Chapter 324

Chapter 324

Females had begun to vanish. Taken during their heat, never to be seen again. What had first seemed an isolated crime had, upon investigation, revealed itself to had been happening for months. Not a single one of the missing had ever returned.

The crisis bothered Daemonikai as he made his way toward the living quarters. Voices reached his ears, filled with lightness, and untroubled. Emeriel and her sister.

Pausing at the threshold, he folded his arms as he observed them.

Emeriel was swaying to the rhythm of music playing only in her mind, while Ackeira reclined in a chair, her fingers working a crochet hook through loops of thread.

"Arms move like this," Emeriel said, lifting her hands in the air and twisting them with a playful flourish. "And the hips-like this." She swayed, her skirt flaring as she spun in a graceful arc.

Ah. She was practicing, or perhaps teaching Aekeira the steps for the upcoming Lantern Festival. Her sister, though silent, watched attentively, never pausing in her work.

"Now, a quick turn left, then a dip. Like this." Emeriel spun, her body flowing gracefully.

Something in Daemonikai eased. Smiling as he watched, the exhaustion of his day, the weight of responsibility, all faded to nothing.

How his life has changed thoroughly, all because of this woman.

Ironic, truly. Daemonikai hated humans. A part of him still did-likely always would. And yet, the brightest color in his world right now was this fearless human woman. His human woman, who painted his life in hues he had never known.

The feral incident should have torn them apart. Shattered whatever fragile thread managed to tether them together. By all logic, she should have fled from him, far from this place. Yet here she was.

Still in his territory. Still leaving traces of her intoxicating scent in every corner of his halls. Twirling in his living room. Smiling, glowing, so fucking radiant, as though she had not endured more horrors and pain in her young life than most would in a thousand years.

A girl who had set his long-dead heart racing. Who now filled the soul he had once thought empty with life.

"Listening is not enough, Keira. You must-" Emeriel's words faltered as her gaze landed on him. "Your Grace!" She gasped, her face coloring with surprise at being caught. "I had no idea you were finished with your work."

Daemonikai straightened, stepping further into the room. Aekeira, flustered as well, rose swiftly and curtsied.

"I have only just finished," he moved to take a seat opposite her. "Now, I await Vladya's return so we may join the others for the run."

"Vlad-I mean, Grand Lord Vladya is returning early?" Interest flickered in Aekeira's voice.

"He is," Daemonikai confirmed. Then, without shifting his gaze from Aekeira, he spoke to Emeriel. "Come here."

Emeriel's cheeks, but she approached him almost

"Sit."

but he caught her by the waist and pulled her onto his lap. She squealed, startled as she landed against his

staring down

He did not know whether it was her sister's presence that made her so shy, but he relished

his nostrils. Unable to resist, he leaned in, pressing his nose to her neck, and breathed more of it in. Holding the slow, deep, loud

Aekeira, who had suddenly taken a great interest in

Always mindful, always restrained. It was

she looked at him with

arrival. A moment later, the doors swung open, and

once, Aekeira's entire face lit up as she rose

hard, stoic features visibly softened.

practically flying to him and

way that was impossible to miss. Daemonikai did not fail to notice the resemblance- the way Emeriel had mirrored that very expression when

his attention to him,

noting the exhaustion on the man's face.

next few days," Vladya strode

stopped. She gripped Vladya's

tightened around her waist as he looked

"You lied. You have not recovered, have you?" "Of course I have," Aekeira drew in a breath, steadying herself. "There, see? I am fine now." Her pinched expression eas

as Vladya led her closer,

And went still."

had noticed his sudden

aside, and rose to

her, settling his eyes fully

scent her?" Daemonikai asked Vladya,

"Is everything all right?

to his voice. "I, the grand king, am formally requesting permission to scent one of my

The room tensed.

ramrod straight, the playfulness vanishing

nearby. "Daemon?" Emeriel's voice was

from Vladya, nor did he waver. "Shall I proceed, or will you deny

silence stretched

slow nod at last. "You

herself deeper into him,

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