Page 10 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

“Youshould. You have lost weight.” She nudged the spoon closer. “Here, just a little more.”

Resigned, Emeriel parted her lips.

Her sister tilted the spoon carefully, letting the warm liquid glide into her mouth.

“There."

Aekeira kept feeding her until the bowl was empty. Only then did she set it aside with a satisfied nod.

“So, what’s going on between you and Lord Vladya?” Emeriel asked.

Aekeira's hand hovered over the dishes she had begun gathering.

“Nothing,” she said tightly.

“Aekeira…”

She resumed the work, her hands moving jerkily, dishes clattering loudly as she stacked them.

“He should haveneverallowed it to happen,” Aekeira blurted. “Hecould havestopped it. He could have ensured none of this happened, but hedidn’t.”

“You know you cannot blame him for this,” Emeriel said. “I made the decision on my own and made him promise me. Their word is their bond, you know this.”

“As if that wasn’t enough, he had Lord Ottaidrugme through the night,” Aekeira spat, angry and hurt. The dishes clattered again as she packed them furiously.

Emeriel exhaled. “He did it to spare you the pain. You know it was for your own good. If he hadn’t done it, you would have done everything possible to try rescuing me… and you could have gotten yourself seriously hurt.”

Aekeira pursed her lips, her body rigid as she stood with the stack of dishes in her hands. Without saying anything, she walked to the door, opened it, and called for one of the maids.

Emeriel waited patiently as she handed the dishes over and spoke quietly to the maid.

Finally, the door closed, and Aekeira returned to the room.

“Don’t be so mad at him, Keira,” Emeriel said in a low tone. “You know you don’t really want to be.”

Aekeira’s jaw locked tight.

But then, she released a slow breath. “I think… I think I’m more mad atmethan I am at him.”

Emeriel tilted her head, studying her sister with concern.

“I couldn’t do anything,” Aekeira's voice shook, tears filling her eyes again. “I felt so weak. So helpless. You’re my sister and…”

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to hold back the sob building in her throat.

Emeriel patted the empty space on the bed beside her. “Come here.”

Aekeira hesitated for a moment before climbing onto the bed, careful not to lean into Emeriel or disturb her healing bruises.

Emeriel ignored the dull ache spreading through her body and shifted slightly to lie on her side, turning to face her sister.

“Keira, you need to understand that some things are beyond your control,” she said with affection. “It’s not every situation you can save, and I would never expect that from you.”

Aekeira looked at her, tears still falling silently.

“I love you so much, and you are the strongest person I know.”

A faint, genuine smile touched Aekeira's lips, breaking through the sadness, and the visible tension in her shouldersdissolved.

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