Chapter 37

Sofia

That damned mongrel was insufferable!

I watched her wander off after passing every challenge the guards I’d sent to “supervise” her training had offered.

How hard was it to exhaust one mutt? I had told them to wear her out. Yet she still had a bounce in her step as she walked.

I needed to find someone less incompetent. I was going to put that damned mutt in her place if it was the last thing I did. That bitch had interfered with my plans one time too many.

What did Damien see in her, anyway? Why, after so many centuries, did he turn his attentions to this one werewolf tribute? He had never so much as glanced at any other blood pet.

What made this bitch so special?

I needed a new plan. The guards I’d sent after her knew not to touch her. I did not dare be too explicit in my instructions.

I had told them to wear her out. I had implied that the Duke wanted his pet to be stronger.

It made a little bit of sense. If she grew stronger, she would be able to sustain the blood loss from feeding him more easily. It was easy for the guards to justify their actions.

I had expected her to fail. I thought she would give up and beg for them to go easy on her. They would show her just what a pathetic thing she really was.

Yet somehow the bitch had triumphed. She had dared to smile at me when it was all over.

I would destroy her just for that.

I needed to find more guards. There had to be someone in the castle who did not know that Olivia was off limits.

I would have Olivia put in her place. Once she was properly humbled, she would be less of a hindrance to the duke. Then Damien would have time to pay attention to more important matters. He wasted too much time on his pet.

Luck was with me. A new batch of guard recruits arrived at the castle within a few days of Olivia’s little training session. It was my job to give them a tour of the castle.

It was easy enough to make sure that the new guards witnessed Olivia’s behavior. She wandered through the castle at will. She met her betters’ gazes with no sign of humility or fear. She was openly defiant as she insisted that the damned slaves get a full portion of food.

“Ma’am,” one of the bolder new guards addressed me at the end of the tour. “Who was that woman before?”

“What woman?” I asked, pretending ignorance.

“The one in the library,” the guard said. “I thought she must be a guest or something, but then I saw her eating with the slaves.”

“That is certainly not a guest,” I sniffed. “She is one of the werewolf tributes. She is a personal slave whose master has not seen fit to properly discipline her.”

The guards around us grumbled. They didn’t like to hear that a werewolf slave was running around taking liberties. They understood the proper way of things.

“Someone should really teach her a lesson,” I said, “but we’re all so busy here.”

“We’re not busy yet,” a guard in the back said.

“That’s true,” I agreed.

That was all it took. These guards knew what their duty was. All I had to do was tell them where to find the insolent little wretch. They did the rest on their own. It was the perfect plan.

Olivia

I had found a good place to draw. It was some kind of little alcove just off of one of the castle’s many studies. It didn’t seem to be used for anything and no one objected when I placed a large pillow under the window to rest on while I drew.

I had given up on sketching portraits for a little while. They all turned into Damien and I was tired of drawing his horrible, beautiful face.

Drawing places I remembered was depressing, because it reminded me of everything that I had lost. So I drew animals instead. I had seen a lovely bird the other day after training and I wanted to capture it on paper.

I honestly did not realize that anyone else even knew the little alcove existed. So I was shocked when several guards filled the space around me while I was sketching in tiny feathers.

I scrambled to my feet and put my back to the wall. I didn’t know these guards. Were they new?

“So this is the werewolf bitch who thinks she can order her betters around?” one of them said.

I shook my head. I didn’t order anyone around. I just tried to help the other slaves.

Someone grabbed my arm and jerked me away from the wall.

“I think it’s time you learned your place,” the new guard growled.

“On your knees!” the one holding me said.

They shoved me down before I could obey. My knees hit the marble floor and I cried out. A hand tangled in my hair.

“This little blood bag thinks she’s important,” someone said. “Let’s show her the truth.”

After that, I lost track of what they were saying. The guards started beating on me and shoved me into the wall or the floor if I tried to get away. I kept my arms up to defend my face.

I tried, once, to fight back. I was stronger than I had been before. It didn’t matter. I was no match for so many vampires.

“What is the meaning of this?” Damien’s voice echoed in the small chamber.

I slumped to the floor in relief. It was over. Damien would stop them from hurting me any more.

“This slave is impertinent,” a guard said.

“We were told this slave’s master does not bother to discipline her,” another guard added.

“I see,” Damien said. “Do you know who her master is?”

“Well, no,” the first guard admitted.

“Do you know who I am?” Damien asked.

“You’re, um, one of the nobles,” the second guard guessed.

“I am Duke Damien,” Damien informed them.

I admit I took pleasure in the squeaks of fear that echoed through the room.

“She is my pet,” Damien said.

I could see the guards around me start to tremble.

“Do you think I am too lenient with my property?” Damien asked.

“No,” the first guard choked. “No, my lord, of course not. We were misinformed.”

“I see. And who informed you of this situation?” Damien asked.

“It was the servant who showed us around,” the first guard said.

He was obviously relieved to have someone else to blame.

“Sofia,” another guard added, “She was called Sofia.”

“I see,” Damien said. He turned and ordered someone I couldn’t see, probably another guard. “Have Sofia taken to the dungeon. Give her thirty lashes. I will deal with her later.”

He crouched, and scooped me up in his arms. I turned my face into his chest. That way I could ignore the guards who had hurt me.

“The rest of you,” Damien said after a moment, “you are dismissed.”

“Dismissed, my lord? We aren’t on duty yet,” the first guard said.

“No, you are dismissed from service, permanently. I don’t need fools who can’t be bothered to check before they try to discipline someone else’s pet. Find another posting. Or run wild outside the walls. I don’t care either way.”

After saying that, Damien turned on his heel and carried me away.