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

Chapter 287

GRAND LORD VLADYA

His arms were folded

tightly over his chest as he observed his friend from across the room.

Twenty minutes had passed since Daemonikai entered Vladya's bedchamber and Vladya had told him everything, and in all that time, the grand king had not lifted his head. Remaining seated on the edge of the The thick silence in the room was broken only by the faint crackling of the fire.

"No. I would never do that." Daemonikai whispered at last, his tone low and hoarse. "You just told me a horror story, Vladya. A nightmare. And you know I would never do something like that to my Soulbond. So waiting." His fist curled even tighter, knuckles going white. "Waiting patiently for you to get to the part where you tell me this was just some cruel, sick joke that went too far."

"I wish it were a joke," Vladya said sincerely. "But it's not."

Daemonikai shook his head. Slow at first, then more forceful.

"This cannot be happening. This cannot-" he sprang to his feet, and began pacing the room like a caged beast. "I need to see her, I need to see her. I must see-" "Come," Vladya said softly. "I will take you."

The journey wasn't far. Emeriel was resting at the end of the hallway.

But as they approached the door, Daemonikai came to a sudden stop, several feet away.

Vladya paused, turning back to him..

His friend's face had gone ashen... and

blank. But Vladya didn't need to read his features to know Daemonikai was not alright.

It was in the tautness of his muscles. The faint shaking of his hands. It was in his rooted feet to the floor.

Daemonikai stood like a male who was terrified to take the rest of the steps and see what lay behind those doors.

"I'm thinking

told me. About the possibility that I..." His throat worked while he stared off

"I'm sorry."

Daemonikai's jaw clenched.

steeled his

moving again, his eyes anguished,

opening the door. He stayed by the threshold as

of the large bed, Princess Emeriel lay under a soft blanket, small against the

on her forehead, and her eyes were closed, her face

hands, visible by her sides, bore deep discoloration, though the swelling had gone down. Her left hand was

Daemonikai was still.

shakily, stepping

out, he pulled the bedding back, exposing more of her battered

her treatments are going well. They said she will heal...

was in a lot of..." Vladya shook his head. "They had to put

the edge of the bed, staring at her

He didn't speak.

He didn't move.

just sat there, staring at her as if, by sheer willpower, he could

was how

leaving her face as they applied salves and tinctures. Later, Livia arrived with the young slave girl, both of them moving quietly around. They cleaned Emeriel

on the

to leave for court. But as he did, his mind stayed behind

old friend, and his

somber. Filled with

the proceedings, Vladya sat stiffly, his thoughts drifting to Emeriel and Daemonikai again

fallen into over the past