Chapter 180

Emeriel walked in a daze, her legs heavy, her mind numb. The grand king led her through the corridors, stopping before a door in the southern wing. “Stay here,” he said, turning to leave.

“Your Grace…” Emeriel reached for him, fingers trembling in the air.

King Daemonikai glanced at her outstretched hand as if it were a venomous serpent. Without a word, he left, the heavy door closing behind him.

Emeriel stumbled to the bed, collapsing onto the cold mattress. Exhaling a shaky breath, she stared blankly ahead. He had saved her. Her secret was out. Everyone knew.

It still felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn't wake from. He hates me now, she thought. But he had protected her. She had almost died. Lord Zaiper had been eager to see her dead. If not for the other grand rulers, she would be in a cold, hard cell, or lying lifeless in the courtyard.

Looking at her unsteady hands, her eyes grew wet. This was not how she had envisioned her return. He hates me now.

“Em?”

Keira? She sat up to see Aekeira standing in the doorway. Emeriel, lost in despair, hadn't heard the door open.

“Keira…” her voice wobbled, and the tears she had fought to hold back spilled over.

Aekeira's eyes shimmered with tears. Silently, she opened her arms.

Emeriel sprang into those waiting arms and sobbed.

Aekeira held her tight. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I went to the gathering as soon as I heard, but the crowd and soldiers wouldn’t let me through. I heard everything, Em.” Aekeira’s breath hitched. “They saved you, all of them.”

“I know,” Emeriel cried into Aekeira’s shoulder. “It feels unreal.”

“Yes, I’m trying to process it. Everything we were so afraid of has come to pass, yet… you are still here with us. Safe. The worst did not happen.” Aekeira shook her head, crying. “The worst did not happen.”

Emeriel pulled back, wiping her tears. “I don’t think it’s over yet, Keira. I’m not sure the Urekai will let it go. They know I’m his Soulbond. I saw their disgust, their rejection. They won’t let this go.”

“Hey, look at me, Em.” Aekeira cupped her face, and Emeriel met her sister’s gaze, finding surprising strength. “We always knew this would happen. Don’t cry about it. There’s so much to cry about, but not this.”

“True, but…” Emeriel looked at Aekeira with utter misery. “He hates me now.”

“Oh, Em…”

The dam broke again, tears flowing freely, her sobs shaking her small body. Emeriel’s chest ached. “He hates me now, Keira.”

Aekeira hugged her tighter, and Emeriel clung to her, Aekeira’s arms the only thing keeping her afloat. Emeriel held on and cried.

Aekeira guided her to the bed, sitting and cradling Emeriel’s head.

“I should have told him sooner,” Emeriel choked out. “I should have stopped being so terrified and told him sooner, so he wouldn’t have found out this way. The look he gave me in that cave, Aekeira…” her cries grew louder. “It hurts.”

“Cave? What cave?”

Between sobs and broken sentences, Emeriel recounted what happened in the cave.

Aekeira’s arms shook, tears falling, staining Emeriel’s cheek. “I’m so glad he saved you. I shudder to think what would have happened if not for him.”

“Yes, but—”

“There are no buts. Stop blaming yourself.” Aekeira pulled back, looking into her red-rimmed eyes. “There was no way you could have told him sooner and still gotten away with it. In the worst-case scenario, you would be dead. In the best case, he would have rejected you. It’s still a lose-lose situation.”

Emeriel wiped a tear-stained cheek. “You’re not helping.”

“Sorry, I just wish you would stop hurting, Em.” Aekeira gently wiped away another tear. “I’m so worried right now, thinking of what’s going on out there.”

Grand Lord Vladya

“Now, can someone explain how the Armageddon is Emeriel being a girl? And WE didn’t find out about it!?” Ottai’s voice reverberated through the hall as they moved from the grand high court to the court of duty.

Vladya took a deep breath, glancing at the distraught fourth ruler. Since Emeriel’s secrets had come to light, Ottai had been in varying stages of shock, stumbling through his duties, even stammering in court. Yet, as time passed, he seemed to absorb the information better.

Though, at times like this, Vladya doubted Ottai had processed any of it at all.

“Ottai,” Vladya sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve asked this question.”

“Do you think losing count is the problem here? I’m losing my mind!” Ottai glared at Vladya. “You dragged me into this mess without a single thought for my sanity! Which, by the way, is completely shattered.”

They rounded a corner, their boots loud in the empty corridor.

“Are you seriously going to keep being such a youngling about this?” Vladya rolled his eyes. “Get a handle on it already.”

“Oh, let me see if I have this straight. A boy we purchased, suddenly sprouts breasts, lets down his hair, and turns from handsomely beautiful to breathtakingly, femininely beautiful.” Ottai’s voice rose. “And if that wasn’t enough, the boy is a Syren. Oh, and he’s the grand king’s Soulbond. A SOULBOND!”

“I know, it’s mind-blowing, right?” Vladya deadpanned, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips.

Ottai raised his hands. “It’s mind-obliterating!”