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)
Opposite her, Erou remained quiet, wondering yet again if she was aware that her face was like a live TV display. Her eyes blinking rapidly...she was in shock at what he had revealed. Her teeth gnawing on her lip...she was thinking about what it meant. Her cheeks puffing up...she was mustering the courage to—-
“Lord Erou, I would like to ask you something.” Her cheeks were like a balloon that inflated and deflated every second, and it was fast turning a deep shade of rose.
The vampire’s gaze settled on her. Intent, sharp, and transparent – someone who saw everything but hid nothing.
Inching forward on her seat, she took a deep breath and brought her face close to the vampire.
Erou hissed in surprise, not expecting the girl to do such a thing. Her scent wrapped itself around him, and he dared not close his eyes then. If he did, he knew something would happen – the kind that could force a duel between him and Alexandru.
Zari took another deep breath. She would try kissing Lord Erou, and if she didn’t feel the same thing...
Lifting herself off her seat, she leaned closer towards Lord Erou, who bent an inch backwards every time she inched closer. She stopped moving, stammering, “Why are you moving back?”
“What are you intending to do?” He grimaced at how hoarse his voice had become. Did this girl know how much he found her scent addictive? How it was making his cock respond inside his pants? He was this close to forgetting all about playing by the rules. His body begged him to take her and be damned with the consequences.
She couldn’t believe the vampire was asking her such a question. “You know!”
“No, I do not.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I do—-”
“I’m going to kiss you!” She closed the distance between them in one lunge over the library desk.
The words hit, and his eyes automatically closed in expectation of Zari’s kiss.
But nothing happened.
He opened his eyes and saw that Zari had a terrified expression on her face.
RED.
Everywhere it was red. Red. RED. REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED——-
The crumbling spines of ancient texts shelved in the corner. The painted lips of the librarian behind her desk. The decorative squares on the tiled floors. The rust on the steel handles of the wheeled book tray—-
Red all over, but like her first vision, it only meant one thing.
Death.
So many deaths.
People she wasn’t able to help.
The whole world turned red, everyone dripping in blood—-
Oh God, she was next.
She was going to die next.
“BREATHE, ZARI, BREATHE!”
The harshly spoken words were reduced into a distant echo when they reached her ears. When she opened her eyes in a daze, she found her mouth covered by—-
Zari gasped.
Lord Erou pulled away immediately, and that was when she realized she was lying on the library floor. He was crouched next to her, and forming a circle around them were curious students.
“You fainted, Lady Zari.”
“I—-I’m sorry.” She mumbled the words, not knowing what else to say.
As she forced herself up, Lord Erou was swift to assist her, placing one hand on her back. “Are you sick? Would you like to go to the infirmary?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s probably because I hadn’t eaten much today and I only had a few hours of sleep last night.” She dared not tell him about her vision.
Lord Erou was clearly skeptical. “Are you sure?” Before helping her to her feet, he dealt the crowd a look. Just one was enough to have everyone walking away, not liking to be the recipient of the vampire’s glare.
When Zari looked up, she was surprised but relieved to find that the crowd had dispersed. When Lord Erou helped her to her feet, she was dismayed to find herself still shaky, forcing the vampire to carry her in his arms. “No, please—-”
“It’s all right, but I do insist on bringing you to the infirmary. You will need medication at the very least.”
His firm tone told her it would be pointless to argue so she didn’t, holding onto him as carefully and loosely as possible when he carried her out of the library. Everyone was staring at them again, and she didn’t want them to think she was clinging too hard to Lord Erou.
When Lord Erou stepped out of the library, they both heard a familiar voice ask silkily, “Is this meant to make me jealous?”
Her head jerked up.
Alexandru!
Chapter Seven
It is both a courtesy and precaution for a Master to let his pet know about his coming and going.
For a deeper understanding, please refer to the written apology of Master Alexandru and his pet Zari Baltimore, Exhibit 1.5.1, p. 16
Alexandru spewed his coffee when he read the footer.
Next to him in bed, his pet giggled. Zari knew exactly what made her Master do that.
“What the fuck? You’re going to include it in your proposal?”