Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
And then he had left, just like that.
Zari told herself to be patient, to wait for her Master to come back to her, but in the end she couldn’t do it. Her Master just had to accept that she was not the most patient person in the world. Swinging her legs over the bed, she padded barefoot to the door and when she opened it, she found her Master seated on the couch, the room cast in darkness except for the table lamp glowing brightly next to him. He had a glass of whisky in one hand, and his gaze was brooding when it met hers.
Slowly, she walked to him, her heart beating loudly. She had so many things to say, to ask, but the way he was looking at her told Zari that whatever her problems were right now, it was nothing compared to the burden weighing him down.
Zari whispered, “What’s wrong, Master?”
His answering laugh was hollow. “Are you certain you want me to be your Master still?”
She took a few more steps, stopping only when she was standing right in front of him and her shadow fell over her Master, making him look like a dark angel. She repeated quietly, “What’s wrong, Master?”
This time, he didn’t speak, a blank mask settling on his face.
Somehow, that scared her and she found herself falling to her knees, adopting the ceremonial position of pets when they were claimed by Masters. She hadn’t actually done this before, but she had read about it. The position was supposed to symbolize a pet’s complete allegiance to her Master, and she was hoping her Master knew that.
When she heard Alexandru suck in his breath, she knew she had made the impression she wanted. Seconds later, he was tipping her chin up, and he asked tightly, “Why are you doing this? Didn’t you want to be released from my claim?”
“Only if it was what you wished, Master.”
He gritted out, “I am not the best Master for you. When I thought…” He expelled his breath in a furious hiss. “When I thought you were about to die, I blamed myself for ever bringing you to this kind of world. I should have sent you to Sangre and let you lead a normal life there---”
She shook her head vigorously when she realized what he was saying. “No, Master.” She thought about what he was proposing, about what life would be like without him, and her voice broke. “Don’t send me away…please.”
“You’re not safe here.”
“I don’t care.”
“And I can’t…I can’t be the Master you deserve.”
“You are---”
“No. I’m not. I can’t ever be. I’m sorry if this is not something you wish to hear or believe, but I am only being honest for your sake. I care for you, pet, but there are things I can’t ever do for you---”
“Let me be the judge of that, Master,” she said fiercely. “Just don’t send me away.” Blinking back tears, she choked out, “Please.”
When she looked up, she saw that his face was a mixture of despair and hope.
“Ah, pet.” His hand shook as he reached for her hair and stroked it. “You’re too damn cute.”
She waited for him to kiss her, to seduce her like he always did, but instead he remained unmoving except for his hand, which continued to stroke her hair. Somehow, the fact that he was not making a move on her this very moment made her heart pound hard like it never had before.
Slowly, Zari laid her head on his knee as he combed her hair with his fingers. When she rested her hand on his other knee, she was surprised to see him reach for it, twining his fingers with hers.
Tears struck her eyes, but again she blinked them back quickly. “This time,” she heard him murmur above her. “I mean it, pet. I will never let you go.”
She closed her eyes. I never wanted you to, Master.
****
When she woke up, she found herself alone in her Master’s bed. Sunlight had filtered into the room from the windows, and she rubbed her eyes groggily. When she sat up, her gaze fell on the parchment on the table.
Her breath caught at the sight of it, and her hand trembled as she slowly reached for it. She started to cry when she saw his signature at the bottom. She touched it, wanting to trace every curve---
She began to see.
****
Zari found herself in a palatial room, decorated in rich colors and fabrics. An array of battle weapons cast in gold hung on the wall, and in every corner was a priceless piece of art, ranging from a waist- high vase made of pure jade to an ivory sculpture.
At the center of the room was a long table made of heavy wood. Seated at the head was a man who bore a strong resemblance to her Master, only his face was more stoic, and his build more akin to a Viking warrior than a knight’s.