Page 164 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Pain shot through her skull, her vision swimming. She forced a strained, nervous reply from her lips. “Thank you, My Lord. Your benevolence is astounding.”

“Idiot.” He released her with a flick of his wrist as though discarding trash, dusting his hands off dramatically.

“Please, what is going on out there? Has anything been said about me in court?” Sinai sucked in a shallow breath, gingerly touching her neck as she tried to regain her composure. “Where is Daemonikai, and why hasn’t he come here?”

“Ah, ‘your Daemon’ is currently away from Ravenshadow on some lover’s bliss relaxation of sorts,” Zaiper said, his smirk returning like it was never gone. “It’s been three days now, but who is counting?”

“WHAT!?” Hot jealousy rushed through her, twisting her insides. “First of all, she is NOT his woman!”

“I’m afraid she is,” Zaiper replied smoothly, his amusement barely concealed. “Oh, I forgot to mention—it’s official now. He announced their courting and publicly claimed her. She is now recognized all over Urai not only as his woman but as his destined mate.”

Sinai expected the usual surge of anger and rage. And yes, they were there, burning very hot.

But so was something else.

Pain.

Raw, deep, intense pain. The kind that burrowed deep into the bones.

Tears filled her eyes, and Sinai didn't even try to hold them back. They streamed down her cheeks, hot and unchecked, like rivulets carving through a barren field.

"Wipe those tears." Zaiper waved a dismissive hand. "It's shameful to see such weakness from you, Sinai."

"Why does it not bother you? Shouldn't you be as miserable as I am?" She gripped the cold iron rails of her cell so hard her hands shook. "With every moment she's with my Daemon, he recovers more. Life flows back into him. She's no ordinary person—she was made for him.His.Soulbond." Sinai spat the words.

"That means if he mates with her, their bond will be far stronger than what he had with Grand Queen Evielyn. He will be as healthy as a newborn, and you, Grand Lord Zaiper, will never overthrow him. You will be back to square zero and that grand throne willneverbe yours."

"That will never happen," Zaiper stated flatly. "They will never mate."

"And why is that?"

"I'm making plans to ensure it."

“Plans, plans, plans. That’s all we ever have, plans!” Bitterness dripped from her tone. “And they never age well. One of your 'nonsense plans' is what landed me in this mess!"

"No, what got you here was your incompetence. You of all people should know never to bleed on a crime scene." Zaiper snapped.

Sinai squeezed her eyes shut, counting to ten. That drop of blood was one she regretted to this day.

"What is this plan you have?" she asked instead. "When is Emeriel going to become nothing but a forgotten story? I am truly sick and tired of her."

"You have learned nothing, have you?" Zaiper shook his head in disappointment. "One would think, after all this time locked away, you'd start thinking with your brain instead of letting your emotions rule you."

Sinai lowered her eyes, furiously wiping away her tears.

"Tsk." Zaiper clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Worry not. This time, I'm planning something grand—something that will utterly destroy them."

Sinai’s curiosity was piqued. "Tell me."

"I'm not going to," Zaiper stated calmly. "You are behind bars, Sinai. No one knows what kind of mental torture 'your Daemon' might inflict upon you when he finally gives you the time of the day, and the secrets you might be tempted to reveal just to gain your freedom and stay in his good graces." His sharp gaze pierced hers, assessing her reaction.

Sinai shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. That sounded… disturbingly like something she would do.

"I would never spill our secrets," she said defensively, her voice a little too high.

"Of course you wouldn't. Because if you did, I would assassinate you in here myself,” Zaiper said in the same smooth tone one might use to discuss the weather. “I would poison you with the most excruciating poison ever made, one that would guarantee a quick but incredibly painful death."

She blanched. A chill crawled down her spine.

---