Page 19 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Memories of another's lips, another's touch, flooded her. King Daemonikai's deep kisses, the feel of his tongue against hers. The recall assaulted Emeriel’s whole being.

Longing rose, clawing its way up from the pit of her stomach…

No, no, no.

She tore her lips from Daviel's, stumbling back so fast she lost her footing, and fell hard onto the ground.

"Are you alright?" Daviel reached for her, but she scrambled to her feet, moving backward, putting as much distance between them as she could.

"I’m fine," she gasped, dusting off her garments with trembling hands, trying to keep the despair rising inside her at bay. "Let’s call it a night, Prince Daviel."

"But Emeriel—"

"Good night."

She turned and walked away. With each step, the despair crawled closer until it caught up with her, washing over her entirely.

***

Princess Aekeira pushed open Emeriel's door, the hinges creaking in the silence.

The room was cloaked in shadows, the only light filtering in from the window. Emeriel lay beneath the covers, motionless.

"Are you asleep?" Aekeira's voice was tentative.

There was no response, but Aekeira walked deeper into the room anyway. "I know you are not, Em." She sat on the edge of the bed. "You have avoided me all day."

Still no response.

"The Urekai are in Merabis. Lord Ottai, Yaz, and Wegai."

Still no response.

"I know you do not want to know why they're here, Em. I understand." Aekeira's gaze fixed on the wall ahead. " But I also know you. And I know, deep down, you will regret this in the near future if they leave without an audience from you."

Nothing.

Not even a shift in the bedclothes.

"If I was not sure, I would have let this go," Aekeira's tone lowered, taking on a pleading edge. "But I know you, Emeriel. Beneath all this resolve created by pain is an Em who still cares. An Em whose world still revolves around her grand king. He is not alright, Em."

Was she really asleep?

"Do you know Lord Vladya managed to fight his feral for two long years? A male who would have succumbed three years ago?" A wistful smile touched Aekeira's lips. "It warms my heart, knowing he held on that long. Now, they need me to help him continue the fight. And King Daemonikai—"

"I do not wish to hear it," Emeriel’s voice finally came, barely audible. Pleading.

"—his soul is dying," Aekeira said anyway. "He hasn't been to court in over a year. He spends every waking moment lost in his mind. If this continues, you will lose him forever."

Emeriel's body tensed beneath the covers, and Aekeira saw her fingers dig into her thigh.

Aekeira gently pulled back the covers, revealing Emeriel's white-knuckled grip. Blood prickled where her sister's nails had pierced her skin.

Carefully, Aekeira pried her fingers loose, holding Em's hand in hers. "I know it's not what you want. I know, under all that, is an Em who feels better knowing her male is doing well at the other end of the world, even if they're not together." She squeezed Emeriel's hand. "Can you tell that Em, her male is not okay?"

"I can't go back there," Emeriel whispered. "I can't see him again. I can't… I can't do it." A shaky breath. "I don't want to."

Aekeira wanted to see her face, but Emeriel remained turned away, her back rigid.

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