The Princess In A ‘Prince’ Disguise (Beasts of Wrath and Madness #1)

30. THE FESTERING DARKNESS.

Chapter thirty

THE FESTERING DARKNESS.

Emeriel hesitated, then rapped at the door. Moments later, the door swung open and a maid emerged. "How may I be of service?"

"I am Emeriel. Could you kindly inform your lord that Emeriel is here to pay him a visit?" Emeriel requested.

"Of course. Please wait here for a moment." The maid disappeared inside. After a few minutes, she returned and guided him inside, stating that Lord Herod was ready to receive him.

Emeriel felt a rush of nerves and desperation, leaving him unable to do anything more than a nod.

The maid left him in a corridor, where he patiently waited. He knew it was impolite to visit a lord at such a late hour, but his desperation had overridden his concern.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Lord Herod came out, clad in a nightshirt and robe. "Emeriel?" His voice was groggy, as if awoken from slumber.

Emeriel hastened toward him, grasping the Urekai lord's hand with pleading eyes. "I apologize for intruding at this late hour, but I didn't know who else to turn to. There will be another introduction of slaves tomorrow night at the Harvest Ceremony, and I know for certain that I will be introduced. I don't know what will happen if—"

"Easy now." Lord Herod gently placed a hand on Emeriel's shoulder.

"I don't know what to do." Emeriel's gaze met Lord Herod's. "You purchased your wife from her former owner, and I wondered if you might consider buying me and my sister as well." As the Lord's eyes widened in surprise, Emeriel hurriedly continued, "Please. I am willing to do whatever you need. Anything at all you desire."

Emeriel's trembling fingers fumbled with his tunic, undoing the knot and loosening the rope securing it. "You can have me. My maidenhood is intact. Sort of. I believe virgins hold value in the market—"

"What? Stop, Emeriel," Lord Herod intervened, placing his hand over Emeriel's, halting his movements.

Emeriel panted as if he had run for miles, tears welling in his eyes. He had not slept well at all. Panic surged through him whenever he remembered the impending ceremony.

Lord Herod exhaled. "Come with me."

He guided Emeriel out of the corridor and into the sitting room, urging him to take a seat.

"I am sorry, I apologize." A tear slipped from Emeriel's eye as he slumped forward, nervously tapping his feet on the floor. "It's just..."

"I understand," Lord Herod responded kindly. "I have no desire to touch you in such a manner. I won’t take advantage of you. I understand the situation you are in. Honestly, I have repeatedly thought about how I can help you. But the truth is, I don't see a way. It would have been easier if it was just any lord that purchased you, but it was a grand lord. You were bought by two grand lords, and now, you belong to the grand king. It is impossible, Emeriel."

Emeriel suspected as much. He really had. But he had clung to a sliver of hope…

He gazed downward helplessly, fresh tears blurring his eyes.

Lord Herod positioned himself beside Emeriel. "The only solution I can think of is to lay a claim on you. Once the introductions begin, I can choose you, and you can stay with me. When I select you, no other lord will have the opportunity to take you."

Emeriel's head snapped up, hope brightening his eyes. "Do you truly believe that?"

Lord Herod nodded once. "Unless I choose to share, which I do not. The only obstacle that may arise is if a grand lord takes an interest in you. Only they possess the authority to claim you, even when a lord has already laid a claim. And based on the previous introduction, I am aware that Grand Lord Zaiper showed interest in you."

Emeriel couldn't deny it.

For some inexplicable reason, that grand lord had taken a real interest in Emeriel and Aekeira. He bit his lip, his leg tapping with an increased rhythm of anxiety.

Lord Herod stilled Emeriel’s restless motion. "Do not worry excessively, Emeriel. Hopefully, Grand Lord Zaiper will become interested in someone else, and you will be forgotten. He is almost what humans would call a 'womanizer.' And you are 'male,' so let's hope someone else catches his eye. Without his interference, I can protect you."

Emeriel nodded gratefully, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I am deeply grateful for your help."

"You have to leave before the slavemasters of the fortress notice your absence. The punishment for that would be severe, right?" Lord Herod asked, prompting Emeriel to give a jerky nod before rising from his seat. He really did have to return before his absence was discovered.

