Page 141 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

The storm swallowed her. "I had no choice!" Emeriel screamed.

It came from deep within her. From every part of her shattered being. "I have never had a choice in any of this! Since the day I was born, every part of my life has been dictated for me. My ownidentity—chosenfor me by my parents! I had no choice when I was sold into slavery. I wasbroughthere, my freedom ripped away, and as if that was not enough, my own body turned against me!"

King Daemonikai frozen mid-step, watching her, as Emeriel’s mind screamed at her to stop. To rein in the torrent, but Emeriel could not. She simply could... not.

"My own body betrayed me, changing, going into heats... I never wanted any of this!Ever!"she cried, raw and frenzied. "I just wanted to be a normal female. But Ican’tbecause I was suddenly a Syren, and worse than that, Ibelongedto someone. I had no choice in becoming a Syren, just like I had no choice in who I belonged to!" Every scream was a loaded rifle, shooting pain for bullets. She was sobbing again, unable to help it. "My whole life, every choice, has been taken from me…"

Closing the distance between them, Emeriel beat at his solid chest with her fists. "You are not the only one who has beenforcedinto this! I never had a choice either! S-stop treating me like Itriedto trap you, like Iwantedthis! Ididn't ask them—" She pointed upward, her words cut off by her own sobs "—to do this to us!I never asked for any of this!"

Her fists pounded against his chest again, and again, her strength draining with each blow. "I am sorry for the lies; I am sorry for the deceit. But it was the only way I knew to survive.You and your people would have killed me!I needed to survive too!"

The last of her strength left her, and Emeriel collapsed to the floor in front of him, her body folding in on itself, as she wept, body shaking uncontrollably, drained and exhausted.

"I was a victim too," she whispered, her voice barely audible through the tears. "I was a victim too..."

Chapter thirty-eight

DECISIONS THAT ARE HARD TO MAKE

Emerielwept.

She lost awareness of everything, her problems, her surroundings, even who she was with. Surrendering to the pain once more, Emeriel mourned everything she had wanted and all that would never be hers. She mourned the horrible, horrible life she lived.

"I wish they had never hidden who I was when I was born. I wish I never had to live like this. So what if I lived female? Being sold to the breeding houses would have been better." Emeriel had never been one for regrets, but in that moment, regret was all she felt. "What's so wrong about becoming a harlot? It's an awful life, but then there'd be no deceit, no crushing secrets... no Urai. I wouldn't have to live likethis. We would have never met. I wish my parents never tried to protect me."

A hand rested on her shoulder.

She flinched from that touch before her mind registered it as…safe. It took her a moment to come back to herself, to rememberwhere she was and whom she was with. She gazed up at King Daemonikai.

All the anger had drained from him. There was no annoyance in his touch, it was gentle, comforting.

Then, his hands slid under Emeriel's arms, gripping her sides, lifting her effortlessly. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist as he carried her across the room and settled onto the plush cushion.

"It's alright," the grand king murmured. "Let it all out."

More tears flowed, and she welcomed them, clinging to him. Gripping his robes like an anchor. Her eyes hurt, swollen and red from crying. Her cheeks sore from swiping at tears for days.

"I'm just so tired," she whispered brokenly. "I just want it to stop. I want all of this tostop."

The exhaustion hit her all at once. The nights of constant worry, extreme stress, and little sleep had finally caught up with her.

"Galilea..."

"Emeriel. Please... call me Emeriel."

There was a pause. "I'm sorry for my outburst, Emeriel.” He exhaled heavily. "I was waiting to do this, thinking I'd have my feelings under control by now... turns out I was wrong. I didn’t think about how all of this would affectyou, and for that, I am sorry."

His hand stroked her hair, and she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. She could hear the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her ear.

"I’m really sorry for everything. For the lies, for the meltdown." Emeriel forced her eyes open, fighting the pull of sleep. "I have always known this bond would not work. Your people will never accept me... Everything you said, it wasn’t anything I didn’t already know."

"Still, I shouldn’t have said it the way I did," King Daemonikai admitted. "And for that, I’m sorry. I see things from a different now, it helped me understand better. It must have been hard for you, living with all of this."

"It was." She swallowed, her throat tight. "But having a sister like mine made it easier. Aekeira... she bore the burden with me. She—" Emeriel stiffened.

"Do not worry, young princess," King Daemonikai said softly. "Your sister is not in trouble. I already figured she knew everything, after all, she is your sister."

He let out another tired sigh, heavy with weariness. "Making sure the bond does not fester... it’s for the best. I feel as empty inside as I ever have. There’s nothing left in me to give you, Emeriel. Nothing."

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