Page 13 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Emeriel returned it, even as the pressure sent a sharp pain through her spine.

But she bit it back, choosing instead to lean into the embrace, her tears spilling on Aekeira’s shoulder.

“Yes, Em,” Aekeira whispered, her voice warm in her ear. “Maybe one day, all of this will merely be a story of the past.”

Maybe.

Emeriel blinked back tears as a bittersweet smile touched her lips. What a beautiful, fragile illusion they had painted together.

A dream of a brighter future, untouched by the dark shadows of their present.

“When I recover more, I’m going to go see my Beloved,” Emeriel declared softly. “I don’t like the thought of him spending days lost in self-loathing. Drowning in guilt and self-destruction.”

Aekeira pulled back just enough to look at her, her own tears threatening to fall and gave a small nod. “Then I guess we need to get you recovered as soon as we can.”

Emeriel managed a watery smile. “I guess so.”

Chapter three

CARING FOR MY GRAND LORD

Atmidnight,longafterEmeriel had fallen asleep, Aekeira lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

Her thoughts were restless, circling back tohim.

The bruises she had noticed days ago. The tension in his posture. The pain in his eyes.

Sleep was impossible.

Giving up, she rose quietly from the bed and slipped into the dark hallway. Taking the long, silent walk through the corridors, she made her way to the other side of the Royal Residence.

She hesitated for a moment before knocking. Her nerves suddenly all over the place.

“Go away,” a growly voice barked from within.

She knocked again.

“Yaz, I swear I will have you beheaded if you don’t send whoever’s out there on their way!” he snapped dangerously.

“It’s me, Your Highness,” she faltered, her voice quieter than she’d intended. “Aekeir—”

The door swung open so fast she stumbled back.

Grand Lord Vladya filled the doorway, his usually well-styled black hair disheveled. The wild, unfocused look in his gray eyes told her everything she needed to know.A feral episode.

“Now is a bad time,” he warned. Asking for space.

I’m not leaving him like this.Aekeira stepped inside. “How long has it been? When did it start?”

“Aekeira…”

“Please don’t push me away.” She moved closer. “I wish to be here. Let me be here.”

“It might get bad.Very bad.”

Aekeira’s heart sank. Ithadgotten bad a week ago, hadn’t it? Things had spiraled out of control, and she had blamed him. Taken her hurt out on him, pushing him away, even when it was not his fault.

“I wish to apologize for—wait, these bruises…” she took in the deep discoloration around his jaw and on his forearms. “They are fresh. Did you fight again in court?”

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