Page 19 of THE SOULBOND AND HER BELOVED (Beasts Of Wrath And Madness #4)

Chapter nineteen

BENEATH THE SHADOWS

That night, Grand Lord Vladya stood by the door, gazing at the figure sleeping exhaust upon his bed. He had been standing there for some time now, barely noticing the passage of time.

A part of him still expected this to be ripped from his grasp. Torn away like every other good thing before it.

Even now, it felt surreal. Unbelievable.

He had a female. His .

And she carried his child.

No one beyond their small circle knew of it. Vladya had not yet shared the news with his people. In time, he would.

But for now, secrecy was its own form of protection. The more concealed she remained, the safer she—and the child—would be.

His family.

Emotion thickened his throat. An ache both familiar and foreign. Those were words he never thought he would speak.

Words he never imagined would be something real, something his own.

Vladya’s eyes drifted to the sheets draped over her form, shielding her belly. He knew not what he sought to find, yet in the past few hours, he had looked at that belly more than he had in months.

How could something that once seemed so distant—like a far-off dream—suddenly be within his reach?

His thoughts turned to his conversation with the Oracle earlier.

"Is there anything more I can do? Something different to make these spells work?" Vladya had asked.

"Aekeira has done most of the work," the Oracle had replied. "She is making you feel again, as one might raise dead bones. The more you feel, the greater your chance of regaining your soul. And the more these rituals work, the more you will feel and express."

"So it all centers upon feeling."

"And living. They go hand in hand. For one to truly live, they must feel. And for one to truly feel, they must live."

Vladya’s mind returned, and once more he was seeing Aekeira's sleeping form.

He had lived more in these past few years than he had in centuries. All because of this small, blessed human girl who had been placed into his cold and barren existence.

Turning, he walked out, closing the door quietly behind him. Yaz fell into step with him as he strode through the hallway, out of the Citadel to his cave.

Hidden, deep within the woods, it was a place he claimed for himself alone.

Vladya eye's swept over the uneven walls, taking it in. He had first come here after his fifth bonding ritual had failed—three millennia past.

The memory had long since blurred, but he recalled wandering the woods that night, suffocating under the weight of loss and heartbreak. Then, by chance or fate, he had stumbled upon this cave. He had entered, pressed his hands to the cold stone walls, and let his tears fall.

And so, he had returned to this place, time and time again, whenever life had proven its cruelty.

Until, eventually, he had stopped coming.

For centuries, the tragedies had continued. But he no longer felt them. Numb. Lifeless.

Tonight, he stood here once more, looking at the uneven ground, at the darkness stretching before him. He took in the silver flow of the waterfall spilling down one side of the cavern, and the feeling he had been suppressing all day broke free. Hot tears spilled from his eyes.

Vladya let them fall.

Here, in this place, he'd never needed to restrain himself. This place alone had borne witness to his pains, his despair. And tonight, he wanted it to bear witness to this as well.

For the first time, he clung to these walls, the tears streaming down his face not of anguish. Not of suffering. Not of misery. Not the bitter tears of a life deemed unfair, or the helpless kind shed over a fate slipping through his fingers.

No. Tonight, the cavern shared in his joy. Tears of happiness so overwhelming he could scarcely contain it. Tears of hope that was real and touchable. Tears of excitement for a future worth enduring almost four thousand years of pure torment.

Because every misery had led him to her .

And perhaps—just perhaps—everything would be all right in his world.

***

Vladya stepped out into the cool night, startled to see Daemonikai leaning casually against a tree like a silent sentinel in the darkness, arms crossed.

"It was a guess, but I figured I might find you here."

Vladya approached, his footsteps quiet. "Why are you so far from the fortress?"

Daemonikai pushed off the tree with a lazy stretch. "I ventured out to share a run with my dear friend, who, in the near future, will cradle in his arms the greatest treasure the world can offer."

Vladya's lips curved into a faint smile. "Indeed." This time, he was the one to step forward and embrace his friend.

Daemonikai tensed for a heartbeat before his arms came around Vladya’s shoulders, his grip firm and strong.

"I am going to be a father, Your Grace," Vladya rasped.

"Congratulations, V.D. I am proud of how far you have come."

Vladya exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Who would have thought, hm?"

"I would. I always did." Daemonikai pulled back, giving him a solid pat on the shoulder. "Not once did I give up on you, even when you gave up on yourself. Come, let us take that run."

***

Daemonikai returned to the Royal Residence well past midnight, his muscles aching from the night’s exertions as he proceeded directly to his bedchamber. Opening the heavy wooden door, he stepped inside and halted.

Emeriel sat at the edge of the bed, head resting against the carved bedpost, fast asleep.

Her chest rose and fell, lips slightly parted, soft breaths escaping between them. She had been waiting for him.