Merilyn raised her hand to knock, but noticed the door was slightly ajar. With caution, she entered the room.

"I apologize for taking so long, Dear Vlad. I have been experiencing cramps these past few days. I believe the baby is due any day now..." Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of her master.

Grand Lord Vladya had his back turned to her, but the visible tension emanating from him made Merilyn watch him carefully.

She had known him long enough to sense when something was seriously wrong.

"Vlad?" she called out gently.

He moved fast, with lightning speed. In an instant, Merilyn found herself pressed against the wall, his fingers tightly gripping her neck.

"I am your master," he growled through gritted teeth, his voice deep and menacing. "Address me as such."

His beast loomed close. Oh, this was not looking good for her.

"Master," she whispered. Lowering her gaze, she assumed a submissive posture. "My master."

"That's right. You belong to me. Despite being bonded to another and carrying his child," his fingers tightened around her neck.

"You are still mine. You belonged to me the moment you became my bloodhost, during the time we were nearly bonded, and even now. You are mine, Merilyn."

"I am yours. Completely yours," she repeated quickly. She knew better than to defy a Urekai Alpha in a territorial state. An unpredictable state. Especially one as powerful as Vladya.

"You're correct," he murmured, his hand sliding down past her swollen belly to caress her womanhood through her clothes.

"Do you remember the times when we were lovers? Ah, the good old days. You were such a slut for my cock. Always wanted to be mounted. So hungry for my touch, eager to be claimed." He began to pull at her clothing.

"Vladya..." she protested, placing her hand on top of his to stop him. "P-please stop. What is going on with you?"

His gray eyes were almost gone, his yellow irises profound. "I could take you right now. Right here. All you have to do is spread those pretty thighs for me like a good girl."

"Please don't do this," Merrilyn pleaded. She had once loved this male deeply. Though her bondmate held her heart, she never stopped caring for Vladya.

It was one thing to be tempted during the pheromone-induced frenzy of bloodfeeding—the arousal was a side effect, and there was nothing to be done about it. But another altogether to face such temptation while clear-headed. "You know you don't want this."

His fingers released her neck, his wandering hand stilled, and he pulled back, a smirk playing on his lips. "Present for me, Merilyn."

What? "I can't. You know I'm bonded to another.” Her eyes begged him. “Please, Vladya, don't do this."

He took a threatening step forward. "I don't care. Present for me, now."

Helpless tears welled up in Merilyn's eyes as she silently pleaded one last time. But this cold, unrecognizable male who was nothing like her Vladya, had already made up his mind. He wanted her total submission, not as a grand lord, but as a lover.

Merilyn began to undress, while Grand Lord Vladya walked over to the bed and positioned himself upon it. His arms crossed as he waited.

Naked, she stood before him. Slowly, she lowered herself to her knees, struggling to assume the position due to her advanced pregnancy.

It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

She parted her cheeks, exposing her intimate area to his hard gaze. She fought to maintain her balance, finding it difficult. "Vladya, pl-please."

A pleased growl rumbled from his throat. Merilyn felt his heat behind her, knowing he was no longer seated on the bed but hovering close, about to mount her.

"Aekeira," he groaned, his breath tickling her ear.

She stilled. The human princess?

"It's Merilyn, not Aekeira, my Lord. Please, snap out of it."

"Aekeira," another rumbling growl. A nibble on her neck. "Sweet, wicked witch."

You must act quickly, Merilyn. Bring him back to his senses before he mounts you.

Then, an idea struck her.

"Do you remember when we used to go hunting? You, King Daemonikai, Tiara, and I would embark on hunting trips. Do you remember? Tiara adored those outings." It was unfair for her to remind him of his deceased bondmate, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

She couldn't think of any other way to snap him out of his trance. "Remember how Tiara loved climbing trees? She would shift into her beast form and leap from one tree to another."

He paused.

"Tiara?" his voice cracked.

The quiver in his voice… a single word filled with hope and uncertainty. Merilyn’s heart broke for him.

