Page 56 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Emeriel seized her hands to stop her from hurting herself, holding her tight while crying helplessly. Watching her sister break apart in her arms, yet there was nothing she could do to ease her suffering. To end this pain devouring her whole.

And then, like a raging tempest, the flames rose in Emeriel’s own body.

Oh, the lights...!

Her vision blurred as heat flowed through her in a consuming fire, dragging her under. Emeriel’s own screams joined Aekeira’s in a chorus of pure, unfiltered misery.

Somewhere, in the distant haze of her suffering, she heard shouting. "Lord Ottai! Hurry! We are losing control of the situation!"

Then the sound of hurried footsteps as Lord Ottai rushed out.

And the world disappeared into thefire.

***

Livia was not the kind to long for things.

Born into slavery, shaped by battle and survival, fought her way from the lowest to the position she held now, she had never allowed herself to yearn.

Not for love. Not for warmth. Certainly not for something as unreal as a family.

Yet as she stood there, watching Emeriel clutch Aekeira tightly, whispering soft reassurances even as heat waves ripped them both apart from the inside, something unfamiliar stirred inside her.

What would it be like to experience such deeply passionate, devoted love as the two share? To have someone to hold onto in the worst moments of suffering—someone who would never let go?

They were in excruciating pain, almost impossible for a human body to bear, yet still clinging to each other. Finding strength in each other. Their bond was unbreakable, utterly beautiful... yet painful to watch.

Aekeira gripped her sister’s arm, while Emeriel curled around her protectively, as though her own agony did not matter as long as her sister was in her arms. Both wailing in pain.

A new sound shattered Livia’s thoughts.

A commotion outside. Loud. Growing wilder.

"Get out of the way!" Grand King Daemonikai’s voice was a roar of thunder. "Out! All of you!"

The scuffling of males scrambled to obey.

Another roar. "In the next ten seconds, I will be tearing heads from shoulders! DISAPPEAR, RIGHT NOW!"

The pounding of footsteps running shook the ground.

"Where is she!?” Grand Lord Vladya's commanding tone came. “Where is Aekeira!?"

A heartbeat later, the door burst open, and they stormed in. Two towering figures filling the doorway, their very presence sucking the air from the room.

Clothes torn, bodies smeared with blood, eyes wild and savage, they looked like they walked through the depths of hell to get here.

But they were here.

Finally.

Chapter thirteen

A NIGHT OF BLISS AND MISERY

GrandLordVladyaknewwhat to expect.

As he raced through the endless stretch of woods without pause, pushing beyond his limits through the day and into the night, he knew what was happening... after all, the Oracle had told him.

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