She started to call out for him, but then she heard another voice calling his name. Her head whipped around. It was Katarina, hurrying towards Alexandru.
When Alexandru saw the light in his pet’s eyes fade, he started for her immediately. Dimly, he heard Katarina – his Katarina – calling his name at the same time. Everything in him wanted to answer her. It had been so long since he had heard her voice, so long since he had last seen her. Touched her.
But right now, he knew that it would be the gravest sin to do so.
Right now, he had to focus on his pet.
Zari was already walking away, but he caught up to her easily, spinning her around to face him. The pain in her gray eyes made Alexandru flinch. There were just so many times he had hurt her. He had promised to cherish her, to protect her. And he had meant it. So why did he keep hurting her in the end?
“Zari…” He found himself strangely lost for words. His feelings no longer made sense. All he knew was that he just wanted his pet to stop hurting.
She wanted to answer, but again she saw her. She said tonelessly, “Someone wants to talk to you, Master.”
Alexandru refused to turn around. “I’m here to talk to you.”
Behind him, Katarina said his name again, making him freeze. The Katarina he knew was not like this, drawing attention to herself – to themselves. She had been the opposite in the past, doing her utmost best to hide the fact that they were together.
So what made her change now?
“Alexandru—-”
“Not now, Katarina.” His gaze never wavered from his pet as he said the words.
“I understand.” Her voice shook, making Alexandru’s conscience sting with guilt. He hadn’t meant to sound so dismissive, hadn’t meant to hurt Katarina.
“I will wait for you to speak with me. I want you to know I understand your responsibilities to your pet. And I would never want you to abandon her.”
Alexandru heard Katarina inhale, as if trying to manage the pain without giving up. “But I also want you to know that I’m here to stay. That I came back to fight for you.”
HER MASTER HAD BEEN talking all this time. Nothing in his demeanor showed that he minded how she hadn’t said a single word since they had left the courtroom together. He told her how worried he was, let her know that he had flown as fast as he could from the mainland to get to her. He talked and she listened, and if he asked a question, all she could do was nod or shake her head.
It was not revenge.
It really was all she could do so as not to break down.
Inside his rooms, Zari remained silent as she watched her Master draw a bath for her and didn’t murmur a single protest when he took her hand and slowly undressed her.
His arms were strong and gentle as he carried her to the tub, and then he sat on the edge before slowly soaping her body.
Realization dawned, and she found herself looking at him. He was pampering her. Why? Was it because she was his pet? Or was it because he felt guilty?
Suddenly, she remembered the words he had told her.
I won’t let you go unless you ask.
Zari looked at him.
Alexandru froze when he saw his pet’s eyes. One look, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. One look, and his heart felt so damn raw and exposed. When she started to speak, he knew he couldn’t let her.
He just…couldn’t.
“Master—-”
Alexandru shook his head.
Don’t ask it.
Her body jerked at the words.
Her Master’s face was pale, but his voice inside her mind was fierce and tight.
Don’t ask it.
I beg of you, pet.
Don’t ask it.
One, two, three teardrops started to fall. And soon it was countless, tears raining down her cheeks. You’re so unfair, Master.
His heart bled at the sight, but still he couldn’t find it in him to take the words back. When he reached for her, she closed her eyes, laying her cheek against his palm. A sign of trust, one that had his heart bleeding even more.
Alexandru knew there were so many things they had to talk about. But in the end, all he could say hoarsely was, “I’m sorry, pet.”
“I’m sorry, too, Master.” A tear-clogged whisper, one that revealed just how vulnerable she was feeling, and it was all his fault.
He said fiercely, “My loyalty is to you, pet.”
“I know, Master.” And she did. But that had never been the problem, Zari thought. What she wanted was her Master’s heart, but what she wanted, he had already given to another woman.
~ END OF PART II ~
Part Three
Prologue
Dear Miss Baltimore,
Thank you for your interest in Academie Nu Exista (ANEX).
For your reference, we would like to share with you the highlights of what would be your curriculum and the type of student life you would enjoy if you were to decide on pursuing a mid-year transfer to our school.