Page 103 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

But this was Vladya.HisV.D.

The grand king closed his eyes and held still, Vladya’s breath hot against his skin. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here," he said, keeping his voice calm, his stance non-threatening.

Vladya released another burst of pheromones, meant to provoke. To assault.

"I mean no harm," Daemonikai grunted, raising his hands in surrender, his muscles tense with the effort to remain passive.

Vladya took another deep breath… and stiffened. He shoved away, taking three steps back, eyes widening. "Daemon?"

"Vlad, are you there?" Daemonikai’s voice was gentle, coaxing.

The yellow in Vladya's eyes receded, the wild look vanished. "When did you get here? What's going on? Why did you bare your throat?"

Daemonikai closed the distance between them in one step and punched him hard on the nose.

Vladya hissed, clutching his face, and shot Daemonikai a shocked glare. "What the hell?"

Daemonikai landed another punch. On the third attempt, Vladya moved with lightning speed, dodging the blow. "Wait, let's talk about this."

The grand king advanced again, his fury mounting, and this time, a flicker of wariness crossed Vladya's face only fueling Daemonikai'srage.

A guilt-free Vladya would be throwing punches by now. Instead of trying to restrain his beast, his friend would be all over him, engaging him in a fight that would leave this chamber in ruins.

"You bastard. You selfish little—" Daemonikai grabbed his shoulders and squeezed hard, the fabric of Vladya’s tunic crumpling under his iron grip. “You selfish bastard.”

Vladya slumped against him, as if all energy had been drained from him, his breaths coming out in white puffs against the chill. “You know.”

"I know!?I know?" Daemonikai punched him again, watching with grim satisfaction as Vladya's nose broke and his cheek turned purple. But still, Vladya did not fight back, his eyes hollow.

"Youdareask if I know!?" Daemonikai's roared.

"Fine,” Vladya sighed. “More. Hit me some more."

"Don't. You. Dare." Daemonikai's hand clamped around Vladya's throat, his knuckles white. "You utter fool."

Daemonikai had dreaded it would be a failed bonding. But this was not about a failed bonding, it was worse.Unimaginably worse.

"Daemon..."

"You were going to leave me?Just like that!?" Daemonikai thundered, the betrayal burning hotter than the blacksmith’s forge. “You dragged me back here, to this god’s forsaken place, to watch you go mad?”

Vladya stepped back, resignation written across his face. That look—one of weary acceptance—only made Daemonikai's vision go red with fury. It took every ounce of self-control not to take another swing at Vladya. “Selfish piece of work. You were never going to tell me, were you?”

Dead silence hung heavy in the air.

"Say something, you bastard, or I swear to Ukrae, I will tear you apart with my bare hands and hang your remains at the entrance gate—"

"I am sorry." Vladya's whisper was barely audible, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I am just so tired, Daemon."

Daemonikai tried to see past his own anger, he did. But it was a difficult feat.Vladya was going feral.

And he wasn’t fighting it.

The resolve, the surrender in his slumped shoulders. Vladya had given up. It was all there, plain as day.

Daemonikai was too appalled to speak. Vladya wouldallowhimself to go feral.

"You're right," Vladya's voice cracked. "I was selfish. I needed you here, even knowing... even knowing I was losing myself. Because though I’m leaving you behind, I can’t stand the thought of you being killed. I needed you alive, Daemon."

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