Total pages in book: 207
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 985(@200wpm)___ 788(@250wpm)___ 657(@300wpm)
And that – that wasn’t good.
None of this was good anymore, and sooner or later he knew he would be forced to make a decision.
Zari was stunned when her Master abruptly pulled away from her. He was visibly on edge, his body taut with tension. Her heart jumped to her throat. Was this it? Was he going to tell her it was over? When he turned to her, intent on speaking, she panicked.
Zari blurted out, “I had a vision a while ago.”
Alexandru’s face turned grim. “What did you see?”
“It was like what you said. It started with a color – red.” She thought about telling him that the visions also had to do with her possible death but decided against it. She didn’t want him to think she wanted his pity.
“How did you see it? What were you doing? Where were you when it happened?”
Her cheeks flushed at the question.
He said flatly, “You were with him?”
She nodded.
“So that’s the way it is then.”
No, it was not! She wanted to cry out in protest, but she could only look at him. If he really wanted her as his pet, shouldn’t he be telling her now that he wouldn’t be giving her up – no matter what? Wasn’t that what he promised the day he claimed her?
But then...he hadn’t really claimed her, had he?
Alexandru felt strangely empty. He had never felt like this before, not even when...no, that was nothing like this terrible waking emptiness inside him, telling him that it would be worse if and when Zari did become someone else’s pet.
But if that was what she wanted, would he really be selfish enough to keep her against her will?
The beast in him roared in protest. He had given her a choice, he thought savagely. He had asked her several times and he had warned her he would not let her go if she said yes. It was not his fault that she changed her mind.
When his eyes slowly went to his pet, he saw her lip trembling and it was obvious she was doing her best not to cry.
He didn’t want her crying, dammit – not those kinds of tears, anyway.
“Sleep here for the night. I will have enforcers posted at the door so you will not need to be worried. You are not to leave this room until I am sure the danger’s been averted.” Alexandru moved to the door, pausing when his hand reached the knob. “Once we have this case related to your vision resolved, I promise we’ll talk about you becoming...someone else’s pet.”
Alexandru left without looking back.
The door closed behind him.
One, two, three, four, she counted to herself. “Fifty,” she whispered to herself. Alexandru would no longer be able to hear her now. And that was when she started to cry, covering her mouth because even so, she didn’t want to accidentally make a sound.
Chapter Eight
Alexandru was carefully tending to the Venus flytraps his pet had him nurturing in the greenhouse when he suddenly felt the hairs of his nape standing up and evil eyes glaring at his back.
“Rule #23.5 Verbal abuse from Masters should be considered a serious offense and violators should be sanctioned accordingly.”
He turned around, saying in exasperation, “I haven’t even said anything yet.”
She continued glaring at him.
He threw his hands up. “What do you want me to say, pet? I’ve already apologized for that incident, have I not? I have expressed my support for this proposal of yours—-”
“The sanction for this offense is for a Master to serenade his pet in public.”
His brow shot up.
She said seriously, “And it has to be a Sam Smith song. No one sings love songs like Sam Smith, Master.”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “Who the fuck is Sam Smith?”
WHEN EROU RECEIVED the summons from Alexandru, he knew what it meant. A meeting at midnight in a location outside the school? It was a duel, definitely, and one he was determined to win.
But when he reached his destination, he was stunned to find the hunter accompanied by his men, and all of them were dressed for battle.
He said in disgust, “I had expected more from you, Lord Alexandru.”
Alexandru only smiled. “Is that so?”
Someone stepped out from behind the older vampire, and Erou was even more surprised to discover it was Zari. She was not wearing her school uniform. Instead, she had on a cotton shirt and jeans, and her feet were clad in heavy-duty sneakers. He shook his head in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
She appeared just as shocked. “What are you doing here?”
What the hell was this? Had the human girl just been leading him all along? Erou said coldly, “I’m not sure what game you’re playing—-”
“I’m not playing any games,” Zari protested, her eyes darting nervously between Lord Erou and her Master...for now.