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“Did you have a vision again?”

She shook her head, still crying.

“Then what’s wrong?” Alexandru demanded, the sound of his pet’s tears hurting him.

She could only look at him, the vampire she used to think she was being manipulated to care for.

“Tell me what’s wrong, pet.” His gaze fell to the contract. “Is it because of that? You do not want...you have changed your mind then?”

Her heart broke at the question. Oh, if only she could change her mind. But even after what she had learned, she knew it was too late.

She loved him.

She was hopelessly in love with her Master, and he was just as hopelessly in love with another girl.

Managing a smile, Zari said, “I’m all right, Master. I’m just happy...” She reached for the pen he had left on the bedside table. Head bent, she signed the contract. By placing her name next to his, she knew she had made a choice.

Over her head, her Master said quietly, “It is done then.”

Not looking at him, she whispered, “Yes, it is. Master.” Zari’s tears started to fall again as she watched his hand cover hers, their fingers entwining with each other. Their gazes met as he raised her hand to his lips.

Alexandru asked softly, “Why do you keep crying?”

She shook her head.

His voice turned harsh. “No more lies, pet.”

She wanted to say she was afraid. So, so afraid. She was afraid of her Master leaving her, of realizing he couldn’t ever love her, of a woman named Katarina taking him away from her.

But of course she couldn’t say that. She owed it to her Master, to her parents – to herself to be strong. So many people had risked their lives to keep her from harm. The least she could do was to enjoy the life they had gifted her, even if it meant living with half of her heart in pieces.

Slowly, Zari looked up, her chest squeezing painfully when she saw the worry in her Master’s gaze. She knew then she wouldn’t be able to lie to him, not when he was looking at her like that. And so she reached for his face instead, knowing this was the only way she could avoid saying the truth.

Her Master drew his breath sharply at her touch, and Zari knew it was because she had never been the first one to touch him and certainly not like this in the past.

She whispered, “Master...kiss me.”

For a long time, Alexandru only gazed at her.

And then he smiled, a beautiful smile that was both warm and sad, and she knew then that he was aware she wasn’t quite being truthful with him – that he thought she was regretting her decision to be his pet but unable to say it.

The realization had her lips parting in painful dismay. Oh, God, no, she didn’t ever want him to think like that, didn’t ever want her Master to feel hurt like that. But before she could speak, he had beaten her to it.

“My pleasure, pet.”

He drew her in his arms, his lips touching hers, and unlike in times past, her Master no longer allowed her to resist or struggle. He kissed her with a hungry, all-consuming need, hismouth devouring hers, and his passion inflaming her every sense until all she could do was feel.

~ END OF PART I ~

Part Two

Chapter One

“You have to be serious.” Her voice was a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. “You can’t possibly spend the whole day with me.”

Alexandru only raised a brow. “Why not?”

“B-because you have duties,” she sputtered. “That’s why.”