Page 18 of THE SOULBOND AND HER BELOVED (Beasts Of Wrath And Madness #4)

Chapter eighteen

BLESSED IS…

"You return too soon, Second Ruler of the great Urai." The dark mage emerged from the shadows. "It usually takes centuries. To what do I owe this visit?"

Grand Lord Zaiper stood tall and tense in the dark cave. Beside him, Razarr remained silent.

"I need you to kill our Oracle," Zaiper said flatly.

The mage tilted his head. "The Oracle of Urai?"

Irritation flashed across Zaiper’s face. "Which other Oracle would I—Yes, the Oracle of Urai." Begging the gods for patience, he added, "I know it will be difficult, but I’m prepared for whatever price."

"Difficult, no. Impossible, yes."

"Nothing is impossible," Zaiper snarled.

"Ah, how living beings love to believe that. But there are things that cannot be done. Killing one of the most powerful beings to have ever existed is one of them."

Restless, Zaiper started pacing. "Everything has a price."

"Calm yourself, Grand Lord Zaiper. I have never seen you so… troubled."

He halted abruptly, turning on the mage. "She knows. The Oracle."

"Oh." The mage’s tone remained calm. "So she wakes, then."

"Yes, she has. Over a month ago, and since then, I have not had a single night of peace. Not even a breath of ease." His fingers dug into his temples, trying to press away the ever-growing headache. "No rest. No calm."

"Why such distress?” The mage sounded unbothered. “Oracles do not interfere. They see, but they do not act—for to do so would alter the course of the future."

"This one said she would! " Seizing a loose stone, Zaiper hurled it across the cave. It clattered against the rough walls before rolling into silence, but his anger did not abate. "She looked me dead in the eyes and told me she would act if I did not come forward."

That was after she used that godsforsaken staff to brutalize me.

He swallowed back the words. Shameful enough without voicing it aloud. Just the memories of the incredible pain alone made him more enraged. The healing had been agonizing.

"Hmm." The mage’s response was still devoid of emotion. "Unfortunate."

Zaiper glared daggers at him.

"And as for her threat—she truly cannot interfere.” The mage went on, unfazed. “A mere mention sends their ribs shattering and bones breaking within them. Your secrets are too vast. Speaking all of it will kill her."

"Exactly! But guess what? She is still determined to spill them anyway, even if it kills her.” Zaiper raged. “In fact, I suspect the only reason she has not done so already is because she is occupied. Tending to the duties she left unattended for seven hundred years. Even now, she is not in Urai but in Werewolf lands. But she will come for me."

Zaiper tried to control his loud breathing, to better hide his fear, but he was unsure if he was succeeding.

"Once she returns to Urai, she will come. I must have a solution. I must kill her."

With a noncommittal sound, the mage stepped forward, his long fingers trailing idly across the worn stone of the cavern walls. "To perform a ritual dangerous enough—powerful enough—to kill an Oracle… one does not merely need the blood of loved ones. One would have to raze an entire village to the ground. And even that may not be enough. "

Zaiper clenched his fists, eyes blazing.

"I do not doubt your ability to burn an entire village," the dark mage continued in that annoying monotone. "What I do doubt is your willingness to sacrifice those you care for. Considering how very few of them exist."

Zaiper scoffed. "Very few is putting it mildly. I care for no one."

"He stands beside you, the one male you care for."

Zaiper stared. Too stunned to respond.

Then he roared with laughter. For a whole moment, his entire problem vanished, overshadowed by the ridiculousness of that statement.

"Wait. Are you implying that I love Razarr?" He turned to glance at his head guard, who, for once, looked just as bewildered. "Your voodoo must be malfunctioning, because I do not. "

"Mm."

Zaiper rolled his eyes. "Big guy here is the one with feelings for me. But to me, he is merely a servant. A means to an end. A hole to fuck whenever I see fit." His lips curled into a smirk. "He may be more of a friend than most, but I do not have such feelings for him. I do not have such feelings for anyone ." Why was he over-explaining?

Was the silence awkward, or was it just him?

