::CHAPTER 31::

I spent a lot of the day in my office talking to various government leaders while Ria was out shopping with Ana and their personal guard. There was going to be a party tonight and Pets were invited to come with their Masters and Mistresses. Loki was going with Ana of course and I was taking Ria with me. It was her debut as a Pet in the world of the privileged humans who were spoiled, pampered and adored by their doting immortals. The sisters seemed only too happy to get to go to one of these things together.

Meanwhile I closed the conference call and leaned back into my seat. There was growing unrest in many countries over the global change in leadership. People weren't too pleased that the leaders who'd been voted in were being controlled by someone they'd never met. They questioned whether an artist was trained and prepared to manage their countries.

I neither needed nor particularly wanted their blessing. In another reality, I would have been the one calling the shots whether or not they knew it was me. They would have had to deal with the same decisions anyway. This way − and I would have thought the humans would appreciate the honesty − it was the same decisions, the same leader, but this time they actually was aware of the face behind the orders. And this is why you don’t let lunch make the important calls.

Naturally, I'd been planning for this fallout. Ordinary people had an irritating need to feel like they have control. I suppose it's why most of them vote, bless their hearts. Unfortunately for them, it made no difference. I was in my rightful place and now they knew who was at the head. I expected the unrest. I expected the complaints and indignation. I'd prepared for the worst.

If they wanted to overthrow me by force − and that was indeed the only way they could − I had protection. My personal army was off on one of my islands under strict supervision and stricter training programs that I devised.

When soldiers gained my trust and approval, as well as a flawless foundation in fighting and weaponry, they were sent to the island. They were trained further when they got there, but under a different regime that still answered to me.

I ensured that the soldiers' time at the castle was so miserable that they'd do anything to leave. They lived a life on the edge. The men spent half of the time feeling uneasy and under sporadic attack. They were jumpy and afraid to sleep too soundly. I knew at least five dozen of them who would sell out their best friend to get a ticket out of here. It was just the way I liked it. As much as I valued their ability to work as a a unit and trust each other, I valued their need to meet my standards more.

They worked hard and listened well. They did what they were told and began to trust that good behavior and skill would be enough to get them to the island. There was rumor that it was a brutal place, but it was refuge compared to this palace of a building. Soldiers weren't beheaded or turned inside out and left to heal that way. They didn't suffer fear and anxiety there the way they did here. I allowed the rumors to continue. I wanted them to dream and to hope. That would fuel less resistance.

I smiled to myself over steepled fingers. Ares was outside the office. I could smell him through the cracked door. He'd been there for the past thirty-two minutes and seventeen seconds listening in on my last conference.

I wondered if he'd purposely waited for that particular call or if he'd just walked by and happened to hear one going on. Both were probable enough. I wasn't an idiot. I didn't underestimate Ares Odin for even a millisecond. If there was anyone who would bring my life crashing down around me, it would not be Loki. It would be Ares. That didn't worry me in the least. It excited me in fact.

Eternity was a tedious thing to be subjected to. Enough so that one would risk losing everything just to see how it would work out − all in the hopes of even a sliver of novelty. It was a wonder that some of the other immortals hadn't gone insane with the tedium.

My cell rang at that moment and I frowned as it cut short. Glancing at the screen, I saw that it was a text message from Ria. "She text messages?" I blinked down at the device. I believe this was, in fact, my first ever text message. I was a busy man. There was no time for typing messages when a quick call would do. It was far more efficient. If she had to get onto me, why not call? Unless she was in a position where she could not make a call and had to contact me. If anyone dared to as much as look at her wrong…

I opened the message, relaxed and skimmed it before holding back a smile. She'd messaged me a holographic video clip of a robotic polar bear in a Santa hat who was bent over with his hands on his knees shaking a furry rump. I found myself watching it twice − chuckling the second time − before reading the rest of her message: Saw this twerking bear & bought it. Xmas is coming and I'm gonna keep him on ur desk :p

Glancing at the furniture in question, I replayed the clip again. I laughed at the image of the bear dancing on my desk top soon enough. I really wanted to see the look on the faces of everyone when next I had a conference with the bear dancing away. I'd keep a straight face and pet its head while it 'twerked' − whatever the hell that was. Against my better judgment, I watched the clip a fourth time before responding to the text: I like him. Bring it home. I have the perfect place for it.

