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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 amnotworrying 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 tolook afteryour 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 thusNot 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?