Page 31 of A Heart Disguised 1

Fenris bowed deeply. “Of course, my lord. I’ll see to the implementation of our plans immediately.”

As the door closed behind Fenris, Darius let out a sigh. He walked to the window, gazing out over the sprawling grounds of his castle and the city beyond. The beauty of Lunaria stretched before him, but his mind was elsewhere.

Unbidden, his thoughts drifted back to the vision he had experienced the prior morning. Darius had viewed Robin through Starling’s eyes, a habit born from genuine concern for the boy’s safety. However, this time, he had inadvertently stumbled upon a far more intimate scene than usual. What he saw had quickly banished any thoughts of looking away, despite the private nature of the moment. Though his intentions were rooted in protection rather than voyeurism, Darius found himself captivated by the unexpected glimpse into Robin’s personal world.

He closed his eyes now, allowing the memory to wash over him once more. Robin had been in the bathing chamber, hisslender form submerged in the hot spring. But it wasn’t the mere sight of Robin bathing that had caught Darius off guard—it was what Robin had been doing.

The boy’s face had been flushed, his eyes closed in concentration as his hand moved beneath the water in a rhythm that Darius knew all too well. Robin had been pleasuring himself, and the realization sent a fresh jolt of heat through Darius’ body.

Darius found himself captivated by Robin’s ethereal beauty. The boy’s porcelain skin glistened with droplets of water, each one catching the light like tiny crystals. His long hair clung to his slender form, framing his delicate features like a halo. The rising steam from the hot spring created a dreamy haze, softening the edges of reality. In that moment, Robin appeared less like a mortal bride-to-be and more like a mystical being, a creature of grace and allure that had somehow found its way into Darius’ world.

As Robin’s movements had become more frantic, his breath coming in short gasps, Darius had found himself leaning forward, his own breath quickening in response. The boy’s delicate features had been transformed by pleasure, his usual timidity replaced by an expression of pure, unguarded ecstasy. And then, just as Robin had reached his climax, Darius had heard it.

“I can’t believe I just… with thoughts of him,” Robin had muttered, his voice a mix of awe and horror. Starling had chirped in response, almost as if laughing at the boy’s predicament. “It’s not funny, you know,” Robin had continued, his cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of pink. “What am I going to do now? How can I face the duke after… after this?”

The memory faded. Robin had experienced his first release—while thinking of him. The thought was as amusing as it was arousing, and Darius found himself chuckling softly.

“It seems our little Robin is full of surprises,” Darius said, a smirk playing on his lips.

He should have felt guilty for intruding on such a private moment, but instead, he felt… pleased. Pleased and intrigued. The knowledge that Robin desired him, even if the boy was horrified by that desire, was both gratifying and exciting.

Darius turned from the window, pacing the length of his study as he replayed the scene in his mind. He savored every detail—the flush on Robin’s cheeks, the soft gasps of pleasure, the way his lithe body had trembled at the moment of release. The contrast between Robin’s ethereal beauty and the very human, very male act he had been engaged in was utterly captivating.

“This marriage might prove more interesting than I anticipated,” Darius pondered aloud, his eyes glinting with amusement and a hint of something deeper, something he wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge.

As the memory of Robin’s intimate moment continued to play in his mind, Darius felt a familiar heat coursing through his body. The sudden surge of desire caught him off guard, and he knew he needed to redirect this energy before it consumed his thoughts entirely.

With a swift decision, Darius made his way to the castle’s private training grounds. The vast arena, hidden from prying eyes by high stone walls and powerful illusion magic, would serve as the perfect outlet for his pent-up energy.

As Darius entered the training hall, he paused for a moment, surveying the vast space. With a mere thought, his attire began to shimmer and change. The formal robes of his station melted away, replaced by dark formfitting battle gear. The material, a blend of leather and an otherworldly fabric, hugged his muscular frame, allowing for both protection and unrestricted movement.

Once dressed, Darius extended his hand, palm down. From his shadow, a dark mass began to coalesce, rising and taking shape. Within seconds, Umbra stood beside him, a massive hound with fur as black as the void itself. The creature’s eyes glowed like embers, casting an eerie light in the dimness of the hall.

“Ready, old friend?” Darius murmured, a rare smile touching his lips.

In response, Umbra’s massive jaws parted in a silent snarl, revealing rows of gleaming teeth.

Stepping into the center of the arena, Darius closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to slow. When he opened them again, his golden irises glowed with an inner fire, reflecting both his arousal and his determination to regain control.

With a wave of his hand, Darius summoned a legion of shadow warriors. The air shimmered as the spectral soldiers materialized, their forms flickering with an otherworldly energy. They stood motionless, awaiting his command.

Darius took another deep breath, centering himself. Then, in a blur of motion almost too fast for the eye to follow, he attacked.

His movements were a deadly dance, each strike precise and devastating. Shadow warriors fell left and right, dissipating into wisps of darkness. Umbra was a whirlwind of teeth and claws at his side, tearing through the spectral enemies with equal ferocity.

As the battle intensified, Darius called upon his more potent abilities. He wove complex illusions, confusing and misdirecting his opponents. One moment he was surrounded, the next he had vanished, only to reappear behind his foes, striking them down with ruthless efficiency.

Taking advantage of their hesitation, Darius summoned his black flame. The dark fire engulfed his hands, then spreadoutward in a devastating wave. Dozens of shadow warriors were consumed instantly, their forms crumbling to ash.

The ground trembled beneath his feet as he unleashed a wave of demonic energy, shattering several of the shadow warriors into wisps of darkness. Those that remained found themselves trapped in a labyrinth of mirrors, each reflection hiding the real Darius until it was too late.

As he fought, Darius’ mind wandered to his younger days. He remembered the thrill of leading vast armies, the rush of defending borders and expanding territories. While he still commanded hundreds of thousands of demon warriors, it wasn’t the same as being in the thick of battle.

These days, his battles were fought with quills and parchment, in council chambers rather than on blood-soaked fields. The work of a duke was necessary, but often tedious. As he incinerated another group of shadow warriors with his black flame, a thought occurred to him.

Perhaps after the wedding, I could take a vacation. Show Robin the wonders of Shadowmere in the demon realm.

The idea brought a smile to his face, even as he continued his deadly dance. He realized, with some surprise, that he was looking forward to sharing his world with Robin.

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