Page 102 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

It lasted until he had bathed and settled into his bed.

His thoughts returned with a vengeance, as sleep eluded him.

You should have sated your thirst out there. Enter the nearest village and drain them all. Take as many females as you desire. They may be a poor substitute, but they'll do. Make them hurt. No one will know.

Vladya pressed his palms against his temples.

Grand King Daemonikai entered Blackstone, bypassing the main entrance, taking the narrow passageway that led directly to Vladya's bedchamber. Yaz’s eyes widened in surprise, and he offered a hasty greeting.

"He is inside, is he not?" Daemonikai asked, his voice clipped.

"Yes, your Grace, but—"

"Step aside, Yaz."

The soldier obeyed. Daemonikai raised a hand to silence the courtier who had appeared to announce his presence. Instead, he pushed open the door and walked inside.

The room was dark, the only light coming from a single flickering candle on a distant table. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something metallic. Daemonikai's eyes adjusted quickly, and there, in a corner, Vladya sat on the floor, his head buried in his hands. But as Daemonikai entered, Vladya’s head snapped up.

Two things happened at the same time.

Vladya moved with lightning speed, shoving Daemonikai. His back crashed into the wall, the impact reverberating through the stone. Then, Vladya was in his personal space, pinning him to the wall. He had a wild look in his yellow and gray eyes.

Why the hell would he let his beast this close to the surface when he's alone?

"Vladya, snap out of it!" Daemonikai hissed.

Vladya growled. Pain suddenly exploded through Daemonikai’s senses, so blinding it would have brought a lesser man to his knees.

Pheromones.

Vladya had blasted him with pheromones,demanding submission. The scent rose in the air, musky and thick, it was choking.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Daemonikai spat, his voice tight with pain.

Claws dug into Daemonikai’s side, causing another scorching jolt of agony. Blood stained his robe, warm and sticky. Vladya unleashing yet another burst of pheromones.

Daemonikai's own beast snarled in response, offended by the attack and the blatant disrespect. It began to shove itself up, clawing at the edges of his control, trying to force a shift. Daemonikai grunted, struggling to maintain his human form.

"V.D.?" Something was deeply wrong. Vladya's eyes... they held no recognition. "Vladya?"

With a supreme effort of will, Daemonikai forced himself to expose his throat. To submit.

His beastroaredin protest, so outraged it banged its head hard against the walls of Daemonikai’s chest.WE SUBMIT TO NO ONE!

It took everything in him to keep his head tilted.

Finally, the claws in his side withdrew. Vladya took a step back, snarling. “Who in Tartarus are you?”

He didn't know?

Daemonikai’s insides turned cold, like a dash of ice water had been forced down his throat. Dread filled his gut. "It's me, V.D."

"How dare you invade my space? I should rip your throat out." Vladya was looking at him but not seeing him. His eyes were wild with an intent to kill.

“Scent my neck.” The words tasted like acid on his tongue, but it was necessary. Alphas do not bare their necks. He, a grand king, should not be in such a humiliating position, with another alpha breathing at his throat. “You know you want to, big guy. Come on, do it.”

Vladya lunged, burying his face in the crook of Daemonikai's neck, breathing deeply. His beast whined in betrayal, feeling so let down by their male side, its head hung low.

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