Page 44 of The Princess and Her Grand King

In a smooth move, Emeriel stepped aside, maintaining her hold on Sinai's wrist, twisting the woman's arm behind her back at an agonizing angle. In seconds, their positions were reversed, the mistress now at Emeriel's mercy.

"And you are only as pestering asIlet you be," Emeriel retorted coolly in a low voice into her ear. "Like that incessant ant crawling near the ear that just won’t leave."

"Let me go, RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Mistress Sinai raged. "How dare you—"

Raising her free hand, Emeriel flattened her palm and delivered a sharp blow to the side of Mistress Sinai's neck.

One precise hit, and the mistress crumpled at her feet like a rag doll. Unconscious before her body hit the ground.

Unfazed, Emeriel calmly smoothed back her hair and stared down at the limp body.

"People like you are the reason I spent fifteen hours every day on the training grounds to bebetter." Emeriel gave her a small kick, but the female truly was out like a light. "The only thing you have going for you is your beast form. Day and night, I fought. Trained, with every instructor known to man, masters in their field. Under the rain, under the scorching sun, foryears."

Emeriel stomped on Mistress Sinai's arm, then stepped over her. Lifting the hem of her garment, she cast a final glance back. "We will meet again, Mistress."

Chin lifted, she walked away, leaving the unconscious woman behind.

Chapter eleven

AS HOPE BLOOMS…

Oneweeklater.

Grand Lord Zaiper let out another uproarious laugh, his voice echoing throughout the room. Sprawled lazily across the table in nothing but a flimsy pair of undershorts, his broad shoulders shook with amusement as Razarr kneaded the tense muscles beneath his skin

"So, let me get this straight," Zaiper drawled, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "A human, not just any human, buta tiny human girl, knocked you around and turned your lights off, now you want me to punish her in court for it?"

Mistress Sinai clenched her teeth, the heat of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. It was bad enough, but hearing Zaiper mock her made it worse.

Every time she recalled Emeriel's effortless takedown, Sinai wanted to crawl into the ground.

She had woken up to the concerned faces of her maids, crowding around her, asking if she was alright. The shame had been so great, she had lied, telling them she felt lightheaded and fainted. The humiliation burned her from the inside out.

This was the first time she had spoken of the incident. Sinai wanted retribution. Wanted to see Emeriel not just punished, buthumiliated.

But instead, here she was, watching Zaiper laugh at her until his eyes watered, reducing her to a laughingstock.

Zaiper moaned, as his head guard—and lover—pressed down on a particularly tense knot in his shoulder. "That is a good one." Turning to Sinai, he smiled. "You mean, a little touch on the neck, and poof… lights out?"

"It wasnota ‘little touch,’" Sinai snapped, not for the first time. "I have no idea what she did, but it hurt like the whips of hell."

"Mmm," Zaiper hummed skeptically. "Maybe you should consider attending training sessions. You'd need it if your lights go out at the slightest caress."

Sinai’s eyes flashed angrily. "That's not what this is about, and youknow it. It happened so fast—" She paused, breathing hard. "You know what, forget it. Just tell me when and how she will be punished."

Zaiper let out a long sigh, his amusement slowly ebbing. "I’m afraid you are on your own with this one, dearest Sinai."

"What?"

"Firstly, the court dislikes involving itself in petty female squabbles. We have far more pressing matters to attend to.” He lifted a hand, gesturing lazily.

"Secondly, the female in question has a lot of attention on her right now. Something like this could backfire spectacularly. People might hate her more, or they might hateyoumore. They might even protest in her favor, which, let’s be honest, would be even more humiliating for you.”

Mistress Sinai's stomach churned.

"And lastly." Zaiper glared at her "Which is the most crucial point, really. I cannot involve myself inanythingthat concerns Emeriel."

Sinai bit back her frustration. "But why!?"

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