by Marian Tee
From inside the door, she heard Alexandru speaking. “Yes? Is this the enforcers? I would like to report a security issue. Someone is breathing loudly outside my door—”
Gasping, Zari hastily opened the door. “Master!”
She found Alexandru inside, his chair facing the door, a sly smile on his face, and his phone lying unused on the desk. He had fooled her – again!
“Master!”
His smile widened at the way his pet growled at him like an angry kitty. Legacy pets would never have done that for they would have grown up hearing about him and thus be too in awe of Alexandru. Other human pets wouldn’t have dared, either. They would only think of the billions in his bank account, something he had easily accumulated over the hundreds of years he had lived, and they would never say or do anything he didn’t care about.
But this stubborn, disobedient, cute pet of his?
He patted his lap.
She knew what that meant, knew it would be futile to resist because his powers were no doubt at work now, but even so, she tried anyway. Glaring at her Master, she shook her head.
Come close and let your Master pet you.
No.
What’s the name of that girl in your class? The one who hates you? Maybe I could call her and let her know how you’ve just refused your Master—
She hurriedly shut the door at the threat and went to him.
Alexandru’s fingers closed around her wrist, pulling her to him until she tumbled against his chest. He caught her in his lap and he immediately took her lips for a kiss. His pet yielded to him at the first touch of his lips on hers, her body softening as her arms went around his neck. Unlike before, he didn’t have to coach her to open her mouth. She welcomed his possession, and possess her he did, thoroughly and passionately, his tongue claiming every inch of her mouth.
When he lifted his head, she was dazed. Normally, that was a good thing, but since she was still recovering from blood loss, it worried him instead and he regretted taking advantage of her immediately.
“Are you all right, pet?” His voice was rough with concern.
The way her Master was looking and talking to her made Zari look down as she muttered awkwardly, “I’m fine.” She remembered what the other girls said and at that moment, she found herself wondering the same thing. She remembered this morning’s reporting, which felt so long ago. What kind of bond did she share with her Master? Was it the kind that could never be broken?
It had her asking in a small voice, “Are you angry with me, Master?”
Alexandru answered readily, “Very much.”
Her head lifted sharply, and she looked like she was about to cry.
It almost tempted him to smile, but he forced himself to maintain a stoic façade. He wanted his pet to pay. For daring to let another vampire feed on her, for actually even listening to another man offer to claim her, and most of all, for making him say ridiculous things because he had, for one very, very short moment, felt that his ownership of her was threatened.
He did not want to feel like that again. She must be made to understand that, and so Alexandru said in his iciest voice, “Do you know the last time I learned about a woman who had not been faithful to me?”
Eyes wide with trepidation, she whispered, “No.”
“I gave her to my men to eat.”
“No!”
“And they ate her, all at the same time—”
Zari gasped. “You’re kidding…right?”
“I swear on my blood, I am not lying.”
“I see.” She had turned white at the words, knowing that Alexandru did not say such things lightly. If he said that he wasn’t lying, then that was it.
Alexandru watched his pet turn away and start for the door. “Where are you going?”
“To the nearest window.”
His lips twitched. “Why?”
“Oh, I’m just going to kill myself—”
A laugh escaped him, and a second later, he had blocked her way to the door with the use of his race’s preternatural speed.
As he swept her up in his arms, she demanded worriedly, “Did you really mean what you said?”
Slowly, he nodded, and he laughed again when she struggled anew, trying to get out of his arms. “Zari, relax. I did mean it – but not in the way you think.”
She wailed, “Eating is eating even if they don’t chew before they swallow—”
He laughed harder. Making his way to his bedroom, Alexandru gently laid her down on his bed. Then he flicked her forehead. “Idiot. Do you really think I would let any harm befall you?”
She didn’t answer, her gray eyes filled with apprehension.
He flicked her forehead again. “They were eating her body…for mutual pleasure.”
It took her a few seconds to understand what he meant. “Oh.” She shook her head, the images his words invoked making her swallow convulsively, and she blurted out, “Like…a buffet?”
He choked, managing to say, “I suppose you could say that.”
Gnawing on her lip, she asked haltingly, “And…you…Master? Did you…try the buffet, too?”
His smile turned sly. “If I said yes?”
She thought hard about it. “I’m going to cry.”
His jaw dropped at the unexpected response, but when she only continued to look at him with a mulish expression, his smile slowly returned, but this time it was one of approval. “You are getting as good as me at blackmail.” He pinched her cheek, hard enough to make her squeal. “I’m not sure it’s a good thing, though.”
She reminded him, “But you still haven’t answered my question, Master.”
He said solemnly, “I did not, as you put it, try the buffet.”
“Why didn’t you?” She held her breath as she waited for his answer.
He said simply, “I hate sharing.” He was about to say something else when they heard his phone ring from the outer room.
When a frustrated look flittered over his face, she asked, “What is it?”
