Page 116 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

It had been easier when she hadn't put a name to the emotion. She had feltsomethingfor him for so long, but had stubbornly tried not to identify it.

It was simpler to ignore, easier to fight, when it was justthat feeling.

"You should save your tears, Aekeira," Lord Vladya stated, his blurred figure now standing at the foot of the bed. "I am a monster, and there are more paths like this one to walk in the future. I do not need to deal with…this. Leave and have your breakdown elsewhere. I do not have the patience for petty little humans who—"

Aekeira moved to her knees on the bed, closing the distance between them, and threw her arms around his waist.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice still hoarse from taking him deep in her throat. She blinked hard, tears flowing freely, her vision clearing. "I am grateful, Your Majesty."

Lord Vladya stood rigid against her, stiff as a board.

Aekeira only tightened her hold, allowing the tears to flow without restraint. She loved him.She. Loved. Him.

She had feelings for this male who had hurt her more times than she could count, who teetered on the edge of madness. Who scowled at the world and had no smiles to share, who had known so much pain and found comfort in his darkness. And yet, she loved him with a fierceness that frightened her.

He was no fairytale prince. No shining knight she’d dreamed of as a young girl. He was far from perfect.

He was scarred, wounded, and dangerous.

But he washers.

This love was not gentle or kind. It was raw and painful, like a fresh wound that would never heal.

Was love supposed to hurt this much?Aekeira wondered. Because hers did.

She buried her face against his chest, letting the tears fall unchecked. The warmth of his tensed body against hers, the strength of his presence, was both a comfort and a reminder of the danger he was.

But Aekeira didn’t care.

She loved him—flaws, darkness, and all.

Chapter thirty-two

THE ABYSS OF NOTHINGNESS.

MistressSinaistrolledthroughthe garden just beyond the fortress gates, enjoying the soft caress of the evening air. The sweet scent of blooming flowers drifted around her, calming her nerves.

"Ha-have you heard the rumors, mistress?" Nora asked hesitantly from behind.

Sinai glanced over her shoulder, an eyebrow raised. "Whatever makes you think I am interested in rumors, Nora? It is beneath a lady to involve herself in gossip."

"Of course, mistress. I apologize." Nora's eyes dropped to the cobblestones.

But Sinai's curiosity was piqued. She cleared her throat. "What's the rumor about?"

"They say Emeriel has been away from the fortress for days." Nora's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Really?" Sinai's heart quickened its pace.

Just the boy's name was enough to stir several emotions in her. She took a deep, calming breath, feigning nonchalance.

"Did he escape? Run away?" A thrill of excitement shot through her at the thought.Good riddance.

"Oh no, mistress. The rumors say he is... having intimate relations with a high lord. He's been spending an awful lot of time at the high lord's estate."

Sinai's steps faltered.Intimate relations?Not what she had expected to hear.

What was it about that boy that made these powerful men take notice? It baffled her to no end. He was handsome, sure—pretty, even—but so were many others.

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