Chapter 174
Emeriel woke slowly, disoriented. A dull throbbing ache pulsed through her skull, and her tongue felt like sandpaper against the roof of her parched mouth. She groaned softly, flinching at the sharp discomfort lancing through her shoulders and back. Something rigid pressed against her spine—a hard pole, rough against her bare skin.
She was standing naked; her chest bindings were gone, her wrists stretched above her head, the coarse rope cutting into her flesh. As she shifted, her ankles screamed in similar pain, bound tightly to keep her rooted in a painfully awkward stance.
Panic rose within her. Where am I? What’s happening?
Her eyes darted around. A cave, dark except for the faint glow of torches casting flickering shadows on the jagged walls.
“Look who finally decided to join us,” a voice sneered behind her. She twisted her head, but her neck protested, so she gave up. “Who are you? What do you want with me?” she asked, her voice a hoarse rasp.
A figure stepped in front of her, their face obscured by a hooded cloak, holding a flaming torch aloft. “She’s awake!”
Emeriel struggled to quell her rising panic, but her body refused to obey. She struggled against her bonds, the rough rope burning her skin. A brittle, crackling sound drew her gaze downward. Firewood, large bundles heaped around her feet, encircling her legs like a prison. The torches… they aren’t for light. They’re going to burn me alive.
Terror seized her. “Please, let me go!” she begged, her voice rising. “You have the wrong person! I didn’t do anything!”
“Oh, but I don’t think we do,” another masked figure entered, his voice colder than the first. The scuff of boots on stone announced several more figures—bulky silhouettes and deep voices confirmed they were Urekai men. Five, so far.
“I swear, I’ve done nothing wrong!” Emeriel’s mind raced. Who are they? Could this be Mistress Sinai’s work? She’d always threatened to kill Emeriel.
“Your existence alone is a problem,” one man sneered. “A nuisance. The thought of you as our grand queen disgusts me. Your kind is a disease to be eradicated. We don’t need someone like you.”
Emeriel’s heart slammed against her ribs. They know. They knew her secret. They know everything.
Her breath hitched, panic clawing at her like a vise. She yanked at the ropes like a wild animal, ignoring the searing pain as they bit deeper into her wrists.
“What makes you think you’re good enough for our grand king?” another masked man spat. “You spent your heat with him; you stink of him! How dare you!? You’re not worth a strand of his hair!”
“Enough talk,” another said impatiently. “Light the fire and let’s be done with this.”
“No,” a different one growled, arms crossed. “I think we should have some fun first. To waste her like that, without pleasure, seems a shame. Don’t you think?”
“G’s right,” another chimed in. “She’s his Soulbond, created to belong to the grand king. Aren’t you curious to… explore her?”
“Exactly,” G agreed, his gaze sweeping over her. “She might be human, but she’s far from ugly. Look at those breasts… still swollen from her heat. There’s no rush to kill her; we can take our time.”
Emeriel panted, her frantic heartbeat ringing in her ears. They were going to kill her, strip her from existence as if she had never been. No one knows where she is. No one can save her. No one—
A small whisper cut through the chaos in her mind. Someone can. Your beloved.
Emeriel stilled, the words echoing. Her first instinct was to reach out to him through their bond, but she hesitated. If I do… my secrets will be exposed. There would be no hiding she was female, that Emeriel was Galilea, his Soulbond.
Could she do it? Could she summon the courage to reveal everything—to risk everything? Wouldn’t it be better to just die? Death would mean silence; no rejection, no humiliation, no disgraceful execution. If she died now, no one would ever know how she lived, her secrets and lies. It was tempting… so tempting…
But if she died, she would never see him again. Never feel his arms around her. If I’m found out, I will lose him anyway. Emeriel squeezed her eyes shut, tears slipping down her cheeks. I can’t call him. I can’t!
“Our orders were to kill her, you fool,” the angriest snapped. “Keep it in your pants! The kingdom overflows with female… holes. Find one of those!”
“Enough!” a commanding voice boomed, silencing the others. “We’ve wasted enough time. Why are we arguing? No one’s touching her. G, control yourself. The orders from R were to kill her, not have fun. Now light the damn fire!”
A sob escaped Emeriel’s lips. Resting her head against the rough wood, she closed her eyes, resigned. Deep within her soul, she reached out, calling through the bond: “My Beloved, I need your help. My Beloved… please, help me.”