Page 13 of A Heart Disguised 1

Amid this confusing whirlwind of sensations, panic gripped me as I realized my grievous error—in my nervousness upon entering the city, I had forgotten to ask Meredith to wrap a scarf around my neck to hide any hint of skin. My lack of feminine curves now felt like a glaring flaw under his scrutiny, yet the intensity of his gaze made me feel oddly… seen.

This unfamiliar feeling terrified me even more than the fear of discovery. What was happening to me? Why did I feel simultaneously drawn to and frightened by this demon lord I had just met?

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy with unspoken tension. I felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the duke could see right through my carefully constructed facade to the trembling boy beneath. My mouth went dry, my mind racing to find something—anything—to say that wouldn’t further reveal my deception or the strange, unfamiliar feelings coursing through me.

And then, as if my brain had decided to sever all ties with my mouth, I heard myself blurt out, “Do demon lords prefer their brides rare, medium, or well-done?”

The words hung in the air, a fresh wave of embarrassment crashing over me. My cheeks flamed, the heat of my humiliation threatening to ignite the very air between us. I watched,horrified, as the duke’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his lips parting ever so slightly. Did his lips twitch in amusement, or was it my imagination?

For a moment that stretched too long, he just stared at me, and then everything went topsy-turvy. The edges of my vision began to darken, the grandeur of the hall spinning around me in a dizzying dance. My knees turned to water, and I felt myself sinking, falling backward with all the grace of a marionette with cut strings.

But instead of the cold, hard embrace of the marble floor, I felt strong arms catch me. In a swift, fluid motion that belied his massive size, the duke had moved to intercept my fall. His touch was surprisingly gentle, yet I could feel the raw power coiled in his muscles as he held me effortlessly.

“My apologies, Your Grace,” I murmured, my voice little more than a whisper as darkness crept into the corners of my vision. “I seem to have… fainted.”

As consciousness slipped away, cradled in the arms of the demon lord, my last coherent thought was a fervent wish that I would wake up to find this had all been nothing more than a particularly vivid nightmare. But even as the world faded to black, I knew that my life had irrevocably changed, and that this was only the beginning of my adventure in the demon lord’s castle.

5

Darius

The soft scratching of quill on parchment filled Darius’ study, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of papers as Alaric sorted through the seemingly endless pile of reports. Darius leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off an impending headache.

“Alaric, what’s next on the agenda?” he asked, his deep voice tinged with weariness.

His assistant consulted a meticulously organized schedule. “We have the grain yield projections from the eastern farmlands, Your Grace. And then there’s the matter of the new trade routes to discuss.”

Darius nodded, reaching for the next stack of papers. Hours passed, and the pile of documents slowly dwindled. As the last report was signed and sealed, Darius stood, stretching his tall frame. “I think that’s enough for today, Alaric. I’m going to inspect the training grounds.”

“Very good, Your Grace,” Alaric replied, already tidying up the desk.

The corridors of Argentum Keep were a hive of activity as servants scurried about their duties. Many bowed or curtsied as Darius passed, their eyes darting nervously to his imposinghorns before quickly looking away. He was used to such reactions from the human staff, though he noted that some seemed to be growing more accustomed to his presence.

As he stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, the sounds of clashing metal and shouted commands reached his ears. The training grounds sprawled before him, a vast expanse of packed earth dotted with various obstacles and practice areas. To his left, archers loosed volley after volley at straw-stuffed targets. To his right, a group of soldiers ran through complex sword drills, their blades flashing in the sunlight.

In the center of it all stood Sir Thorne, his crimson skin glistening with sweat as he barked orders at a group of new recruits. The burly demon’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a human soldier’s sloppy footwork, and he strode over to correct the error.

Darius made his way through the training grounds, nodding approvingly at the mix of human and demon soldiers working side by side. It had been a challenge at first, integrating the two races into a cohesive fighting force, but the results were beginning to show.

“Your Grace,” Sir Thorne’s booming voice carried across the field as he approached, bowing his head respectfully. “Come to see how the new blood is shaping up?”

“Indeed,” Darius replied, his eyes scanning the troops. “They seem to be progressing well. How are they handling the joint training?”

Thorne grinned, revealing sharp fangs. “Better than expected, truth be told. The humans are learning to overcome their fear, and the demons are learning patience. It’s a sight to behold when they finally click as a unit.”

Darius nodded, pleased. “Excellent work.”

A servant came hurrying across the training grounds, looking somewhat out of breath. “Your Grace,” he panted, bowing low.“I beg your pardon for the interruption, but I bring news. The Grand Duke of Solarys has arrived at the keep.”

Darius raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering across his features. “Ignis? Here?” He hadn’t invited any of the higher-ranking demon lords to the wedding, knowing the political complications it could cause. But trust Ignis to show up uninvited. “Very well. I’ll receive him at once.”

Turning back to Thorne, Darius issued his final orders. “Continue with the training regimen. I want daily reports on our preparedness. And Thorne,” he added, his voice dropping to a low rumble, “keep an eye out for any unusual activity within the keep.”

“Understood, Your Grace,” Thorne replied with a sharp nod.

As Darius made his way back to the keep, he couldn’t help but wonder at Ignis’ sudden appearance. The Grand Duke of Solarys was many things—brash, loud, and fiercely loyal among them—but he wasn’t one for surprise social calls. No, Ignis must have heard about the wedding and decided to investigate for himself.

The great hall of Argentum Keep was abuzz with whispers as Darius entered. Servants scurried about, casting nervous glances toward the imposing figure that dominated the center of the room. Ignis stood there in all his glory, a full head taller than most of the humans around him, his muscular frame draped in silks of deep crimson and gold that did little to hide his impressive physique.

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