Page 84 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Trying to mask her surprise—and the thrill shooting through her—Aekeira climbed into the carriage, settling beside him. The space was intimate, their bodies pressed close together.

"May I ask where we’re going?"

"Don't worry. I'm not abducting you to bury your corpse in some unmarked grave."

That startled a laugh from her. And the grand lord’s eyes opened, swiveling his head to stare at her face for a moment too long, her smile fading under his intense gaze. "Did you just make a joke?"

A frown creased his brows before he closed his eyes once more. "We're going to Merrilyn's. If I want to maintain a semblance of normalcy, I need to feed properly from my bloodhost."

Aekira’s stomach twisted in a knot, and an ugly feeling rose within her that she forcefully pushed aside. If feeding from his bloodhost helped keep the madness at bay, Aekeira would support it.

The carriage rolled to a stop before a magnificent manor house nestled inside a luxurious estate. Servants lined the entrance, bowing deeply as Lord Vladya got out. They ushered him inside, Aekeira trailing behind.

"Master Henry is away, Your Highness," the steward informed him, "but Madame Merrilyn is in her chambers. Shall I inform her of your arrival?"

"I know she’s indisposed, Bazo. I will go to her."

They followed the steward to a closed door, and she announced their presence, then stepped aside. Lord Vladya opened the door, and Aekeira walked behind him.

Lady Merrilyn sat propped up in bed, a warm smile gracing her lips. "My Lord."

"How are you feeling, Merry?"

"Well enough." Lady Merrilyn’s gaze shifted to Aekeira with a flicker of curiosity. "I see you've brought company."

Aekeira inclined her head.

"How is the little one?" Lord Vladya asked.

The lady’s face softened with a radiant joy. "She's perfect." She raised her voice slightly. "Kadiri, bring my child."

The door opened, and a Urekai female, presumably the nursemaid, entered carrying a swaddled bundle. Only the infant's head was visible, a wisp of dark hair peeking out from the folds of linen.

Aekeira's heart swelled with pure love. She had always adored babies. It took every ounce of restraint not to reach out and beg to hold the child, even for a fleeting moment.

She used to fantasize about a child of her own, but that dream was impossible. Especially with her current situation. Aekeira would rather not birth a child than condemn her offspring to a life of slavery.

The nursemaid placed the child in Lord Vladya's outstretched hands, who stared down at the bundle with an intense expression. Then, as if by magic, his eyes softened, and the harsh lines of his face smoothed into a longing so raw and unguarded Aekeira had to stifle a gasp.

"She's beautiful," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "She looks like her mother. You've done well, Merry."

Lady Merrilyn beamed, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Thank you, Vlad. It means so much that you...that you're holding her. I know you normally avoid newborns."

"She's yours," he said, his voice coated with a sadness so heavy Aekeira could almost taste it. “Of course, I would hold her."

Aekeira reached out to touch his shoulder, but her fingers hovered in the air, before quickly withdrawing her wayward hand.

Lady Merrilyn’s eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Aekeira as if she were peering into her very soul.

"Such a precious little one," Lord Vladya whispered in utter misery.

The lady swallowed, sadness crossing her features. "Here, let me take her."

Aekeira ached deeply for this ancient male. Over three millennia of life, yet he had never experienced siring his own offspring—a desire that clearly burned in every fiber of his being. It was heart-wrenching to witness his profound longing.

Mistress Sinai couldn't shake her restlessness.

Rising from beside her lover, she reached for her clothes. Her Daemon had been away for days, word was he was helping a female through her heat. Sinai could understand; It wasn’t unusual. Yet, the uneasy feeling, the sense that something was wrong, refused to leave her.

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