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 an 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 grey 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,” Merilyn pleaded. She had once loved this male deeply. Though her bondmate held her heart, she had 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 clearheaded.
“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 pleaded with him. “Please, Vladya, don’t do this.”
His eyes darkened as 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 unwavering 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, followed by a nibble on her neck. “Sweet, wicked witch.”
You have to 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.”
Merilyn vehemently shook her head. “Don’t say that.” She shook her head again. “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.
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