Page 65 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Within moments, a sleek messenger bird swooped down, landing on his outstretched arm. Herod attached the message to its leg. Watching the bird take flight, he whispered a silent prayer, hoping the message would reach the grand king early. Hoping the ruler would honor his request.

Grand King Daemonikai was no longer hunting for Vladya.

Daemonikai knew the truth with every fiber of his being as he raced through the woods in the dark. His instincts had taken over. That nagging feeling had forced its way to the surface, overpowering his will.

He ran, not with purpose, but with desperation.

There was no destination in mind, and could not pinpoint the exact location he was headed. Yet, it didn't matter. He could not resist the pull. He did not want to.

He had never felt like this before. This compelling urge to be somewhere. A force that overrode his very strong concern for his missing friend.

The world blurred around him as he raced through the forest, his powerful legs eating up the distance.

Finally, he skidded to a halt at the gates of Herodis’s estate, his chest heaving. The sudden stop jolted him back to a semblance of rationality. What was he doing here?

He, the grand king, trespassing on another Alpha's territory under the cover of darkness? Daemonikai had executed people for less.

Logic dictated he turn back. Head back to the woods and continue his search for Vladya. Yet, he could not.

His legs were moving forward, and with a guttural growl, Daemonikai announced his presence at the gates.

The response was immediate. Sound of locks disengaging filled the air, followed by the creak of metal hinges. The gates swung open, revealing a line of guards, their heads bowed in deference.

Daemonikai took a single step onto the estate—and a scent slammed into him, nearly bringing him to his knees.

A scent so sweet, so potent, it crashed over him like a tidal wave.Mine!

Mine, mine, mine!

The same scent had haunted his dreams. Only this time, it was much, much stronger, and smelled so much better.Holy Ukrae. Holy hell.

Someone roared, the sound suspiciously close, before he realized it was coming from him.

Everyone raised their hands in surrender. Necks bared for him. But it was not enough.

Possessiveness gripped him like a vice. Daemonikai wanted tokill. He wanted to destroy every male who dared to evenbreatheher scent. Another roar ripped from his throat, echoing through the night.

"Your Grace, please calm yourself," a familiar voice pleaded, cutting through the haze of his fury.

Daemonikai whipped around, his vision blurring at the edges. Rage and raw arousal warred within him, consuming him.

"Your Grace..." the voice was closer now, pained, desperate.

A flood of needle-like pain spread through Lord Herod's body as the grand king pumped out pheromones like crazy—in heavy, super-aggressive bursts. Practically broadcasting his dominance, through his stance and demeanor.

King Daemonikai saw all of them as a threat standing between him and his female.

Herod recognized the unmistakable signs of a Urekai in a rut. But this was no ordinary rut.

The sheer power of Daemonikai's pheromones…their raw, untamed strength, spoke of a bond far deeper than mere attraction. If Herod hadn't known before, he knew now, Emeriel was truly Daemonikai'ssoulbond.

If the grand king shifted now, they would all be dead. Herod fought to project an aura of calm, desperately hoping to appease the enraged alpha.

"Your Grace, please," Herod's voice was strained.

That message couldn’t have reached the fortress this fast. And if Emeriel had called to him, the urgency would have triggered a shift, and his beast form would have arrived instead of the man.

So, how had the grand king arrived so quickly?

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