Page 148 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Lord Herod's smile faded, replaced by concern.

"I used to think his beast really liked me, even if the male… well, didn’t. But now, I’m not so sure. His eyes glowed yellow both times. Even the night he confronted me.”

The high lord looked sad. “As much as it seems like our beast is a separate entity that lives within us, we are still one with our beasts, Emeriel.” The high lord looked sad. “You and the beast got along so well because he was mindless. Back then, it followed instincts alone, loving and protecting you as its mate. But now, awareness has returned, and some instincts overshadow others. Like the ingrained need to kill humans."

Emeriel looked up from her hands, to stare at him.

"The grand king is one with his beast. Whatever he feels, his beast feels too. They both lost their family, young one. That pain... it runs deep. It’s not just him lashing out, it’s both of them."

That made sense. “I guess I understand better now.”

"It will get better." Lord Herod spoke with conviction, covering her hands with one of his. "Have faith in yourself. Have faith in your bond. Now, let us put all that aside. Tell me how you are faring."

Mistress Sinai stood in the courtyard, staring out into the distance as the slaves toiled around her. They hurried past, murmuring greetings as they fell over themselves to get out of her way. She paid them no mind, still turning over in her head what she’d overheard earlier.

Emeriel is going to be set free. Emeriel is leaving Urai.

Sinai didn’t know how to feel about that. After Emeriel’s deceit had come to light, for the first time in as long as she could remember, she had fallen ill.

Bedridden. Sick as a dog.

Discovering Emeriel’s true identity had not been a shock. No, it was much more. It had uprooted Sinai's world.

To think that the boy she had watched with suspicion wasn’t just a boy, but Daemonikai’sSoulbond… it had struck her like a poisoned arrow straight to her chest.

For three agonizing days, she had lain in bed, beating herself up for it. Blaming herself for not acting sooner, for not trusting her instincts.

She had been too scared of the Hole to kill the boy when she’d had the chance. Emeriel would have been dead long before the revelation came out.

Soulbond.

The word, as always, slashed through her gut like a burning, spiked whip. Sinai's body might have recovered from the sickness, but her mind was yet to recover from that revelation.What a joke.

And Daemonikai?

He had not even thought to check on her. He must have heard she was ill, but he was too wrapped up in his own problems to care. That hurt. So, she had paid him a visit, only to overhear his conversation with Vladya.

Should she be happy that Emeriel was leaving? Probably.

But was she?

No.

"Don’t think I don’t know Emeriel calms you down, soothes your soul, takes the pain and grief away. I watched you two for months when you were still feral. Don’t think I do not know that girl is like a healing balm for you."

Sinai clenched her jaw so hard it was a wonder she did not crack a tooth. Her fists ached from clenching them too hard.

It was not fair. It simply was not fair.

How had that rotten human come out of nowhere and stolen her male?

Sinai didn’t want Emeriel to leave Urai, she wanted herdead. Erased from existence. Her chapter closed forever.

She had asked Nora to keep an eye on Emeriel after the events in the arena, to summon Emeriel as soon as Nora caught sight of her. However, Nora had reported that the grand king had posted soldiers outside Emeriel’s door, and they wouldn’t let anyone get close. Since then, access to the girl had been nearly impossible.

But that was fine. Once Sinai had pushed past the blinding rage and the violent urge to beat Emeriel into a pulp, she had begun to carefully plot her next move.

She had purchased what she needed. Poison. One that killed quickly and left no trace.

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