by Tee, Marian
Mihail was now cussing up a storm in his mind. This girl would be the death of him, with the way she carelessly threw out the most suggestive words in his presence. How did he wish to be welcomed? What if he were to tell her he wanted her to welcome him by flipping her skirts up and spreading her legs wide open for his cock? Would she truly do so?
Rhapsody stopped speaking when she noticed her Master looking suddenly savagely...ravenous. "Is everything alright, Master?"
Mihail started swearing in a dozen languages.
Sex had never been more than a physiological activity for him, and just as he consumed blood only when his body required repleneshing, he had fucked only when his cock was in need for release. But where his pet was concerned, nothing was obviously normal. He only had to hear her call him Master, and he found himself craving for the feel of her like he had been starving for it for centuries.
Rhapsody was starting to worry about her Master's condition. He would look in severe pain at one moment and furious enough to throttle someone the next. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Fuck. There she fucking went again, asking so many fucking questions that only had images lurid as fuck flooding his mind. And in all those fucking images, his pet was fucking naked, moaning - nay, she was fucking pleading, begging him to do all sorts of fucking dirty, lewd things—-
Mihail breathed hard, but it was no use.
Mother of Hell, how he wanted her covered with his cum. How he wanted her to be his, and if any other man—-
The marquis stiffened, his mind finally recalling what it had forgotten.
Rhapsody nearly stumbled back when the marquis' gaze snapped back to her without warning, and this time his green eyes were harsh with anger.
"You were here with another man earlier," the marquis asked coldly. "Were you not?"
Rhapsody blinked in surprise. "I was, and..." She picked her skirts up. "I must show you something, Master."
Mihail was incredulously when his pet suddenly spun around and ran away. He cursed under his breath even when he went after her. She was running in the directions towards the woods, and he had no fucking idea why.
His pet suddenly came into a stop. "Here, Master."
And indeed, the scent he had detected earlier was once again tainting the air around her, and when he reached his pet, she immediately gestured towards the ground—-
His gaze followed where she was pointing.
Shit.
The marquis' head began to pound.
What the fuck was it with his pet that she kept stumbling over dead bodies?
Chapter Two
An Original in the eyes of Society was one that pushed the boundaries without being disgracefully crass and unenchantingly self-righteous. And for the past three years, Lady Eleanor Tilney had worked exceptionally hard to ensure that her beloved school remain an Original type of establishment.
In the past, Legacy pets were the only type of pet considered acceptable by the oldest and most prominent vampire families. First Made pets were either ignored outright or viewed with genteel distaste. All that had changed, however, when Eleanor - a former First Made pet herself and now wife to the Viscount of Luncia - had bought a ten-acred property in Amstel Square and converted the Baroque-styled estate into what was now known as The Progressive Academy of Chalys.
Through means both fair and foul, she had succeeded in reversing Society's opinion of her students, and the graduates of her school were now sought after by the kingdom's wealthiest vampires. All of this was set to change, however, if word was to spread about one of their employees being murdered...in their very own backyard!
A knock sounded on the door, and Eleanor quickly pasted a smile on her face and clasped her hands over her skirts. A moment later, the footman allowed in the visitor she had been both expecting and dreading.
The Marquis of Sangre strode inside her office, and though the viscountess had already known what to expect, he still appeared much, much larger than life, and his handsome looks even more mesmerizing than one could even imagine. But what truly took her breath away was how the marquis - despite looking at least a decade younger than her forty years - was actually almost a thousand years old.
Eleanor tried her hardest not to shiver as the marquis' hooded gaze settled on her. While it was not her first time to be in the presence of one with demon blood, Lord Mihail was, simply put, in a vastly different league. Not only was he the ruler of the entire vampire race, but he was also one of the legendary Galeré and thus a trusted vassal to the Duke of Brimstone himself.
His arrival at her school would be the most undeniably glorious coup, and it was one she would have wasted no time spreading the word about...if not for the dead body that the marquis himself had come across.
The thought had Eleanor wishing her smelling salts were within reach, and she nearly had an apoplexy when the marquis' hooded gaze finally settled on her. Even if her own husband was a vampire himself, this man was simply a thousand times more terrifying.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me, milady."
"Tis our greatest pleasure to receive you, milord," Eleanor said with a gulp. It was true then, she thought anxiously. The softness of the marquis' voice was indeed akin to the calm before the storm.
Flames swirled and chipped wood crackled in the fireplace under the stone mantel as the marquis took his seat. "You have the report I requested, milady?"
Although the words were couched in a polite request, there was no denying the command underlying it, and Eleanor's fingers trembled as she handed the document she held in her possession. She wondered hysterically if the marquis would soon have her school closed. It was possible, wasn't it? If the marquis were to think her school dangerous to her students, it would be all over...
Indifferent to the viscountess' increasingly palpable nervousness, Mihail made a swift scan of the pertinent facts provided by the school's guards.
Mr. Rodney Walker, 25 years of age, was a clerk that has been in the school's employ for over seven months. His listed address was one of the rooms within the school party, and he was last seen alive the night prior.
Mihail turned his attention back to the viscountess. "May I keep this, milady?"
