Page 26 of THE SOULBOND AND HER BELOVED (Beasts Of Wrath And Madness #4)

Chapter twenty-six

IN MADNESS AND HELL

Daemonikai found Vladya in Blackstone’s training grounds. The clang of steel rang out over the open yard over shouted commands, and the dull thud of boots.

When Vladya sighted him, he signaled to Yaz, who immediately continued giving instructions to the soldiers, before striding toward him.

Something in his face made Vladya wary at once. “Are you well?”

“When am I ever?” Daemonikai turned on his heel and began to walk. “It's coming again, soon. Tonight.”

Vladya did not ask the usual, Are you sure? “I'll have Yaz prepare the chamber.”

“The voices have been relentless,” Daemonikai ground out. “This one will be stronger.”

Vladya stopped. “Daemon.”

He halted as well, turning to face his old friend. There was no mistaking the pity in Vladya’s eyes.

“How do you bear it?” Vladya asked at last in a low tone. “It cannot be easy. Knowing your pregnant female believes you are bedding others, sick with sorrow over it. Enduring the voices at every hour. Fighting to separate their lies from truth. Being unable to let go and truly enjoy the child you have always longed for because you are terrified of hurting it. Investigations crawling at a snail’s pace, the Oracle’s absence from Urai.”

Daemonikai said nothing. The clang of weapons and barked orders filled the quiet stretching between them.

“I don't know how much longer I can do this,” he revealed in a fractured voice. “Every day feels like I'm walking a blade’s edge, one step away from falling over completely. The urge does not stop at blood and sex, Vladya, I want to kill and destroy. I want to ride into one of my villages and burn it to the ground just to hear dying screams.”

Vladya listened without flinching. No judgment, only understanding.

“Perhaps Zaiper was right. Perhaps I will always be the Mad King.”

“Zaiper is a bastard, and if he is truly behind this, we will nail him!” Vladya hissed.

“Has there been any news on him? That male is more scarce these days than sapphire gemstones.”

“None,” Vladya answered grimly. “Unfortunately, our investigators have found no ties to dark magic. No sightings of him meeting with mages, no travel to Mysticaria, but the investigations continue. Questions are still being asked.”

Daemonikai suppressed his frustration. None of this was Vladya’s fault.

“I have an incredibly beautiful, softhearted female carrying my life within her,” Daemonikai said quietly, staring out into the horizon. “Yet all I can manage is to keep my distance, because when I'm near her, the voices scream for me to hurt her. One moment, I swear I would die to protect her, the next, I imagine throwing her against the nearest surface, bending her over, and fucking her into oblivion for days whether she wanted it or not.”

“You are aware it has worsened because you have not satisfied sexlust in four months.” Vladya’s lips thinned. “You are starving yourself, Daemon. Even without feral hovering over your head, no Urekai should starve their instincts for this long. Why not try harder with Emeriel?”

“She's not ready.”

“And you know this, how?” Vladya countered. “You told me you stopped initiating months ago. How would you know if she's ready if you no longer try?”

“You’re not the one who has to hold her when the memories come,” Daemonikai snapped. “Not the one who hears her apologize as if she ’s to blame for what you did. It’s not you who has to watch her walk through the halls for days afterward like an empty shell.”

“I understand, I do, but do you truly think those memories only come to her during intimacy? You really believe she's not in pain now?”

Daemonikai looked away.

“If you want her to heal from this, you need to take the first step. She needs you to make her whole again. You both need that.” Vladya glanced toward the soldiers training on the field. “I worry for you both. In her condition, she should be getting your seed often. You should be fucking her every chance you get, preparing her body for the birth of your child, as the connection forged during intimacy aids with delivery. She is carrying a Urekai, Daemon. It's essential.”

“You are right,” Daemonikai admitted. “After tonight’s episode, I will try again. Perhaps… do something different. Maybe take her to the cottage, we had good memories there.”

“That is a wise idea.”

“Something has to give. We cannot continue like this.”

A brief hush settled upon them.

Vladya broke the silence. “About the missing females in heat, there’s been an update.”

Daemonikai was not particularly interested in that right now, but he waved him on.

“An eyewitness has come forward. According to him, he saw men dressed in black, dragging a female from her dwelling at night. It was the last time she was seen,” Vladya said. “He claimed the female’s scent was strong—he believed she was approaching full heat.”

“Can he identify any of the males if he sees them again?”

“That is our next step. I have already given the order to bring him in.” Vladya nudged Daemonikai, his chin tipping slightly. “Look.”

Daemonikai followed his line of sight.

Across the field, just beyond the plantation rows, Emeriel and Aekeira had emerged, each carrying a handbasket filled with fresh vegetables. Their heads bent close together as they spoke. Laughter floated to him on the breeze, clear and bright as birdsong.