It wasn't until the three minutes it took to type the words at a painstakingly slow pace that I got to re-read my message. It sounded unlike me. I wasn't the type to decorate my own space. Yet here I was; laughing at videos from her trip to the mall, throwing around the word 'home' like I'd been sharing my space with her for longer than I had and letting her dictate what I put in my office. Then again, it was a present. I supposed it was her being thoughtful or whatever the social commentary was on gifts.

The concerning thing was that I didn't mind. Not as much as I usually would. It made sense for her to live in the moment. She had one week of this after all. I could indulge her. I played the clip one more time with a chuckle thinking, Look at him go. I was startled mid-dance by the chime of my phone.

This time, I sank further into my seat with a smile and opened the message. It read: U should be here. The whole mall is covered in holo-snow & there's xmas music & everything. Wish u'd come.

Admittedly, I was never one for Christmas. I'd never seen the point of the celebration. It was almost more of a pagan holiday than Christian considering the origins of its traditions. It wasn't even Christ's real birthday and it was nowhere close. Christmas was a sham of a holiday if I'd ever seen one. Then again, I didn't celebrate any holiday.

Ria's excitement rubbed at me a bit though. I could imagine her darting from place to place, looking up at the holo-snow falling from the ceiling and singing along to the songs. My girlfriend was incredibly lame at times, but it was a charming sort of lame. I'd never tell her that of course. She'd wouldn't let me hear the end of it.

I got up and went to the door to where Ares pretended to walk into me. I held back the smile that wanted to slip out and tried something different.

"Where you eavesdropping, Odin?"

"No sir."'

"Are you sure you weren't? Because I find it strange to see you lurking outside my door."

"I wasn't lurking, sir. I was coming to see you."

"About?" I clasped my hands behind my back fixing him with an unblinking gaze.

"Training schedules," he said after a pause, "I wanted to know if I could alter the training schedule in order for Fifth Division to work with me today instead of Third Division."

"Is something wrong with Third Division that you don't want to work with them? Do you have a problem with my men?"

"No. Of course not. I just−."

"Then I'm left with the assumption that you've taken issue with my expertise in devising my men's training scheduling."

"I would never, sir."

"It's either one or the other, soldier. Because surely you did not dare interrupt the flow of my day with this because it's more convenient to you."

"No, I−."

"Then if none of the above is true, then I'm going to have to assume you made up this training issue and were truly lurking outside my doors. I value my privacy, Mr. Odin. Invasion of said privacy would call for one of my more creative punishments."

"Sir?"

His eyes narrowed at me but I took a step toward him.

"Did you know it's believed that the immortal brain can suffocate after over an hour without oxygen before the brain cells regenerate? Imagine how many times the body can die if, I don't know, I were to have it submerged in water for a week or two?"

"Uhh…"

"Over 168 or 336 depending on whether it’s a week or two. Next time I smell you outside my door or invading my privacy in any way, we'll make our contribution to science and conduct our little oxygen test."

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

Just as he was about to leave, I stopped him. "You know what, let's give you something to do with all of this free time that you seem to have. Do both the Fifth and Third Divisions' training today. And afterward, you are in charge of schedule. They had better be very active schedules too."

I left him there and disappeared into my painting studio. I felt in the mood for something a little abstract. Perhaps something surreal. I sent a text message to Ria before I went inside saying: Painting if you're looking for me. She replied almost on the heels of my own message with: Alright. We'll be back at the house in about forty-five minutes.

It was hours later when I finished painting. I'd had been expecting that my Pet would be waiting for me when I was done, but Ria was nowhere to be found in the room. I checked my watch again. Where is she? They should be back by now.

It took a bit of asking around before one of the serving ladies told me that she was in her room. Why would she be in her room when she knows where I was? I went and found her watching a movie on her computer, fingers grabbing at the empty bottom of the bowl. She frowned and peered inside. “Blast,” she grumbled.

"How long have you been home?" I asked. She glanced up but turned her attention back to the screen with a shrug. "Did you come to the studio?" I walked further inside as she shook her head and slurped on her drink through a straw. "Why not?" I frowned. Ria turned to me and mirrored my frown.

