Page 117 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

Pausing, Sinai's tone dripped with malice. "Unfortunately, that may not come to pass. After I'm through with you today, it will take a miracle for you to survive."

"But I have done nothing wrong. Why do you always single me out?" Emeriel glanced up at her, his voice laced with confusion.

Sinai's eyes darkened, anger simmering within her. "How dare you question me?" she hissed furiously, then turned her gaze toward the beast.

Emeriel followed suit. Although the room was dark, after three nights here, his eyes had adjusted considerably.

The beast's yellow eyes appeared heavy with drowsiness.

"Look at that, my Daemon is about to enter slumber," the mistress gloated. "That is what follows after a satisfying feeding from a worthy, healthy source. I have lived for a thousand years, I know how these things work."

She turned back to Emeriel. "As for you, outside with me. Right now."

At this point, Emeriel had no choice but to obey. He followed her out of the chamber, casting a final glance behind to see that the beast had indeed fallen asleep.

Once they were away from the Abyss land, the mistress struck him hard across the face. The slap carried a tremendous force, causing him a lot of pain.

"Yes, I have been meaning to do that for quite some time now," she sneered.

Emeriel cupped his cheek, anger simmering deep inside him. It was one thing to be despised by everyone due to his species' actions, subjected to enslavement and mistreatment. But to be singled out and targeted by this female, despite having done nothing to deserve such treatment, was an entirely different matter.

Mistress Sinai grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking it viciously. "How dare you get close to the king's beast?"

"You were there," Emeriel said in a cold tone, his eyes burning fiercely. "You attended court that day. It washewho took me away. I did nothing wrong! Nothing!"

"You did everything wrong. Why is my Daemon fixated on you? A filth like you?" She spat, tightening her grip on his hair.

"You would have to ask him that, and I am not filth. I am of royal blood, Mistress Sinai. A human, yes, but from a pure bloodline of royalty. You call people filth, yet you yourself do not possess a royal lineage, merely the privileges of a favored family." Emeriel locked his gaze with hers. "The filth here, mistress, is you."

Sinai stood there, dumbfounded. Releasing her grip on his hair, she stepped back in disbelief.

"You dare to talk back to me?" Her astonishment was palpable. Unbelievable.

Emeriel calmly ran his hand through his hair, attempting to arrange it as best as he could. "I will not apologize for speaking my mind. I have come to realize that no matter what I do or say, you will always find a reason to blame me, to hurt me. So, why should I hold back?"

"You swine!" Mistress Sinai slapped him once more. Her brown eyes receded, giving way to the dominance of her yellow eyes. "I would tear you to shreds if I were to shift!"

For some reason, this threat did not intimidate Emeriel. He couldn't quite explain why.

Perhaps after spending three days alone with King Daemonikai's mighty and fearsome beast, some of the things that should have frightened him no longer did.

But those slaps, they truly hurt.

His hand moved instinctively, before he could even stop it, he struck the mistress’s cheek in return. With so much force, which bore a resoundingcrack.

He didn't know what had come over him. In fact, Emeriel wasn't thinking at all. But as he witnessed her head whip to the side and heard her gasp, he felt a strange sense of fulfillment. Yes, it was undoubtedly worth it.

At least, that was his initial thought until the mistress's claws began to emerge, her eyes turning completely yellow, her body starting to transform.

Oh, shit.

Emeriel thought fast, his mind racing. "Does Grand Lord Vladya and Grand Lord Ottai know you came here to murder me?"

Mistress Sinai froze midway through her transformation.

Emeriel truly believed she would complete the shift, but to his surprise, she reverted to her full human form. Her eyes blazed with fury. "I am going to kill you."

"You have made that abundantly clear. My question is, do the grand lords know? They journeyed across the great mountains to purchase us, and now you simply wish to kill me without cause?"

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