Page 42 of The Princess and Her Grand King

"That’s how bondmates who go to war for months, evenyears, survive without their significant other," he continued. "Their souls recognize the absence of their mate and put the instinct to sleep until they are together again."

"Okay, I understand now. But what has that got to do with you?"

"My instincts are asleep now," he reiterated. "I have no idea how that happened, but I think being with those females made it clear to my very core that you, Aekeira, were truly unavailable. That’s when my sexlust went dormant."

Realization dawned, and Aekeira’s eyes widened, as round as the full moon. "You’re saying it happened be-because of me?"

"Because of you," he confirmed.

Her heart beat faster. "But we’re not b-bonded."

"That’s the part I can’t explain, the part I don’t understand," Lord Vladya said.

Then, he leaned in, his breath warm against her neck. "But I know that if I were to lay you down on these covers and bury myself deep inside you, my sexlust would reawaken."

Aekeira’s breath caught in her throat.

"If I were to take your sweet little body until you’re screaming my name so loud the birds take flight, and the woods listen in to the music you make—just the way I so desperately want—then that driving urge, in all its animalistic, lustful glory, would come roaring back to life."

"Lord Vladya!" Her cheeks flushed beet red, and Aekeira quickly lowered her head.

He smiled a little and pulled back. “But I won’t do that. That instinct was the hardest to control, to the extent I killed for it. I don’t miss it.” He turned serious. “What kind of connection do we have that even mysoulless selfrecognizes you?"

Fire lit his eyes." How did my instinct know that the one female we truly wanted was far away, and instead of looking for another female to fixate on, it went dormant? What does that mean for you and me?"

I don't know.Aekeira shuddered, mind reeling.His instinct went dormant because of me.

He rose, pulling her up with him. "I wanted, more than anything, to track you down and drag you back here," he said. "Ukrae, I was ready to cross into Navia and haul you back, even if it meant taking you against your will while you kicked and screamed. I wanted it that badly. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t fit to travel long distances."

Be still, my heart. Please, be still."You w-wanted to come for me?"

"With everything in me. Some days, resisting was as hard as chewing rocks. I have never felt so deprived… until I wantedyoubut couldn’t go and get you. I could only hope that one day you would return to me."

Aekeira's eyes watered, her heart singing.

"But I’m terrified to hope," Lord Vladya admitted, stepping closer, inhaling her scent. "What if I let myself hope you were mine, and you turn out not to be, like the others…"

It would break him beyond repair.Aekeira knew it. She could hear it in his voice.

And itterrifiedher too.

Aekeira wanted to be his. Had dreamed of it for years. But dreams were one thing; reality was another. Emeriel was the Syren… and the truth was, Aekeira was not like Em.

So what if there was an obvious, irresistible attraction between them? What if his very being craved hers so deeply that his basic instincts went dormant in her absence? So what if she loved this male more than life itself, and he was now staring at her as if his entire world revolved around her? None of it mattered if they attempted the bonding ritual and it failed.

It would be over.

There was no coming back from that.

Oh yes, Aekeira was terrified too.

"I missed you terribly," Lord Vladya murmured, kissing her forehead.

"I-I…"If I go over how hard I’d missed you, I might start bawling all over again.

"It got even harder as the years passed. As my journey grew more challenging, as madness crept closer, I had regrets.” He breathed in her scent, letting out a low groan. "Gods, you smell so good. I can’t get enough."

"Regrets?" Aekeira whispered, barely holding herself steady.

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