Chapter 35: Master and Pet

I had prepared my dagger that I kept in my thigh holster before I opened the door and spotted Britanny, who was holding Valerian's face with no ball gag, as she was close to him.

I calmly threw my dagger in her direction. Britanny caught it with her hand, but she hissed upon noticing that the blade was coated with high-potent wolfsbane.

"Pardon me, Brit. But I am an extremely jealous woman," I said nonchalantly as I entered my chamber, keeping calm and not letting my emotions blind me. I halted in front of Valerian, who was shocked seeing me, but a sense of relief washed over his handsome face before I turned at Britanny, squinting her eyes at me. "So, do not dare touch my possession."

Britanny scoffed a smirk. I could see her cognac eyes flaming in rage and jealousy.

She stepped forward while she eyed me up and down. "Keep your ego afloat, Domi. I am going to watch you further from now on. I am going to see how you are going to fail your new mission." Her lips drew a sweet smile before she lowered her gaze to Valerian. "Watch yourself, Your Grace. Dominixe is a two-faced bitch." She stepped backward and curtsied before us. "I shall take my leave."

She giggled maniacally on her way out of my chamber. When she was out of sight, I went to the door whose two men were still watching.

"Leave. And summon Anita here," I said coldly before I slammed the door to their faces.

That was when I leaned to the door and let myself fall to the floor, sighing nervously. "Finally... It is over for tonight," I mumbled. My hands were fidgeting before I looked up and met Valerian's gaze.

My heart flipped outside down before I immediately composed myself and stood up.

Shit! He must not see that I was struggling tonight!

I cleared my throat and tried to smile even though I was so close to breaking down upon seeing Valerian's condition.

"Didn't I tell you, honeydew? When we see each other again, you will not run away from me." I reached for his face while he was still kneeling on the floor. "And now, you are mine and mine alone."

I sounded like a woman who was obsessed and fanning over her mate. Yes, this was not a pretention. I had been wanting to have Valerian so I could make things right.

"Dominixe..." He growled while I shivered in delight.

The way his raspy voice called my name was enough to tingle my whole body. My wolf teasingly whispered that we must be violated by this man right away.

I went behind him and picked up the dagger to untie the rope. My eyes widened as I quickly stood up when I noticed it was already undone.

"Before you say anything, allow me to explain everything, Valerian." I put my guard up when he did not move. He remained still on the floor even though he had already freed himself.

"What else do you want to explain, Dominixe?" His forehead knitted before he rose up.

I was about to answer him when a knock came to disturb us.

"My lady, this is Anita."

Before I could respond to her, my senses hastily turned at Valerian when he lunged at me. I was about to use the dagger's hilt to knock him out as my heart raced rapidly, but Valerian held my hands and trapped me to the wall.

"Valerian—"

I did not get to finish my words when Valerian suddenly slammed his lips on mine. That was when I dropped the dagger as my body hastily responded by clinging to him, closing my eyes.

I moaned inside his mouth as our kiss got intense. Our kiss was mixed with a metallic taste from his blood, and probably he was badly beaten earlier, and the champagne I drank a while ago.

"Young Mistress Dominixe...?" There was a knock again.

I opened my eyes and happened to meet Valerian's. It was like he was looking at me to see if I would respond to my maidservant or continue kissing him.

Damn it... He did not give me time to think properly!

I closed my eyes and deepened our kiss. That earned him a smile while we were kissing before I felt his leg settling between my legs. I gasped after that.

"Young mistress? I am going in. I am worried—Oh!"

That made me peel my eyes open. Anita's jaw dropped upon seeing me exchanging a hot, torrid kiss with a man.

'Leave!' I mind-linked her.

She flinched and gasped while her cheeks were flushing in embarrassment. "P-Please summon me w-when you are finished." With that, she hastily left my chamber.

I left Valerian's lips, panting. But that did not stop him. He was kissing my jaw down to my neck before he reached for my earlobe. "Fuck... I still want you despite what happened to me... Darn it, Dominixe!"

"Val..." I moaned softly, clutching at him while my chest tightened at his words.

He still wanted me despite what had happened to him... That hurts to hear from him...

"We must stop..." I halted him on his shoulders and made him look at me. "You are not supposed to kiss me. You must be angry at me, Valerian." I looked into his eyes, waiting for him to say anything.

His eyes widened. He must have realized that I was right. He hastily distanced away from me as if I had some sort of contagious disease.

That ached my heart when Valerian did that. But who was I to even complain?

I inhaled and exhaled, not allowing myself to be overwhelmed by my emotions. In this household, I must not cry until I manage to bring down Papa and his supporters.

I mind-linked Anita to bring some food and new clothing for Valerian. "I know, for now, you are not going to listen to me, and you have so many questions in your mind." I watched Valerian taking a stroll around my chamber, silently adoring him. "But would you mind if I help you take a bath, Val?"

