Captive Slave 158

Chapter 158

Sunlight stabbed through the window, striking Emeriel's eyes, the bedsheets were cold, the room silent. She woke to an empty bed. Trying to move, she realized that was the least of he problems.

A sick feeling churned in her stomach, the nausea hitting her hard. Each attempt to move sent tremors of pain through her battered body. Bile surged up her throat, muscles protesting as she doubled over and wretched onto the rumpled bedding. She heaved until nothing remained, dry sobs wracking her fram. Tears mingled with saliva and bile on her cheeks, her nose running unchecked. The world swam in a nauseating blur.

A gentle knock broke the silence. My beloved?

The door creaked open, revealing Lord Herod's concerned face, Oh, my poor little one. He stepped inside. "Your heat has ended."

Indeed it had. The feverish arousal that had consumed her for days was gone, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. Her mind was clear, but her body felt as if it had been trampled by a stampede of horses.

"I feel... crushed," she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut against the morning light that stabbed like needles. "Like a war chariot ran me over."

"A common feeling, my dear," Lord Herod soothed. His footsteps drew nearer. "I'll have you moved to the main house. The maids will see to this mess. A bath has already been prepared. You'll feel better afterward."

Emeriel doubted that, but she didn't have the energy to argue. The thought of being clean was a small comfort.

"I'm going to lift you now," Herod announced, his hand reaching for her arm.

Emeriel recoiled with a hiss, her body instinctively shrinking from his touch. "No," she whimpered. "It hurts."

"That, too, is normal, my dear Em," he said softly. "You've been touched constantly for days. Your body craves space to heal. But I'm afraid you'll have to endure it for a moment. Walking will be difficult. This is the only way I can get you out of here." Emeriel's stomach roiled, making it difficult to focus on Lord Herod's words. She tried to summon the strength to move, but her muscles refused to cooperate.

"Alright," she managed, weakly, bracing herself for the pain.

But nothing prepared her for the abject misery that shot through her when his strong arms lifted her from the bed. Emeriel stifled a cry as she was carried out of the cottage that had been her world for the past three days. "The grand king has left, hasn't he?" Emeriel tried not to cry.

her emotions would be more

"Matters of court wait for no man, Emeriel. But he spent your heat with you, staying the entire time, despite his deep-seated hatred for your kind. The gods are

driving him to the brink of murder. Twice, he'd almost strangled her. If the gods truly favored her, they wouldn't have forged this bond in the first place. Before the manor, shielded from the harsh sunlight,

think I'm going to

seconds, my dear," Lord Herod

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Chapter 158

AEKEIRA

missed her

apart felt

however, she was determined. Not just to finish early, but to elude Master Tyke's ever- watchful eyes. She hadn't encountered him since

entire third wing. Then, she tended the gardens, watering, weeding, and planting. By midday,

tune, Aekeira

it is.

Tyke's voice. He stood in

She hadn't encountered him since that dreadful evening, and she'd hoped she never would again.

his pipe. "What did you do to his

afraid I

advanced menacingly. Aekeira stumbled back until her spine met the rough wall, trapping her. His eyes burned with rage, muscles tensed. "Lord Vladya despises your kind. He finds great joy in eradicating vermin like you. What did you do to earn his favor?" Panic clawed at Aekeira's throat and she glanced at the door, longing for escape. "I swear,

thundered, closing the distance, looming over her. His hand shot

the women here. Your looks alone wouldn't

in bed? Is your

Are

jaw

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