him. When they were flush against each other, she lifted herself a bit and began tracing patterns on his broad chest with her fingers. Daegal pushed her raven-black hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes. "Of course, I do." He paused and then continued after a heartbeat. "You are as lovely as the day I lost you... I never want to lose you again, Naomi. Ever." "You won't." Naomi placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "I promise." A moment later, she spoke again. "This is the first time, you know?" "What is?" Daegal questioned, brows knitted together. Biting her lips, Naomi murmured, "It's the first time you're telling me that you love me." Daegal chuckled and sat up, back against the headboard. Naomi adjusted herself and straddled him. "It is not. But the time that I did, you were not..." He looked her over. "... You." "Damn. She got
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Unrelenting fog
"N-no," Naomi moaned through the cloud of sleep she was nestled in. Sweat beaded on her brow; eyes moving rapidly under the cover of her eyelids as her breathing sped up. "S-stop... I'm sorry... Please," She murmured, hands fisted as if fighting an invisible enemy. The next instant, however, Naomi jolted from the bed, chest heaving. In a panic, she looked to her right and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Daegal was there, asleep. His breath was even, coming out in small puffs while the moon illuminated his long lashes, straight nose, high cheekbones, and full, sensuous lips. Slowly, she traced the sharp angles of his jaw with a featherlight touch and let out a small smile when she felt him lean into her touch even in his slumber. But suddenly, Naomi's stomach churned as nausea overwhelmed her senses, ripping her moment of admiration away. She scrambled out of bed with a hand over her mouth and hurried to the empty wash basin on the table a few inches away from th
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