His grip on the doorframe tightened. For a moment, Daemonikai allowed himself to imagine her like this, her belly round with his child.

The image struck something deep within his chest. An ache of pure longing.

He felt immense joy for Vladya. Aekeira’s last heat had granted him the desire of a lifetime. And deep within Daemonikai, he hoped one day, it would be the same for him and Emeriel. That one day, her full heat would also bless them with such a miracle.

Moving closer, he bent, sliding his arms beneath her. She was warm against his chest, body pliant in sleep. She stirred as he lifted her, a faint hum slipping from her lips. Her lashes fluttered, drowsy blue eyes finding him.

"Your Grace... When did you return?"

"Just now." He brushed his fingers against her cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You were waiting for me?"

"Mm." She barely managed a nod before resting her head against his shoulder.

A pleased warmth sat in his chest. Daemonikai had not realized how much he had missed this—missed her. Waking beside her, feeling her presence close. But distance was necessary.

Daemonikai would sooner drive his own sword through his chest than risk a repeat of what happened that dreadful night.

He had not shared something with her. Since that night, his beast had gone unnervingly quiet. No attempts to force a shift. No desperate need to stake a possessive claim. It had simply retreated into the deepest part of his mind, drowning in guilt.

Their brief time at the cottage was a cherished memory he held close to his heart. The easy moments, the stolen touches, the intimacy that had come so naturally.

Perhaps one day, they would have that again.

Lowering her onto the bed, he straightened, intent on moving away, but her fingers closed around his wrist.

"I would like to sleep beside you tonight," she murmured.

His body tensed. "Emeriel..."

"Please. You will not lose control in the night. It is just for tonight." A pause, then even softer— "I miss waking up to my Beloved."

Daemonikai's throat worked. How could he refuse, when he shared the very same hunger?

"Please," she whispered again. "Only tonight."

"Very well," he groaned, defeated. "Only tonight."

As he stepped away to undress, she shifted onto her side, resting her cheek on her hands. Her eyes followed him as he pulled his tunic over his head, unfastened the ties at his waist, and shed the rest of his clothing, leaving only his loose-fitting trousers before turning back to her.

She had not looked away.

Daemonikai smirked. "Do you like what you see?"

A dull red flushed her cheeks. "I do, my king."

Chuckling under his breath, he slid beneath the covers, drawing her into his arms.

She made a soft, unashamedly needy sound, clinging to him with the tenacity of an octopus. "Thank you... I like this."

Daemonikai closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Her scent filled his lungs, and he let himself savor it. Let it sink into his very bones.

"When was the last time you bloodfed?" she asked softly.

"A while ago," he admitted. “Worry not, I am not overly hungry, but I shall visit my bloodhost first thing tomorrow."

"I do not like that you must feed from Mistress Sinai," she grumbled into his chest. "She is such a bitter female."

He released a breath. "She was not always so. As a youngling, she was fierce but... not unkind. But when she came of age two millennia ago, she became a rebellious half-adult. Always getting into trouble. Once, she ended up killing a female."

Emeriel gasped. "She killed someone!?"

"Mm, and was banished from Urai. But matters were complicated, with her being my bloodhost. She pleaded for pardon, claiming she had changed, and in time, she was granted clemency. And for a long while, I believed she had, for she ceased stirring trouble."

Emeriel shook her head, tracing patterns against his chest. "So her atrocities did not begin today."

"Unfortunately, one cannot choose their bloodhost," Daemonikai murmured. "If it were possible, I would have rid myself of Sinai long ago."

"Yes, I know." Emeriel lifted her head, shifting her hair to one side, baring her neck for him. "I wish to bloodfeed you tonight."

Heat pooled low in his gut, his cock perking up in interest.

"You know that is not a wise idea, Riel."

"In the past, I was able to bring you back through feeding," she told him. "It may help with the… mindlessness.

"As my Soulbond ," Daemonikai reminded her in a gentle voice. "Now our bond is no more…" he loathed uttering those words. "Also, there’s the lust."

She stared pointedly at his chest and moistened her lips. "I do not mind the lust."

"Emeriel." His voice held warning.

Her eyes finally met his. "It’s just, I hate that the last intimacy between us was the cloudy memory of my heat, and before that was... that night. "

"I do not wish to rush you. I am prepared to wait as long as necessary."

"I want you to rush me." She surprised him. "I wish for us to bridge this gap between us, for if we do not try, we may never move past what happened."

She was… right.

How could they ever overcome the barrier that lay between them if they never made an effort to push through it? How could they reclaim their sexual and bloodfeeding intimacy if they hesitated at every turn?

Tempted as fuck, Daemonikai’s fangs pricked against his tongue. "I do wish to drink from you," he confessed, hunger seeping into his voice. "Your blood calls to me. Always."

