31. TWO HEARTS BARE.
Chapter thirty-one
TWO HEARTS BARE.
Weak-kneed, Emeriel turned, her gaze meeting King Daemonikai. “I c-can’t do it,” she choked out. “I can’t l-leave.”
He stood there, looking tense. His expression tight, an underlying pain to it.
He didn’t move, didn’t close the distance between them.
So Emeriel took that step. And then another. Closing the space until only the faintest breath separated them.
She tilted her head up to him, tears rolling down unchecked. “I don’t want to leave.” Letting out a heart-wrenching sob, she shook her head vigorously. “I don’t w-want to lose you. Not again.”
His hard eyes softened for a fleeting moment before they flickered away.
He’s angry with me, isn’t he? she thought bitterly. Why wouldn’t he be?
She had shared the most beautiful, passionate night with him, only to leave him a few hours later. I would be furious, too.
So, Emeriel laid her heart bare. “I l-love you.”
King Daemonikai's eyes snapped back to hers, naked emotions swirling in her eyes. He stared.
“I love you, Daemonikai Vipertheriov Naelzharoth. I love you so much it hurts.”
Grand King Daemonikai moved so sudden, cursing harshly as he pulled her roughly into his arms. The force of his embrace stole her breath away.
“How could you leave?” His voice was low and pained. “After the night we had, after everything… how could you leave?”
Emeriel shook her head frantically. Sobs wracked her body, making it difficult to speak.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking." Her words tumbled out incoherently between gasps and cries. "I know I haven't made things easy for you. I was so lost in my own pain… I didn't see yours. I didn't give you a chance—"
“Stop. Don’t say that.”
"No, please listen. I truly am sorry." She clung to him. "Forgive me, Your Grace. Don't ever let me go. I will be good, I promise. I will do anything you say—"
“ Ukrae, Riel,” he groaned, his hands gripping her back. “Wait a minute.”
“I w-will be her replacement if that’s what you want,” Desperation edged into Emeriel's voice. “Just let me s-stay by your side. Please—”
“Emeriel!” he snapped in a sharp, commanding tone, one she had never heard before.
It struck through her like a lightning bolt, silencing her instantly.
He released her abruptly, a look of regret flashing across his face. "Shit, I just used the Alpha Will on you. I'm sorry, I never use it that way. it's just—"
Running a hand through his hair, he gripped her shoulders, his fingers digging into her skin as he forced her to meet his gaze. "Listen to me, will you? Are you ready to really hear me?"
"Yes," she whispered, her chest heaving.
Even if she could get hurt, Emeriel needed to hear what he had to say. "Tell me everything, please."
"First of all, I don't see you as a replacement for Evie. Erase that thought from your mind. You are your own person, Emeriel, with your own unique qualities and abilities. Your own unique spirit and fire. You are two separate beings, and you can never be mistaken for each other. Not in my mind, not to anyone else." He punctuated each word firmly, leaving no room for doubt. "When I look at you, all I see is Emeriel."
She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a finger to her lips. “Shh. Let me finish.”
Emeriel nodded, her hands clutching his cloak.
"Two years ago, I didn't know how to move forward after losing everything,” he said, his voice low and husky, “I didn't want to move forward. I thought the pain and misery I felt could not get any worse, that I had hit the bottom of the abyss "
His eyes, filled with a deep sadness, holding hers captive as he brushed away a stray tear from her cheek. "But then I lost you, and the worst truly came."
Emeriel’s breath hitched, tears spilling down her cheeks faster.
"I tried to forget you, but it was impossible. I didn't realize that you were the thread holding me together all along. Keeping me from falling apart. And when that thread was cut… I had no anchor." His hand gently cupped her neck. "Do you know how many times I wanted to come to you? How many times I had to talk myself out of coming for you?"
"Really?" she breathed, her voice catching in her throat.
"I should have chosen you over the damn guilt," he confessed, his voice laced with regret. "And when I went to the great mountains, I should have made the damn crossing."
"You were really going to come get me?" Her lower lip wobbled. "You went to the gr-great mountains?"
He nodded curtly. "You said I never knew you enough to feel more than guilt and pity, but I actually do, Emeriel."
"You know Galilea," she said, sadly. "I may be her, but she is not all of me, Your Grace. Most of the time, I had to hide who I truly was, just to survive."
He shook his head. "I don't mean Galilea. I mean the Emeriel who was there for me when I was feral." He gently wiped away another tear. "The one who saved my life."
