Page 135 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Weak-kneed,Emerielturned,hergaze meeting King Daemonikai. “I c-can’t do it,” she choked out. “I can’t l-leave.”

He stood there, looking tense. His expression tight, an underlying pain to it.

He didn’t move, didn’t close the distance between them.

So Emeriel took that step. And then another. Closing the space until only the faintest breath separated them.

She tilted her head up to him, tears rolling down unchecked. “I don’t want to leave.” Letting out a heart-wrenching sob, she shook her head vigorously. “I don’t w-want to lose you. Not again.”

His hard eyes softened for a fleeting moment before they flickered away.

He’s angry with me, isn’t he?she thought bitterly.Why wouldn’t he be?

She had shared the most beautiful, passionate night with him, only to leave him a few hours later.I would be furious, too.

So, Emeriel laid her heart bare. “I l-love you.”

King Daemonikai's eyes snapped back to hers, naked emotions swirling in her eyes. He stared.

“I love you, Daemonikai Vipertheriov Naelzharoth. I love you so much it hurts.”

Grand King Daemonikai moved so sudden, cursing harshly as he pulled her roughly into his arms. The force of his embrace stole her breath away.

“How could you leave?” His voice was low and pained. “After the night we had, after everything… how could you leave?”

Emeriel shook her head frantically. Sobs wracked her body, making it difficult to speak.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking." Her words tumbled out incoherently between gasps and cries. "I know I haven't made things easy for you. I was so lost in my own pain… I didn't see yours. I didn't give you a chance—"

“Stop. Don’t say that.”

"No, please listen. I truly am sorry." She clung to him. "Forgive me, Your Grace. Don't ever let me go. I will be good, I promise. I will do anything you say—"

“Ukrae,Riel,” he groaned, his hands gripping her back. “Wait a minute.”

“I w-will be her replacement if that’s what you want,” Desperation edged into Emeriel's voice. “Just let me s-stay by your side. Please—”

“Emeriel!” he snapped in a sharp, commanding tone, one she had never heard before.

It struck through her like a lightning bolt, silencing her instantly.

He released her abruptly, a look of regret flashing across his face. "Shit, I just used the Alpha Will on you. I'm sorry, I never use it that way. it's just—"

Running a hand through his hair, he gripped her shoulders, his fingers digging into her skin as he forced her to meet his gaze. "Listen to me, will you? Are you ready to really hear me?"

"Yes," she whispered, her chest heaving.

Even if she could get hurt, Emeriel needed to hear what he had to say. "Tell me everything, please."

"First of all, I don't see you as a replacement for Evie. Erase that thought from your mind. You are your own person, Emeriel, with your own unique qualities and abilities. Your own unique spirit and fire. You are two separate beings, and you can never be mistaken for each other. Not in my mind, not to anyone else." He punctuated each word firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "When I look at you, all I see is Emeriel."

She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a finger to her lips. “Shh. Let me finish.”

Emeriel nodded, her hands clutching his cloak.

"Two years ago, I didn't know how to move forward after losing everything,” he said, his voice low and husky, “I didn'twantto move forward. I thought the pain and misery I felt could not get any worse, that I had hit the bottom of the abyss "

His eyes, filled with a deep sadness, holding hers captive as he brushed away a stray tear from her cheek. "But then I lost you, and the worst truly came."

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