"Was I supposed to?"

"No. I just assumed that you would."

"You were painting. I didn't see the point in bugging you."

"What is it with you?" I asked.

"Nothing as far as I'm concerned," she sat up and muted the screen, "but clearly something's bothering you."

"It's not that anything's bothering me as much as you perplex me. You're my girlfriend now, are you not?"

"Of course," she responded and added with a scoff, "We made a deal and everything."

"You’re not acting like it."

"Oh, I get it," she laughed and dusted her salty hands into the bowl before wiping the rest off with a napkin.

Ria sidled closer to me and knelt on the bed so that we were eye-to-eye. She placed her hands on my shoulders and searched my eyes long and hard. With a smile, she ran her knuckles down my cheek in a touch that barely counted as a touch. "You gorgeous, self-assured man," she murmured, "You ignorant darling." I nearly flinched under the word. I hadn't expected it. Nobody had ever accused me of ignorance in over two centuries. I didn't like it, but I kept my reaction in check.

"You, my unaware little thing, are completely mistaken about me," she tilted my face closer to hers and I caught the scent of buttery popcorn and cherry lip balm, "and that's okay. We're new to this dating thing."

She sighed as if about to explain something long and tedious to a child who didn't have the capacity to understand it. "I like you and I care about you, but that's as far as it goes. It doesn't matter how attracted I am to you. I am not going to act like an attention starved girlfriend." She released my face but held my gaze. "I am not following you around like a lost puppy or pushing myself into your space every other second. We only have a week together but you are still a busy man. I'm not going to flounce all over the castle behind you like a shadow."

"And what happens when I actually want attention?" I raised a brow.

"It's never stopped you before. You found me, didn't you? Come find me and we can talk or go out or…whatever."

"I see. So you have no intentions of ever seeking me out?"

"Not unnecessarily. If I need you, I'll come find you. Otherwise I'll be somewhere in this castle doing something else."

"You are a queer thing, Little Red. But I think I like you for it anyway."

"You like me either way," she teased and pecked me on the nose.

"Did you just…"

"Yes, I did just…"

I smiled in spite of the oddness of it and pushed her back onto the bed. She went willingly, laughing all the way. Pushing her hair out of her face, I lied down between her legs and looked down at her. With her dress hiked up from the fall and my place on top of her, I could feel the soft length of me nestled against her folds. The cloth between us didn't matter. There was a comforting warmth there.

"You are mine, Little Red," I murmured against her lips, "And I don't want you to think you're "bugging" me. I want to see you around more. I've gotten used to having you in my offices and studios." She gave me a suspicious look. One I then went on to kiss right off her face.

Her arms slid around my waist and pulled me closer. She pressed kisses onto my mouth, doing a bit of low-level broadcasting at the same time. I strained to catch what was slipping from her mind into mine.

There was no doubt between us that I loved it when she broadcasted while we were together like this. She didn't know how to control what she sent me but that was the good part. It was always raw, unexpected, hot, steamy little flashes behind my eyes. Things that got me hard and wanting in seconds.

Raising a thigh higher and tightening my grip, I breathed in the sound of her breath catching. I bit at her lower lip and suckled the flesh. With a slow roll, I ground my hips into her. Oh, there it is.

The images went by rapid-fire. Fantasies, past and present, were flowing out of her. Her hips ground against me, working the growing bulge further against her folds in spite of our clothes. "Red−." I breathed trying to remember what I wanted to say and failing.

Her fingers gripped my neck and pulled me back in for a rough kiss unlike any we'd ever shared before. Incisors scraped skin, blood was sipped and a dulled feeding-high slid into the moment.

The images ran freely.

Palms clutching thighs with bruising roughness, hair tugged hard and baring the neck for biting kisses. Thrusts hard and fast, cries and moans filtering into my head. Toes curling and back arching into orgasm, taking a cock deep inside her mouth.

My eyes shot open at that particular one. She never had any idea what she broadcasted and I couldn't help but stare at her right now. Her lips were parted as she worked to catch her breath from the torturously slow, rutting motion. "Please…" she tried to move faster against me. She couldn't with my hips pinning her down.