The air rushed out of her lungs, and she took a step back, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You remember?"
"Everything," he revealed. "The good, the bad, the ugly. I remember all the sacrifices you made, even when I was undeserving of them."
“You really remember when it was just the beast and I?” She felt joy and relief. He finally has all the memories we shared in the beginning.
“Yes. I apologize for not remembering sooner.” A shadow fell over his eyes, and he took a deep breath. "The more I tried to pretend that I was okay, that I wasn't missing you, the more I shut down. Coupled with everything else, my soul began to wither. I was ready to use death as an escape. But when I got to the otherside…" He paused, eyes softening. "Evie opened my eyes to the truth. She made me see things differently."
"Hold on. You met your dead bondmate?" Emeriel's brow furrowed.
He gave a nod, his voice soft. "Apparently, when a soul wanders into the otherside, their departed loved ones can feel their presence. She talked some sense into me. Made me see things clearly, admitting to myself every single thing I wanted to remain blind to."
"She spoke in favor of us ?" Emeriel couldn't comprehend that. It must have been so hard for her. "She must have been a remarkable woman. Not everyone would do that."
Taking Emeriel's hand, King Daemonikai brought it to his lips, kissing each finger, one after the other. The warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine.
“She was. And she helped me come to terms with many things, one of which is that I want to be with you, Emeriel.” The conviction in his voice rang clear. "I wish to learn how to be better. How to take care of you the way you deserve. All I need from you is a chance to make this work."
"Is this… real?" she couldn’t help asking, her heart in her throat. "I'm not dreaming?"
"All real, dearling." He stepped even closer, his presence enveloping her. "All real. If I come to your dreams, there will be far less talking done and much more touching."
She gave a watery laugh, looking down at their joined hands, a feeling of wonder swarming her. "Your Grace…"
"Daemon," he corrected gently.
She looked up at him, her cheeks warming. “I know,” she whispered, shyly. “It’s just… it’s going to take time for the name to feel natural. You’ve always been ‘Your Grace,’ or ‘King Daemonikai,’ or ‘the Grand King’ to me. Even in my mind, that’s how I address you. Either all those or…"
"Or…?"
The tips of her ears pinked. "Or…m-my Beloved."
His eyes darkened slightly, a hint of a smile curving his lips. “Always. You may call me that whenever you wish.” His voice turned deeper, huskier, as he leaned slightly closer. “Although last night, I specifically remember someone screaming 'Daemon.' You cried my name so many times, I started to feel like the new god."
The warmth in her cheeks spread down her neck, her entire face heating up. “You… you shouldn’t say things like that!” she gasped, her voice rising an octave. “You say the most unconventional things out loud!”
"You really are a pretty prudish little thing, aren't you?" He chuckled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “And all mine."
The intensity of his claim rocked her. She liked it a lot.
"Yours," she echoed, her heart thrumming rapidly. "That is all I ever wanted to be. Yours."
He folded her into his arms again, kissing her forehead. "You will be that and more. I'm truly sorry about everything, Emeriel."
"I forgive you, and I'm sorry too…" Her heart was overflowing with love. She reveled in the feeling of being held by him, safe and secure in his arms. "I love you so much."
His breath caught, and his arms convulsed so slightly around her. "Emeriel…Tartarus, I don't know what an ancient like me did to deserve such a treasure like you. I have not saved a kingdom, nor have I cured all the sicknesses of the world. What goodness of such magnitude could I have done to earn you?”
Emeriel glowed from within. She felt cherished. Special.
I am the lucky one, Daemon. I always will be.
"Come, let's go home," he said, his voice regaining its usual strength. "Hydra Lake has seen enough of us for one day."
Raising his voice slightly, he added, "And Ottai has heard enough for today."
Lord Ottai was listening? Emeriel pulled back, her eyes widening in surprise. She glanced around, searching for the grand lord.
From behind a distant tree, the grand lord stepped out, a sheepish look on his face. He waved at them, awkwardly.
"How dare you listen in to my conversation, Ottai?" the king growled, his eyes still on Emeriel.
"I tried not to, Your Grace," he shouted from where he stood, his voice defensive. "But no matter how hard I turned my ears off, they managed to catch a word or two." He paused, looking even more guilty. "Or ten."
"Ottai," Daemonikai drawled in warning.