"Yes, remember her? She had a fondness for rock climbing and those silly moments in the woods. We would hide and patiently wait for prey to scurry by. Remember how Daemonikai always caught the largest game, and you would sulk for days on end."

Silence followed. Gradually, he released his grip on her. Merilyn turned to face him, her gaze locked on his. For a brief moment, he appeared lost.

Then, he blinked several times. The yellow hue in his eyes dissipated, replaced by familiar gray eyes, and he focused on her.

"Merry?" he uttered her name softly.

Merilyn gave a teary smile, relief washing over her. "Hello, dear Vlad."

"What are you doing presenting in your condition? Here, let me help you up." His touch was gentle as he helped her to her feet. He glanced at her tear-stained face, and a shadow crossed his features. "What did I do?"

"Nothing truly harmful, yet," she answered, mustering a shaky smile.

He was not convinced. His frown deepened. "You're frightened. I have hurt you, haven't I? What did I do?"

Oh, Vlad. He was going to blame himself for this, wasn't he? But she knew better than to lie to him. "You simply asked me to present, that's all. You wanted to mount me."

He withdrew, pressing his hand against his forehead. "I apologize for that, Merry. You know I respect your bond with Henry, right? I don't know why I would do something like that." His voice was heavy with guilt and remorse. He averted his eyes. "I lost myself for a moment there."

It seems there were two forces at play tonight. One was the name Aekeira, a confusing trigger. Why would his mind be fixated on the girl? It was puzzling.

However, it paled in comparison to the second one. A horrible, painful one. Vladya was indeed fighting for his sanity.

Her Vladya had just displayed one of the primary symptoms of going feral: the ability to completely lose oneself. It starts out subtly before escalating.

And judging from his episode, this is neither the first nor the third time; it's an indication of an advanced stage.

And he has managed to hide it all this time. When did this start?

Fresh tears welled up in Merilyn's eyes and she embraced him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I don't want to lose you, Vlad. Please, fight it. I beg of you."

He didn't pretend to misunderstand, stiffening in her arms, saying nothing.

"I beg of you. The people have already lost King Daemonikai. Losing you too will cause even more damage. To everyone who cares about you. To me. Fight this darkness, Vlad, please." She sobbed openly in his embrace.

Finally, he tightened his hold around her and relaxed into her embrace. "I am damaged, Merry. There's not much else I can do."

"Don't say that.” Merilyn vehemently shook her head. “You can fight it! You're the strongest male I know! Grieve! Mourn! Shout to the mountains! Even hurt people if it helps, just do something! Anything!"

Silence.

Then, in a barely audible tone, he said, "But that's the problem. I no longer wish to do anything. I don't want to fight it. I am simply too tired."

Something within Merilyn shattered. She cursed the last eclipse moon night all over again and the humans who had brought disaster upon them.

Merilyn had never been a violent person, but times like this made her want to seek out a human and slit their throat.

It was a dark thought, and she wasn't that kind of person. But no one would truly understand until they experienced the damage caused by humans.

And any purpose was better than no purpose at all, right?

"There's someone you want, isn't there? That's what tonight was about. Your mind tricked you into thinking I was her. That's why you wanted me to present to you."

He did not answer immediately, but Merrilyn waited him out.

"She's human," he replied at last, tension returning to his large frame. "I hate that I want her."

Now, she was even more intrigued by this human princess. "What exactly do you want from her?"

Vladya buried his face in Merilyn's neck and inhaled deeply. "Too much. Dark, dark things. I had her once, but it wasn't nearly enough," he spoke against her skin.

"Then why restrain yourself? You're Grand Lord Vladya. You don't hold back when you want something." Sorry, Princess Aekeira, but I have to give him a purpose to fight. "If you want her so much, perhaps she means something to you. Maybe she's special."

"She means nothing,” he stated firmly. “I don't want her to mean anything."

Oh, Vladya. If only fate worked the way we wanted it to. It would have approved of our bond when we were so deeply in love.

"All I'm saying is, there's no need to hold back when you want her so much."

And if she truly is the one for him, then Merilyn pities her greatly. For she must tread a path of profound darkness to reach the damaged male within, mourning all that he has lost. And, he lost a lot.