"No. I want you to take me in your mouth first," I whispers against kiss wet lips, "Then I'll take care of you." Her eyes widened a fraction but she licked her lips in a way that strengthened my resolve. The fantasy had turned me on further but now I knew it was what I wanted. It was mere moments before I got us both entirely naked.

She was a beautiful mess above me now.

Tousled red hair, blue eyes bright and slightly nervous even in their arousal, skin dusted with freckles and curves subtle but definitely there.

"You are gorgeous," she murmured eying the length of my arousal. She took a hold of me with a tentative hand and glanced up into my eyes. Her cheeks flushed under my gaze. "Do I…do I go now?" she bit her lip. I gave a nod, noticing how small her mouth seemed compared to the head of my cock. I was pretty damn interested to see how this would work out. Even her hands seems smaller when wrapped around me. "Go ahead, amore," I brushed a finger down her cheek.

She smiled a little before running a tasting tongue around the tip. I must have been pretty sensitive after her broadcasting because a now familiar warmth inside my stomach spread anew and the pleasure was creeping up my spine.

A more dampened tongue ran over the tip a second time and a third before she slid me into her mouth. Even that small amount had her lips stretching wide to get around me. And if that wasn't the hottest thing I'd ever seen I don't know what was. My cock twitched, thoroughly interested in what was going on down there. It seemed to approve of the wet heat and soft lips now rubbing against me. "Good girl," I murmured when her eyes met mine with uncertainty, "Very – oh…yes− very good girl."

Her hands ran up my hips and clutched the V. She bobbed deeper; testing herself, trying to see how much of me she could take. Her throat seized around my shaft once and then twice before she pulled away to breathe. Shit, that feels amazing.

She moved in again, this time chasing that sinful mouth of hers with her fingers. Her small tongue fluttered at the underside – just under the head – and I felt my cock leap in her mouth. The slick and warmth pulling a groan from deep inside.

It took everything I had not to grasp her by the hair and set a punishing pace until her throat was thoroughly fucked out. Instead I shut my eyes and tilted back my head so that I couldn't see her. I didn't need any more temptation. Still, I couldn't keep my hips for trying to seek out more. Always more. The things her tongue was doing to my mind.

The feeling of her licking me base-to-tip all around and rubbing the head over her lips. Damn it all, the feeling of those plush lips sliding over my skin like that. It was taking everything to keep my orgasm at bay. I wanted to keep this going forever and then some. It was after she took my balls into her mouth − both of them, God help me − did I respond a little too well for her liking; I’d begun to move on my own. She pulled away from me just as I was starting to come.

"What are you doing?" I gasped.

"Making sure you take care of me."

"What? I don't−."

She ran her hands up my body; over my legs and thighs, past my hips and waist, across my abs and chest and up my neck to cup my cheeks. "You can’t finish yet. I…I need you inside me," she murmured. It was too shy to be a demand, but I had no qualms about filling it.

Flipping her onto her back, I slid my fingers inside of her. "Well look at that," I murmured. She'd gotten entirely slick wet off of one blowjob. "You do have your turn ons, don't you?" I said marvelling at the ease in which my finger slid inside. The other took little effort to work in alongside the first. Her breath hitched with the third finger but she took it all so well that I kissed her in a show of approval. "My Little Red's being so good for me today," I licked a line up the column of her throat, "So very good."

She made a soft sound that seemed part agreement part protest. She was growing impatient with my pace and her glare made it all too obvious that she would not put up with it much longer. “Have patience. Sometimes I wonder if you’re aware that you’ve only recently lost your virginity.”

“Please, Alejo,” she shifted beneath me. I could smell how ready she was even if my fingers weren’t inside her at the moment. She made a displeased sound in the back of her throat the moment I pulled out. “Shh. Hold on,” I breathed against her ear before slipping inside her, breeching one tight inch of slick muscle at a time. Her breath caught and she stilled. With the size of me entering her for only the second time in days, she knew better than to try to move at all.

It took a few beats before I felt her relax against me and the grip around my cock loosened a fraction. I closed my eyes against how tight she still was around me. Silken heat coating the length of me, those lips gliding away and then sucking me deep inside her. The girl felt amazing and the sounds she made. Damn it, those sounds would keep me hard, fingers clutching at my balls and hands stroking myself while I lay in my bed most mornings after today.

