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

Chapter 369: This male was too hurt, too broken. He walked through life as if everything was fine, leading his people, masking the truth of how completely shattered he was inside. But Emeriel saw it now, clearer than ever. He had not yet grieved, there was no healing in sight.

"You still have trouble sleeping, don't you?" she murmured.

"It was easier when I could not manage at all. I see them every night in my dreams." His tone was raspy. "Their faces are still so clear, as if it all happened yesterday. I should have told Alvin I forgave him, that I held no grudge against him. I should not have told Myka to protect his mother with his life… that it was okay to save himself. I should have protected them. I failed them all."

Emeriel gave in to the need to comfort him, rubbing his side in slow, soothing circles. "I do not know them, but from everything I've heard, you raised wonderful children, my king. I do not believe they would ever think you failed them. You protected your people." "Yet the kingdom moves on while my world crumbled around me," he said bitterly. "I do not regret saving over five thousand lives that night. But I regret with every fiber of my being not saving my family. That guilt will be forever etched into my soul."

"Your Grace…"

"Sleep, little one." He cut her off gently, his hand resting in her hair. "If your exhaustion is so great that it seeps through my mental shield, then you need rest."

His words took a moment to register, but when they did, her brow furrowed. "Mental shield?"

"Yes." King Daemonikai resumed stroking her hair. "At a later time, I will teach you how to set up your own mental shield… to suppress the bond when it becomes too much, to control the foreign emotions you can feel from me," he sighed. "I reckon it's harder for you. You have felt the bond longer, even when I was feral. But with a proper shield, you can learn to control it, learn how to manage it."

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She nodded slowly, her eyes fluttering closed.

"For now, you sleep."

GRAND LORD VLADYA

Since Grand Lord Vladya had promised Daemonikai he would fight his madness, he had taken up running to release pent-up energy, to find some semblance of relaxation.

The voices in his head were quieter, as they had been for the past few days. Less distracting, his thoughts remained clearer.

The librarian had even brought every book, every record on feral conditions into his chambers, and Vladya had poured over them, garnering knowledge he might not already possess.

At dawn, after a long run through the woods, his body felt refreshed as he made his way to his chambers, only to pause at the familiar scent lingering in the air. If Yaz hadn't alerted him to Daemonikai's presence, the smell of his friend would have.

Daemonikai was already in his study, sitting at Vladya's desk, his head bowed, fingers drumming rhythmically against the wood.

"Come on in, make yourself at home," Vladya said sarcastically as he stepped inside.

Daemonikai did not respond. Not that Vladya expected him to. He had been worried about his friend these past few days.

"Hey…" Vladya approached, moving to stand in front of him, leaning casually against the table. "How are you holding up? You smell like her, so I take it you finally paid her a visit."

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