“A call from one of my men. They are the only ones who know my number.” Reluctantly, Alexandru pulled away from his pet, leaving one knee on the bed as he straightened.
The sudden distance between her Master and her was painful. She wanted to call him back to him but bit her lip to keep the words inside her. A thought occurred to Zari, and sitting up, she asked, “So…when you wrote the note about something needing your attention, you really weren’t lying?”
He flicked her forehead. “What do you think?”
“I think you like avoiding giving me straight answers, Master.”
He rolled his eyes. “Between you and me, which of us do you think utters more lies?” He shook his head in exasperation. “Of course it was true.” His voice gentled. “We had been parted for a long time. I wouldn’t have given up the time I have with you if it was not something important.” He paused, as if realizing what he had just said.
Dammit! What had he just said?
She gasped. “Master, you’re blush—”
“Don’t. Say. Another. Word.” He glared at her. “I think you’re also a bully yourself, pet. You like making me say the most ridiculous things.” Turning away and walking to the door, he said over his shoulder, “I must leave the room for a while and let the headmaster know that I’ve received the call we’ve been waiting for.”
“I don’t want to,” she said automatically.
But he only laughed and closed the door behind him.
Alone in his bed, she tossed and turned but couldn’t make herself fall asleep. She opened his bedside drawer, hoping to find something to read, but instead she found a piece of parchment with her name written below.
It took her a while to understand the words since it was written in Chalysian. It was a contract of claiming, with her name and Alexandru’s – but unsigned. Did it mean she was not his pet, after all?
Chapter Six
“Can I read the next item, Master?”
Alexandru groan
ed. He was lying on his back on one of the sun lounges, the two of them enjoying a rare vacation at Alexandru’s secret island retreat. Taking off his dark sunglasses, he looked at his pet in exasperation. She was floating lazily on his private pool, lying on the inflatable bed. Her bikini-clad body made him think of more other interesting things to do than talking about her proposal.
“Did we not agree this would be a work-free vacation, pet?”
“I know, but it’s just one item. Please, Master?”
Alexandru scowled. “You won’t be always to get your way just because you say ‘please’.”
“Please.”
Dammit, his pet knew he was lying.
With a sigh, he dove into the pool, creating a huge splash that had Zari shrieking. “Master, unfair!”
When he surfaced from the water, the paper she held was completely wet, the ink smearing and making the words illegible.
“Sorry.” He swam to her side, floating in the water.
She beamed. “Good thing I’ve already memorized that one item.”
He grimaced and wondered if he should drown his pet next.
Zari was saying, “A pet must have the freedom to perform duties other than her obligations to her Master.”
He frowned. “Duties? Do you mean work?”
She nodded. “Like what I do as a soul seer—”
“Which I still disapprove of.”
“And I still consider under negotiation.”
They glared at each other.
She broke down first. “There must be a way to compromise about this, Master. I can’t just ignore my visions—”
“You can.”
“I’m one of the few soul seers left—”
“Exactly,” he said flatly. “There are still other soul seers, but there is only one Zari Baltimore, only one girl who could be my pet.”
Her cheeks burst with color.
Ah, too cute.
He reached for his pet.
“Master, no, we haven’t stopped…” Zari moaned as Alexandru untied her bikini top.
“It’s your fault for blushing.”
“But YOU were the one who made me blu—” This time, she could no longer speak, not with his mouth on her nipple.
When he lifted his head, he asked, “Your choice. Should we talk now or do we continue with this?”
“Continue,” she whispered.
“I can’t hear you, pet.”
“Continue please.” She was blushing hard now.
“Mm…still not hearing you. Maybe you should just offer your breast to me if you want us to continue.”
She cupped her breasts.
His smile turned sly.
“Bully.”
He kissed her hard. “Good pet.” And he kissed the rest of her, starting with her breasts.
“Master Alexandru is gone?” Zari echoed dumbly the next day after her classes. She felt like wilting on the spot. She knew that a Master did not owe his pet any explanations, but he had always told her before when he was about to leave her.
“I’m sure it was for very important reasons he has left you so suddenly,” Sir Richard said helpfully.
Important reasons like…he was in a quest to search for another pet? Perhaps he had lied about not being disgusted with her?
After thanking the headmaster, Zari went back to her room and debated about what she should do next. Impulsively, she tried reaching out to him, wondering if he would hear her or not. Master?
But he didn’t answer. Had she really expected him to?
Three more days passed, and she still hadn’t heard from her Master. After class, she hurried to the library on a whim, the thought of the unsigned contract still weighing on her mind. Zari knew she could have asked any of the professors, but she didn’t want to. This was something not to be shared, especially if her suspicions were true.
In the library, she searched for the shelves that bore books on the legal agreements between Masters and pets. Grabbing the first book she could find that focused on contracts, Zari went to one of the tables at the back of the library to ensure her privacy.
It was when she was halfway through the book that the information she was seeking finally came up.
