PRINCE EMERIEL

Emeriel was horrified. I must rescue Aekeira! We need to escape!

"I know you are there, pretty prince. I can smell you," Lord Vladya's voice rang out.

Emeriel gasped, frozen in place as Lord Vladya’s imposing figure emerged from the door. His cold, lifeless gray and yellow eyes fixed upon Emeriel.

Instinctively, Emeriel took a step back. Then another.

Lord Vladya smirked. "I would advise against whatever thoughts are brewing in that little head of yours. You have no inkling of where you are, do you?"

Emeriel could only discern they were in the tallest, most fortified fortress he had ever seen. He shook his head, his fear palpable.

"You are in Ravenshadow," Lord Ottai said, coming up behind the scarred Lord.

Ravenshadow?

The Ravenshadow!?

No, by the Light, this cannot be happening.

"R-Ravenshadow Citadel? The home of the f-four grand rulers of the Urekais. The Whispering Abyss of great power?" Emeriel blurted out, unable to contain his terror any longer.

Lord Ottai snorted. "That is what humans call it. We do not. But yes, you are correct. You are in the Ravenshadow Citadel, Prince Emeriel."

"You do not need me to inform you that this is the most secure place in Urai, with vast lands in which you could get lost in if you attempt to escape.” Lord Vladya smirked. “A vortex that would swallow you, never to be seen again. There is no escape from Ravenshadow."

Emeriel heard their words, but his mind was consumed by a far greater fear.

"The four grand rulers of the Urekais reside here?" Emeriel mused, dreadfully.

"They do." Lord Ottai sounded mildly amused, drawing Emeriel's attention.

Emeriel had no idea he'd said that out loud.

Inching closer to Lord Ottai—He seemed the less intimidating and a preferable choice in that moment—Emeriel threw weary glances at the scarred lord. "I have heard rumors about Urekai.”

“What exactly did you hear?” Lord Ottai asked.

“They are said to be deadly, unpredictable and almost feral in their actions." " Emeriel listed off on his fingers as he rambled. "Their mating habits are said to be as brutal as their killings, and while they have bloodhosts, they prefer to drain humans' blood. And, after their king ran wild, they—"

"Terrific. Just what I needed to hear," Lord Vladya added in a dry tone.

Lord Ottai, still somewhat amused, spoke up, "I will leave the briefing to Lord Vladya. I need to attend to the council."

What!? Please do not leave me with him! Emeriel almost shouted. But he bit his lips hard, restraining himself.

Lord Vladya, however, did not hold back. "Think again, Lord Ottai. There is no way I will—"

"Would you prefer Lord Zaiper handle the briefing then?" Lord Ottai asked quietly.

A muscle twitched on Lord Vladya's jaw and he gave Emeriel a hard look, as if actually considering the option.

Lord Ottai must have picked up on that, quickly adding, "You know you don't want that to happen. Besides, let us not forget the favor you owe me. Remember that?"

Lord Vladya glared at him, and Lord Ottai offered a wolfish smile. "I believe it's time to collect. You do the briefing. Off I go." With that, Lord Ottai strode away, exuding an air of sophistication with every step.

Finally, Emeriel and Lord Vladya stood facing each other.

"Come." Lord Vladya began walking, and Emeriel fell into step behind him.

"Forget whatever rumors may have spread in the human realm. Some may hold a grain of truth, but most are truly bizarre.” Lord Vladya looked mildly annoyed. “However, I will not delve into the vast knowledge of our kind, for it is too extensive to cover. Instead, I will share the parts that pertain to your sister's presence here."

Emeriel braced himself.

"Five hundred years ago, and even before that, my people and humans coexisted peacefully. Grand King Daemonikai made sure of that."

Grand King Daemonikai.

The mere mention of the name had goosebumps spreading on Emeriel's skin, knees quaking in barely-concealed fear.

One of the oldest Urekai to have ever existed, his reputation was known throughout the world, even to a child born in present times.

He wasn’t just one of the four rulers, he was the very first. The ultimate ruler.

His power and strength were legendary. Some even suggested he couldn't be killed.

That name, Daemonikai, was one that struck terror into the hearts of every species existing in this world.

"His son, Alvin, made friends with a human prince." Lord Vladya continued. "During a conversation over a glass of champagne, Alvin, in a drunken state, told the prince the secrets of our people. The Eclipse Moon night."

“A night when the Urekai were naturally stripped of their power and strength by the moon, right?" Emeriel asked, wondering if the rumors were true. "It comes every five hundred years, rendering you lots incredibly weak. Weaker than a newborn baby. Vulnerable to attack,”

The scarred Urekai stopped and eyed Emeriel, nodding before walking again. "What Alvin didn't know was the prince's father used his son to gather information about us. King Memphis had his eyes set on our land. To make a long story short, the humans breached our defenses and attacked us on the Eclipse Moon night, inflicting significant damage upon our kingdom."

A shadow crossed Lord Vladya's eyes. "Many of our people were killed. The survival of the Urekai was largely due to the efforts of the four rulers, particularly Daemonikai." He looked distant, as if he could see that night playing out before him. "Daemonikai exerted every ounce of his strength to save his people. Sacrificed everything he had...knowing the consequences it would bring."

