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Legacy or First Made?

“She mentioned this a while ago,” I murmured. “What does this mean?”

“Legacy refers to all those who come from families who have served as human pets for generations. First-Mades are like you – humans who have beenacquiredby other means.”

“You mean sold in auctions?”

My Master’s face became grim. “I’m sorry, pet, but your circumstances are rare...and unfortunate. Most other First Mades are a result of a simple legal agreement between humans and otherworlders.”

The surprises just kept coming, I thought. “You mean, someone would reallychooseto be a human pet?”

He raised a brow. “Why not? Your main responsibility is to feed us when we need sustenance. In return, you will be able to live in the lap of luxury forever.”

“But it also means a lifetime of not being free to do whatever you want,” I argued. “You told me before that I can’t even have a relationship without your approval.”

“Naturally. It is for our race’s safety. We must make sure that people who know of our existence are all trustworthy.”

“But—-”

“I understand and respect your opinion, pet.” His tone was gentle but firm, and I knew it was his way of subtly reminding me of what we were. Master and pet, and whatever way you want to look at it, it would always be one commanding the other and never the other way around.

My gaze moved back to the form, scanning the rest of the questions until I saw one that I couldn’t understand.

Claimed or Unclaimed? If Claimed, please state your Master’s name.

“I don’t understand this.” I pointed to the words that caught my attention. “I’m guessing I’m Claimed, but what about the Unclaimed ones?”

“They’re humans who come from the most illustrious Legacy families. They’re highly sought after, which means they can afford to refuse offers of claiming. To put it simply, they prefer to be claimed by only the most powerful Masters.”

“I see.” The bonds between Master and pet were turning out to be a lot more complex than I thought.

Are you willing to share your pet?

My Master caught sight of my stunned expression and when he saw what I was staring at, he chuckled, the sound tickling my back. “Occasionally, otherworlders come here in need for immediate sustenance, and some Masters are quite generous with their pets.” He cupped my jaw, making me look at him. “You have nothing to worry on that count, though.”

“I’m not worried.”

His lips curved, and his sly smile was as sinfully sexy as ever. I wondered if there’d ever come a time that I would be immune to its sight, wondered if there’d ever come a time that my heart would stop skipping a beat when he smiled at me like that.

“You and your lies.” He clucked his tongue. “Do you really think you can fool me?”

“I’m really not worried—-” The rest of my words disappeared into his kiss, turning me into a statue on his lap. But still his kiss continued, its fiery heat making my body melt. When his fingers sunk into my hair, using it to angle my head so he could deepen the kiss, my resistance weakened even more.

“Are you really not worried,” he whispered against my lips. “Because if you’re not, I’m going to leave you this very moment—-”

“No!” The word burst out of my lips, my hands clutching his shoulders in desperate and instinctive protest.

Laughing, he kissed me again, fiercely, seductively. “I was just teasing you, pet. I will never leave you. I promised you, didn’t I?” Slowly, he pulled away. “You do understand why I need you to stay here, Zari?”

I didn’t answer.

“Zari?”

I shrugged.

He sighed. “Answer me, Zari.”

The commanding tone left me no choice but to answer, and I muttered, “Just because I understand doesn’t mean I agree.Master.”