Page 150 of The Princess and Her Grand King

He moved out of the building and into the courtyard.

The night air was cool, the breeze swirling around them, tugging at their clothes. Emeriel wanted to say something—anything—to offer him comfort. But no words came to mind.

Sometimes, words simply were not enough.

His body swayed and he staggered on his feet.

Emeriel quickly closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms tightly around his midriff.

"Daemon…" she whispered in a plea.

For a moment, he allowed it.

He let her bear half his weight, leaning into her as though the burden was too much to carry alone.

Tears streaming down her face, she held him that way for a while.

Daemonikai stared blankly into the distance, his breath coming in uneven bursts, his eyes dry.

For that small mercy, Emeriel was grateful. She didn't know if she could bear to see him cry. It would surely destroy her completely.

The breeze whispered around them, calm and gentle. If only its refreshing touch could reach inside, soothe the pain killing them both.

At last, Daemonikai straightened, stepping out of her embrace. He didn’t look at her as he began walking again in slow, wandering steps.

Emeriel watched him for a moment before following. Two steps behind, just like before.

They walked out of the courtyard into the meadow, the stars twinkling like scattered diamonds above them. The moon’s glow over the empty field, trailing their path.

When they reached the middle of the field, Daemonikai stopped abruptly.

Emeriel halted a few steps behind him, watching as his shoulders sagged once more in despair.

Then he dropped to his knees, arms hanging limply at his sides.

Tilting his head back, he stared up at the endless sky. “How could you do this to me? How could you…”

Emeriel swiped at her tears, even as fresh ones spilled over. She stayed where she was, resisting the pull to go to him. Giving him the space he needed.

“You took my first son,” his voice trembled in the stillness. “My second son. And now…”

His head fell forward, his chin nearly brushing his chest. As his body swayed, he thrust his arms out to catch himself, his hands bracing against the ground, preventing a complete face plant. “How could you let this happen again?How could you punish me this way?”

Every word, every heart-wrenching question was a dagger to Emeriel's heart.

Every part of her screamed to comfort him. She ached to go to him, to hold him, but she didn’t.

Heavens, it was so hard.What if his healing soul, so fragile after all it has been through, started dying again?

Weeping silently, she forced her feet to remain planted.

“You could have punished me in any other way, but not this.” A single tear rolled down his cheek, glistening in the moonlight.

“Not this…” His voice broke as he looked down at his trembling hands. “Is it not better to never give them at all, if you keep r-ripping them from my arms like this?”

Resolve crumbling, she walked to him unsteadily until she stood in front of him.

“Get up, please.” Bending, she gripped him under his arm, trying to lift him, but he was too heavy.

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