Page 176 of The Princess and Her Grand King

The male–her Daemon, or at least the one who wore his face–attacked his best friend, the one he loved most,with an intent to kill.

Lord Vladya took his half-shift form, roaring as he fought back.

Lord Ottai and Zaiper moved quickly, trying to restrain Daemonikai from behind.

The commotion was deafening. A crowd was gathering.

Emeriel could hear other voices in the distance, scared and panicked.

“He must never get into this chamber!” Lord Vladya barked, his voice strained with effort. "Aekeira, take your sister and go through the window! Ottai, grab his wrists!"

"Must get to her!" Daemonikai roared, swiping his claws towards Vladya's neck.

Lord Vladya deflected the blow, but the claws still grazed him. Blood trickled down.

Emeriel's heart hammered against her rib.What is wrong with my mate?

Seeing him so out of control, ruled completely by instinct, filled her with a dread that chilled her bones.

She longed to call out to him, to try and reach the Daemonikai she knew, but the grand rulers' warnings held her back.

And his eyes...those green and yellow eyes...

They remained locked on her, burning with lust and something—Something wild and deadly.

Unlike anything she had ever seen in them before.

The first night Emeriel had met the beast came to mind. The night the feral him had mounted her.

Her hands turned clammy, and she gripped her garment tightly. The vivid memory of that night... how intense andunpleasantit had been.

That night, the beast had scented her, recognizing her to some extent because of the bond they shared.

Her male and his beast were not entirely aware but had a semblance of instinct urging them to keep her alive... regardless of what they did to her.

But their bond was severed now.

And as her gaze searched his eyes she found... nothing.

No spark of recognition.

No trace of connection.

Only wild lust andthirst, a hunt for the woman he wanted to sate it on.

And for the first time in a long time, Emeriel was terrified of him.

Watching the way he was determined to kill the people standing in his way, an ugly feeling rose in her gut.

One that told her...tonight will not end well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Beloved Reader,

I apologize for this interruption, and I assure you, I would not make it if it were not important.

You may wish to end Book 3 here if you are a sensitive reader and resume with Book 4. Although it may not seem like it, your mental health does matters to me.

---