Page 26 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Then…kissed him.

Not a peck nor even a heavy indecent display, the kiss was light. Yet screamedintimate.

Free of tongue or theatrics, but every bit as charged with passion as if they were alone.

It lingered just long enough to stun the court into an even deeper silence.

Pulling back, the human princess turned to Zaiper, looking thoughtful. “Do you have evidence to back up such ridiculous claims, my lord? Since when is it wrong for a woman to scream out her pleasure when her male is rocking her world?” She grinned.“What do you have against screams of ecstasy, Second Ruler?”

“That is untrue!” The words ripped from his throat. So angry his vision turned red. “HOW DARE YOU stand before this council andlie to us?!”

"Oh," Emeriel gasped, covering her mouth in sheer exasperation. "How dareyoumake such ridiculous claims against your grand king?"

Zaiper could only stare for a few seconds. Too dumbfounded to form words.

“Pardon me, and I say this with the utmost respect, Grand Lord, but unless you were present in the room with us, you have no right to make such accusations,” Emeriel said.

Zaiper could not believe this.

“What are you doing here, Princess?” the Minister of Military Affairs spoke up, his brow furrowed in disapproval. “No disrespect to you or our king, but you should not be here.”

Emeriel turned to the minister, bowing low in apology. A full, deep bow.

“Forgive me for intruding upon the court, my lords.” She straightened gracefully. “I merely came to deliver a message to my king, one I forgot to give him before I overheard the topic of conversation. I could not stay silent and allow the Second Ruler to make such false and unfounded accusations.”

“Humans and their lies!” Zaiper sneered with venom. “Everyone in this kingdom heard it. Call in every maid in the castle—they will all say the same! Why should we believe anything from the mouth of a human? You are the same girl who fooled this court for an entire year, dressing as a boy while hiding your true identity!”

Emeriel’s expression didn’t falter.

But Daemonikai growled. “Mind your tongue,Grand Lord Zaiper. Do not speak to my woman like that.”

Zaiper lifted his chin, defiant. “I am still the Second Ruler of this kingdom, and until she is officially mated to you, I retain my authority over her. I will speak in any manner I see fit.”

Vladya leaned forward from his throne. “The lady you claim is a victim is standing before this court, telling you herself that she is not. That she enjoyed her time with her male.” His voice was almost anamuseddrawl. “Unless you have compelling evidenceor credible witnesses to back your claims, hurling insults at her will not make your accusations any less baseless.”

“And any further accusations against her are an insult to her, her mate, and this court,” Grand Lord Ottai added from his seat. “As Second Grand Ruler, you are well aware of this kingdom’s laws.”

Of course I am! It’s how I have gotten away with everything, you fools!

Still... This. Is. Not. Fair.

Zaiper tried tobreathethrough his rage. He knew better than to push this any further—the court was clearly not on his side.Not as long as the so-called victim refuses to admit to anything.

He glared at the king and his human woman, his teeth grinding so hard it was a wonder they didn’t crack.

He could escalate this further by getting witnesses who may have heard the screams, but he couldn’t trust any soldier or servant to speak against Daemonikai.

Where did I go wrong?

The plan was foolproof. It worked. Daemonikai’s mind had fractured again—he hurt her, nearly killed her!

So why is she standing here, smiling and protecting him instead of laying in one of those tombs in the southern graveyard!?

This should have been his moment of victory. Or at least the beginning of it.

Instead, it felt like he was right back where he started—square one.

“While we understand your concern for stability of the throne, Grand Lord Zaiper, there does not seem to be any need for it anymore,” High Lord Belzebob said rising from his seat. “Our Grand King is hale and hearty, and his female looks healthy and happy. If there is nothing else, we would like to proceed with the agenda for the day.”

---