"Can you believe this male, Razarr?” Zaiper huffed, pointing a finger at the mage. “Tell him I do not have such feelings."

"My master does not have such feelings." Razarr parroted in a perfectly emotionless tone.

Zaiper squinted at him.

"Of course. Forgive me, Your Majesty." The dark mage inclined his head ever so slightly.

"And for context,” Zaiper added. “I am clarifying because I do not like the insinuation or the misunderstanding."

The dark mage hummed again, as though filing the information away. Then tilted his head. "So, would you sacrifice him for a spell?"

Zaiper’s entire body went still. "What the hell?"

"You just said you do not care," the mage pointed out, devoid of judgment, merely stating facts. "So, would you give him to me in exchange for a spell? He is not enough to perform the ritual needed to kill an Oracle, but for something lesser… an exchange could be made."

Turning sharply, Zaiper’s gaze locked onto Razarr. His soldier's face remained blank.

"No, Razarr is not an option." Zaiper waved a dismissive hand. "And it is not up for debate."

"Sure," the dark mage echoed.

Clearing his throat, Zaiper forced the conversation back on track. "If killing the Oracle is this impossible, then what can I do?"

"I’m afraid that is for you to figure out, Your Highness. If you require a spell, you know how to summon me." With that, the dark mage turned away, his figure melting back into the shadows.

"Wait."

The mage halted but did not turn.

"They cannot unweave the dark magic on Daemonikai’s mind without you," Zaiper said. "Remain in the shadows. Hide better. Never let yourself be found."

At that, the dark mage’s head swiveled slightly, the faintest glimmer of amusement in his voice. "I am never found unless I wish to be. You should know that by now."

Zaiper did. That much, at least, gave him a bit of relief.

The comfort did not last.

Restlessness crept back in as he left, seeping into his bones, wrapping around his ribs like unseen chains.

Why does it feel like doom is coming?

***

Even something as simple as breathing sounded thunderous in the silence.

Vladya stared at Daemonikai as if he had lost his mind. Aekeira mirrored the exact same expression, while Emeriel gasped.

Saying it aloud had made it real—even to Daemonikai.

"I cannot believe this." Daemonikai shook his head in wonder, looking directly at Vladya. "You are going to have a child."

His friend was as stiff as a board.

"If this is some kind of jest, it's not a particularly amusing one, Your Grace." Voice tight with anger, Vladya glared. "I know you have been struggling, Daemon. I have seen it, and I do not fault you for it. But not every dark thought that enters your mind should be spoken aloud."

Daemonikai rolled his eyes. "Are you finished?"

Vladya's jaw clenched tighter. "Yes. We are done here. Aekeira, let us go."

Now, Daemonikai was furious. In a flash, he seized Vladya by the collar and shoved him back, making him staggered a step.

Daemonikai was on him again, gripping his tunic and slamming him against the nearest wall. He pressed into Vladya’s space until there was no room left between them.

"Look me in the eyes," Daemonikai growled. "Take a hard look at me and tell me if, even at the depths of madness, and the voices banging around in my skull, making my damn nose bleed, do you honestly believe I would ever jest about something like this ?"

Vladya’s fury only burned hotter, eyes flashing yellow.

That arrogant, powerful brute—his beast—who would rather fight than believe, was trying to force a shift.

"Daemon, wait…" Emeriel’s voice came soft and uncertain. Confused.

"Get a hold of your control, tell your fucking beast to stand down. " Daemonikai snarled, not looking away. "Look beyond your rage, think—and tell me, do you truly believe me so heartless that I would lie about this? Your woman is pregnant. There is the faintest scent of osmanthus and lily on her. You will smell it in a few days, but for now, as early as it is, only I can."

Vladya’s breath left him in a shudder. His anger remained—flaring, crackling in the storm-gray and yellow of his eyes—but beneath it, Daemonikai saw hope.

Painful, desperate hope.

"B-but we only had one full heat." Vladya’s disbelief was barely audible. "No one conceives without a mating bond. And certainly no one conceives after only one heat." A stark pain, which his friend now allowed him to see, was evident in Vladya’s eyes. “Why would you say something like this—"

"I was…"

The soft interruption made them both stop.