Daemonikai’s tipped ears perked up as he tuned into the sound. Watching her like this—carefree, at peace, radiant in a loose dress dancing around the roundness of her belly—eased his headache a bit.

“I have been thinking.”

Vladya gave him a sidelong glance.

“If I'm cured of this madness, and our bond is not restored, Emeriel and I will do the bonding ritual.”

Vladya scoffed, surprised. “You would?”

His eyes remained on Emeriel. He would never tire of seeing her this way... completely carefree and happy. He would do anything to capture that happiness for her forever.

“If we are no longer Soulbonds , then I will make her my bondmate. Ukrae may be the master of cruel jokes, but he's a fool if he thinks I'll ever let her go. Bond or no bond, she's mine.”

***

That night, Vladya watched his friend through the narrow window, behind the thick warded glass. Inside the chamber, Daemonikai snared and roared, those yellow eyes infuriated.

He thrashed, sweat streaking his bare chest, muscles straining. He fought wildly, though the heavily fortified prison ensured no sound could escape. His teeth were red with his own blood where he had bitten down on his tongue, again and again.

Vladya's hands fisted. He hated watching this agony play out with no relief in sight. Suffering endless lust through the long, dark hours of the night until his strength failed and he was emptied. Until the madness ran its course.

On nights like this, Vladya rarely found sleep. Many others could never truly understand the demon Daemonikai battled or how close it was to destroying him, but Vladya did.

He knew the fire they were playing with was starting to burn hotter than they could contain.

Each episode was worse than the last. Each time, Daemonikai became more erratic and violent. Yet, there'd always been one small comfort that was constant.

No matter how vicious the madness became, the episodes had never lasted longer than twenty-four hours. He would collapse, sleep, then wake, exhausted but sane. Twenty-four hours was always the limit.

Until now.

This time, Twenty-four turned to thirty-six, Daemonikai remaining feral.

To forty-eight.

Then seventy-two.

Three excruciating days, and the grand king of Urai was still chained, still lost.

A cold dread filled Vladya as he stood behind the window on the fourth day, watching the beast quietly seated at one corner, watchful but exhausted, eyes still without recognition.

Is he completely feral now? Have we lost him once again to madness, and only this time, there is no return?

***

Emeriel woke with a load in her chest that had nothing to do with the heaviness of her pregnancy. She stretched to relieve the aching pull in her lower back, sighing. At five months, her body was beginning to feel the strain in earnest. Yet it was not her body that troubled her this morning.

She had a bad feeling.

The morning passed, the servants arriving to help her bathe and dress, but the feeling did not fade. She told herself it was nothing. It was not uncommon for Daemonikai to be delayed. His duties often took him longer than was expected.

But the feeling would not leave her.

She tried to distract herself. Reading in the library, tending the garden, wandering through the plantations. Even time spent with Aekeira brought little relief. Eventually, she gave up entirely and made her way to Blackstone to confront Grand Lord Vladya.

She hesitated briefly before knocking on the door to his study.

“Come in,” came the deep, familiar voice.

Emeriel entered, finding the grand lord behind his desk, eyes narrowed over the scroll in his hand. The furrow in his brow eased slightly when he saw her.

“Emeriel.” He set the parchment aside, rising smoothly to his feet. “Please, come in.”

He crossed to her, steadying her as she lowered herself into one of the cushions.

She flushed faintly. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Is everything well?”

“Yes, yes, all is fine. It's just…” She cleared her throat, smoothing her hand over the fabric stretched taut across her belly. “I have not heard from Daemon in days. I am… worried.”

“You need not be,” he said after a pause. “You know how his duties are. It wouldn't be the first time they've kept him away from the Citadel for long, there’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“I know, I keep telling myself that.” She fidgeted. “It's just... he told me this would be a short journey. A day, perhaps two. And when there are delays, he usually sends word. Not always, but often enough.” Her voice lowered. “I have a bad feeling.” She looked up at him. “I’m sure he is fine. I just… I need to hear from him.”

Lord Vladya’s eyes dropped, shoulders drawing subtly taut.

It was the tiniest reaction, but Emeriel had long learned that with him, even the smallest movements spoke volumes.

She sat up a little straighter. “You know something, don’t you?”

He crouched before her until they were eye to eye. “Only that he is delayed. You will hear from him soon. Don't let this worry you. He is fine.”

Before she could press him further, the door burst open. “I'm really worried this feral episode still persists. Daemon is—” Lord Ottai stopped short, seeing her. Alarm flashed in his eyes.

Emeriel stared at him, her mind grasping the words she had just heard. “Feral episode?” Her brow furrowing in confusion. “What feral episode?”

The Fourth Ruler went pale, his eyes darting to Lord Vladya in a desperate plea for help.

