Page 30 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

“That is not why I’m here,” he spoke again, indifferent. “Today, I feed. And after that, you return to your cell.”

Sinai’s blood ran cold.

Her lips parted in disbelief as she stared at him. “S-surely you don’t mean that.”

Hard eyes met hers, unblinking.

Panic seeped into her soul. “You c-can’t do that to me again, I’m your bloodhost!”

“Which is why you haven’t faced the maximum sentence for your crime.” He stated bluntly. “Fifty lashes with a hot spiked whip. Three days without food or water. Public humiliation and degradation. Ten years in the dungeon.”

Sinai’s hand flew to her mouth, staggering back a step. “You were going to make me facethat...? Because ofher...?”

Grand King Daemonikailaughed. Cold and humorless.

Sinai’s tears dropped faster. How could he be so unfeeling?

“Only two months imprisoned, and you arecomplaining?Consider yourself lucky you are my bloodhost, Sinai.”

Unholy ruins. At this point, he may really send me back to that rotten prison.

Sinai’s knees hit the floor. “Please, Your Grace,” hands clasped together in plea. “I will never repeat my actions again. Please, temper justice with mercy!”

Finally, her master straightened from the window, crossing the room in slow, unhurried steps. Reaching her, he bent down, his face close to hers and curled his hand around her neck, lifting her from the floor as he rose to his full height.

“Iamshowing mercy,” he said in a low, calm voice. “You have not been tried in court, I have not sentenced you, consider me at my most merciful.”

She gasped for breath, clutching at his wrist, her feet barely touching the ground.

“But make no mistake, Laelsainai, your punishment is far from over.” His grip tightened, forcing her to meet his unflinching gaze. “Once we are done here, you will return to your prison. That is final.”

Chapter seven

A NEW CHAPTER

GrandKingDaemonikaireleasedhis hold on Sinai’s neck and stepped back.

Mistress Sinai staggered back, breath shaky as her hand flew to her throat. Her wide eyes followed him as he retreated a few paces.

“Why did you harden your heart so much against me?” she cried. “It’s me—your Laelsainai. Have you forgotten how it used to be between us? We had something beautiful, Daemon. Those two hundred years together...” Her voice dropped, softer. “Our sex was always explosive. You can’t deny that.”

“Our time together only happened because Evie wanted us to explore that way. If not for her urging, I would have never gotten intimate with you sexually.” His tone grew sharper.

His words were punching blows. And he wasn’t done.

“Let me say this again, in case you have allowed your mind to deceive you into thinking otherwise. You had a sexual relationship withEvie and me. No more, no less.”

Sinai was hurting, her body shaking, tears filling her eyes.

“I admit I got possessive, that’s why you had to end things then—I admit it! But I can be better now. Let’s rekindle what we had.” She stepped closer, desperate. “Fine, I admit you belong to the human princess; I acknowledge that, alright? Emeriel is yourSoulbond, I’ll accept that! B-but you can still be mine too...!”

“You are my bloodhost. Nothing else,” he stated firmly.

“I know what happened two weeks ago,” Sinai’s words tumbled out in a rush. “If you were with me, I would have handled you better than Emeriel did. I wouldn’t have screamed the way she did. Ravenshadow would’ve never known something was wrong!”

Sinai lifted her chin, confident even as tears fell. “I could take you that way. I’m Urekai, Daemon, with my own beast. I’m stronger than she is. I could’ve done better—”

“Tenof you couldn’t do whathalfof her can,” Daemonikai snapped, furious.

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