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

Chapter 246

Chapter 24.6

Ackeira pursed her lips.

"Don't think I didn't notice the pain you endured, how deeply he wounded you. I was the one who listened to you cry, night after night, because of him. When you thought everyone was asleep, you'd sob into your pillow until dawn."

Aekeira lowered her eyes. "It wasn't easy to let go," she admitted, her voice quiet. "But when faced with the choice between giving us a chance or living every day half-dead inside, I chose to take that chance."

"Even though he's half-mad and soulless?" Emeriel's voice held an edge.

Aekeira's lips lifted in a soft smile. "Even then." She looked up at Emeriel, her eyes bright. "And you know what, Em?"

Don't call me-Sigh. "What?"

"These past few weeks with him have been the happiest of my life." Aekeira's eyes sparkled, a dreamy look on her face. "I've never felt more alive. More fulfilled."

Utterly disgusting. Utterly adorable.

"Give the grand king a chance," Aekeira urged her. "Listen to him. Then decide what you want to do. Running away is not really the answer. The Emeriel I once knew understood that."

"I'm not sure I want to be that Emeriel anymore. That girl let her heart lead... and look at the bottomless pit she fell into. Now, I only follow my head."

Aekeira went silent.

Finally, she said, "And there's nothing wrong with that." Rising to her feet, she added, "I'll go fetch Madam Livia-she needs to know you're awake."

Emeriel nodded, watching as her sister walked toward the door.

But Aekeira paused, turning back, her hand resting on the doorknob.

that girl anymore," she said quietly, "but you can't lose her completely, Em. Because that girl survived hell. She endured slavery, the hell of sleeping with a beast. Faced the agony of heat and its recovery, of shouldering a crushing secret,

hard. She looked away,

be her entirely anymore, but you can still carry her with you. Because she balanced

at

love you, Em." Her sister opened the door, offering a small, sad smile. "I

into the

TWO YEARS AGO

1/3

JD7%

Chapter 246

months after returning

splitting headache and an even

the will to rise and close the curtains. Instead, she threw

for her Beloved's return, to pray he would

12

was ready to serve him for the rest of her life. She would accept any crumb of affection

promise," she mumbled hoarsely, her eyes

to

her door, voices

hadn't found

the thousandth time, what is going on here, Aekeira?" King Orestus's voice boomed, laced with irritation. "Why on earth would your sister even attempt to journey back

It's as if those beasts sent two strangers back

me alone! She wanted to scream, but

her stomach... it

drifted back

ripped through her, jolting her awake. What

followed, sharper and more excruciating, Emeriel doubled over, a strangled cry tearing from her throat. Struggling to her feet, she clutched her belly

her drawers, there was... blood.