Page 107 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Sighing he uncrossed his ankle, and straightened. "How many females do you want? Two? Ten?"

"I'm not battling sexlust," Vladya grunted.

"And I was born today. Just a fresh youngling suckling on my mama’s bosom," Daemonikai shot back with a straight face.

Vladya inhaled deeply, ignoring him.

"Should I call the maids?" Daemonikai persisted. "Contact the whorehouse? A mistress?"

Vladya stopped in his tracks, his fists clenched. A muscle in his jaw ticked, his control visibly fraying at the edges. "It's not that simple."

"It is from where I'm standing."

Vladya’s gaze dropped to the floor. “I want to hurt her,” he finally admitted, his voice so low. Ashamed. “I want tounleashon her.”

Daemonikai’s brows shot up in surprise. He crossed his arms, intrigued. "So, I’m right. Thereisa female. Who is she? A lady, perhaps? Is she bonded? Is that why you're ashamed? Because I’ll drag her here, bondmate or not."

"She's not bonded—wait. You would get me someone'sbondmate?” Vladya’s head snapped up, voice incredulous. “Have you lost your mind?"

"If that’s who you want, yes," Daemonikai said without hesitation. His gaze was steady, resolute. "I’ll bring the Oracle herself if I have to. I care nothing for consequences or propriety right now. So, stop stalling and tell me the truth."

Vladya shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "You hide it so well behind your appearance as a just king, but sometimes I forget how morally twisted you truly are, Daemonikai Vipertheriov Naelzharoth."

Daemonikai waited him out, his brows lifting meaningfully.

“Fine,” Vladya exhaled sharply. "You remember that night in the woods, I told you about a girl I fed from?"

Daemonikai’s brows furrowed as he searched his memory. "I'm not sure I— Oh, the girl who almost quenched your thirst? The one who got ‘really high?’"

"That’s the one." Vladya looked… almost embarrassed.

“Mmm.” Daemonikai’s interest piqued, he reversed the cross of his legs and settled back into the chair. "So, who is this female?"

"No one."

"Do I know her?"

"No."

"Will you tell me anything useful, so I can find this girl and drag her here?"

"No."

Daemonikai sighed dramatically, rising from his seat. "Alright. If the desirable is not available, the available will have to substitute, do you not think?" He strode towards the door. "I’m coming back."

In the maid quarters, chaos reigned. Gales of laughter mingled with the sharp snaps of cards, interspersed by the occasional clatter of objects tumbling to the floor and boisterous cheers.

Daemonikai walked in and stood framed in the doorway. His voice, clear and authoritative, sliced through the uproar. "Who among you desires the honor of lying with Grand Lord Vladya? Step forward now."

The quarters fell silent, as solemn as a tombstone. One by one, the females emerged, eyes wide, lips parted in excitement. Seventeen of them in total.

Vladya, with all his cold-heartedness and meanness to the females, was a sensation for them. They loved him a lot.

Daemonikai pointed to five after dismissing the rest. "Come with me."

When he reentered the royal residence, Daemonikai’s instincts flared. Something was wrong.

"Wait here," he ordered the females, following Vladya’s scent, his footsteps silent on the plush carpet. The air in the bedchamber crackled with danger. A second later, a hulking, half-shifted Vladya lunged at him.

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