Page 144 of My Fated Alpha: The Royals

She really had no one to run to, Zari thought painfully. None except her Master, but it seemed like even her Master wouldn’t be hers much longer.

“So, Lady Zari...” The doctor – Katarina – inclined her head to the side in question. “Would you like to talk about your—-”

Her eyes widened, and she belatedly remembered what Mrs. Humphrey had said. “I’m not pregnant,” she said quickly. “Mrs. Humphrey...she thought...wrong.” Her voice trailed off, her cheeks flaming in color.

“Oh.”

Was that, Zari wondered, relief in the older woman’s eyes? When Katarina smiled at her again, it also seemed warmer, and unease started to stir inside of Zari.

“I apologize for the misunderstanding.” The other woman paused. “But if that wasn’t what you’ve come here for, then...is there any other thing I may help you with?”

Zari bit her lip.

“I’m sure,” Katarina continued, “you didn’t come here for no reason.”

Hating how the other woman made her feel so defensive, Zari blurted out, “I can say the same for you, don’t you think?” Unable to bear being rude, she added reluctantly, “Dr. Anton.”

She expected Katarina to deny it, but instead the doctor’s smile faded, and her face turned serious.

“Very well,” Katarina murmured.

Unease turned into panic, and Zari suddenly didn’t feel like hearing the truth. She burst to her feet. “I don’t think—-”

But Katarina had also come to her feet. “I—-”

She shook her head wildly. “I don’twantto hear this—-” She hurried to the door, but of course Katarina beat her to it. Human speed would never be a match against vampires.

When their eyes clashed, Katarina said, “I was wrong.”

Zari froze.

The older woman’s voice shook. “I know, you have your own lives now. But I just can’t...I just can’tnot...I know I was wrong. I was wrong to make him leave. To push him away.”

She asked tremulously, “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want him back.”

Shock caused Zari to sway.

Katarina’s eyes widened in alarm. “Lady Zari—-” She reached for Zari, and the moment her fingers curled around Zari’s arm, everything changed.

A vision.

One that may be her last—-

Zari started to scream.

Chapter Seven

“Where is she?” Alexandru roared. Rationality no longer had a place in his mind. He didn’t care how many vampires he had to knock unconscious, didn’t care how many he had to fucking kill. If he had to turn the entire dukedom upside down, he would. Whatever it took to find her again.

“Cease this.” Mihail appeared at the doorway, his eyes cold as he surveyed the destruction his younger brother had caused. Dozens of his own soldiers littered the ground, and their only sin was that they had followed the command of their marquis.

Alexandru whirled around to face his brother, his face white with rage. “I do not want to fight you, but I will if you do not tell me where she is.”

“I don’t know.”

“Stop with the lies,” Alexandru roared.

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