The Vicious King’s Slave Mate

1

Twenty-one Years Later

PRINCE EMERIEL.

“He’s so pretty,” a voice murmured.

“It’s the feminine prince,” another one said.

The third man had lust in his eyes. “No man should have hair that gorgeous.”

Prince Emeriel ignored them all as he moved from the palace grounds into the building, head held high.

Just because he was used to the unwanted attention, didn’t mean it didn’t make his skin crawl.

He might have lived as a boy all his life, but it didn’t exactly keep him all that safe. Men of Navia would stick their pallus in anything with a hole, especially if it looked remotely feminine.

But Emeriel’s senses were always on high alert. Which is why he was probably the only twenty-one-year-old virgin in Navia.

That, and his sister, Princess Aekeira, always did everything in her power to protect him. To make sure his secrets remained tightly hidden.

A carriage accident had taken their parents fifteen years ago, and King Orestus had adopted them. That tyrant made life a living hell for them.

Emeriel entered the hallway to Aekeira's chambers when he heard it.

Whimpers.

Soft, pain-filled whimpers.

That sound was coming from…

Rage surged through Emeriel. Not this again!

Determined, he stormed down the hall, and shoved the door open, unsheathing his sword.

"Get away from my sister right this instant, Lord Murphy, or I swear to the sky I will cut you down where you stand!" Emeriel snarled.

The minister of human affairs's face twisted with irritation, and he stopped thrusting. "Go away, little prince. You're ruining the fun."

Emeriel hated the jab 'little prince,' but surely not as much as he hated being called a 'slight prince.' Over the years, Navians had given him a lot of names thanks to his small and feminine look.

"Get away from her right now!" Emeriel strode purposefully toward the bed, seizing hold of Lord Murphy and pushing him away from Aekeira.

With a satisfying thud, the old oaf tumbled to the floor. Aekeira rose from the bed, clutching her vulnerable body, her face red from crying, eyes tired and swollen.

Emeriel pulled his sister into his arms, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Keira."

"It was not your fault."

That age-old guilt crept down his spine as he pulled back and glanced at his sister. The resignation and pain in her eyes hurt Emeriel more than he cared to admit.

Aekeira was always bubbly, always happy, playful, and quite talkative. But in times like this, when her body was violated, she mostly looked tired then, always scared or panicked.

Weary of the world.

Worried about the next aristocrat the king would hand her over to.

Lord Murphy rose angrily. "Why the hell would you do that!? I won Princess Aekeira fair and square in the card game at the gathering last night. The king wagered with her and lost to me! I was supposed to have her for two hours at least!"

Emeriel's eyes blazed as he whirled around, facing him. "If you put your hands on her again, I swear to the sky I will cut off your male organ, Lord Murphy."

"You will not dare!"

"I'll gladly take whatever punishment the king gives," he stated with conviction, "but you will be without your manhood. Choose wisely."

Lord Murphy's eyes widened, his hands flying protectively over his crotch, face reddening in anger.

"The king will hear of this!" The minister snarled. Taking his clothes, he marched out of the room.

"Oh, Em, why did you do that?” Aekeira's eyes filled with worry. “The king might punish you with the hot whip again."

"I do not care. Let us go to my room." Putting his sword away, Emeriel could not even look his sister in the eyes, dangerously close to tears himself. Helping Aekeira into her clothes, he led her out, and down the hallway.

Sometimes, Emeriel wondered if they would live like this if their parents were still alive.

"Em?"

His sister's voice penetrated his sad thoughts. "I'm here, Keira."

"My worst nightmare when I was younger was thinking I would be sold to an aristocrat in Cavar, but now, I almost wish that heartless king went ahead with it, instead of changing his mind," Aekeira said as they cut through a corner leading Emeriel's chambers.

"Please, don't say that.” Emeriel stopped walking. “That kingdom is a horror play. Anywhere is better than Cavar, sister. Well, except beyond the great mountain, of course."

Just the thought made Emeriel shiver. The Urekai dwelled beyond those mountains.

"Here isn't exactly that great either, Em. The only good thing in this land is you."

Emeriel's tears almost fell, but he held it in. Once in his chambers, he quickly ran the bath, and as Aekeira used it, he prepared a changing of clothes and herbal soothing medication.

The only good thing in this land is you.

Aekeira always protected Emeriel, even when it made her the sole target. His sister never hated him, but Emeriel hated himself for it.

Freshened up, Aekeira walked in, and laid on the bed, closing her eyes. "Em?"

"Mmm,"

"Sometimes I wish..." she trailed off, swallowing tightly.

"What, Keira?" he asked softly.

"Sometimes I wish I could leave this godforsaken kingdom." A single tear slipped from Aekeira's eyes. "Anywhere else is better than here."

Me too, Keira. Me too.

Long after she slept, Emeriel kept thinking about it.

Was some other kingdom really better than Navia?

This might be a terrible kingdom with an even more terrible king but according to the rumors, it rained everywhere. Most kingdoms were just as bad.

Hell, some kingdoms come close to competing with the Urekai in brutality and savagery. At least the Urekai had the excuse of a beast-animal living inside of them. Humans, though… they are just plain wicked.

He would do anything to give Aekeira a better life than this, even if it meant leaving Navia.

But, for now, he needed to go hunting. The king loved his streaks, and if Lord Murphy ratted on him, Emeriel would need all the bribes he could manage.

Outside, as usual, he drew attention as he walked out of the palace gates, murmurs flying behind him.

Then, two warriors stopped before him. "The king summons you, my prince," One of them said. "Your presence is needed in the courtroom."

Shit. That bastard didn't waste any time ratting on him, did he?

Much later, Emeriel realized his guess was wrong. It wasn't because of Lord Murphy.

It was much worse.