Page 18 of The Princess and Her Grand King

"You are the only mistress of your master, yet unwanted by him.” Gaille smiled, smug. "Two millennia together, and he never chose you. He was Queen Evielyn’s from the start. Even after her death, he does not look at you. And now? Now, he belongs solely to Emeriel."

Emeriel.The name hit Sinai like a punch to the gut.

Her blood boiled beneath her skin. "What did you just say to me?"

Gaille stepped closer, eyes glittering. "You heard me. He would rather belong to ahumanthan to his Urekai mistress. One year with her was all it took to win his heart, while you have had two thousand years and couldn’t even make him glance your way." Gaille's laughter was a harsh, triumphant sound. "You, Mistress Sinai, are the joke of all jokes."

A scream tore from Sinai's throat as she shifted into her beast form, muscles rippling, bones cracking.

Gaille mirrored her transformation, shifting as well.

With a roar, they lunged at each other, claws and fangs bared. Blood sprayed across the stone floor as claws raked through skin and fur, each trying to tear the other apart.

The handmaidens scattered, their screams distant.

In the back of her mind, Sinai knew the soldiers would soon arrive and punishment would follow. But in that moment, she could not give a rat’s behind.

***

"It's beautiful at night, isn't it?"

Princess Emeriel turned, startled by Prince Daviel's voice. Moonlight bathed the cliffside, glowing over the river below. "Your father will have my head if he sees you in this part of the palace, My Prince," she said reluctantly.

The prince merely smiled, stepping closer until he stood beside her at the cliff edge. "My father threatens it, but will never carry it out. For some reason, you and your pretty sister are off-limits."

Emeriel returned her gaze to the stars.

A hand curled around her waist, and she flinched.

"The Urekai have my father’s breeches in a twist all day," Daviel continued, oblivious to her discomfort. "I heard they are spending the night in town. Everyone vacated Home Merabis for them."

The most popular and luxurious guesthouse in town, had always been bustling with visitors. But if the Urekai are there, it’s no wonder no other human was.

"I do not wish to talk about that."

The prince turned his head to study her. "Well, I am a concerned suitor. I do not wish for you to go with them." His grip on her waist tightened possessively. "I want you to stay here, with me."

He drew her closer, both arms now wrapped firmly around her waist. "I have been courting you for over six months, Emy. Give me a chance."

Emeriel’s whole focus was on his arms around her, fighting the urge to pull away.

She had entertained suitors in the past. Had allowed them to court her, in an attempt to move on… to fill the emptiness inside her. Prince Daviel was the grandest of them all.

He genuinely seemed to care for her. For a male who had antagonized her on the battlefield when he thought she was a man, he had long since changed his attitude after her return.

Prince Daviel was exquisitely handsome, a sensation among the noble ladies. He did everything right, and all the maidens were jealous of Emeriel. Yet, she felt nothing for him.

His touch, like that of the others, made her uncomfortable. That was putting it mildly. It made her skincrawl.

"Give me a chance to show you my love, Emeriel," he pleaded. "I will never take yours for granted. I will cherish you forever."

He leaned in, his lips seeking hers.

No suitor had dared before. Emeriel would have deflected with a well-placed shove, a swift punch or a biting retort. But tonight, she felt raw, her defenses frayed.

The kiss was agony.

It was like a thousand tiny needles pricking her skin from every angle, her stomach churning with nausea.

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