MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 183: Upper hand? Not quite!

...why would he?

This question begged an answer but he drove it to the back of his mind.

And yet the images persisted in his mind's eye - her gaunt pallor, the dark shadows of sleeplessness haunting her eyes even for an immortal like herself.

The distressing frailty of her frame despite the exaggerated swell of her belly which by the way was seemingly getting bigger by the day. Clearly whatever circumstances had driven her back to the ancestral Shelly domain were taking a grievous toll, stripping away her carefully-cultivated veneer of smug superiority.

'She is being punished, persecuted by her vile broodmother,' a small voice supplied from the recesses of Damien's psyche. The notion was not an entirely foreign one to the prince. He knew all too well the lengths to which the withered old crone named Gladys would go to enforce her twisted vision of virtue and honor upon those unfortunate enough to be bound by blood.

Normally, Damien would scarcely lift a finger to counter the Shelly matriarch's actions, content to allow her to gnash and snarl over her perceived injustices committed against the sanctity of her clan. But this...this was his mate being put in jeopardy.

That thought alone was enough to kindle the first flickerings of a protective instinct within Damien's breast. A need to ensure the wellbeing of both progenitors, to safeguard his legacy from any threats or menaces that might seek to extinguish its spark before it could fully blossom into the next generation.

As Damien neared the outer courtyard leading beyond the Shelly estate's walls, his steps gradually slowed until he came to a halt altogether. The sounds and smells of the bustling nighttime capital drifted in through the archway - raucous laughter and drunken cavorting, the sour tang of sweat and effluvia intermingled with the metallic aroma of freshly-spilled blood.

He took a deep inhalation, parsing the individual odors and allowing his predatory instincts to roam freely for a fleeting moment. The beast within him stirred from its slumber, nostrils flaring as it scented the countless hapless mortals carousing so blissfully ignorant just beyond those walls that their death lurked.

The beast's silent snarl seemed to echo through the marrow of Damien's bones.

Hunt, feed, take what is yours by right as the apex predator of this world!

It would be so easy to answer that silent call to indulgence and excess. To lose himself in the untamed pleasures of the flesh, gorging himself on willing thralls and debauchery until this strange, unwelcome seed of...concern for Rose was... stamped out?

Perhaps abolished and banished never to return once more would do.

But even as those gnarled tendrils of Damien's baser nature coiled insistently, he could sense them twining around an unshakeable core - a central knot of humanity and higher purpose that refused to be corroded away so easily. The demon might insist upon claiming his due of mortal degeneracy, but the fragile new growth of nobler instincts drove its roots ever deeper.

With a low, rumbling growl of displeasure, Damien turned his back on the sensory temptations of the capital's hedonistic nightlife. There would be time enough for sating his primal hungers once he had...resolved whatever crisis seemed to be eddying around Rose. The turmoil gnawing at her core carried implications that could adversely impact his futur if left unchecked.

For good or ill, Damien was inextricably bound to her plight now, unfortunately for him.

Another chapter in their increasingly tangled association had begun, whether either of them wished it or not. He could only hope that this latest narrative contained room for compromise and understanding - for both their sakes.

Squaring his shoulders, Damien pivoted on his heel and retraced his steps back through the castle's shadowed halls. There were answers to be uncovered, motives and allegiances to be parsed and weighed. And he knew just where to begin unraveling the latest twist in this endless skein.

The halls that led to Rose's dismal chamber in the knights' quarters beckoned with grim promise. With each measured stride, Damien could feel the fragile buds of determination blossoming in his chest - thorny and gnarled, perhaps, but stubbornly persisting no matter how fiercely he sought to uproot them.

A slight, derisive smile quirked one corner of his mouth as he steadily approached Rose's door, the echo of her parting barbs still ringing in his ears.

"So quick to imagine you've found the upper hand, my lady," he murmured under his breath. "But our latest engagement has only just begun..."

*********

*Author's note*

Attention all members of the Vampire Community!!

I am thrilled to announce that a mass release event is scheduled for tomorrow! Get ready to immerse yourself in an exciting new chapter of our ongoing saga.

Join me as we unveil the latest developments in our ever-evolving world. From thrilling plot twists to heart-stopping action, this release promises to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

But that's not all! I want YOU to have a say in the fate of our beloved protagonist, Blake. Head over to our Discord server to participate in a special poll where you can vote on what powers Blake will acquire. Your voice matters, and I can't wait to see which abilities you choose for our hero.

And before I forget, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for your incredible support. Thanks to your dedication and enthusiasm, I'm proud to say that we've climbed to the number one spot in the popular, collection, and trending rankings for this week. None of this would have been possible without your unwavering support and passion for our story.

Please keep your support coming and let's grow higher!! And I promise to deliver always from my own end.

So mark your calendars and set your alarms because tomorrow's release is not to be missed! Stay tuned for further updates and prepare for an adventure like no other.

See you all there!

#VampireCity #MassRelease #ChooseYourPower