Page 80 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“I think you need a nickname, too. I wonder what would fit,” I muse. “Grumpy uncle? That seems accurate.”

“Please no,” he says, his tone flat.

“No, you’re right, you’re a terrible uncle. Oh, I know!” I grin mischievously. “Stepdaddy dearest!” I repeat the words I hadused for him with Elijah, following through on his bet to call Aurelius that to his face.

“Absolutely not,” he growls.

I know the sound is not meant to turn me on, but it does.

“What? You don’t like being calleddaddy?” I drop my voice to a seductive whisper.

His eyes flare wide, and I almost see a hint of interest in them. Suddenly, he turns to face me mid-step and wraps his hand around my throat, pinning me to the wall. He shoves his knee between my thighs, rubbing right against that sweet spot in a way that has me biting my lip to keep from moaning. Leaning close to my ear, he nips my lobe before saying, “How about this? I’ll let you scream daddy in bed when the day comes that your womb swells from my child growing in you.”

My mouth drops open in astonishment at what he just said. He takes that opportunity to steal a kiss from me, his tongue diving deep and claiming my mouth like he claims everything else from me.

When he finally breaks away, I’m breathless. “Does the thought of me being with child turn you on, Aurelius?”

“The thought of you pregnant withmychild, yes. Very much so,” he admits easily.

“That’s unexpected,” is all I can muster in response.

“It will happen one day, Breyla. I respect your autonomy and your decision for when you’re ready for that, which is why I’ve been taking a tonic. But I will see you pregnant with my children someday.”

With that he releases me and steps back from the wall, giving me space to breathe and digest his words. I knew someday I would have to provide heirs for the kingdom and accepted that, but I never stopped to consider if Iwantedthem. Though I can’t say the idea turns me on like it does Aurelius, I don’t find myself opposed to the idea of having his children.

I can almost picture their dark curls, green eyes, and lightfreckles. Or maybe they’d have my auburn locks and his crimson flecked dark eyes. Either way this plays out, they’re absolutely beautiful in my mind.

Shaking myself out of that daydream, I continue our walk toward the dining room, eager for breakfast. I can smell the freshly cooked sausage and pastries before we reach the room.

My mouth waters as I take in the spread before us on the table. It has everything from poached eggs, sausage, and bacon to fresh fruit, sweet pastries, and flapjacks. I eagerly sit down, waiting for everyone to join before I dig in.

“We weren’t sure what you preferred now, so we had the kitchen prepare a bit of everything,” my grandma says, smiling.

“Everything,” I reply hungrily. “I like everything.”

My grandfather chuckles. “Take after Raynor with that one. That boy could eat. Our kitchen never could keep up with two growing males with that kind of appetite.”

I laugh because he’s not wrong. I do get my appetite from my father. Most females picked at their food, while I held no such reservations. I would always gladly devour what was put in front of me. I had absolutely no shame when it came to food.

Finally, everyone is present and seated, so I begin dishing food onto my plate. I shovel a bite of sausage covered in sweet syrup, followed by a piece of a blackberry Danish into my mouth. I moan in contentment around the food in my mouth. Aurelius stifles a laugh with a fake cough, and I catch him adjusting uncomfortably in his seat.

Curious, I send my shadows under the table to crawl up Aurelius's leg. They take the shape of hands as they inch higher up his thighs. I watch his face, but it’s infuriatingly passive. He is clearly not as unaffected as he would have me believe, though, as my shadow hands find his dick rock hard beneath the table.

My lips quirk at the corner in the slightest of smirks. I hadn’t meant to turn him on, but the temptation to mess with him is too great. I use my shadows to rub slowly over his erection. His browfurrows, and he drops his fork to rub circles on his temples, as if nursing a headache.

“Are you alright, son?” Grandfather asks, noticing his discomfort.

“I’m fine, Dad. Just didn’t sleep the best.” The lie slides easily off his tongue.

“Do you need some more rest?” Grandmother offers, her tone concerned.

“No, I think I’ll be fine. I’m just going to get some fresh air. There’s actually something I wanted to show Breyla.”

They nod in understanding, dropping the subject, and I giggle internally at the distress I cause this male.

We finish breakfast in silence, and I don’t bother him anymore with my shadow fiends.

He leads me out the back of the estate, exiting through one of the servants’ entrances. We walk into the woods behind the home, the trees thickening as we travel further in. I have a feeling I know where he’s leading me, but I stay quiet.

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