Page 41 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Vladya straightened. “Did you speak to her about my soul?”

Daemonikai met his gaze and nodded, unrushed. Letting the silence stretch a moment before he spoke. “I did.”

A beat passed. Vladya inhaled sharply. “And?”

Daemonikai leaned casually against the door and smiled knowingly. “She’s looking into it.”

The words worked like lightning. Vladya’s face shifted instantly... from doubt to elation, from disbelief tohope.

When he spoke again, it was almost a whisper. “I could get my soul back?"

“Remember, she’s not promising anything,” Daemonikai warned. “And the success rate is low, but—”

“But there’s actually a possibility?” Vladya's tone held barely contained excitement. “And she agreed to look into it?”

Daemonikai inclined his head, amused at his friend’s reaction. “Pretty much.”

Vladya let out a long breath. The grin stretching across his face was wide, unguarded, almost disbelieving. “What instructions did she give? Is there a regimen to follow?”

Daemonikai shook his head. “Only that you should go to her haven at dawn for the first ritual. That will determine whether the restmaywork.”

Vladya absorbed the words, looking reverent. “For the first time ever, something can be done,” he murmured, more to himself than to Daemonikai. “It’s no longer an unreachable dream. A hopeless vision of a mad male.”

Daemonikai’s eyes went soft. Walking over, he clasped a hand over his friend’s shoulder. “Congratulations, my dear friend.”

***

Grand Lord Zaiper lounged in his living room, his boots propped comfortably on a velvet footstool. A goblet of ale rested loosely in his hand as he watched the fire crackle lazily in the hearth.

After leaving court, he had spent hours downtown, carefully avoiding his home until well past midnight. All to escape facing the Oracle. Zaiper needed time to decide his next move, to strategize how best to deal with the problem that was her. Until he reached a decision, he would avoid her as much as possible.

And today, he had succeeded.

Absently sipping his drink, he smiled, his eyes tracing the flickering flames before a knock shattered his peace.

Frowning, he tilted his head slightly. There were hushed murmurs outside.

Scowling, he set his drink down with a thud, pushing himself up. “Where the devil are all the servants and useless slaves?”

His mood was quickly souring as he strode to the door, throwing it open.

The Oracle stood, anger seeping off her.

He barely had time to take a step back before the old lady stormed inside.

“Youimpertinentlittle child!” Fury radiated from her like an erupting volcano. “Howdareyou break this kingdom?How dare you!”

She stomped her staff against the ground.

An unexpected force slammed into Zaiper, lifting him off his feet,hurlinghim across the room.

He crashed against the far wall, pain flaring through his back as he hit the stone floor with a brutalthud.

Zaiper groaned, rolling onto his side. Wincing at the sharp pain in his tailbone, he gritted out. “You should not abuse your powers like that, Oracle."

She stepped forward, her golden-streaked eyes dilated,burning. “If you can abuse yours the way you have, then I shall do the same with mine.”

Raising her staff, she wrapped her fingers around it so hard. “How could you do something so despicable?” Her voice was thick with disgust. “Centuries ago, I foresaw many futures—some better than others, some darker than I would have liked. Butnoneas vile as whatyouhave made come to pass.”

---