Page 151 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Her chest filled with something tender, and she blinked hard against the tears stinging her eyes. She still couldn’t quite believe he’d said that.

Two years ago, their bond had felt like a cage, a trap neither of them could escape. Now, the bond was gone, yet they were desperate to reclaim it, willing to undergo ancient rites to forge a non-natural bond just for a chance to belong to one another.

The irony.Oh, the gods must be laughing. They must be having such fun with us.

“Haven’t we suffered enough?” Emeriel whispered, staring out across the endless rows of crops. “Could you not take pity on us?”

With a tired sigh, she let her eyes fall closed. Just for a moment.

But the moment stretched, and soon she had wandered into sleep under the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant hum of workers.

***

It was late evening by the time she returned to the fortress, exhausted, her back aching.Ugh.She could use sleep again. But whenwasn’tshe sleepy these days?

She rubbed at the small of her back and looked down at her belly. “See the things you put me through.”

Drawing a deeper breath, she pushed open the doors of her bedchamber, and came to a halt.

Five human servants stood in formation, bowing low. A tub had been drawn and stood steaming in one corner, fragrance in the air. Fresh garments were neatly arranged across her bed, pins and combs laid out in meticulous order beside them.

One of the women stepped forward with a polite smile. “His Majesty has ordered us to see to you, prepare you, and bring you to him, my lady.”

Chapter thirty-five

THE COURTESAN OF MANY SKILLS

Emeriel’sheartdidasomersault.

Bring her to him?Did he need more blood?

Her cheeks lit up at the thought.

She didn’t have long to ponder. The servants crowded around her as they began to undress her and prepare her. She was guided into the scented bathwater, where they bathed her with efficiency. Emerging from the water, she was dried with soft cloths and dressed in a gown of the finest blue silk. It was light as air against her skin, new and smelling faintly of something sweet and clean.

“The Grand King bought this today for you, my lady,” one of the women whispered confidentially with a secret smile.

Emeriel glowed, her cheeks hotter. She lowered herself into the chair they indicated, and they worked, weaving her hair, fixing the pins among the dark strands.

“Where are we going?” she asked as they finally led her out of the building and into the courtyard.

“It’s a surprise, Princess,” one of the girls said, her tone excited.

They remained within the fortress walls, venturing to a secluded part of the vast Citadel—one Emeriel had never been to before. This wing was reserved for the royal rulers alone. The stonework here was older, the architecture grand and somber, as though it belonged to an even older age.

They passed beneath a covered walkway framed in dark wood, then entered what seemed like an annex. Soldiers stood discreetly on the grounds, and several Urekai workers moved about quietly with their tasks. She was led through a long, quiet hall until they reached the door at its end.

Wegai bowed low and opened the door without a word.

She was nervous. But taking a deep breath, she walked into the dark chamber.

The shadows wrapped around her like a warm cloak, but she couldfeelhim there. Then a flicker of flame came from candles glowing to life, chasing the darkness away. And there he was.

Daemonikai lounged in a reclining chair, dressed in loose evening wear. His tunic unbuttoned, revealing the expanse of his chest and the sharp cut of his collarbone. His dark hair was loose, falling around him like a silken veil.

“Hello, radiant star,” he said softly.

Emeriel glanced around the chamber arranged with a care that tugged at her heart. Candles flickered everywhere, red roses were strewn across the bed in wild, beautiful disarray, filling the air with their perfume. The ambiance was tender, romantic.

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