Page 27 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Murmurs of agreement rippled across the chamber.

Turning to Emeriel, Belzebob addressed her politely. “Princess, have you delivered your message to His Majesty?”

“Not yet, my lord.” Emeriel offered him a gracious smile. “But I will do so now, if no one objects. Thank you.”

Turning to Daemonikai, she leaned into him and whispered something. Her lips forming words too soft for anyone else to hear.

But Zaiper caught the shape of her mouth, reading the words clearly.I love you.

Daemonikairelaxed.Andsmiled.

Zaiper’s stomach twisted violently.

He should be broken. Wallowing in despair. Notsmiling.

Zaiper was so enraged he wanted to kill something. To sprint to the nearest cliff and scream into the endless void, about the sheerunfairnessof it all.

Stepping back, Emeriel's face was glowing as she bowed to court again. “My lords.”

She sent Zaiper a smug grin as she gathered the edges of her gown, sweeping from the hall with the same dignified poise she had entered with.

Zaiper could not form words.

This is so unfair.

So. Unfair.

Chapter six

RAGE AND A TASTE OF FREEDOM

“Argh!”

Grand Lord Zaiper grabbed his most prized flower vase, hurling it across the banqueting chamber, shattering into a thousand glittering shards.

He reached for his finest ale gallon next and hurled it, the heavy vessel smashing against the far wall, amber liquid flowing down.

The chamber was already a mess. Broken goblets, upturned chairs, and fragments of once-beautiful decorations littered the floor.

And yet the chaos did nothing to sate his master’s anger.

“That conniving little whore!” Lord Zaiper roared, sweeping his arm across the banquet table.

Goblets, chalices, and plates clattered to the floor, the noise loud echoing through the hall.

Razarr swallowed a wince, remaining motionless in the corner. He hadn’t seen his master this destructively angry in awhile. Lord Zaiper would regret all of this come morning when his fury finally subsided.

“How dare she?” Zaiper spat, turning his burning gray and yellow eyes on Razarr, who straightened immediately. “Is she mad?Deranged?”

Zapier raked a hand through his hair. “She was not supposed to be in court. Isawthe guilt in Daemonikai’s eyes—I could have gotten him to admit it if I had pressed harder. Declared him unfit to rule. But no!Shehad to come along and ruin everything!”

Seizing a decorativejarafrom the table, Zaiper smashed it against the floor.

It was time to intervene.

“Another opportunity will present itself, my lord,” Razarr said cautiously. “Your spell is still active. His mind is still in ruins. Sooner or later, everyone will see it.”

Zaiper rounded on him. “This was theperfectopportunity!” he shouted, gesturing wildly. “The signs were unknown to him! His instincts ruled him! Now, he will recognize the symptoms. He’ll know what to look for. And Daemonikai willneverlet it spiral out of control again. Knowing him, he will do everything in his power to make sure he never hurts that girl—or anyone else—again!”

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