Chapter 24: The feral beast pressed its snout against Vladya's neck, sniffing deeply. Unsatisfied, it released aggressive pheromones, trying to provoke Vladya's beast. Vladya shut his eyes tightly, enduring the sharp, needle-like pain in every part of his body. He did not respond. Finally, the beast seemed satisfied. It pulled back, turned, and walked back to its favorite spot behind another set of iron bars. The danger was avoided. Vladya exhaled deeply, his tension fading. Turning, he moved toward the girl, planning to lift her lifeless body. But as he got closer, he stopped. She was still breathing. He could see bloodstains and bruises around her private area, but she was alive… in one piece. What in the world? Looking closer, he noticed grab marks, burns from the beast's snout, and other bruises all over her body. Yet, aside from those, the girl was unharmed. Vladya had not expected this. Shock froze him in place. When a Urekai beast went feral, the instinct to kill was so strong that some believed it was even greater than both bloodlust and sexual need. A wild beast's touch always led to death. No matter what it did, the end result was always… death. Even if she had survived, Vladya thought he would find her torn into pieces. But here she was, whole. And she had been in this chamber all night. How was this possible? Vladya glanced at the beast. Its yellow eyes, still empty of recognition, glared at him. Then he looked back at the girl on the floor. How is this happening? gαℓησν????????s․com, your source for inspiration A small flicker of hope stirred inside him. Vladya pushed it away. It had taken him a hundred years to accept that his best friend's mind was gone forever. And it had taken additional months of healing from the near-fatal wounds the same beast had inflicted on him to make that realization final. Do not do this to yourself again, Vladya. Daemonikai is gone. He had the scars to prove it. Bending down, Vladya carefully picked up the unconscious girl. His eyes were drawn to her left arm, which had more bruises than the rest of her body. It had multiple grab marks and snout burns. The beast had repeatedly pressed its nose to her arm, smelling her scent there more than anywhere else. But why? None of this makes sense. Outside the forbidden chambers, Vladya saw two guards approaching. They locked the metal gates behind them, securing the chamber. "Tell the head maid, Livia, that I summon her to Blackstone," he ordered. PRINCE EMERIEL Emeriel was at a loss for words. His wide eyes stared at Livia in shock and disbelief, as if the older woman had suddenly grown a second head. "I do not want this," he blurted out, his voice rising with panic. "I do not want any part of it." "We cannot choose to be a syren, Emeriel," Madam Livia said firmly. "Many human females have tried to become one over the centuries, even doing extreme things, but it simply does not work that way." She paused, her voice softening. "There are countless females who would give anything to be in your position right now." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!