Page 18 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

"Be careful," Livia cautioned.

Not only were Emeriel's intimate regions red and bruised, but other parts of her fair skin had suffered from her relentless scratching. She’d scratched her poor skin open on her arms.

How had she come to experience a heat?

Only Urekai females were known to go through heat cycles, it was exceedingly rare for humans.

It had been well over two centuries since a human woman had last gone into heat.

The fact that the young prince had only arrived in Urekai territory today, and it was precisely today that her first heat had occurred, left Livia pondering... Was it merely a coincidence?

Why now, of all times?

Why this princess living in disguise?

But, above all, Livia had no idea what to do with this secret she learned. She gnawed at her teeth, deep in thought.

A distant scream pierced the air. Followed by another, and another, and she sighed heavily.

The beast was at it once more. Was this the second round? Or perhaps the third?

Livia couldn't be entirely certain. But the scream was a good thing.

For it signified that the beast’s victim was still alive. At least, for now.

Whether she would survive until the morrow, only time would reveal.

Chapter four

THE GRAND HIGH COURT

The sweet songs of birds filled Emeriel’s ears, pulling him out of his sleep. He blinked, trying to block out the bright sunlight shining through his eyelids, but the light wouldn’t go away. Finally, Emeriel’s eyes opened, greeted by the beauty of the morning.

Rubbing his eyes, his mind cleared, and the memories of the night before rushed back to him.

Emeriel sat up quickly. He looked down at himself. He was still naked under the blanket.

Moving his leg sent a sharp pain through his body. There were bruises on his arms, and his private areas hurt.

Something very strange had happened the night before.

Emeriel was surprised he was even alive, considering the great pain he had felt.

He needed to talk to Aekeira, to get her advice…

Aekeira!

Emeriel jumped out of bed with a cry, ignoring the pain in his body.I have to find her!

He grabbed his chest-binds and quickly tied them around himself. That’s when he remembered something else.

Two people had discovered his secret the night before.

Panic filled him, but Emeriel forced himself to stay calm.

He could worry about that later. For now, Aekeira needed him.

Dressed, Emeriel rushed out the door. But finding his way turned out to be much harder than he expected.

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