Page 82 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

A pause hung in the air, heavy and pregnant.

"Apologize." The single word sent a ripple of shock through the onlookers.

Aekeira stood shocked. Even Yaz displayed a flicker of surprise.

"Uhmm, I think I'm okay, your Hi—"

"Apologize to her, Tyke."

The slave master swallowed audibly, his face pale. He turned to Aekiera, his eyes downcast. "I apologize for everything I did wrong, human."

Lord Vladya’s voice remained calm, his face blank. "That is not her name, Tyke." Lord Vladya’s voice remained calm, his face blank.

"I a-apologize for everything, A-Aekeira."

Aekeira was tongue-tied. "Uhm..."

Lord Vladya finally released her hand, leaving it tingling from his touch. He turned and strode away, his cloak swirling behind him. "Follow me."

Chapter twenty-three

A RARE PEACEFUL MOMENT

Aekeiratrailedbehindhim,leaving the bewildered, prying eyes behind. Silence enveloped them as they made their way through the Blackstone's courtyard, where slaves toiled, and into the heart of the fortress, where only Urekai roamed.

She thought back on High Lord Herod’s message this morning, thankful Em was somewhere safe for her full heat. Though surprised the grand king was helping her through it. Still, knowing whose arms Em was in, eased some of her worries... even if it opened the doors to newer, scarier, ones.

They passed through manicured gardens and ornate fountains, surrounded by the sweet scent of blooming jasmine and the gentle chirping of birds.

In a meadow overlooking a lake, Lord Vladya came to a halt, and Aekeira collided with his broad back.

"I was not aware you'd stopped, I..." she trailed off, breath caught in her throat. Aekeira allowed herself to lean against him, burying her nose in the folds of his dark robes, breathing him in.

For a moment, the world ceased to exist. The uncertainties of tomorrow, the worries of the future, vanished.

But she knew she couldn't linger. With a deep, shaky breath, she began to pull away...

Only to have her hands caught in his, holding her in place.

"For a moment...just for one moment." The wind carried his husky voice, brushing against her skin like a caress. "Stay like this, for one moment."

Aekeira's heart quickened its pace once more, racing so much that if she didn't know better, she'd suspect a sudden illness. But she did.

This enigmatic force of a man. This hard, cold, stubborn male with stone walls built all around him to keep the world out, was going to be her undoing.

Her hands slipped from his, rising of their own accord to encircle his waist. She pressed her cheek against the expanse of his back, the smell of him filling her senses, grounding her. "Are you well, My Lord?"

Silence answered, more eloquent than any words could have been. His body was a taut coil, vibrating with tension. Something was going on with him, and Aekeira felt helpless. She glanced around, but his ever-present guard had already granted them privacy.

"My Lord..." Her teeth worried her lower lip. She couldn't address his impending madness, not only might it shatter this fragile connection between them, but the very thought of it filled her with dread. Unbearable, terrifying dread.

"Tell me how I can ease your burden, and I will do it."Why was she voicing it out!? It was supposed to be in her secret thoughts.

But when it came to this grand lord, it seemed her every instinct rebelled against reasoning and common sense.

A bitter laugh escaped him. “First you offer your blood, then your body, and now this boundless compassion. I hurt you, Aekeira. I inflict pain, cause you harm. You find no pleasure in pain, that much I know." His head fixed on the quiet lake ahead. "Why do you not run? Why do you stay, when you should flee from me as far as your legs can carry you?"

"I cannot help myself." She nuzzled closer, eyes fluttering shut as she surrendered to the truth. "I have tried...to run, and yet...I cannot, My Lord. I worry for you. I wish for you to be alright."

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