A deep flush spread over her cheeks, and she ducked her head.

Daemonikai smiled, tilting her chin up with two fingers. "It is fascinating that, after everything we have been through, you still grow shy over the littlest things." His thumb traced the heat on her cheek. "Hard to believe."

Without breaking eye contact, he shifted, sitting up against the headboard before gripping her waist and lifting her onto his lap, making her straddle him.

Her pussy hovered a mere breath away from his aching cock. The nearness of it, the maddening temptation, fueled his hunger tenfold. Gods, even the barest shift of her hips got to him.

Emeriel settled one hand on his shoulder, sweeping her hair aside with the other. Once again, she exposed that smooth, vulnerable throat for him.

Daemonikai’s fangs lengthened in response, his mouth fucking watered .

Leaning in, he pierced her neck.

She gasped, going tensed. Then, melted against him.

He drank carefully, keeping all his senses alert. Attuned to her for any sign of discomfort.

But she pressed closer, digging her fingers into his skin.

The rich flavor of her blood played havoc with his senses. It was the finest elixir. Warm honey laced with ambrosia, with notes of sugared almond, and something deeper... something wholly hers that no other blood had ever possessed.

He groaned, holding her waist tighter.

"Oh..." Her head lolled, body growing heavier.

Daemonikai caught her, sliding a hand beneath the back of her head to keep it from rolling. Her breaths grew uneven, hitching slightly, chest rising and falling faster.

Heat traveled through his veins, his cock pulsing in response. Straining against his pants. Aching with lust.

He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the rush of arousal slamming into him. Deities, he had missed her.

"I feel so hot," Emeriel whined.

Daemonikai let out ragged breaths through his nose, his restraint wearing thin with each second. Her slick soaked through the thin material, and fucking hell , it was right there, teasing, tempting—

By the time he withdrew his fangs and sealed the wound, his control had packed up and left, and she was trembling in his arms.

In a blur of movement, Daemonikai rolled them, pinning her under him in the sheets. She panted, breathless, eyes dark with heat.

Her legs opened, thighs shifting to accommodate him. Her nightgown bunched up, pooling around her hips.

Daemonikai exhaled heavily, grinding his cock to her core, nudging at her opening—

She went still.

Eyes glazed with lust stared at him, but did not see him.

“Are you alright?” he asked, voice heavy, filled with desire.

She did not answer.

Daemonikai curled his fingers around the sheets beside her head, keeping his body hovering over hers but not moving. Waiting for her 'go ahead.'

It was difficult. Downright torture, yet he held still.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said at last, but there was a slight tremor to her voice. "Do not stop."

Daemonikai hesitated. Then, pushed forward, just a little.

She cried out, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.

His chest constricted. "Emeriel…"

"I-I will be fine," she gasped, sucking in deep, shaky breaths. "Just… g-give me a moment."

She is fighting the demons you gave her.

Something went cold inside him. Guilt rose like a living thing, wrapping its claws around his ribs and sinking deep. Her small tremors of desire had turned to real shaking.

Daemonikai swallowed against the heaviness in his throat and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Take all the time you need."

For a long while, he simply stayed there, forehead resting lightly against hers.

Slowly, her breathing evened. The rigidness in her limbs eased. The fingers grabbing the sheets loosened.

When she finally opened her eyes, he was met with deep blue eyes wet with unshed tears .

A dagger slashed his chest. His beast made a broken sound and retreated, and his hunger… dulled.

"I am ready," she breathed.

"Let's not—"

"Please, let's try..."

Daemonikai searched her eyes. What he saw there broke his damn heart.

Still he gave into her, capturing her lips in a kiss.

It was gentle. Soft. Patient.

After a moment, she kissed him back, hands tentatively sliding up his arms. A quiet, needy sound left her.

Only then did he move again. He began to push inside her, inch by inch.

Her heat enveloped his cock, welcoming him. Soft. Yielding. Molding against him in ways that sent pleasure curling up his spine.

But then, she wrenched her mouth from his, and started to thrash. Shoving at his shoulders, striking blindly, fingers clawing at his skin.

"Stop, stop! No, no, please—!" She fought as her cries rose in raw panic.

Daemonikai jerked away at once.

Free, she bolted. Scrambling across the bed so quickly she lost her footing and tumbled off the edge with a thud. But even as she hit the ground, she did not stop.

She kept crawling, scrambling backward on hands and knees until her back met the far wall. She pressed herself into the corner as though she could disappear into the stone.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” She cried as her knees came up to her chest and she wrapped her arms around them in a tight grip. "Please stop hurting me, I’m really sorry...! So sorry, so sorry…"

Those words came in a repeat like a broken litany as she rocked herself back and forth, trembling like a leaf.