Page 21 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

After a long, tense pause, he let her guide him toward the door. But just as they reached it, he stopped.

“Why don’t you wait in my study?” he said, his tone quieter now. More careful. “I could… also use a bath.”

Emeriel wanted to argue.

Every instinct screamed at her not to let him out of her sight, not in the state he was in. But the pleading look in his eyes gave her pause.

He was asking for space, asking for some measure of control over himself.

“Okay.” She released his hand. “But I’ll be waiting for you.”

***

Busying herself with a historical book on his shelf, Emeriel waited in the dim study, the soft light from the fireplace flickering across the room.

The creak of the door snapped her head up and Daemonikai stepped into the study, closing the door quietly behind him.

He looked like himself again.

Gone were the filthy, wrinkled nightrobes, replaced with one of his heavy black garments embroidered with white designs along the hem and cuffs. His long hair was neatly combed andtied back at his nape, cascading like silk down his back. He stood straight and composed.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting.” His deep voice was soft as he walked toward her.

“I didn’t notice.” Emeriel held up the book briefly before setting it down. Letting her worry show as she studied him. “How do you feel? You did have a lot to drink.”

“You are worried about me?” He stopped just in front of her, those emerald eyes locking onto hers. “I should be asking you that question, not the other way around.”

His gaze dropped, voice carrying shame. "There are no words to describe how I feel for what I did. None that could articulate how deeply sorry I am.”

Emeriel didn’t wait for him to say more, closing the remaining distance between them and wrapping her arms around his neck.

He stiffened instantly. Taut like a bowstring drawn too tightly.

“Please hold me,” she whispered.

For the longest moment, he didn’t react.

Then, at last, his arms wrapped around her.

Slowly at first, then tightly.Desperately. Drawing her closer, clutching her in a way that made her gasp. Clinging to her like a drowning man who finally found something solid to hold on to.

“I am so sorry from thedepths of my heart,” he breathed, burying his face into the curve of her neck. “I know those words are inadequate. A feeble attempt to make up for—”

“Give yourself a break,” she interrupted in a small voice as she nuzzled against his neck, ravenously breathing in his familiar scent. “Do me one favor. Stop hating yourself. Stop the guilt, the anger. We have been through far worse. We’ll get through this… together.”

“No, there isnothingworse than this. There is..." a shaky breath. "I have prepared a special carriage and entourage to see you home safely."

Emeriel bit her lips.

"For so long, I wanted to hold onto you," Daemonikai said, lowly. "You were the one bright star in a sky so dark it swallowed everything else. I wanted to keep you for myself. But my mind is unstable again, Emeriel. What I did to you… I cannot bear the thought of it happening again.”

She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, cupping his face. Her palms were warm against his cool skin as she tilted his head so he couldn’t look away.

“I am going to say this once. Just once. And I want you to listen to me, Daemon. Truly listen.”

His conflicted eyes searched hers.

“First of all, I knew exactly what I was getting into when I fell in love with you," she stated firmly. "For the Light-gods’ sake, I loved your mad beast first. Do you hear me?” She searched his eyes.

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