Page 123 of My Fated Alpha: The Royals

Knowing that he would only waste precious time if he traced his pet’s steps from scratch, Alexandru simply followed the source of the sounds, crashing into walls and furiously digging his way down until he smashed his way into the dungeons.

He saw a female vampire on top of a frightened-looking Zari.

With a roar, he charged towards the vampire.

There was no fear in her expression when she saw him. Just hunger and rage as she launched herself towards him—-

She was as strong as the other vampire, but she was no match against Alexandru.

Everything in him was focused on keeping his pet safe, and what threatened her must be eliminated.

His fingers closed around her neck.

Zari gasped as she watched Alexandru lift the female vampire up in the air—-

His fingers closed around the neck, squeezing until the vampire was flailing, her legs kicking in the air. He squeezed until bones cracked—-

The female vampire went still.

EVEN BEFORE EROU REACHEDthe dungeons, he already knew that Alexandru was gone – together with Zari. He found a dead female vampire on the ground, the flesh of her neck torn and the bones inside it smashed into pieces.

So she had made her choice, Erou thought. And unfortunately, the Lady Zari had not chosen him.

AN HOUR HAD PASSEDsince her Master had brought her back into the safety of his room, and still he had not talked. He had waited outside her door when she asked if she could take a bath, and when she was done, he had carefully carried her to bed and tucked her under the covers.

She had thought he would talk to her then, but he had simply kissed her on the forehead.

And then he had left, just like that.

Zari told herself to be patient, to wait for her Master to come back to her, but in the end she couldn’t do it. Her Master just had to accept that she was not the most patient person in the world. Swinging her legs over the bed, she padded barefoot to the door and when she opened it, she found her Master seated on the couch, the room cast in darkness except for the table lamp glowing brightly next to him. He had a glass of whisky in one hand, and his gaze was brooding when it met hers.

Slowly, she walked to him, her heart beating loudly. She had so many things to say, to ask, but the way he was looking at her told Zari that whatever her problems were right now, it was nothing compared to the burden weighing him down.

Zari whispered, “What’s wrong, Master?”

His answering laugh was hollow. “Are you certain you want me to be your Master still?”

She took a few more steps, stopping only when she was standing right in front of him and her shadow fell over her Master, making him look like a dark angel. She repeated quietly, “What’s wrong, Master?”

This time, he didn’t speak, a blank mask settling on his face.

Somehow, that scared her and she found herself falling to her knees, adopting the ceremonial position of pets when they were claimed by Masters. She hadn’t actually done this before, but she had read about it. The position was supposed to symbolize a pet’s complete allegiance to her Master, and she was hoping her Master knew that.

When she heard Alexandru suck in his breath, she knew she had made the impression she wanted. Seconds later, he was tippingher chin up, and he asked tightly, “Why are you doing this? Didn’t you want to be released from my claim?”

“Only if it was what you wished, Master.”

He gritted out, “I am not the best Master for you. When I thought...” He expelled his breath in a furious hiss. “When I thought you were about to die, I blamed myself for ever bringing you to this kind of world. I should have sent you to Sangre and let you lead a normal life there—-”

She shook her head vigorously when she realized what he was saying. “No, Master.” She thought about what he was proposing, about what life would be like without him, and her voice broke. “Don’t send me away...please.”

“You’re not safe here.”

“I don’t care.”

“And I can’t...I can’t be the Master you deserve.”

“You are—-”

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