40. THE GRAND LORD’S PLANS
Chapter forty
THE GRAND LORD’S PLANS
"Grand Lord Vladya is going f-feral?" Aekeira was at a loss for words. Tears threatened to spill over. "Like...like Grand King Daemonikai?"
Merilyn nodded, the motion small and tight. "You’ve noticed...haven't you? Sometimes his behavior seems...off. Wicked. Crazy."
Instantly, Aekeira's mind flashed to the first time he'd mounted her. Those absurd accusations. His bloodlust eyes and the snarl on his lips. The twisted pleasure on his face as he inflicted pain upon her.
"So you see, Aekeira, that is the tale of Lord Vladya.” Merilyn's voice was thick. “He lost everything on that horrible night. The only female who had ever connected with him as a bondmate, his soul. There will be no future bonding rituals for him. He is disconnected from his beast, among other things. In his long, long life, he will be alone forever. That is the root of his hatred."
Aekeira wept soundlessly, tears winning the battle, spilling down her cheeks. Her heart was in so much pain, Aekeira could barely breathe. The sheer enormity of what he'd lost was crushing.
Now it made sense. A terrible, heartbreaking kind of sense. Of course, hatred would consume him, burn hot like the sun itself.
She couldn't imagine enduring such devastation. She would have felt the same way he did. Hatred towards that species deeply rooted in her very being.
She never imagined someone as fierce, as mean as him, would have gone through something so heart-wrenching.
But then, she wondered why it never occurred to her. Suffering and painful experiences were what hardened people, were they not? And Grand Lord Vladya is harder than the toughest granite.
“Why did I share all this with you? He would sooner slit his own throat—or yours—than admit to anything he might feel towards you other than hatred.” Merilyn warned, “Whether it's sexual attraction or any form of fondness. And because he felt them, he would hurt you in every way imaginable. It's his way of coping, his protection, And I want you to endure it, if you can."
Aekeira stared down at her hands, unable to meet the Mistress's gaze.
"Even if he inflicts unspeakable torture upon you, I want you to endure it anyway. It's unfair, cruel, and selfish of me, but your kind owes him, don't you think?" Merilyn's voice grew more intense. "If there's even the slightest chance there's something for him here, no matter how little, I will tear down the heavens to make sure he gets it."
"Why?" Aekeira finally whispered. "Why go to these lengths?"
"Because I don't want him to go mad. I refuse to lose him to insanity. His mind is deteriorating rapidly, and any glimmer of motivation that helps him hold onto his sanity is worth it to me," Merilyn stated passionately. "Why do you think I support his care for the grand king? King Daemonikai may be gone, but my dear Vlad still clings to his beast. And if taking care of the mindless creature gives him purpose… a reason to keep going, then I pray nothing ever happens to that beast."
In a way, Aekeira understood Merilyn on a deeply personal level. She understood the fierce determination to protect and preserve. She, too, would go to any lengths to protect Emeriel, no matter the cost.
"Now, he's fixating on you, even if he's not consciously aware of it. And though you have no other choice but to endure it, you must be careful not to provoke or exacerbate him. That could lead him to kill you," Merilyn cautioned. "Given the depth of his hatred and his current state of mind, he would truly end your life if he set his mind to it. It may be for selfish reasons, but I wish for you to survive, Aekeira. I wish for you to endure and hold on, no matter how hard it becomes."
Aekeira had no intentions of succumbing to death either. She had fought for survival for as long as she could remember, and she would continue fighting until there was no strength left within her. She gazed into the distance, her heart heavy with emotion. "So, you mean his...attraction for me works like an anchor, even one he hates, but it gives him something to hold on to?"
"Yes," Merilyn confirmed. "'I do not care' has become his mantra for centuries. Yet for the first time in a long while, he wants something - even if he despises the wanting."
"Will it...will he go feral, like the grand king?"
Merilyn turned towards the river, her back a wall Aekeira could not see past. "It's likely. All signs and symptoms point in that direction. And unlike our people who panic and resist when they sense feral tendencies, he doesn't fight the change. He welcomes it." Her voice broke slightly on that last word.
Aekeira's heart broke for this male. She couldn't believe it. Yes, the male was always cruel and hurtful towards her, but she wouldn't wish such a condition upon anyone.
Not only had he lost the only female who had connected with his soul, but also his entire soul itself? It was a devastating fate.
"You're shedding tears." Merilyn frowned, perplexed.
Aekeira startled. "No, I'm not." She quickly brushed away the tear that had escaped onto her cheek.
"You're a strange human female. Why would you hurt for him?"
"Is there no other solution for him?" Aekeira asked. Because how does she answer that question? "Can't the spell be broken, the magic reversed?"
Merilyn shook her head sadly. "It cannot. Once the deed is done, it cannot be undone. That's the nature of most dark magics. He can never bond with another person ever again, and since finding one's Soulbond is not a miracle we can rely on, my dear Vlad will remain alone for the rest of his days." She paused, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "And those days do not appear to be very long anymore."
Aekeira felt a profound weight settle upon her chest.
And it lingered long after Merilyn had departed.
Aekeira laid on her bed, and cried herself to sleep.
That night, after a grueling shift, Emeriel was trudging back to his chambers when a breathless slave intercepted him."Emeriel, have you heard?"
"Heard what?" Emeriel asked.
"Your sister – they took her to Greyrock. Guards dragged her away!"
The words hit Emeriel like a physical blow. "What!?" Blood roared in his ears, drowning out everything else.
In a hurry, he sprinted towards the southern wings, directly towards Aekeira's room. But she was nowhere to be found.
