Chapter Three

A s it was obvious that Rhapsody felt the need to redeem herself, Mihail patiently indulged his pet's whims as she took him upon a tour of the south tower. He obediently lent his ear as she painstakingly described its most valuable artworks, and he obligingly made suitable sounds of approval when she enumerated the tower's Most Esteemed Guests.

Afterwards - and only at his insistence - she led them back to the dining room in the second floor. The other room that Rhapsody preferred, albeit more formal, would also require them to sit twenty fucking feet away from each other. He was all for propriety, but until he had his fill of his pet, he needed her within reach.

A young footman brought in a trolley bearing dishes on silver platters, but seeing the way he looked upon the marquis' pet with admiring eyes, Mihail waited until the boy turned his way—-

Rhapsody shivered as the air inside the room suddenly turned chilly. A moment later, she heard a scrambling sound and turned in time to see the footman fall on his behind for no apparent reason. He also looked oddly frightened, and thinking it might be because the boy found the marquis' presence too awe-inspiring, she said kindly, "It's alright, Johnson. You may leave us."

Turning back to her Master as soon as the footman had taken his leave, Rhapsody was unaware of how her gown had slipped slightly down to reveal an extra creamy inch of her bosom, a fact that had the marquis cursing in his mind in an effort to control his lustful urges.

Rhapsody saw the marquis looking suddenly ravenous again. Oh dear. She quickly reached for the nearest dish to start serving her Master.

The marquis was distracted and then bemused when his pet started heaping food on his plate in seeming hurry. "Milady?"

And there it was again , Rhapsody thought with an inner shiver. It was that strange, velvety thickness in her Master's voice making her senses inexplicably tingle, and it had her clearing her throat before speaking. "I am so sorry, milord."

The marquis' puzzlement grew. What did his pet sound so dismayed and remorseful for?

"It was unforgivably remiss of me not to notice how hungry you were," Rhapsody felt the need to explain. "It was only when I saw how you were looking at me as if you were ready to eat me—-"

Mihail choked. So that was why she believed him to be starving.

Rhapsody stilled. "Oh, I just realized..." Lovely dark eyes peered up at him, its earnest depths filled with the need to please. "Perhaps human food is not to your liking at the moment? Do you desire something else, Master?"

The marquis could feel his cock rapidly swelling once again under his pants. "I cannot believe you are offering what I think you are offering," he said finally.

"But I am, milord," his pet countered without hesitation. "It would be my honor to provide for your needs if you would let me."

This was getting crazier by the minute. Could it be possible that his pet wasn't as innocent as he thought?

His gaze narrowed at her. "How exactly do you propose to meet my needs?" He had barely finished speaking when his pet suddenly stuck her arm out and nearly hitting his face in the process.

"Drink freely, milord," Rhapsody offered solemnly. Seconds passed, however, and all the marquis did was stare at her. Mm . Perhaps...the marquis needed to see a demonstration of her willingness to provide for him?

When Mihail saw his pet reach for the bread knife, he knew right away what she intended to do and snatched the damn thing out of her hand.

Rhapsody frowned as the marquis threw the bread knife away as if it were poisoned. "Did I misunderstand, milord?"

Hell yes , Mihail nearly snarled out, torn between a need to throttle some sense into her and drink himself into a bloody stupor. Knowing her, she would probably have started hacking away at her wrist in no time, and the thought alone had him wondering if it was possible for half-demons like him to have a fucking heart attack.

"Stop worrying about me," he finally ordered.

"I am not worrying about you." His pet actually sounded offended. "To do so would mean I doubt your power and strength, which I have never been guilty of. Rather, it is my duty to look after your needs—-"

"I am not a child to coddle," the marquis muttered as he sliced himself a bite of his steak, which was cooked rare just as he liked it, and seasoned perfectly to his taste, too.

"Of course you are not a child," Rhapsody agreed. "You are almost a thousand years old, after all."

For a long moment, Mihail could only stare at his pet, wondering if that was her sneaky way of being a smart ass. But his pet only stared back at him, placid as fuck.

"A pet doesn't argue with one's Master," the marquis finally pointed out.

"Absolutely." Rhapsody glanced inquiringly at her Master. "But why do you say this now? Has milord encountered such a disobedient pet in the past?"

"I'm talking about you."

After a moment, Rhapsody said apologetically, "I know tis a joke, but I'm sorry, milord, it is hard for me to laugh out loud." A pause, and then she added earnestly, "I do think it's funny, though."

Mihail was torn between disbelief and irritation. "I am not—-" He broke off when he saw his pet gazing at him expectantly.

"Yes, milord? You are not what?"

I am not...going to win an argument against you, Mihail realized resignedly, and so the marquis simply suited action to thoughts by steering the topic to less contentious waters.

"The dead body you found earlier turned out to be a school employee. A Mr. Rodney Walker, if the name rings a bell."

"It doesn't."

"I thought so. He had a clerical job that didn't require much interaction between him and students."

"I see." Rhapsody chewed thoughtfully on a morsel of chicken. "Stabbings are always said to be personal."

"He was not precisely stabbed, though,"

"That's true."

The discussion about the murder went on for the rest of their dinner. A part of Rhapsody was waiting for the marquis to say she was being rather morbid and thus Not Normal, but he never did. Not once did he look or speak to her as if he found her odd, as the hours passed, it did have her wondering. Perhaps...he truly would not mind having her as his pet and heartkeeper. Perhaps, there was still a chance he would find copulating with her tolerable at least?

Mihail stopped speaking when he noticed the calculating way his pet was looking at her. "What is it?"

Rhapsody hesitated. Shall she take the risk and ask him then?

"Speak, milady, or I shall think you do not trust me to solve your concerns."

Her Master had a point , Rhapsody thought. Very well then.

Seeing her about to rise, the marquis stood up to help her, and when she placed her hand in his, he was stunned and wary when, upon getting to her feet, his pet did not seem inclined to let go of her hand.

"I was wondering..."

The marquis waited patiently.

"May I ask for your permission to test out a theory?"

Theory? What fucking theory? But since she was obviously waiting for an answer, he said, "You have my permis—-" He wasn't able to finish speaking, with his pet having tiptoed to cut his words with a kiss.

Mother of Hell.

Rhapsody felt the way the marquis stiffened, his lips cold and unmoving under her mouth, and a surprisingly acute pang of disappointment struck her. It was as she feared and expected , she realized sadly. It was indeed impossible for the Marquis of Sangre to want someone like her, and she immediately rocked back to her feet in resigned acceptance of her fate.

But just as she was about to pull away, the marquis' arms suddenly went around her and tightened.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mihail asked thickly.

"You are not attracted to me—-" She stopped speaking. For the very first time, the marquis was looking at her as if she were insane, and also for the first time, Rhapsody actually felt glad - nay, thrilled, absolutely, delightfully thrilled - that she was being gazed at in such a manner.

"I am wrong then?" she whispered.

The marquis looked at her, just looked at her, and it was then she realized what that look meant all along.

Mihail Gheorgiu had been hungry this whole time.

Ravenous, in fact.

And what he indeed wanted to eat...was her.