Page 17 of A Heart Disguised 1

As Clarence bowed and left, Darius settled into his chair, reaching for the first report. He tried to focus on the words before him, but his mind kept wandering to Robin. Unable toresist, he reached out with his magic, connecting with Starling’s consciousness.

Through the bird’s eyes, he saw Robin stirring from sleep. The boy’s long hair was tousled, his emerald eyes still heavy with exhaustion. As Robin stretched, his nightgown slipped off one shoulder, revealing a tantalizing expanse of creamy skin. Darius felt a surge of desire, quickly tamped down.

He watched as Robin fumbled with his gown, muttering curses under his breath that would make a sailor blush. The boy’s clumsy attempts to dress himself were both amusing and endearing. Darius found himself chuckling softly, a sound that would have shocked his underlings had any been present to hear it.

A booming knock at the door jolted Darius back to his surroundings. He didn’t need to ask who it was; only one person in the castle would dare to announce their presence so boldly.

“Come in, Ignis,” Darius called, schooling his features into their usual impassive mask.

The door swung open with unnecessary force, and Ignis strode in, his fiery presence filling the room. “Darius, my friend! Surely you’re not planning to spend such a beautiful day cooped up in here?”

Darius raised an eyebrow. “Some of us have responsibilities, Ignis. We can’t all spend our days carousing.”

Ignis clutched his chest in mock offense. “Carousing? Me? I’ll have you know I’ve been very responsibly sampling the local taverns. For diplomatic purposes, of course.”

Despite himself, Darius felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward. “Of course. How thoughtful of you.”

“Now then,” Ignis said, clapping his hands together, “shall we take a stroll? You look like you could use some fresh air.”

Darius glanced at the stack of reports on his desk, then back at Ignis’ expectant face. With a sigh, he nodded. “Perhaps you’re right.”

As they stepped out into the sunlight, a dark shape began to emerge from Darius’ shadow. It coalesced into a massive hound, its fur as black as the void, with eyes that glowed like embers.

“Ah, Umbra decides to join us,” Ignis chuckled. “Hello, you old devil.”

Umbra’s tail wagged, belying its fearsome appearance. As they walked through the castle grounds and into the city proper, the hound’s form began to shift, shrinking and softening until it resembled a playful puppy. Citizens gasped and pointed, children giggling as Umbra romped through the crowd, its tongue lolling out in a doggy grin.

“Your hound never ceases to amaze me,” Ignis remarked. “A creature of shadow that loves nothing more than frolicking in the light.”

Darius watched Umbra with fondness. “He’s full of surprises. Much like this city.”

And indeed, Lunaria was a city of surprises. As they walked through the bustling streets, Darius marveled at how far they’d come. Demon artisans displayed intricate magical artifacts alongside human craftsmen’s more mundane, but no less impressive, creations. The air was filled with the mingled scents of human and demon cuisines, creating an aroma that was at once familiar and exotic.

In the main square, a group of young demons and humans were engaged in a lively game of Shadowball, a sport that had emerged from the blending of their cultures. Umbra yipped excitedly, darting between the players’ legs and earning laughs from the spectators.

“Your Grace!” a voice called out. Darius turned to see an elderly human woman approaching, her wrinkled arms cradlingan assortment of vibrant flowers. “A gift for you and your esteemed guest,” she said, her voice quavering with age but strong with purpose.

Darius accepted the flowers with a nod, noting the lack of fear in the old woman’s rheumy eyes as she met his gaze. Instead, there was a mixture of respect, curiosity, and even a hint of grandmotherly affection.

“Thank you, good woman,” Darius said, his deep voice softened slightly. “Your kindness is appreciated.”

As they continued their walk, Darius found his mind wandering once again to Robin. Unable to resist, he reached out with his magic, connecting with Starling’s consciousness. Through the bird’s eyes, he saw Robin attempting to eat breakfast in the moving carriage, a comical endeavor that was quickly turning into a disaster.

The boy sat perched on the edge of his seat, a plate of eggs and toast balanced precariously on his lap. His hair was tied back in a messy braid, wisps escaping to frame his face. As the carriage jolted over a bump in the road, Robin’s fork missed his mouth entirely, smearing egg across his cheek.

“Oh, bother,” Robin muttered, reaching for a napkin. But as he dabbed at his face, the plate tilted, sending a shower of toast crumbs down the front of his gown.

Darius watched, amused, as Robin’s face scrunched up in frustration. The boy set the plate aside and began brushing at his chest, only succeeding in working the crumbs deeper into the folds of the fabric.

With a huff of exasperation, Robin glanced around the carriage. Seeing that he was alone, he began to unfasten the front of his gown, muttering under his breath about “blasted dresses” and “impractical fashion.”

As the gown fell open, Darius felt his breath catch. Robin’s chest was exposed, pale and smooth, with just the barest hint ofmuscle definition. His nipples, small and pink, pebbled in the cool morning air.

Robin, oblivious to his unseen observer, ran his fingers along his chest, brushing away the crumbs. His touch was innocent, practical, but to Darius, it was unintentionally sensual. The demon lord felt his blood stir, a heat rising within him that had nothing to do with the morning sun.

As Robin leaned forward to shake out his gown, a stray beam of sunlight caught his hair, turning it to spun gold. For a moment, he looked utterly ethereal, a vision of beauty that took Darius’ breath away.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the moment passed. Robin fastened his gown, still grumbling about the impracticality of his disguise. He reached for his plate once more, determined to finish his breakfast despite the challenges.

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