Page 78 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

Aekeira nodded weakly. She had refused to see a healer, but now she was starting to bother her.

Why am I so sick?

Chapter seventeen

OSMANTHUS AND LILY

HighLordHerodhadspent the entire day catching up with his dear friend.

He told Emeriel about his agricultural ventures, the farmlands he managed across the kingdom, and the quiet life he had built for himself in the years since she left.

In turn, Emeriel confided in him—about everything that had happened both in the human world and since her return.

But what floored him most? Hearing her confirm the rumors that the Grand King’s mind failing again, were true.

The pain in her voice when she spoke of it touched him deeply. And the fact that she trusted him enough to speak so openly about it? Humbled him more than anything.

Now, they walked through the courtyard, heading toward the gardens. The afternoon sun slipped away, making way for the soft hues of evening dusk.

Herod had been pondering her words all day, and no matter how he turned them over in his mind, something did not make sense.

"May I ask you something?"

Emeriel glanced at him, then nodded. "Of course. Go ahead."

"What does the Oracle say about his feral tendencies?"

Emeriel’s gaze drifted over the landscape, the setting sun casting soft shadows across her face. "She remains silent."

Herod was expecting that, still he did not like hearing it.

"Daemon says when she does that, it is either because she does not see that side of things... or she does not want to interfere." Emeriel exhaled. "Anyway, I still find it disturbing."

"But something seems strange. Feral sickness is the deadliest affliction of our kind, but it does not appear without reason," Herod mused. "Our grand king’s mind healed. The whole kingdom speaks of how happy he is these days. This does not make sense."

"Exactly. I have scoured the library, gone through every book I could find, yet none answers my questions or offers further insight into what should be done."

“I am truly sorry you are going through this all over again."

Emeriel’s beautiful face softened into a smile. "It is alright. We will get through this."

Herod studied her carefully. She hadchanged.

Physically, she remained the same—still radiantly beautiful, poised, elegant as ever. But the Emeriel standing before him now was not the same young woman who had once doubted everything. There was a confidence in her now, a conviction that had not been there before.

There was no bond at all, yet she stood firm. Fighting for what they had, speaking withcertainty. Stronger, yet softer. Braver, yet more at peace.

A future Grand Queen, indeed.Herod smiled, feeling a swell of pride.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She slanted her head, bewildered.

"No reason." Herod blinked, shaking off his thoughts. "Forgive me."

Herod caught yet another worker stealing glances at her before hurrying off. "My workers are intrigued. They find it difficult to believe the Galilea they once knew... is now the grand king’s female.”

"I see the way they look at me. And then there is your son." She looked over her shoulder. “He seems determined to follow us for the rest of the day.”

Herod, already knowing what he would see, breathed deeply before he looked.

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