Consequences?

Emeriel suddenly felt bad. The humans regarded that night as a victory. Talked about it as a great achievement. But hearing it now, it was nothing short of barbaric.

"After that night, everything changed,” Lord Vlayda said. “Many Urekai lost their bondmates and children. Those who remained were hardened by the loss. Even our revenge did nothing to ease the pain in our hearts."

“Your kind almost decimated the human population, forcing many into hiding." Emeriel couldn’t keep the bitterness off his tone. "The Urekai took numerous slaves and nearly depleted the human lands of their females. And it did nothing?”

As those chilling eyes once again stared at him. Emeriel snapped his mouth shut.

"Then, Grand King Daemonikai gave in to his beast and went mad. His mind was completely lost, has remained so for the past five hundred years. The very people he sacrificed everything to protect are now in danger from him." Lord Vladya turned a corner. "The beast breaks free periodically, going on ruthless, brutal killing sprees. To prevent further loss, the beast is confined here in Ravenshadow."

Okay... that sounded like a good idea. What was the problem?

"But, confinement alone is not enough. Our inner beasts require two basic substance to survive: blood and sex," Lord Vladya surveyed Emeriel with a piercing gaze. "And that is where your sister comes in."

Emeriel grew unease. He did not like where this was going.

"Princess Aekeira will fulfill the beast's sexual needs. That is why she was acquired. As for you, since I have no use for you, both of you belong to the beast," Lord Vladya asserted firmly.

"What?" The disbelieving whisper tore from Emeriel. "Surely, y-you can't mean that."

"Tell Princess Aekeira to present to the beast. If she presents well, who knows? She might survive another day. I care little for the outcome."

Emeriel collapsed to his knees, tears blurring his vision. "Please, Lord Vladya, don't subject her to this. To be a sexual slave? To a beast...the king's beast? My sister will die!!" He screamed, his words tainted with anger.

Lord Vladya did not bat an eyelash. "Good luck trying to run away from Ravenshadow. For every attempt, you will be met with fifty lashes of the whip." With that, he turned on his heel, striding away.

Anger surpassed terror, and Emeriel surged after him, but the Urekai soldiers blocked his path.

"Who do you think you are!?” Emeriel screamed. “Do you consider yourself so all-powerful that you can dictate the fate of living beings!? You are nothing more than beasts! You're a monster, Lord Vladya!"

Lord Vladya halted at the doorway, casting a glance over his shoulder. "That is a compliment, human prince. And to you, it is Grand Lord Vladya."

Emeriel froze.

Grand Lord?

As in, one of the four rulers of the Urekai, that GRAND LORD!?

Holy light-gods, we’re doomed.

PRINCE EMERIEL

The night had descended upon them.

Aekeira's face turned pale upon hearing everything from Emeriel. She had not uttered a single word in hours. Instead, tears streamed down her eyes.

Emeriel could hardly recognize Aekeira after the "treatment" Livia had given her.

Aekeira was incredibly beautiful, well-groomed, and all dressed up in that scanty piece of nothing.

He despised the purpose behind her transformation and dreaded the impending arrival of the Urekai guards, who would soon take her away.

"Let us escape,” Emeriel suggested urgently. “This place is vast, and—"

Aekeira shook her head. "I cannot risk your life, Em. Grand Lord Vladya warned you about the severe consequences of attempting to escape. Moreover, if we’re caught, they will undoubtedly discover your secret when they strip you down to whip you. It is simply not an option."

Emeriel approached his sister and shook her firmly. "Pull yourself together, Aekeira! You will be forced to serve a UREKAI in its BEAST FORM! One that has lost its sanity and has remained feral for over five hundred years! You cannot subject yourself to such a fate! You will die if you do this!" he screamed.

"We have no other choice!" Aekeira screamed right back, "I will not put you in danger, Emeriel. Can't you understand? You are my younger sister. Our parents risked everything to protect you, and I will do everything in my power to do the same. Not because you are a burden, but because I am your elder sister, and I love you dearly!"

Emeriel bit his lip, struggling to hold back tears. "And who will protect you, Aekeira? Who will ensure your safety?"

Aekeira's desperate arms grasped Emeriel, as she gazed into his eyes. "They must never discover you are a girl, Emeriel. Never! Neither the humans nor the Urekais must find out."

The door swung open, announcing Livia's return, accompanied by the young girl, Amie, and another group of Urekai soldiers.

"It is time. Let us proceed," Livia declared as her eyes widened. "It is inadvisable for you to touch her now. You do not want to leave your scent on her. Release her immediately."

"What do you mean? What will happen if I touch my sister?" Emeriel asked, quickly pulling away.

"The beast must not detect any other scent on her. If it smells a scent it hates, it may become even more brutal–might even tear her apart. That is why you must not touch her, Emeriel."

Livia nodded for the men to escort Aekeira out of the room, and Emeriel followed.

The journey was long and silent, involving a lot of twists and turns.