Valerian scoffed. "Val?" His upper lip curled up into a sardonic smirk. "You still dare to call me that? I was addressed as your pet. What should be my new pet name, master?"

I secretly clutched my skirt, hearing how sarcastic he was.

Master? What the hell... Was that my new endearment from him? No more honeydew?

My heart was feeling constricted, seeing that Valerian looked angry now.

Calm down, Dominixe... He just misunderstood our mission. He did not understand his purpose yet why he was here.

I went to my vanity mirror and sat in front of it to remove the jewelry I was wearing, pretending I was not affected by his words.

But! It hurt like hell! And I was weak to my emotions when it came to Valerian!

However, if Valerian told me he would reject our mate bond, nothing would hurt the most. That would certainly... kill me.

"Valerian is already enough as your pet name. There is no need to change it," I said in a neutral tone while removing my earrings. "If you do not have any questions, you can stroll around while we wait for Anita for your food."

I removed all of my jewelry and let my hair loosen while thinking about the next thing I would do. I even needed to treat his wounds since he would also need to bear more since he was my pet.

My promise to Papa was to make Valerian bear the sins of that former Alpha who made his life miserable.

It meant... Valerian would have to endure suffering here.

I must instruct him on what he needed to do here.

When I returned to my chamber, Anita had the new clothes and a food tray. I watched Valerian start munching hungrily while Anita was preparing my bath. It was a good choice to let Valerian take a bath before me.

"My lady, I am done. Shall I help you undo your dress?"

"Very well."

In my peripheral vision, Valerian watched while Anita helped me undo my dress and corset. I sighed in relief, finally freed from that freaking corset that prevented me from breathing properly.

I was already in my chemise when I turned at Valerian, who suddenly averted his gaze. "Do not attempt to abscond. I am going to hunt you down. Remember that." I threatened him even though that must not be supposed to happen.

Valerian's face darkened before he scoffed, shaking his head. That saddened me when he did not get to say anything. I could have wished he would.

But why was he remaining silent? Did he... really hate me?

His scent distracted me and my wolf, so I had to castigate myself before I could do anything.

"I have promoted one of the scullery maids to be my personal maid," I said to Anita when I was already in the tub. "Her name is Airene. Make sure that you are going to train her to serve me." So I could protect her and tame Ismael. I wanted to add.

Anita looked surprised before she nodded and smiled. "Yes, young mistress." She was humming as she gently combed my dark brown wavy hair. "It is surprising that you have finally picked a new personal maid, young mistress. I have thought that you have no interest already," she said after a moment.

I understood her reasoning. I was not really interested in having some personal maids since I was being careful not to be in a disadvantageous situation. I always put my guard up whenever I was in this household, so having a few people around me would help me breathe properly.

"Well, change of hearts." That was the only thing I could say, not wanting to engage in more conversation since I was dreadful.

"My lady, where is... His Grace going to sleep? Is it in your chamber or the chamber adjacent to yours?" Anita asked when I was finished bathing and helped me wear my satin chemise.

"He is going to sleep in my chamber. If he does not want to sleep on my bed, then he shall sleep on the floor," I said when I went out of the lavatory and saw Valerian at my table, reading a parchment on my table.

His eyes were transfixed into the parchment until they fixated on me. That was the moment his jaw dropped. I even heard the loud pounding of his heart a few meters away from my direction while he eyed me up and down and gulped when his eyes stayed on my perky breasts.

"I shall take my leave, Young Mistress Dominixe."

I heard Anita say before I heard her footsteps going toward the door where she left.

I went to my bed, sitting at the edge while I eyed him up and down. I felt ticklish smelling the hyacinth on him.

It would be better if Valerian were in the hyacinth garden since he matched the scent of my favorite flower. He smelled alluring and beguiling.

That made me want to be ravished by him again.

"Would you like to listen to my explanation first as to why you are here?" I asked, leaning back by using my hands as my support.

Valerian looked magnetic and tantalizing in his stance, looking like a dangerous beast while his forehead met in one place. He wore simple clothing, but his bust was enough to highlight his robust features.

Damn, Valerian... Your sinful body was enough to make my mouth water right now.

"Or would you like me to ask you how my father has outsmarted a powerful Alpha like you?" I crossed my legs as soon as Valerian took strides in my direction.

I straightened my back when Valerian knelt before me. He did not look bothered by my latter question. He even had an amused expression on his face.

Seeing that he was not saying anything... Could it be that he was not really angry, or was he just hiding what he felt at this moment?

And why was he kneeling before me anyway?

"Valerian..." I squinted my eyes at him, seeing that he was not saying anything to answer me. I had a hunch that would certainly make me surprise if that was the case. "You are... expecting to be in this situation, aren't you?"

With my question, his sinful lips drew out into a meaningful, bewitching smile before he finally took my foot and planted a sensual kiss on it.

"What makes you say that, honeydew?" Valerian asked in his hoarse voice that sent tingles to my clit up to my spine.