That Prince Is A Girl The Vicious King's Captive Slave Mate by Kiss Leilani

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Chapter 74

EMERIEL

In the following two days, Emeriel was relocated to Blackstone and Lord VLadya departed on his journey. He was assigned to work in the gardens-a prospect that filled him with unexpected relief.

Emeriel had always envied the slaves who worked in the gardens drawn to the earthy scents and the quiet rhythm of tending to life. It had been one of his indulgences back in Navia a haven of peace amid a life of turmoil.

Emeriel couldn't be certain whether it was due to what had happened in court or if the slaves in Blackstone were simply different, but he noticed a change in the way he was treated.

The slave masters no longer bellowed at him, and his fellow slaves no longer sought reasons to harm him. Even the Urekai maids displayed a newfound respect. They observed him with curiosity as he moved about and generally stayed out of his way.

Aekeira began visiting more frequently as well Once she had finished her tasks, she would hasten to help Emeriel with his work.

Of course, they had to be discreet about it, as the slave masters frowned upon slaves aiding one

However, yesterday, while Aekeira balanced a brimming clay jug helping Emericl soak the thi master in charge of their duties caught them. Emeriel tensed, the watering can slipping from hu sprang upright, rigid as the dried stalks bordering the garden. another

flowerbeds, the slave

mb fingers, and they

their punishment. Surprisingly, the slave master ignored them, leaving Emeriel utterly bewildered, and

shared the news of her meeting with Grand Lord Vladya. Tears streamed down her face, hot and

the neighboring chamber?" she queried, a lingering sniffle betraying her tears. Her wild smile held a flicker of uncertainty

held her tighter, his resolve hardening. "Better me than you, Keira. Serving him would bring you far worse harm than anything he could do to me. That beast would

you be so sure?" she asked, her voice small, worry

yet he has not. It is not mere luck," Emeriel gently cupped her cheek, his gaze- searching hers. "Look into my eyes,

eyes But a flicker of reluctant acceptance softened her features. She ceased her arguments, her small sigh echoing in the space between them. Her embrace, when it came, was tight, almost desperate. "Very well. I

a change in Aekeira. She became happier,

had scared Aekeira more than his sister ever acknowledged, and the thought that he'd lifted that

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yes, sometimes, Emeriel could not help but refer to the beast as 'mine, especially in his head. He had stopped fighting that

guards who had once yelled at him to leave. hurled threats, and shoved, him now cleared his path. Emeriel would never openly acknowledge the trickle of satisfaction it brought him He entered through the small gate

it was behind the barricades, the next, it had Emeriel pinned to the wall. Its swift movement no longer frightened Emeriel as it would have before. Instead, he willingly bared his throat to

that filled Emeriel with warmth and an odd sense of happiness. Twice it licked his throat, its rough tongue leaving trail of heat. For a heart-stopping moment, a jolt

bloodfed

Emeriel arranged the feast-slabs of raw meat and steaming bowls of offal-the beast devoured them with guttural grunts. Its yellow eyes never left him, tracking his

spine. Made him feel like a rabbit trapped befor the wrong food, Emeriel was the one he wanted to eat. As

he

about him was an illusion. Emeriel found