They turned as one, their gazes landing on Emeriel, who stood pale, looking at Vladya hesitantly. "You asked who becomes with child outside of a mating bond, after only one full heat… I have."

Daemonikai nodded once, firm. "Yes. My female has. Who is to say it is impossible for her sister?"

Silence.

Aekeira’s lips parted, but no sound came. Her eyes dropped to her belly, trembling fingers hovering just above the flat surface, as if touching it would make it too real.

"I am... pregnant?"

"You are. Congratulations, little one," Daemonikai said. "Now we just need to get your male to believe it, so we can congratulate him as well."

Vladya stood frozen, breathing shallow. "But it's not possible." Looking between Daemonikai, Aekeira, and the floor, he appeared utterly gutted. "I mean… it is me . Things like this do not happen to me ."

"They just did. Your Soulbond carries your fruit." Daemonikai gripped Vladya’s face in both hands, forcing those wandering eyes to meet his eyes. "You, Vladya Theriozydovkar Skyvakto, are going to be a father. Now let that sink in."

Daemonikai saw the exact moment it did. The exact moment when it finally settled on Vladya that none of this was a jest. That Aekeira truly was pregnant. That he was going to be a father .

Releasing him, Daemonikai stepped back, giving him space.

Vladya didn’t move, but those wild eyes locked onto Aekeira. The girl stood still, clearly overwhelmed, alternating between looking at him and at her belly.

Finally, the third ruler pushed off the wall and staggered forward.

"I-I do not understand," Aekeira stammered. "I cannot be… I cannot be—"

"It would explain the sickness." Emeriel breathed, eyes gleaming with tears. "Your new aversion to flower scents… It would explain everything."

"But… but…" Aekeira’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. Her hands twitched at her sides as if unsure what to do, where to hold, what to feel.

“Aekeira, you are carrying… you are carrying my child?” Vladya looked stunned. Lost. Awed .

“I do not know, I—”

Vladya’s knees struck the floor with a thud. Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her closer jerkily and buried his face against her stomach. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.

He looked up at Aekeira. “I cannot smell anything… I…” Sniffsniffsniiiiiiff.

“In a few days, you will, V.D.,” Daemonikai said.

Perhaps it was the girl, or the rituals, or both , but for the first time in so freaking long, Daemonikai saw Vladya... like this.

The whirlwind of emotions on his face was enough to give Daemonikai a whiplash. And it made him ache for his friend. Vladya had wanted this for so long .

"My little bird," Vladya whispered. He lowered his head and brushed a soft kiss against her stomach. "My sexy little witch… Perhaps you are a witch after all."

Aekeira shook above him. A single tear slipped free, falling onto his dark hair. "My lord…"

"Blessed is the day I first set my eyes on you in Navia." Another kiss, this time lingering, reverent. "Blessed is that day in the Abyss land when I first felt the slightest attraction for you." A tear fell from Vladya’s eyes. "You are everything good. Everything fucking beautiful."

Daemonikai felt his chest tighten. He pulled Emeriel into his arms, and she wiped the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Blessed is the day you looked upon this cruel, mad ruler and chose to devote your love to him," Vladya whispered to Aekeira. "And blessed is the belly that bore you and your sister."

"Truly blessed," Daemonikai pressed a kiss on Emeriel’s nose.

Vladya reached up, cupping Aekeira’s face in his hands.

"I love you," she breathed, caressing his cheek, "I love you with all my heart. And I will love you until the day I die."

"Those are big promises," he murmured, slowly rising to his full height, towering over her. Tipping her chin up with his fingers to meet his gaze. "But they are best made, because now, you are fully mine."

"Yours."

"Look at me, Aekeira, and remember how serious these eyes are when I say this. Do not ever leave me . I will chase you to the ends of the world to bring you back. I will lock you in my bedchamber if that's what it takes to keep you by my side forever."

Then, he swept her into his arms, lifting her off her feet in a fiercely possessive hug. "Thank you for bringing this faraway dream of mine close enough to touch."