Page 91 of The Princess and Her Grand King

Gasps followed, panicked voices and hasty footsteps, all coming in Sinai's direction.

Cursing repeatedly under her breath, Sinai adjusted her cloak, pulling the fabric tightly around her face to obscure her identity.Her time was up.

Turning quickly, she melted into the shadows, her cloak billowing behind her as she fled the scene.

***

At long last, Ottai pulled back, straightening his robes and making a half-hearted attempt to tame his mussed hair. A sly, wolfish grin spread across his face. “Thanks, Papa Daemon. I needed that."

“You really are still Bratty Little Tee, aren’t you?" Daemonikai pursed his lips, shaking his head. "Beneath all those heavy robes and titles, you’re still the same young lad who used to run away from his nurses, butt naked, from Mabblewood all the way to Frostfall, clutching his clothes for me to help him put them on.”

“You know it,” Ottai replied with a shrug, his grin widening.

“Brat,” Daemonikai muttered, though a fond smile tugged at his lips.

A thought crossed his mind, and his expression shifted slightly. “Have you heard from Vladya? He returns tonight, doesn’t he?”

“Oh yes, we expect them any minute.” Ottai was excited. “I'm thrilled he's returning to the fortress. Everything is finally falling back into place, and—”

A sudden commotion from outside pulled their attention.

Daemonikai rose, striding to the window. He peered down, scanning the lands below. “What’s happening out there?”

Ottai moved to join him. “Perhaps our people are holding one of their celebrations—”

The door burst open, slamming against the stone wall with a loud crack. Wegai strode in, his face even more grim than usual.

"The princess," he said, his voice tight.

Daemonikai turned sharply. "Emeriel?" His brows knitted together. "What’s happened?"

"The princess…" Wegai hesitated for a second. "She has been shot."

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Daemonikai’s entire body went rigid, and a high-pitched ringing filled his ears, drowning out the world for a moment.

Wegai’s voice broke through, unsteady but pressing on. "Arrows. Poisoned arrows."

“What did you just say to me?” The grand king's growl was dangerously low.

Wegai’s throat bobbed, as he stepped closer. "A patrolling soldier found her collapsed in the southern garden. She’s been brought—"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME!?" Daemonikai roared, in a thunderous shout that echoed off the walls before taking off in a dead run.

Chapter twenty-one

DOOM

Threehourslater.

Grand Lord Ottai waited, practically bouncing on his heels, as Vladya and Aekeira finally made their way through the fortress gates.

A small crowd had gathered to welcome the third ruler back, their faces alight with genuine affection.

They reached out to touch him, their hands brushing against his arms, his shoulders, even his paw-like hand.

From where Ottai stood, he saw the rare tenderness on Vladya’s face as he exchanged smiles and words with the people, welcoming their warmth in a way Ottai hadn’t seen in years.

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