"I apologize, Your Grace," Ottai said, his tone far too earnest for it to be genuine.
The Grand King snorted, shaking his head before turning to Emeriel. “Let’s go home.”
She nodded, taking a few steps forward, but faltered when a sharp ache shot through her body. Emeriel winced, trying to mask it, but his watchful gaze caught her discomfort.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.
"Yes, it's… uhmm… that is…" This was difficult. How could she explain that her body ached, and she could barely walk right, from their passionate night together?
"I-I'm fine," she managed to say.
He arched a brow. "Are you really?"
Before she could answer, his arms slid beneath her knees and back, lifting her with ease.
"It seems someone isn't fully recovered from her… strenuous activity last night?" he teased, his voice dipping just enough to send her cheeks aflame.
“Stop,” she hissed, burying her face against his neck. “Lord Ottai can hear.”
Daemonikai let out a rich, low laugh. “I know Ottai looks all innocent and noble, but one of these days, you should listen in on Morina during heat. His look is deceiving.”
"Hey! That's not something you say to a lady,” Ottai called indignantly from behind them, his tone somewhere between affronted and amused.
Daemonikai stopped, glaring over his shoulder. “Are you implying I lack tact, Ottai?”
“Not at all, Your Grace. Only a fool would do that.”
Emeriel couldn’t help it—her lips curved into a smile despite herself. She leaned into her Beloved’s shoulder, hiding her face, her soft laughter muffled against his neck.
The king’s gaze softened as he looked down at her, smiling too.
And for the first time in years, Emeriel felt lighthearted. Happy.
Home.
***
“Put me down, please,” Emeriel mumbled into his shoulder as they passed through the imposing gates of the fortress. “The people will see.”
“Let them.” His arms clutched her tighter as he moved forward, carrying her as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Oh gods, is he going to carry me all the way inside? The thought both flustered and warmed her.
King Daemonikai—Daemon—didn’t stop, nor did his pace falter. He walked steadily with unhurried steps, holding her with pride.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at the faces of the people, but she could hear the murmurs.
Whispers filled the air like a low hum, their words indistinct yet charged with curiosity and surprise.
Emeriel tightened her arms around his neck, hiding her face against his shoulder. She felt like she was floating, the comfort of being this way with him replacing the emptiness she had lived with for so long.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt truly warm and alive. Like she had finally thawed out after a long, harsh winter.
“Your Grace, the evening court session has started,” a soldier’s voice announced as they reached the intercession.
Emeriel peeked through one eye to see where they were. She caught a glimpse of the soldier bowing before quickly shutting her eyes again. She wasn’t ready to leave the bubble of safety her Beloved's arms provided.
A few moments passed as Daemonikai carried her forward. Then came a resounding call.
“All hail His Majesty the First, the mighty and supreme sovereign ruler of Urai, His Grace, Grand King Daemonikai.”
Her head snapped up at the proclamation, her eyes darting around. Wait, what?
Emeriel stiffened in his arms, realizing they were now at the entrance to the Court of Duty. Her stomach flipped as unease settled in.
“You are still carrying me,” she reminded him.
“I know.” He looked down at her, his face unreadable. All traces of his earlier playfulness gone.
Her unease deepened. What is going on?
But she didn’t dare ask. Something about the way he carried himself, the way he held her, told her not to.
The great doors opened, revealing the vast chamber of the court. The murmuring stopped instantly.
All eyes turned toward them as Daemonikai entered, carrying her. The high lords, the grand lords, every noble present rose from their seats, bowing in acknowledgment.
Emeriel’s heart beat faster as he strode further, stopping only when they reached the center of court. Then, he lowered her to her feet and stepped back.
The silence was thunderous.
Emeriel drew in a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage to meet the gazes directed at her.
Some were curious, others cold, a few openly hostile.
She forced herself to hold her head high, unwilling to show weakness despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Though the people had grown more welcoming toward her recently, she knew better than to believe she had their undisputed approval.
Especially here, in this hall, among these high lords.
The memories were still as clear as yesterday. Her first official appearance before them, where they demanded her stripped naked. The second, when they sentenced her to death in the courtyard and cast her into the dungeons without food or water. The third, when they came together to send her away from their lands.
Why did he bring me here?
“I, Grand King Daemonikai,” his voice cut through the silence, clear and commanding, echoing with absolute authority. “The first and the only, stand here on this day to officially introduce my woman to my people.”