The Duke's Passion

I opened my eyes slowly and met with the pair of crimson orbs hovering over me. Having those recurring dreams almost every day and night slowly numbed me, although they were still as exhausting as usual. 

"Dreams again?" Sam asked, brushing the strands of my hair away from my forehead and added, "You're handling them well now." 

"Was I out for a long time?" I furrowed my brows, as I didn't expect to wake up on his lap after a nap. 

Sam smacked his lips for a moment and answered, "Yes. For ten days."

My mind short-circuited for a second, processing his words to make sense out of them. Did he Say ten days? How was that possible? I gasped and only then I realized he was toying with me as he snickered. 

I clicked my tongue as my expression died down in an instant. "I hate you."

"Oh, I'll accept anything from you, love," Sam smirked, and I pounding my fist against his chest, but he held my wrist. "There's always a fine between everything, so as long as I'm not on that fine line, it's fine."

"You're standing on that fine line, young man." I rolled my eyes at him and assisted myself up while he chuckled gleefully. 

As soon as I sat upright, I instinctively gazed at the window to see how dark it was outside. My stomach also grumbled at the same time, making me rub it.

"I'm hungry," I faced Sam, pouting as it seemed I skipped dinner. 

"I know. That's why I came to pick you up." 

My eyes narrowed suspiciously, eyebrows knitting together. "You don't always do this. Is there something wrong?" 

"This place is always wrong. What are you talking about?" Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "But it's been a while since we dined with everyone."

"By everyone, you mean your brothers and sisters?" 

"Who else?" he cocked his head to the side, sporting an innocent look. "Klaus and my other brothers arrived in the Capital, so a family dinner is a must."

"Klaus?" My eyes dilated a little. I had almost forgotten about that fifth prince's existence. Remembering Klaus also made me remember someone who was I with before I got abducted to the palace.

"Husband, do you know what happened to the child we dine with?" I gasped as I totally forgot that we were with a child when I was abducted!

"Huh?" 

His puzzled expression was expected, so I clarified. "Claude. The adorable child who was abandoned by his uncle? Don't you remember him?"

"Ahh…" Sam nodded in understanding, making my eyes marveled hoping Claude was alright. "I took care of him." 

A sigh of relief slipped past my lips. "That's goo… d," but my relief didn't last for a second as I narrowed my eyes at him skeptically. "By 'took care of him', you mean you took care of him in peace, right?" 

The corner of his lips slowly curled into a smile that reached his eyes while my eyes sharpened.

"Sam." 

Sam chuckled as he raised both his hands. "Of course. I asked Marquess Crawford to take care of him. How can I touch a child whom you're so fond of?"

So if I wasn't fond of him, he'd do something else?

I studied his expression carefully and only when I was certain he wasn't lying, I truly felt relieved. It was good that Cameron sheltered the child since he was pitiful. If only I wasn't abducted at that time, I would love to play with him a bit more.

"Do you really like that child so much?" Sam's question snapped me out of my thoughts, making me set my eyes back on him. "But, you don't even know his origins."

"Do I have to know someone's origins to like them?" I frowned as cast him a look of disdain. "Even if he is the son of the devil, the child is always innocent! Will you like it if our child gets ostracized just because his parents were human and a vampire?" 

Sam's eyes briefly dilated as he froze for a second. Did I say anything wrong? I reviewed what I said and realized my remarks were a little… too straightforward. 

"Oh, right…" I said awkwardly, scratching my jaw with my finger. "I said something…"

I trailed off as Sam responded with a cold. "I'll just kill them all."

"Pardon?"

"If anyone tried to debar our child, I'll kill those children and their parents, or perhaps, annihilating their entire clan is better." His response sent a piercing chill down my spine, feeling sorry for our child, as it seemed finding genuine friends would be hard for him.

"What's with that look?" Sam asked with a furrowed brow. He looked annoyed for reasons unknown.

I shook my head lightly. "Nothing, husband. I'm just surprised that you didn't close your mind with the idea of having a child, and at the same time, I'm worried that our child will find it hard to have real friends because his father is an… intimidating man." 

"That doesn't make sense, love," Sam replied, and I raised my head at him. "With me as the father, only those who bore no malice will have the gall to approach our child. Unless they want to meet their untimely death. To simply put, my presence alone will narrow down the people who will approach him with an ulterior motive."

"Please, stop, my lovely husband. You're making me more worried about our child's future."

Sam slightly gasped, insulted. "Why would you, love? Am I not reliable? That breaks my nonexistent heart."

"I didn't mean to break your heart." Another heavy and helpless sigh slipped past my lips. "I just wish our child to at least have a normal childhood."

"And what is normal for you?"

I pondered for a moment. "A childhood... where he can look back and only see good memories?"

Sam nodded his head in understanding of my response. While staring at him, I could not help but smile.

This was our first time talking about our roles as parents comfortably. It brought this strange joy to my heart, as I wanted to believe having a family with him wasn't impossible. 

I sprawled my arm and reach for his hand. Sam arched his brow at my touch as he set his eyes on me.

"Is it possible, Sam?" My eyes softened, squeezing his hand lightly. "Us, having a child... is it possible?" 

He stared at me for a moment and smiled faintly. "Once we return to Grimsbanne, I will work harder to have at least ten."

"Huh?" That response was so random.

"Ten children, Lilove. Once we return to Grimsbanne, we will fill the mansion with more children than an orphanage." His smile grew into a cunning smirk as he raised a brow.

I gasped in disbelief and instinctively slapped his shoulder. "What am I to you? A baby-making beast?!"

"What's the purpose of your training if you can't bear as many children as we can?" 

My jaw fell down as I stared at him in distraught. Did he agree for me to train for the past half a year for that reason?! 

"Haha! I'm not serious." Sam laughed, pleased to see my reaction before he leaned in, closing the gap between us. "Kidding aside, I think if it's with you, I don't mind having a child or taking a role I never thought I would accept."

"Sam..." my heart warmed up as my eyes softened.

Sam placed a hand on top of my head and smiled. "For now, let's eat because the monster in your stomach is screaming."