Lord Vladya’s glare was sharp enough to kill.

Lord Ottai flushed like a youngling caught pilfering coin from his mother’s purse.

“What I meant ,” he fumbled, “was the feral male Daemonikai paid a visit is still… well, he is taking longer to come out of his episode than expected, which is why the Grand King has been delayed.”

Emeriel’s frown deepened. “The Grand King went to Crystal Waters to oversee the new lands we acquired.”

“Of course, of course.” Lord Ottai nodded too fast. “What I meant was… on his way back, he stopped by to check on—uh—a male who was feral. And… and… that's why he hasn't returned yet.”

The silence was awkward.

Which the uncomfortable fourth ruler felt obligated to fill. “What I meant was, he, um—Vladya,” he hissed out of the corner of his mouth. “Help me out here!”

“Help you…?” Emeriel rose to her feet, heart starting to race. “What's going on?”

“Nothing. Do not listen to Ottai,” Vladya said through clenched teeth, rising. He shot Lord Ottai another lethal glare. “You know how he is—some days he behaves as though Morina overfeeds him, other days he's too overwhelmed by his duties to make sense.”

“Vladya is right,” Lord Ottai agreed. “I did not get enough sleep last night.”

“No.” Emeriel shook her head, though it felt far too light on her neck. “Something is wrong. I feel it.”

She tried to keep her panic at bay. Pressed a hand to her chest to ease the wild thudding of her heart, but it wasn't working. “Our bond may be dormant, but I know ! Tell me what’s going on. Now. ”

Ottai was already shaking his head, hands lifted to ward off her words. “Nothing. Nothing at all is—”

“You are hiding something!” she cried, turning, she backed away, still rubbing her chest. She struggled to breathe. “Tell me… tell me! ”

The study swam as her legs weakened.

Strong arms caught her before she could fall.

“Emeriel. Emeriel!” Lord Vladya’s voice was behind her and alarmed. “Can you hear me!?”

There was movement, weight shifting. She was vaguely aware of him holding her upright.

“Look what you did. How many times have I told you not to speak from the door? You enter a place and make sure the damn coast is clear!”

“I am truly sorry ! How was I to know she would be here?!” Lord Ottai’s voice was strained and defensive.

Another pair of hands steadied her from the opposite side. Emeriel sagged into them, grateful for the support. Her ears still rang faintly, her vision still fuzzy.

A sharp smack sounded, and Ottai yelped.

“Leave her. I will take her,” Lord Vladya scolded.

She was lifted. Cradled firmly against Lord Vladya’s chest, head lolling back, catching glimpses of the ceiling before she was lowered onto the cushions. The world steadied a bit.

The third ruler’s face hovered over hers. “Hey. Look at me.”

She forced her heavy eyes to his. The loud, rasping breaths in the room… were those hers?

“Good girl,” his voice softened. “You can hear me?”

She managed a faint nod.

“Good. I have no idea what I am dealing with here. You will help me, yes? Daemonikai will kill us if something goes wrong” Vladya sighed.

“I can feel his pheromones from here,” Lord Ottai added nearby, sounding panicked. “Please, huh? Help us.”

“Need… to… breathe…” Emeriel gasped.

“Breathe?” Lord Ottai echoed in confusion.

Lord Vladya shoved him aside. “ Here. Breathe with me,” he said to her. “In. Out. Come on. Long breaths. Deep. Come on, young one. You can do this.”

Emeriel tried. She followed the cadence of his breathing. Slow, deep inhalations, holding the air in her lungs, then releasing it in steady streams. His voice was calm, so she clung to it.

“Oh! That kind of breathing!” Lord Ottai exclaimed, scrambling forward. “Sure! I can do that.”

He joined in. His breaths were far too fast and shallow, his rhythm completely off. It was so ridiculous, so Lord Ottai , that Emeriel let out a hoarse laugh. “You are doing it wrong."

The grand lord blinked. “I am?”

“You are.” She was still smiling as she drew in another breath, and this one came easier. Her chest loosened, her lungs opening, releasing the crushing weight.

“Better?” Lord Vladya asked, concerned.

“Yes, thank you.”

He gave a terse nod, but relief softened the lines around his mouth. Together, they helped her sit up. Lord Ottai hovered awkwardly on one side, his hands ready in case she needed catching.

For a moment, Emeriel allowed herself to feel light. It was a strange thing, surrounded by two of the kingdom’s most powerful males, both fussing over her.

Often, the constant attention grated on her nerves—being crowded, coddled, treated like she might shatter. But in moments like this… She felt cared for. Protected.

Until she remembered why she had panicked in the first place. The lightness vanished.

“Please, tell me what’s going on,” she begged Lord Vladya. “Do not lie to me. I need to know.”