Page 4 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

The journey wasn’t far. Emeriel was resting at the end of the hallway.

But as they approached the door, Daemonikai came to a sudden stop, several feet away.

Vladya paused, turning back to him. His friend’s face had gone ashen… blank. Daemonikai was not alright.

It was in the tautness of his muscles. The faint shaking of his hands. It was in his rooted feet to the floor.

Daemonikai stood like a male who was terrified to take the next steps and see what lay behind those doors.

“I’m thinking about everything you just told me. About the possibility that I…” His throat worked while he stared off at the distance. “And the implications if I…What if I…”

“I’m sorry.”

Daemonikai’s jaw clenched.

Then he steeled his spine.

He was moving again, his eyes anguished, his tone resolved. “Let me see her.”

Vladya nodded and stepped aside, opening the door. He stayed by the threshold as Daemonikai walked past him into the room.

In the center of the large bed, Princess Emeriel lay under a soft blanket, small against the vastness of the mattress.

A white towel rested on her forehead, and her eyes were closed, her face pale and bruised.

Her hands, visible by her sides, bore deep discoloration, though the swelling had gone down. Her left hand was bandaged.

Daemonikai was still.

Then exhaled shakily, stepping closer to her.

Reaching out, he pulled the bedding back, exposing more of her battered body.

“The healers have been here constantly these past three days,” Vladya said from behind him. “So far, there hasn’t been any fatal damage, and her treatments are going well. They said she will heal… with time.”

Daemonikai’s eyes moved over her slowly. Lingering on every visible wound. Every abrasion. Every bruise.

“She woke yesterday evening but was in a lot of...” Vladya shook his head. “They had to put her back to sleep.”

Daemonikai sank onto the edge of the bed, staring at her face.

He didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

He just sat there, staring at her as if, by sheer willpower, he could undo the damage.

And minutes stretched intohours.

Even when the healer entered to administer her afternoon medicines, Daemonikai didn’t leave her side. Didn’t move, his eyes never leaving her face as they applied salves and tinctures.

Later, Livia arrived with the young slave girl, both moving quietly around. They cleaned Emeriel with care, changing her clothes and the bedding, before slipping out just as quietly.

The afternoon crawled by.

Shadows lengthened on the walls.

Eventually, Vladya had to leave for court. But as he did, his mind stayed behind.

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