Page 47 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Chapter eleven

SCORCHING HEAT

“What!?”MadamLivia’seyeswidened in astonishment.

In a flurry of movement, she was rushing out the door, shouting for the nearest soldier. “Go to Mabblewood and tell Grand Lord Ottai to send a messenger bird to Grand Lord Vladya immediately! And fetch Amie at once!”

Emeriel turned back to her sister with a pounding heart.

“Heat?” Aekeira panted, struggling to sit up. “N-no, that can’t be right.”

Slipping an arm around her, Emeriel steadied her to support her weight. "Your eyes are red, Keira. You are sweating up a storm."

“But that’s only for Syrens, and I—” a sharp gasp left Aekeira as she twisted uncomfortably, her flushed skin growing slicker with sweat. “Em… I don’t feel good.”

“I know,” Emeriel murmured, holding her even closer. “I know, dear sister.”

“I r-really don’t feel good.” Aekeira squirmed, pressing a hand to her stomach. “There’s this fire… burning inside me, and I—I really want to take off my clothes.”

“You can't. Not yet.” Emeriel’s thoughts were racing, heart wanting to hammer its way out of her chest.

It was a long journey to the Oracle’s Haven. The grand rulers had left early this morning, which meant they couldstillbe on the road. How much longer would it take for Lord Vladya to return? Could Aekeira hold out that long?

Madam Livia returned, carrying a wooden cup in one hand and a tankard of water in the other. Setting the tankard down by the bedside, she handed the cup to Emeriel. “She must stay hydrated.”

Taking it, Emeriel held it to Aekeira’s lips, guiding her as she took small sips.

Her sister’s hands shook, some of the water spilling down her chin, but she managed to drink a little.

As Emeriel pulled the cup away, a prickling sensation crawled over her arm, and she scratched it absentmindedly.

“This must definitely be the sign the Oracle told Lord Vladya to watch for,” Madam Livia whispered, half to herself, half in wonder. “Aekeiraisa Syren. She has been one all along, but because of His Highness’s lost soul, her traits laid dormant.”

“You think so too?” Those were Emeriel’s exact thoughts, but she had never voiced them to avoid giving her sister false hope. Aekeira would be in so much pain if she were wrong.

“Think about it,” Madam Livia said, thoughtful. “How did it happen foryou? You went into heat your first day in the Citadel because you were in close proximity to King Daemonikai’s beast. Aekeira’s traits remained dormant because there was no soul to trigger them. I had suspected this before but dismissed it because it seemed too good to be true. But now…” Madam Livia shook her head, her aged eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

“Their greatest challenge has just been taken care of. Aekeira is a Syren—compatible with him.” The older woman exhaled a shaky breath. “Oh, Emeriel… there is a chance their bonding ritual might actually work.”

Warmth spread through Emeriel’s chest, expanding until she thought it might burst.

Everything they had prayed for, everything they hadhopedfor. Something that had seemed so impossible.

Tears stung her vision. She looked down at Aekeira, whose half-lidded eyes were unfocused, whimpers falling from her parted lips, lost in her own suffering.

“Keira…” Emeriel brushed a hand over her cheek. “We need to move you to the bed. Do you think you can manage?”

Aekeira blinked sluggishly, and whispered, “Okay…”

With Madam Livia’s help, they carefully moved Aekeira from the floor and eased her back onto the mattress.

Groaning, Aekeira tugged desperately at her garments. "I want them off!" Fists clenching into the fabric wherever she could grasp. “Ineedthem off!”

“Alright, alright.” Emeriel helped her strip away the layers of damp clothing, working as quickly as she could.

Within moments, Aekeira lay naked beneath the sheets, her skin flushed, her breath uneven.

Emeriel bit her lips. Despite her excitement over this breakthrough for her sister, she was worried out of her mind.

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