Page 22 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

“Your mindless, raging, mad beast—was myfirstlove. Do you know what that means?” She let the words settle. “It means I never expectedthisto be all bed and roses. Our love has thorns, and that’s okay. I love you, Grand King Daemonikai, and we will fight this—whatever it is.”

Her eyes bore into his, letting him see all the fight and determination in her tattered soul. “So, that carriage you have prepared? Use it to ship your guilt, sadness, and anger to the human lands, because I amnotgoing anywhere. I will be right here… By. Your. Side.”

“You do not understand, Emeriel.” Her male shook his head in sheer misery. “This is not a one-time occurrence. It willnotjust pass.”

She stopped breathing. “What?”

A heavy sigh of defeat met her. “A few days ago, I began to feel strange again. I had Wegai bring me the strongest chainswe have to restrain me in my chambers. When I regained awareness… I was in my beast form again.”

The thought of him losing himself that way again was completely terrifying. For one tiny moment, a small, uncertain voice—the voice of the girl whose body was put through the unimaginable—whispered...Run.

Take his offer and run far away.

"I see the fear in your eyes," his agonized voice was rough. "Oh, Emeriel… where do we go from here, when I’ve put you right back in a place where you have to fear me again?"

Her throat worked tightly.Do not waver. Do not falter.

"We will get through this," she said firmly. Spoken as much for herself as for him. "I am not running like a coward."

"Running does not make you a coward. It makes you a survivor." With self-loathing, he added, "Run, Emeriel. Run far away, beyond where these cursed hands can ever touch you again. If I have to resort to binding myself in chains laced with dragonblood and scented leaves from the Forest of Abadin, then you’ll know things have truly spiraled beyond my control."

Emeriel took his hands in hers, bringing them to her lips, pressing a kiss to every finger. "Why would you use chains laced with the deadliest toxins to restrain yourself?"

“You’re missing the point.” He looked, exasperated. “I may truly be going feral again—or perhaps I never fully healed from it in the first place. There will be episodes of mindlessness in my future. Times when I won’t be aware of what I’m doing. Driven only to satisfy the base instincts of my kind, even if it means hurting the ones dearest to me.Not recognizing friend from foe.”

“You said you started to feel strange?” Emeriel’s mind was working. “That means youcanrecognize the signs. That’s good. It means it won’t always be like last time.”

“Emeriel—”

She stepped closer again. “How about this? The next time you feel it coming on, you tell me. Or you tell Lord Vladya, Ottai, Wegai—anyone who cares about you. We’ll find a way to help you, Daemon.”

Her Beloved was clearly frustrated. “Do you not understand what I’m saying?”

“I do, my king,” she replied calmly, folding her arms. “I’m simply choosing not to listen to your perspective.”

“Emeriel… I have the power and strength to protect you from everything. But who will protect you fromme?” He turned away, squaring his shoulder. "Take the carriage and leave.I beg of you."

The look on King Daemonikai’s face as he turned away from her… the pain, the great raw pain, made Emeriel’s bravado falter.

I may truly lose him.

“I’m not going back, and I'm not letting go.” she stated firmly.

"Listen to me—"

"You waste your time if you really think I will." Emeriel moved to his front, letting her misery show, her voice small. “Instead of thinking it to death, why not hold me?”

His eyes squeezed close, as though he were mentally restraining himself.

"Hold me, please?" Emeriel sounded needy even to her own ears, but she didn’t care.

After over a week without him, after the horrors, all she wanted was to feel his arms around her again. “Please?”

“Hell’s balls.” King Daemonikai lifted her off her feet with one arm around her knees and the other on her back. Holding her so close as if she were a lifeline he needed.

A needy moan slipped from her as she melted into him. Yes,yes.

He carried her across the study, lowering them onto the plush cushions, keeping her cradled in his lap. His hands were trembling. “You never need to ask. It’s just…”

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