Page 135 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

By the time he was emptying down her throat again, and she was greedily draining him again, her knees ached from kneeling, and her jaw throbbed from the effort. At last,reluctantly, she let him go.

He reached for her at once, pulling her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her waist. He guided her onto his lap again with careful hands, looking at her with satisfaction, pride, and…wonder.

“You are so full of surprises.”

Emeriel hid her face against his neck, mumbling. “You do not think me… wanton?”

“Oh, I think youverywanton,” he drawled, flicking one of her aching, sensitive nipples with a teasing touch that made her shiver. “But your wantonness destroys me in the best of ways. Ienjoyyour debauchery, my slutty sexy princess.”

She relaxed against him, letting herself sink into the safety of his embrace. One large hand stroked down her back.

“Thank you for being here in Urai, in my home and in my life.” He tipped her face up and kissed her forehead. “You make everything… bearable.”

“I’m deeply saddened by what happened. I’m sorry about your late bondmate, Alvin, and Myka,” she said. “You had a wonderful family, and I’m so sorry someone as evil as Lord Zaiper took them from you in such a brutal way."

“Thank you,” he said. “Never in my life did I think a day would come when I could think of them like this, and it wouldn't feel like knives and fire. That it would feel… almost bearable.”

She understood.

Two years ago, if this truth had come to light, it would have destroyed him to the extent of driving him fully feral again.Look how far we’ve come, my Grand King.

"I can’t believe Lord Zaiper almost got away with this, walking free for centuries, untouched. No one the wiser,” Emeriel said, with anger.

“Riel,” Daemonikai said after a moment.

“My king…”

“Can I tell you about my boys?”

The tears slipped free again, leaving warm trails down her cheeks. She nodded, her voice thick. “Please do. I would be honored to listen.”

And so, he did.

***

Hours later, they lay together in his bed.

Daemonikai cuddled her from behind, his body a solid wall of warmth. Emeriel stared ahead, stubbornly awake despite the heaviness pulling at her lids.

She had listened to him for hours as his memories spilled free, and he spoke of his deceased family, laying them—himself—open before her.

Now, she felt raw, split apart by his pain and all he had shared.

“Your boys sound like wonderful young males,” she whispered at last, truthfully, each word scraped painfully from her throat. “Thank you for telling me.”

He had found in her a safe place to set them free. Trusted her with his sorrow and their good memories, not bearing them alone. For that, Emeriel was grateful.

Even if it left her aching, she was glad. Becausehewas healing.

“Lord Zaiper must never get away with what he did,” she said with conviction.

“I will die first,” Daemonikai stated. “I will hunt him down, and when I have him, I'll show him no mercy. I'll not grant him an easy death—that’s why I let him walk free in court. He doesn't deserve the easy way out.” His breath stirred her hair as he spoke. “I owe it to Evie, my sons, Vladya, Ottai, the Oracle... to my people. I owe it to myself, to you, and the new life we'll bring into this world.”

Emeriel nodded, her fingers finding his. She laced their hands together, brought it up, and kissed his knuckles.

“I was searching for evidence, however minor, to hold him responsible for messing with my mind, unaware it was just the tip of the iceberg. I will capture Zaiper Thoryk Dragaxlov, Emeriel.”

Chapter thirty-one

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