Page 7 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Walking through the big gate, a low murmur caught his attention, accompanied by the clatter of metal. Ahead, a crowd was forming, their faces filled with excitement.

Intrigued, Emeriel leaned toward an elderly human woman. "What's happening?"

"Their grand king has just concluded court," she explained, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Many are eager to catch a glimpse of him."

The woman moved on, leaving Emeriel to observe the Urekai gathering from afar. He shouldn't risk venturing into such a gathering, not for a mere glimpse of the king. It was far too dangerous.

Not a risk if you don't get too close,his mind whispered.

No way. Absolutely not.

Your beast. He is your beast. The same one who rescued you from the court, from the slave master, from the assassins. The same one you saved.

Before he could fully comprehend his actions, Emeriel was moving towards the crowd. He sought refuge behind a sturdy tree, his eyes scanning the assembled figures, searching for...

And then, he sawhim.

Amidst the grand lords, he stood out like a bonfire.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Emeriel stared. The grand king carried himself with regal authority. His posture, his stance, his attire – every aspect of his being radiated immensepower.

The grand lords were clothed in their customary long white robes, but he wore heavy black robes decorated with elaborate white embroideries. While the grand lords had their hair neatly bound at their necks, his long, raven-black mane flowed freely, captivating Emeriel's attention with its bold white streaks on either side of his head.

My beloved.

He was larger than life. The phrase had always seemed like an exaggeration, a cliché. But seeing the grand king now, he understood. He towered over even Lord Vladya, who was quite tall and imposing.

"So that is him," Emeriel murmured aloud.

A sense of tranquility washed over him. A part of him that had been restless since the announcement of Daemonikai's return, since every Urekai had flocked to the arena that night, finally found peace. Daemonikai was easily the most handsome male Emeriel had ever laid eyes on.

Urekai approached the grand king in groups of two or three, each taking the hand he offered. They pressed his hand to their noses—a gesture of respect—inhaling his scent in a ritualistic act of reassurance. It was as if the mere presence of their grand king, the confirmation of his return, was enough to soothe their anxieties and quell their fears.

"What are you doing here?"

Emeriel jumped, startled by the unexpected voice, and whirled around.

Aekeira stood behind her, her eyes following Emeriel's. "You were watching the grand king, weren't you?" A knowing smile played on her lips.

"Nope." Emeriel was flustered. "That's not it. I was just... umm..."

"Watching a gathering of Urekai, I see," Aekeira quipped, raising an eyebrow. "Must be quite a sight. A captivating display of nature, wouldn't you say?"

Emeriel wrinkled her nose. "Are you making fun of me?"

"You bet I am," Aekeira chuckled, taking his hand and leading him away. Her expression sobered as they walked. "You have to be careful, Em. This is a dangerous path you're treading."

Emeriel averted her gaze. Yes, he was aware of that. But his stubborn heart refused to listen to reason.

Aekeira stopped and turned to face him, her eyes searching. "I caught a glimpse of that male up close, and I can assure you it would be best to avoid him. He looks terrifying. Handsome, yes, but reallyscary. Even more so than Lord Vladya, and that'ssaying a lot. If I were you, I would do everything possible to stay away from him."

"Are you doing everything possible to stay away from Lord Vladya?" Emeriel asked softly.

It was Aekeira’s turn to look away. His sister didn’t have an answer for that.

Chapter three

SUMMONED

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