Chapter 5

"You'll eat here with me." 

I watched in shock, unsure what I was meant to do, I had never eaten in his presence before, I don’t think that any slave had. I looked around one last time, waiting for a guard to come and whip me. But when none came I took a seat, timidly filling my plate and picking at the food.

“Thank you master, this is very generous of you.” I murmured, though he gave no indication that he had heard me.

“I’ve been thinking about what I asked you to do Annalise.” He said after several minutes of silence, causing me to jump. “I think I realise now why you are reluctant to obey.”

Wait what? He understands me? How can that even be possible? He had never taken a moment to be considerate before, never listened to the worries of slaves before. Does he really know why I don’t want a mate? Why I refused to bare children with anyone. Was he offended? Why was he so calm?

I had a million questions running through my mind as I watched him, waiting for some sort of clarity as to why he said that. It wasn’t like Balthazar to act this way, all of it was too much, too surreal. I couldn’t trust his actions when he acted kindly like this, their had to be some alternative game. He wanted something from me. Something that I would probably be unable to give him.

“What do you mean master?” I uttered, my voice startled and high pitched.

He turned towards me, his eyes blazing with something I didn’t understand, something I had never seen from him before. What did he want? It couldn’t be good, it never was. A small smile began to grow into such a dazzling one that he had never given before, one that no slave had ever seen. And while perhaps I should have been grateful for his kindness, for his calmness. I was anything but, I didn’t trust it and neither did my wolf.

Nyx stirred within me, warning me that something was wrong. Whatever he was thinking would change our lives forever, and not for the better. Never for the better. We would be more trapped than ever before. We would answer to no one but him.

“You find that no one here is to your standard, none of the male slaves could ever satisfy you. Not in the way that you crave.” His words were so strange to me, I had never considered anything along the lines of what he was suggesting, how could I?

My frown deepened as I shifted nervously in my chair, not comfortable with the direction the conversation was headed “I don’t understand.”

He meant sex I knew this, but what I don’t get is why he would ever think that I believe myself to be better than the others, why I would consider treating my fellow slaves in such a disrespectful way. I wasn’t him. I didn’t think like a master because I wasn’t one, I was a nobody a slave that he kept too close. Closer than all the rest.

So then did he mean…?

No, he couldn’t possibly believe that.

Could he?

“Annalise, you can stop pretending now, I know you disobeyed because there is someone here that you cannot resist.” He laughed and I had a strange thought that he had gone completely mad, like someone had casted insanity on him. “I have always kept you close, treated you well. That is why you want me, you want a mate who is strong. Who will take good care of your young.” His last words took my breath away, but not in a good way. “I accept you Little wolf, I will take you as my partner.”

Yep, he was batshit crazy.

“No I think you have this all wrong master…”

“Nonsense, I wouldn’t hear it if you tried to reject me.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I have been waiting for you to come of age for a long time, and soon; you’ll be mine completely.”

I cringed and my wolf growled within me, thrashing against the mental barrier that kept her at bay. How could he for one second think we saw him that way? I hate him! I want nothing more than to be free of hun.

Balthazar, my mate? Hell no.

I would rather die than be forced to give him my virginity. I had to get away from him before it’s too late, I had to leave before I turned nineteen. But, I must play it cool. If he thinks for one second that I am going to betray him, I will never make it out.

“I can see you blushing sweet wolf.” He smiled, reaching over the distance between us to brush my hand affectionately.

“Oh.”

In honesty I wasn’t blushing, I was furious. More angry than I had ever been before. But I couldn’t tell master that, he would have me punished if I betrayed him in this way. He wanted me, that much was clear. Is that why he always kept me from the others? Is that why I must run alone? He didn’t want me to connect with anyone but him, he wanted me completely reliant on him alone.

How dare he!?

my whole life he had been moulding me into the perfect slave for him, because he wanted to take me as a sex partner, he wanted me to give him children. I couldn’t do it, I would rather be skinned alive that have sex with this warlock.

“I have always treated you with a kindness I do not show to the others, haven’t you noticed ?” He frowned, his hand still hovering with mine. “I let you get away with much more than the others. I hated to punish you, but you are so stubborn and strong minded. Those are not good qualities in the partner I want you to be.”

I took several calming breaths, attempting to remain neutral and not blow up at him, I needed this run tonight. I had to get away while I still could.

I would never be his.

“I’m sorry, I never realised before master.” I whispered, training my voice to be as docile as possible.

“Think on my offer while you run tonight, it will be wise for you to accept me.” He said slowly, his tone changing once more, becoming to cold and distant beast I had always known. “Whilst I have been kind I can only do so much, and there are many who would pay a pretty penny for your virginity.”

He was threatening me, I knew it right away by the sinister look in his face. “Be with me, or be raped.” He might not have said the words, but I knew what he meant. What he would do to me if I refused him.

“I will think on it tonight master.” I smiled sweetly, whilst my insides were cold and angry.

I can’t believe this is happening, as if my life wasn’t hard enough, I just couldn’t picture myself being anything to this warlock, and the thought of him touching me so intimately made me sick to my stomach. I wouldn’t be able to do it. But to be raped if I refused? What choice did I have?

Escape or die.

Those were the only options left.

“You are dismissed.” Laughed my master, perhaps knowing the internal battle that I faced with myself.