Page 132 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Daemonikai nodded, his voice turning reflective. “We were both too damaged. We were each other’s strength and destruction. We had to part ways to fight our demons.”

“We had to,” Vladya agreed, his tone flat but tender. A moment passed between them. “I missed the devil out of you.”

Daemonikai’s grin returned. “Huh. And the love-sick puppy is back.”

“Give me a damn break,” Vladya groaned, rolling his eyes again.

Daemonikai only chuckled some more.

They walked in companionable silence, following the path to the training grounds. The fresh breeze hit them as they stepped outside, crisp and refreshing, carrying the faint scent of flowers.

Paths cleared before them as people bowed, greeting them respectfully before hurrying out of their way.

Daemonikai’s gaze fell to Vladya’s paw-like hand. A reminder that, one day, he might lose his oldest friend to madness.Don’t even think about it.

Swallowing the tight lump in his throat, he cleared it with deliberate force. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? This whole cheerful mood of yours is… glaringly obvious, in case you weren’t aware.”

“I asked Aekeira to bond with me,” Vladya said, the faintest smile back on his face. “We will perform the bonding rituals.”

The words, so unexpected, hit Daemonikai with the force of a windstorm. He stopped walking, stunned.

For a moment, he said nothing, his thoughts scattering like leaves in a gale, staring at Vladya as though he had grown a second head.

“I know it will be hard,” Vladya continued, looking uncertain. “Almost undoable, but—”

“‘Almost undoable’ is putting it mildly. 'Impossible’ is the right word,” Daemonikai blurted out before he could stop himself.

Vladya’s shoulders dropped, sadness crossing his eyes.

Guilt filled Daemonikai. “I apologize for that, V.D. That was uncalled for—”

“It’s alright. You aren’t telling me anything I don’t already know.”

“I still apologize. I should not have said it. It’s just… I’m happy you have taken this step. Truly.” Daemonikai reached out, clasping Vladya’s shoulder. “Knowing how you swore off bonding for so long, it’s a relief to see you trying again. But if it doesn’t work…” he shook his head. “I don’t want you to go through that pain again. To watch you go through it all again when it’s—” he searched for the right words. “—when it’s bound to fail this time, terrifies me immensely just thinking about it.”

“I understand.” Vladya averted his eyes. “It terrifies me, too.”

“You know how the bonding ritual is performed. Your female has to be inheaton the seventh day, the ritual rites recited while you knot her womb. Your chest parallel to hers—soul to soul, body to body, binding you together forever. We are missing two vital elements here.” Daemonikai paused, his voice dropping. “Your soul and her heat.”

“I know all that.” Naked pain flashed in Vladya's features. “Of course I do. But…”

Daemonikai stayed silent, watching him.

Vladya inhaled deeply, his jaw tight. “But I still want to try.”

Daemonikai saw it then. Determination beneath the sadness.

“I’ve done this before. Taken every step and met every requirement for the ritual, yet it still failed. Every single one of them, except one.” Vladya held his eyes. “This—what I have with Aekeira—it’s different. It’s not perfect—far from it. It’s not all roses like my past connections. It’s stronger, more intense, more… real.”

The resolve in Vladya's eyes was the kind Daemonikai hadn’t seen in him in far too long.

“I gave this a lot of thought, and do you know the conclusion I came to?” Vladya's lips twitched into a sad smile. “I still want to perform the ritual anyway.”

Vladya was willing to try, to fight, to hope, even when the road ahead looked impossible.

“You know what? Fuck it. Go for it.” Daemonikai smiled softly, pulling Vladya into a hug, gripping his back with both hands. “Congratulations, brat.”

“Thanks, ancient one.” Vladya’s tone was light, but the fierceness with which he returned the hug betrayed his emotions.

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