They passed by human slaves and Urekai maids within the vast fortress, but as they approached their destination, the faces grew scarce, and the surroundings became eerily quiet.

Fear and goosebumps crept over Emeriel as they entered a haunting corridor.

A strange sensation fell over Emeriel, and the silence became almost deafening. It felt as though they were walking through a graveyard.

"This is as far as we go," Livia whispered at the entrance of the hallway. You can proceed from here, Aekeira."

Emeriel ignored the head maid's words about not touching his sister and gripped Aekeira's arm tightly.

"Don't do it," he pleaded, shaking his head vehemently.

Aekeira did not turn to look at him, as she gently pulled her hand away and continued forward.

.

Back at their chambers, Emeriel began to pace.

He scratched his arm, feeling restless and irritable.

All he wanted was for his sister to remain alive until the next day.

Whether she was wounded or in pain, it didn’t matter, as long as she was alive. It might have been selfish of him, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

But as he paced, Emeriel felt really, really strange.

Hot. So hot.

As if he was burning from the inside.

*****************

PRINCESS AEKEIRA

The forbidden chambers were engulfed in pitch-black darkness. Unable to see anything, Aekeira’s fear sky-rocketed.

But she could sense she was not alone. Something was watching her.

Goosebumps spread across her body.

With trembling hands, Aekeira began to undress. The Urekais possessed exceptional night vision, so Aekeira was certain this beast could see her clearly.

Present to the beast. You might be able to survive if you present well.

Naked, she fell to her knees, her body trembling. She lowered her upper-body until her shoulder pressed against the cool floor, spreading her knees wide open to expose her privates fully.

Don’t present your anus. The older woman had instructed her as she poured copious amounts of liquid as lubrication into Aekeira's intimate area.

There is no consciousness within the beast. Only sex, bloodfeeding, and killing.

Aekeira let out a long breath trying to still her shaking body.

He won't bloodfeed from you, his bloodhost came yesterday.

Carefully, Aekeira avoided touching her buttocks. Instead, she grasped just beyond them, reaching for her vaginal folds, spreading them apart as much as her position allowed.

A growl rumbled from the dark room.

Aekeira cried out, startled. It sounded much closer than she expected...!

Trembling like a leaf, she stared ahead into the darkness, awaiting the inevitable.

The position she held was uncomfortable, but Livia had instructed her to maintain it for as long as possible.

A large hand rested on her small hip. The shadow was enormous...a towering figure hovering behind her.

Aekeira held her breath, beyond terrified.

The beast sniffed her. Then, it stilled.

Took another sniff.

Its growl intensified…as if it had caught another scent?

Before Aekeira could think about it, the beast pressed its cold nose at her arm and inhaled deeply.

It was the same spot where Emeriel had held her before they parted ways.

A loud snarl echoed behind Aekeira.

Then, he mounted Aekeira, forcefully thrusting inside her.

She screamed in agony as the large beast ravaged her mercilessly. Mindlessly.

The pain excruciating, unlike anything she had ever endured.

Her screams reverberated through the silence, shaking the walls.

The beast continued to sniff her arm, groaning and snarling. It wanted more of that scent. Annoyed, it couldn’t get more...!

Its pace was inhuman, fast and forceful, as if it wanted to penetrate Aekeira's very soul.

"Please!!!" she screamed, overwhelmed.

Her small body felt completely consumed by him. And he truly was a beast.

She could feel the hard scales against her skin. Limbs like tree trunks. Talons as sharp as daggers.

She feared they would cut into her, given how tightly the beast held her.

Oh, divine gods, I’m going to die!

*********

PRINCE EMERIEL

Something was not right.

Whatever was happening to Emeriel had worsened over the past hour. Even before Aekeira's anguished screams pierced the night.

He wanted nothing more than to rush into the forbidden chambers and rescue his sister, but his body hurt so bad. He was so aroused too.

At some point, Emeriel had undressed. The sensation of wearing clothes against his burning skin had become very uncomfortable.

Now, he lay curled up on the bed, suffering from another rush of pain, and arousal. They came in waves.

"No, no, please," he cried out at the sign of pain.

Agony twisted his body, causing him to stiffen as it coursed through him...focusing particularly on his private parts.

Emeriel's feminine areas were engulfed in flames that refused to subside. The itching sensation was unbearable.

Scratching with his fingers, as Emeriel had attempted repeatedly, only resulted in increased pain.

I want to touch myself down there.

Never was it an urge he ever had before, but now, it was all Emeriel thought about. Except for the white cloth that tightly bound his breasts, he was completely naked.

But even his breasts caused him discomfort. With shaky hands, Emeriel untied the chest-bind. Giving in to instinct, he caressed his own breasts, twerking his nipples.

Emeriel cried out at the sweet pleasure that coursed through him.

I don't know what's happening to me.

Aekeira's screams rang out in the distance, and he whimpered. He had never heard her scream so loudly, so agonizingly.

Gods, he needed to save his poor sister before that beast killed her.

But try as he might, Emeriel could not move his aching body.

“Somebody...help,” he cried, his hand desperately pinching his engorged nipples.

Oh, by the sky, what's wrong with me!?