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

Chapter 226

That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King's Captive Slave Mate Chapter 226

She did not want to walk with him. Every part of her that had toiled, survived, and endured screamed against it.

Yet, she took a step forward, not away from him, but towards him. The people erupted in a chorus of approval, some clapping their hands.

In what alternate universe had she fallen into? The grand king calling her Beloved, and Urekai cheering them?

Emeriel had no idea what was real and what wasn't anymore.

"Thank you, beloved," King Daemonikai said, once again pressing a kiss to her hand.

"Please don't call me that," Emeriel snapped.

The endearment carried the sweetness of what could have been and the bitterness of what was lost. And it made her heart lurch.

His smile dimmed, and sadness flashed in his eyes. It was brief, gone as quickly as it came.

"Forgive me, beloved," he said smoothly. "I will take that into account."

She glared.

A broad grin lit up his face.

Emeriel almost swallowed her tongue at the sight. Never had she seen him smile that way.

Hell, she had never seen him genuinely smile. Period.

It tugged at her insides, and she stared dumbfounded as he led her to his waiting steed.

Finally, she caught herself. "There is no extra horse," she noted, her voice dry.

"You will ride with me," he climbed into the saddle, extending his hand towards her. "Worry not, beloved. I will not let you fall."

No, it wasn't that kind of fall she was afraid of.

Emeriel absolutely hated the way "beloved" sounded coming from his lips. She hated the thrill it sent through her, the way it awakened parts of her she had fought to bury.

She hated how much she wanted to hear more of it.

strong, calloused one, and he effortlessly lifted her onto the horse, positioning her close behind him. He gave a subtle command and they set off

solidness of his back, the warmth of his body. Heavens, this was a terrible idea. A

his

grumbled. Hesitated, then

said warmly. "The day is beautiful, is it

male who crawled out of death's mouth, he's certainly in high spirits

muttered under her

Daemonikai chuckled. "I

ears," she

he added, his shoulders shaking with silent

mouth shut, more startled by

announced. "Brace yourself." He signaled the horse to increase

her arms wrapped around his waist, holding tight

they galloped through the countryside,

feel of his strong body under her hands, his hair tickling her face, the solidness of

she dismounted,

ahead, its snow-dusted cliffs plain against

rest of the entourage dispersed? Only Wegai remained, and even he turned his horse around to depart, leaving them

his horse," Emeriel

nodded, and Wegai obediently left the horse behind before making

around, her eyes narrowing as she noticed what lay ahead. He had

straw, each one marked with a painted bullseye. Bows and quivers filled with arrows

to unwind," King Daemonikai said, walking ahead with his hands clasped behind his

maintained fields, the swaying tall grasses, and the majestic peaks of the mountains rising in the

a beautiful place,"

the makeshift table and

is a way for me to center myself, to relax. Focusing on a single

noticing the royal markings etched along its length. She ran her

distance from the target, and with ease, loosed an arrow. It flew straight,

come over here," he beckoned her

arrows to her back, Emeriel joined him at

to breathe, to release the burdens that weigh on you," Daemonikai said in a soft tone, setting up her

have been difficult. I figured

can be surprisingly

the target,

safety and defense," he continued. "In the days