It is for the protection of both Master and Pet that a binding contract must be drawn. Thus, the Master’s claim and ownership may be made legal and the appropriate aid may be provided to human pets in the event that his or her Master was to suffer from premature death.
Claims that are not legalized will unfortunately not be recognized by the authorities, and thus Unclaimed pets are free to propose to Masters who have unofficially bonded—
“Is that for your homework?”
Zari jumped in her seat in surprise. It was Lord Erou, and he had taken a seat across her without Zari even knowing it. He was as handsome as ever, but this time instead of civilian clothes, the vampire was back in his uniform, which bore the colors of Sangre. Some men would never look good in a uniform. Some men did. Lord Erou was clearly the latter, with the way the uniform emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and his lean muscular form.
“Good afternoon, Lord Erou,” she stammered.
“Good afternoon, Lady Zari,” he returned pleasantly.
“Err, do you always come here?” The question was to distract him as she slowly snapped the book shut, hoping the vampire wouldn’t notice.
“I always visit libraries when I have the time, yes. In fact, I came from another one this morning.”
“Oh?”
“It’s the one in the next town. It has very good books about vampire lore.”
“I see.”
“Do you really not want to tell me what you were reading about?”
Zari cringed. “Was I that obvious?”
Lord Erou frowned when he noticed the dark circles under the girl’s eyes. He had heard about Alexandru leaving the compound and wondered if that was the reason for Zari Baltimore’s drawn expression. He said apologetically, “I know you’re lying.” He nodded to the book. “I caught a glimpse of the text.”
Ah, damn. She had forgotten about vampires’ really good eyesight.
“Students don’t tackle the subject of contracts until the last year.”
“Well, that’s just plain wrong,” she muttered under her breath. When he lifted one brow in surprise, she flushed, stammering, “I’m sorry if that came out as disrespectful, Lord Erou.”
He shook his head. “That’s not it at all. I simply wondered why you have such a desire to study the subject. If you have anything you’d like to ask, I would be more than happy to—”
She blurted out, “Why would a Master make someone his pet without making it official?”
Erou’s lips tightened. Did this mean she had found out that her Master had another pet in another territory? “It’s unfortunate, but such things do happen, and it’s not against the law,” he said finally. “Most likely, a Master does that when he feels the bond between him and his pet is likely to be temporary.”
Zari felt herself whitening. “I…see.” She lowered her hands to her lap so Lord Erou wouldn’t see the way they were trembling. “That’s a little unfair, don’t you think? When a vampire approaches a human girl, it’s not like she’d have her wits about her.”
Erou was puzzled. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because he could just use his vampire powers and seduce her into being his pet—”
“It’s still your choice to refuse—”
“Ha! Don’t think you can fool me with that. I know about your powers—”
He interrupted her, asking slowly, “Lady Zari, are you under the impression we’re able to control your mind, perhaps hypnotize you into doing our will?” She didn’t need to answer, the disapproving expression on her face telling him what she believed.
He shook his head. “We don’t have such powers, Lady Zari.”
“Of course you have—”
“No, we don’t.”
“Yes.”
“
No.”
“Yes.”
“Lady Zari, I swear on my life, we do not.”
Her mouth opened and closed. Now that sounded true. And if it was true, then—
Either she was a nympho, or she felt more than she should be feeling for her Master.
Opposite her, Erou remained quiet, wondering yet again if she was aware that her face was like a live TV display. Her eyes blinking rapidly…she was in shock at what he had revealed. Her teeth gnawing on her lip…she was thinking about what it meant. Her cheeks puffing up…she was mustering the courage to—
“Lord Erou, I would like to ask you something.” Her cheeks were like a balloon that inflated and deflated every second, and it was fast turning a deep shade of rose.
The vampire’s gaze settled on her. Intent, sharp, and transparent – someone who saw everything but hid nothing.
Inching forward on her seat, she took a deep breath and brought her face close to the vampire.
Erou hissed in surprise, not expecting the girl to do such a thing. Her scent wrapped itself around him, and he dared not close his eyes then. If he did, he knew something would happen – the kind that could force a duel between him and Alexandru.
Zari took another deep breath. She would try kissing Lord Erou, and if she didn’t feel the same thing…
Lifting herself off her seat, she leaned closer towards Lord Erou, who bent an inch backwards every time she inched closer. She stopped moving, stammering, “Why are you moving back?”
“What are you intending to do?” He grimaced at how hoarse his voice had become. Did this girl know how much he found her scent addictive? How it was making his cock respond inside his pants? He was this close to forgetting all about playing by the rules. His body begged him to take her and be damned with the consequences.
She couldn’t believe the vampire was asking her such a question. “You know!”
“No, I do not.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I do—”
“I’m going to kiss you!” She closed the distance between them in one lunge over the library desk.
The words hit, and his eyes automatically closed in expectation of Zari’s kiss.