Page 34 of The Princess and Her Grand King

And there he was. Lying peacefully on the bed.

Magnificent. Handsome. Just as she remembered.

Too much like a dream.

Their bond was dormant, the only thing she had clung to when she made the decision to return.Seeing him again would be easy,she had convinced herself.Without the bond, there would be no feelings.

But that was a lie.

Nothing could have prepared her for the explosion of feelings hitting her. So many at once it made her dizzy.

She was not prepared for the stab in her chest, nor for the butterflies fluttering to life in the pit of her stomach. They spread their wings, soaring, alive and free again.

Emeriel had not felt this much in years.

Her breathing quickened as her eyes drank him in. Ravenously devouring every detail of him.

Control yourself, Emeriel. There is no bond to blame now. This is all you. Have some restraint.

Easier said than done.

She was grateful to be alone with him. No one could see how hard she struggled. How difficult it was to be in the same room with him again.

The effort it took not to rush across the room and collapse on top of him, just to feel his body against hers one more time.

The memories were the hardest.

Those stolen nights in his arms, tucked away at the cottage, making love after love. The fog of heat and the passage of time had blurred the memories, and she had survived by blocking them.

But now, here in this room with him, the years shrank, disappearing, and it felt like yesterday.

The memories that had once been hazy were suddenly vivid, flashing very clearly.

Emeriel’s whole bodyshook.

She stumbled back out of the room, closing the door behind her. Leaning against it, she gasped for breath. Her knees weak, her heart too fragile.

It was easier to fight for control when he wasn't in sight.

You are stronger than this, Emeriel. Get a hold of yourself.

It took a while, but finally, she felt calmer.

Composed, she re-entered the room and sat on the chair beside his bed, waiting until the tight constriction in her chest loosened. Until breathing became less of a struggle.

"My King," Emeriel whispered. "Hello, My King."

Taking his hand in hers, she gave it a light squeeze. His feverish skin burned against her palm. "How have you been? Where are you?" Once she started speaking, it became easier. "If you can hear me, come back. Your people need you."

The tight coil in her chest began to unwind.

"Very soon, the eclipse moon night will be here. They are terrified to face it alone. There is a famine, and the younglings are starving. They looked at me—me, a human—with hunger in their eyes, instead of disdain. Can you imagine that?"

Clinging to his hand, the heat seeped into her skin.Too hot.

She rose from her chair, fetching the basin of chilled water and a washcloth. Returning to his side, she dipped the cloth into the water, wiping his face.

"You are not leaving them in good hands, My King. Lord Zaiper is eager to rule, but he does not care about the people. Not like you do. They need you. Theyalwaysneed you."

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