"Of course, milord." And unable to help it, Eleanor heard herself add in a rush, "We've never had such a horrible thing happen before."
"I wouldn't think so," the marquis murmured noncomittally. "Has the victim any known enemies in school or in his personal life?"
Eleanor shook her head. "Mr. Walker is - was - an extremely shy person. One has to make enough of an impression to earn friends or enemies, and he never spent enough time in other people's companies to do either."
A contemplative look flashed over the marquis' handsome features, and Eleanor started wringing her hands. Oh, how frustratingly difficult it was to read the marquis, and it was near driving her mad, wondering what was to be the school's fate.
"Very well then." The marquis slid to his feet in a lithe move. "For now, milady, shall we agree to keep this matter private?"
Eleanor couldn't quite believe her luck. The marquis was willing to overlook this matter? Her school wouldn't be in ruin then?
The marquis raised a brow. "Does your silence mean you are not in favor—-"
Horrified at the prospect of having the marquis change his mind, the viscountess practically jumped to her feet as her words tumbled out after each other. "No, oh no, I am simply speechless with gratitude, milord. Just so speechless, but do know I am definitely most agreeable..." Eleanor even found herself curtsying in her utter relief. "I cannot simply thank you enough, milord."
"It is no trouble." And indeed, it wasn't. With the case now solely his responsibility, there were fewer chances someone would be tempted to do any kind of digging and accidentally find out Rhapsody's involvement in the matter.
His pet had already been accused of murder once, and as far as the marquis was concerned, that would be the last time as well.
"If there is
anything we could do to be of service, milord—-" Eleanor stopped speaking when she saw the glint in the marquis' eyes.
"Actually, milady...it is the opposite."
It was?
"With all that has happened, it has slipped my mind to inform you of my reason for coming."
Eleanor's eyes widened. Indeed, it was so!
"I believe you wrote to my office requesting for a guest lecturer for your newest course?"
"Yes, I did, milord, and—-" The viscountess' voice trailed off as understanding dawned, and for one moment all she could do was stare at the marquis in shock.
Did this mean...
"You have no objections to my qualifications to teach this, I hope?"
"Not at all, milord." Eleanor's voice was dazed, and she could barely remember what she said or did as she saw the marquis out of her office. Turning around, she stared blindly at the crackling fire, unable to believe her good fortune...or was it misfortune?
The Marquis of Sangre...a professor in her school?
While the viscountess was still mentally reeling at the prospect of having a powerful vampire join her school's faculty, the subject of her thoughts also had his own affairs to put into order. And the marquis' first stop: the south tower in the school's property, which would now serve as his temporary residence. He had never been the type to fuss about his living arrangements, but his pet had vehemently insisted on having the authority to oversee its preparations.
He knocked on the door, and almost at once Rhapsody herself appeared to welcome him, a vision in blue silk and with her dark hair twisted up in an elegant chignon.
"The matter has been taken care of," he said quietly. "You need not trouble yourself over it."
"I was never troubled," his pet said placidly. "You said you would take care of it, and you always keep your word, milord." She then stepped back and opened the door wide. Dark eyes looked up to him as her voice, prim and alluring all at the same time, played ever so softly into the air.
"Please come in now, Master."
Says a young, nubile Eve to her blood-drinking Adam, Mihail found himself thinking, and was all at once wary, discomfited, and extremely aroused.
Chapter Three
As it was obvious that Rhapsody felt the need to redeem herself, Mihail patiently indulged his pet's whims as she took him upon a tour of the south tower. He obediently lent his ear as she painstakingly described its most valuable artworks, and he obligingly made suitable sounds of approval when she enumerated the tower's Most Esteemed Guests.
Afterwards - and only at his insistence - she led them back to the dining room in the second floor. The other room that Rhapsody preferred, albeit more formal, would also require them to sit twenty fucking feet away from each other. He was all for propriety, but until he had his fill of his pet, he needed her within reach.
A young footman brought in a trolley bearing dishes on silver platters, but seeing the way he looked upon the marquis' pet with admiring eyes, Mihail waited until the boy turned his way—-
Rhapsody shivered as the air inside the room suddenly turned chilly. A moment later, she heard a scrambling sound and turned in time to see the footman fall on his behind for no apparent reason. He also looked oddly frightened, and thinking it might be because the boy found the marquis' presence too awe-inspiring, she said kindly, "It's alright, Johnson. You may leave us."
Turning back to her Master as soon as the footman had taken his leave, Rhapsody was unaware of how her gown had slipped slightly down to reveal an extra creamy inch of her bosom, a fact that had the marquis cursing in his mind in an effort to control his lustful urges.
Rhapsody saw the marquis looking suddenly ravenous again. Oh dear. She quickly reached for the nearest dish to start serving her Master.
The marquis was distracted and then bemused when his pet started heaping food on his plate in seeming hurry. "Milady?"
And there it was again, Rhapsody thought with an inner shiver. It was that strange, velvety thickness in her Master's voice making her senses inexplicably tingle, and it had her clearing her throat before speaking. "I am so sorry, milord."
The marquis' puzzlement grew. What did his pet sound so dismayed and remorseful for?
