That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King’s Slave Mate Novel

Chapter 177: "It is your scent. This is dangerous," Lord Vladya snapped. "A scent on you is provoking him. The beast might tear into you just to get rid of the offending scent."

"He c-could kill me?"

"Of course, he can. It's instinct, and he's feral. Two bad combinations." Lord Vladya edged closer, remaining as non-threatening as possible. His head tilted as he covered the distance and sniffed Emeriel. "I smell nothing unusual."

Emeriel cried out as the beast's fingers dug into his shoulder, drawing blood. The feral creature took another sniff, raised its head to the sky, and howled. "By the heavens, this is very bad. What have you done, Emeriel? Who touched you?"

"No one! I was merely by the river-"

"Do NOT lie to me. Who touched you?" Lord Vladya's voice thundered.

The blood rushed from Emeriel's face, leaving him ghastly white. He had never seen Lord Vladya raise his voice, and the fury directed at him now chilled him to the bone.

But if he spoke, Master Boris would hurt Aekeira. Emeriel bit his lip until the metallic tang of blood filled his mouth. He had to hold out.

"Emeriel. Who. Touched. You?" Lord Vladya barked once more, his voice like whiplash.

"I cannot tell!" Emeriel's voice broke into a scream. His body trembled like a leaf in a storm. Eyes downcast, he choked out, "I can't!"

The beast unleashed a guttural bellow that shook the room.

Lord Vladya shifted. In a blur of muscle and fur, the angry man disappeared, replaced by his beast form. As magnificent and terrifying as the feral creature it was, the transformation left no room for doubt.

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Emeriel's bladder threatened to betray him as he forced himself to remain as still as a corpse, not daring to even breathe.

Lord Vladya's beast stepped closer, taking a deep inhale, nostrils flaring. Then, it reverted to its human form. "An Urekai male. The scent is distinct, yet familiar. What is his name?"

"Boris," Emeriel confessed at last. "He is a slave master."

The beast retreated, releasing Emeriel. Then, it lunged at the oak door, shattering it with terrifying force. The metal locks snapped like twigs. In seconds, the forbidden chambers lay open. The beast was gone.

Grand Lord Vladya looked at Emeriel. "He is going after that scent."

"Follow me," Grand Lord Vladya called over his shoulder before rushing after the beast.

Emeriel hurried after him, his heart lodged in his throat. Part of him felt a sense of relief. The beast had noticed the scent. It was going to hunt it down.

But Emeriel was terrified as he ran to keep up with Vladya's long strides. Fear of the unknown gripped him. Oh gods, the slave master would reveal Emeriel's secrets tonight during the confrontation, wouldn't he? Shout it across the land so everyone, including Lord Vladya, would hear that Emeriel was, in fact, a girl?

He stopped to scratch his arm, as he'd done three times already. Emeriel recognized the signs of his approaching heat cycle early this time. He was about to go into heat again.

Head raised to the sky, he whispered, "Please, let it be a mini-heat, not a full heat."

Despite his racing heart and his hands slick with sweat, Emeriel ran as fast as he could, catching glimpses of Lord Vladya as he turned corners, still tracking the beast's scent. His training in Navia kicked in. If there was one thing Emeriel excelled at, it was running. He was swift on his feet.

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