Page 98 of The Princess and Her Grand King

“There will be no discussion. Just me talking, and you listening.” Daemonikai’s grip tightened, cutting off Zaiper’s airflow. “This is your only warning. If I ever discover you played a role in any of this, I willtear you apart with my bare hands.”

Zaiper wheezed, glaring. “You cannot threaten me in my own home—”

The grand king slammed him against the wall again. “If I find out you had a part in this, I will tear into you like meat in a slaughterhouse. Shred you into a hundred tiny pieces, and scatter your remains all over the city,” Daemonikai stated matter-of-factly, leaning closer. “I’ll give you a taste of a part of me I suppressed a long time ago.”

Fear flashed on Zaiper’s enraged face, but he quickly hid it. "Let me go, Daemon, let me go right now!"

A humorless smile stretched across Daemonikai’s lips. “Pray to your gods I find no evidence linking you to this crime,Zaiper Thoryk Dragaxlov.”

With that, he released Zaiper, who dropped like a rag doll. As he gasped for breath, Daemonikai stepped back with casual indifference.

Zaiper slowly rose to his feet, his fury building, his pride wounded. A flicker of yellow mixed with his gray eyes, and he advanced a threatening step forward.

“You have no right to barge into my home and harass me this way!” he roared. “You have no right—”

Daemonikai stepped into his personal space, standing so close there was barely an inch between them.

“Bring him forth,I dare you, you fool,” he challenged, his voice soft yet merciless. “Let your beast come out to play.”

Gripping Zaiper’s chin, he stared into those yellow irises. “I will forget every rule of principle and wipe the floor with you both, just as I always have.”

Zaiper’s defiance wavered, but his glare remained fierce.

“Or better still, maybe I should go all the way,” Daemonikai smirked. “If I were to harass you, the least I could do is do it thoroughly.”

The grand king released an onslaught of aggressive pheromones.Kneel,he commanded Zaiper with his will.

Zaiper went rigid, trembling as he fought not to give in to the alpha command.

That resistance wracked him with torturous pain. “Don’t—” he started hoarsely.

Daemonikai flooded him withmore, increasing the pressure. But a spike of pain split his skull thanks to that damned poison.

It wouldn’t stop him.

Daemonikai pressedharder. "This is what harassment looks like, Zaiper."

A faint ripple slithered into the grand king, and he snorted.

“Is that your attempt to challenge me with your own pheromones?” Daemonikai's voice was a low, deadly growl.

He felt the mild ripple again.

“Give it up, little boy," Daemonikai mocked, cracking his neck. "You’ll only bring more pain upon yourself. You may be strong, Zaiper, but you are no match for me.”

Daemonikai may be laidback, but no one got away with this blatant challenge. No one.

Only Vladya ever dared to dispute him this way, and he'd forgiven him because Vladya was far from sane then. How dare Zaiper challenge him?

Daemonikaipushedmore pheromones, not just to assert dominance this time, but to blatantlyattack.

“Stop… please…” Zaiper whimpered, clutching his head in agony, his body shaking.

Daemonikai gave him a bored look. He could do this all night, really. How dare him?

Holding the force a little longer, ignoring the searing pain in his belly, Daemonikai watched with cold satisfaction as Zaiper’s resistance melted into more pitiful whimpers.

“Please… Your Grace.” Zaiper’s eyes watered.

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