Page 58 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Now he felt even worse. The thought of her suffering so much—of her body breakingover and overagain under the strain because he wasn’t there—gutted him.

Daemonikai’s voice broke through the chaos in his mind. "I cannot take my girl out of here with her scent this high in the air," he said, shifting Emeriel in his arms. "We will need to use your adjoining chamber."

"Okay." Vladya barely registered his own response. His gaze still on Aekeira.

Turning to leave, Daemonikai hesitated. "Right now, you are all that girl depends on, V.D." His voice was a low reminder. "I know this is too much to take in, but every thought, every haze—push them far, far away until she has made it through her heat, nothing else exists."

Vladya nodded. He was right.

Daemonikai left with Emeriel in his arms. And one by one, the others followed. Madam Livia. Amie. Lord Ottai. Until, at last, the chamber cleared out, leaving Vladya alone with Aekeira.

He stripped off his tattered, bloodied clothing, letting them fall in a heap. Lowering himself to the floor, he laid beside her, his touch feather-light as he brushed a strand of damp hair from her face. "My sweet, beautiful young princess."

She did not stir.

"The Oracle told me to look for a sign." His voice was a rasp. "I should have known it would be something so big, so undeniable, that when it came, it would be impossible to miss."

Aekeira whimpered.

Then her mouth parted in a silent scream as another heat wave took her away, body convulsing, fresh tears leaking from the corners of her closed eyes.

Vladya felt helpless. He could do nothing until she came out of the heatstroke.

"I am so deeply sorry, my dearest." He patted her hair. "I will carry the regret of this day until the end of my days."

Lying beside her, he waited.

***

Grand King Daemonikai laid Emeriel at the edge of the bed, quickly stripping off his clothes.

"Please, Beloved… I cannot wait—" she sobbed, her hands clutching at the sheets. "Please, hurry, I need you inside me."

"I know, little princess." He smoothed a hand down her thigh, lining himself up. The scent of her heat wasmaddening, a call deep in his bones.

Positioning himself against her entrance, he pushed in.

Or tried to.

Her muscles clenched tightly, resisting him, her entire body going rigid.

Frowning, he applied more pressure, forcing a deeper push.

"Ngh—!" Emeriel yelped in pain, suddenly pushing at his chest, frantically shoving at him. "Take it out! It burns—oh gods, itburns!"

At the same time, her muscles slammed together, clamping down so tightly his entire body seized up.

Daemonikai barely held back a snarl of pain. He had no choice but to pull out.

Emeriel's shaky legs slammed shut, fresh tears leaking from her wide, terrified eyes.

His stomach dropped like a stone.

Her body rejected me.

It was like a dash of cold water had been poured over him. Like something inside him cracked open, bleeding.

Emeriel was in heat, aching, desperate, burning for relief, and yet… her body refused him.

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