"Aekeira?" his voice echoed in the hollow space, each unanswered call tightening the knot of fear in his gut. Panic welled up inside him as he rushed out, determined to find his sister.
Perhaps the slave was mistaken? Aekeira couldn't have been taken to the northern wings so abruptly, could she?
Yet, despite his attempts to convince himself otherwise, a knot of dread coiled in his stomach. Lord Zaiper desired Aekeira, and this was the perfect opportunity to get to her, especially with Lord Vladya away until tomorrow.
"Gods, what do I do?" Emeriel choked out the words, trying desperately to quell his rising panic. What would be the rational course of action? He shouldn't just rush into Greyrock domain, right? Reason screamed at him to stay put. Lord Vladya had been clear that he shouldn’t leave Blackstone.
But this was Aekeira they were talking about. Zaiper wasn't just cruel, he was a monster. He would subject his sister to untold suffering. A grand lord who was notorious for not only hurting slaves but also killing them.
Every instinct to protect his sister urged him forward, and despite the terror clawing at him, his feet obeyed. Emeriel sprinted towards the northern wings, knowing he was running towards the heart of danger.
Grand Lord Zaiper stood near the dungeon entrance, his gaze locked on the girl huddled within. Even in her fear, she radiated a fragile beauty.
The prettiest little thing he had ever laid his eyes on – a ripe fruit ready for his taking. It was no wonder Vladya was smitten with her. Zaiper could clearly see her appeal.
He had deliberately goaded Vladya, plucked at his strings, just to see that flicker of desire ignite in those cold eyes. And Vladya had never failed to deliver, all because of her.
"You're the first human he has ever touched, you know," Zaiper mused, savoring the tremor that wracked Aekeira’s body. "I guess if any human is capable of tempting that male to the dark side, it would be you."
Aekeira whimpered, her gaze fixed on the damp stone floor.
A dark thrill coursed through Zaiper. Perhaps a slight detour from the plan wouldn't hurt. Perhaps he would kill the young prince and still mount the beautiful princess.
"Your Highness." Razarr approached, his voice a low whisper. "The boy is in Greyrock."
Zaiper's grin widened. "Excellent. Fetch him. Bring him to my chambers... and the princess as well." He was already imagining the cries he would wring from her.
"Your Majesty, the plan..."
"I have changed my mind, Razarr. The plan remains intact, but I've come to the realization that I no longer care if the girl witnesses her brother's death." His voice, cold and sharp as a blade, sliced through the heavy silence. "Her life dangles from my fingertips. One whisper of defiance, and I will gut her… but not before I subject her to agonies she cannot begin to fathom." His eyes pierced her, savoring the way her skin paled to a sickly gray. A smirk twisted his lips. "She won't dare cross me."
With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he strode away. "Bring them both to me."
Outside the dungeon, Emeriel's stride quickened through Greyrock's maze-like corridors. He was surprised to see how the sentries merely glanced at him, making way for him to pass.
As he neared the passage leading to Grand Lord Zaiper's chambers, a squad of soldiers materialized, blocking his path.
"The grand lord commands your presence," they declared, their voices devoid of warmth. Their hands gripped his arms, firm and unyielding, as they marched him away.
The soldiers led him through a discreet side door, into the heart of Lord Zaiper's abode. The grand bedchamber oozed wealth and power, every surface gleaming.
Lord Zaiper lounged on a throne-like chair, his reptilian gaze tracking Emeriel's every move as he was forced to his knees. Emeriel bowed his head, the thick silence pressing down on him.
The soldiers left, leaving him alone with the devil himself.
"Emeriel, is it not?" Lord Zaiper's voice slithered through the room, smooth and dangerous.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Tell me, what brings you to Greyrock? Surely you know slaves are not permitted to wander territories without express invitation. Why break such a simple rule?"
"I apologize, Your Highness. I was... I was searching for my sister," Emeriel replied.
The door creaked open, and Aekeira was shoved inside.
Emeriel's heart leaped. Aekeira was alive. A flicker of hope ignited in his chest.
Aekeira knelt beside him, her eyes wide with a silent question – are you alright?
He gave the slightest nod.
"Save your tender reunion for later." Lord Zaiper's tone was dismissive. A soldier stepped forward, hauling Emeriel to his feet and dragging him closer to Lord Zaiper. The ruler leaned forward, a predatory gleam in his eye, forcing Emeriel to jerk his head back. "There's something about you, boy."
Zaiper pressed his nose to Emeriel's neck, inhaling deeply. "You have a pleasant enough smell, but nothing particularly remarkable. So, what could it be?"
"I-I don't understand, my lord," Emeriel stammered, fear tightening his throat.
"Was your mother a witch? Do you dabble in black magic?" Lord Zaiper's voice dropped to a near hiss. "What are you not telling us, boy?"
"Nothing, Your Majesty."
"Tonight, you've broken rules, and according to the laws of the land, I must punish you severely. But first..." Lord Zaiper's hands closed on Emeriel, slamming him against the wall. The impact jarred Emeriel's bones, forcing a gasp from his lips. Lord Zaiper's body pressed against his, hot and suffocating. A heavy hand dug into Emeriel's waist, fingers kneading his flesh.
"Soft," Lord Zaiper hissed, the word scraping against Emeriel's ear. "No wonder Daemonikai's beast mistook you for a female. A bitch."
He paused, the smile fading from his lips. "Or wait..." His voice took on a calculating, suspicious edge. “Are you?”
Then, his hands began to wander.