"It was unforgivably remiss of me not to notice how hungry you were," Rhapsody felt the need to explain. "It was only when I saw how you were looking at me as if you were ready to eat me—-"
Mihail choked. So that was why she believed him to be starving.
Rhapsody stilled. "Oh, I just realized..." Lovely dark eyes peered up at him, its earnest depths filled with the need to please. "Perhaps human food is not to your liking at the moment? Do you desire something else, Master?"
The marquis could feel his cock rapidly swelling once again under his pants. "I cannot believe you are offering what I think you are offering," he said finally.
"But I am, milord," his pet countered without hesitation. "It would be my honor to provide for your needs if you would let me."
This was getting crazier by the minute. Could it be possible that his pet wasn't as innocent as he thought?
His gaze narrowed at her. "How exactly do you propose to meet my needs?" He had barely finished speaking when his pet suddenly stuck her arm out and nearly hitting his face in the process.
"Drink freely, milord," Rhapsody offered solemnly. Seconds passed, however, and all the marquis did was stare at her. Mm. Perhaps...the marquis needed to see a demonstration of her willingness to provide for him?
When Mihail saw his pet reach for the bread knife, he knew right away what she intended to do and snatched the damn thing out of her hand.
Rhapsody frowned as the marquis threw the bread knife away as if it were poisoned. "Did I misunderstand, milord?"
Hell yes, Mihail nearly snarled out, torn between a need to throttle some sense into her and drink himself into a bloody stupor. Knowing her, she would probably have started hacking away at her wrist in no time, and the thought alone had him wondering if it was possible for half-demons like him to have a fucking heart attack.
"Stop worrying about me," he finally ordered.
"I am not worrying about you." His pet actually sounded offended. "To do so would mean I doubt your power and strength, which I have never been guilty of. Rather, it is my duty to look after your needs—-"
"I am not a child to coddle," the marquis muttered as he sliced himself a bite of his steak, which was cooked rare just as he liked it, and seasoned perfectly to his taste, too.
"Of course you are not a child," Rhapsody agreed. "You are almost a thousand years old, after all."
For a long moment, Mihail could only stare at his pet, wondering if that was her sneaky way of being a smart ass. But his pet only stared back at him, placid as fuck.
"A pet doesn't argue with one's Master," the marquis finally pointed out.
"Absolutely." Rhapsody glanced inquiringly at her Master. "But why do you say this now? Has milord encountered such a disobedient pet in the past?"
"I'm talking about you."
After a moment, Rhapsody said apologetically, "I know tis a joke, but I'm sorry, milord, it is hard for me to laugh out loud." A pause, and then she added earnestly, "I do think it's funny, though."
Mihail was torn between disbelief and irritation. "I am not—-" He broke off when he saw his pet gazing at him expectantly.
"Yes, milord? You are not what?"
I am not...going to win an argument against you, Mihail realized resignedly, and so the marquis simply suited action to thoughts by steering the topic to less contentious waters.
"The dead body you found earlier turned out to be a school employee. A Mr. Rodney Walker, if the name rings a bell."
"It doesn't."
"I thought so. He had a clerical job that didn't require much interaction between him and students."
"I see." Rhapsody chewed thoughtfully on a morsel of chicken. "Stabbings are always said to be personal."
"He was not precisely stabbed, though,"
"That's true."
The discussion about the murder went on for the rest of their dinner. A part of Rhapsody was waiting for the marquis to say she was being rather morbid and thus Not Normal, but he never did. Not once did he look or speak to her as if he found her odd, as the hours passed, it did have her wondering. Perhaps...he truly would not mind having her as his pet and heartkeeper. Perhaps, there was still a chance he would find copulating with her tolerable at least?
Mihail stopped speaking when he noticed the calculating way his pet was looking at her. "What is it?"
Rhapsody hesitated. Shall she take the risk and ask him then?
"Speak, milady, or I shall think you do not trust me to solve your concerns."
Her Master had a point, Rhapsody thought. Very well then.
Seeing her about to rise, the marquis stood up to help her, and when she placed her hand in his, he was stunned and wary when, upon getting to her feet, his pet did not seem inclined to let go of her hand.
"I was wondering..."
The marquis waited patiently.
"May I ask for your permission to test out a theory?"
Theory? What fucking theory? But since she was obviously waiting for an answer, he said, "You have my permis—-" He wasn't able to finish speaking, with his pet having tiptoed to cut his words with a kiss.
Mother of Hell.
Rhapsody felt the way the marquis stiffened, his lips cold and unmoving under her mouth, and a surprisingly acute pang of disappointment struck her. It was as she feared and expected, she realized sadly. It was indeed impossible for the Marquis of Sangre to want someone like her, and she immediately rocked back to her feet in resigned acceptance of her fate.
But just as she was about to pull away, the marquis' arms suddenly went around her and tightened.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mihail asked thickly.
"You are not attracted to me—-" She stopped speaking. For the very first time, the marquis was looking at her as if she were insane, and also for the first time, Rhapsody actually felt glad - nay, thrilled, absolutely, delightfully thrilled - that she was being gazed at in such a manner.