Her nails bit into my ass and the pleasure pain of that burn turned my pace into something more unforgiving. More brutal. Fierce. Punishing almost. And surprise surprise, she didn’t mind at all. Her sex clenched around me as she rode out a climax, her body trembling against me even as she pulled me closer and deeper inside her.

“I want to feel you from behind,” she breathed when I thought she was all worn out. I chuckled at that. Here she was, sated in post-orgasm and still trembling from the aftershocks and she was still demanding more from me. “It won’t feel very good. You’re still too tight for what you want,” I stroked her cheek and took her lips in another kiss, “I can give you the same thing but you can have it lying flat instead.”

She looked confused but I turned her onto her stomach anyways. I watched her lying flat with her head turned to the side and couldn’t help but run my fingers down her spine. They trailed down to the sounds of her approval until they moved over two perfect globes lightly dusted with freckles of their own. I petted and squeezed at them until she gave a soft moan and spread her legs a little. I ran a thumb between those still damn lips and massaged the bundle of nerves there.

The moan came a little louder but this time, she raised her ass a fraction higher. A silent offer to take her. Soon.

I would have toyed with her more if I didn’t want to bury myself inside so badly. “This view of you is perfect,” I murmured taking both hands prisoner at the small of her back in a vice grip. I only needed one hand to keep her still and the other to guide myself inside her.

And, have mercy, she felt amazing around me like that. I didn’t bother trying for a slow pace. Even with my hips pistoning against her, she would feel no discomfort. The sounds that fell from her mouth were ecstasy dipped in sin and the sound of her blood pumping was too much for me not to taste her.

I lowered myself and took her shoulder between my jaws, biting down hard. Her cry filled the room just as the sweet, metallic liquid filled my mouth. I sipped and drank from her feeling her begin to broadcast again.

“It’s okay, Red. Show me what you want,” I breathed even as I felt myself getting close. The images were an assault on my mind. I reeled back even as the orgasm tore at me from every possible corner of my body. I released her hands and saw her use them to raise up a bit and look at me. Azure eyes stared back at me; pupils blown and utterly overwhelmed.

The feeling built inside me until it seemed impossible for it to grow any stronger. She reached a hand beneath her and massaged herself into a second, stronger orgasm, my name on her tongue. That feeling ­­– her clenching and shivering against me – dragged me kicking and screaming over the edge and I came long and hard inside her.

Our orgasms took a while to end, her walls convulsing around my cock even as I pounded into her. Her insides seemed to grow even hotter and slicker against me the longer we rode it out.

And Ria, the little vixen in her, allowed me to pull out of her before she slid from under me and turned me onto my back. Before I got the chance to soften, she slid me back inside her while I was still half hard. There she sat with me buried in her and she rest her head atop my chest, perfectly content and ready to nap.

There we lay, I and my tired cockwarmer, falling asleep wrapped up around each other.

We woke up later in the evening, pleasantly surprised. Neither of us had left our positions and Ria was still wet around me. With a few seconds into our waking and her wiggling around in my lap, we managed one final round before I had to insist that we get ready for the dinner tonight.

By God, the girl was insatiable once you got her started. While I wasn’t complaining, we could not be late for this party. This was the first one Ria would be attending as a Pet and as my girlfriend. The invitation had been addressed to her specifically and that in itself was an honor. I opted to have her get ready in her room because I knew very well what shared showers would get us up to.

It was strange how easily we’d fallen into this together. She had me like a teenager all over again. I was finding it hard to get her out of my head…no puns intended. Hopefully by the ending of the week, that wouldn’t be a problem.

A long shower had been in order to wash off the scent of sex so that even immortals senses wouldn’t pick up on it. I took my time to get ready, knowing that Ria would need the extra hours. This event was especially for the Pets. They mixed and mingled with other Masters and Pets and got to take part in the shows.

Ria had been attending rehearsals for the Christmas play tonight and she’d been excited about it for a while now. The venue’s stage was infamous in the world of drama. Ana had prepared a couple of paintings for the night as decorations and they’d be auctioned off later in the evening.

All Pets contributed in some way or another. Some created signature dishes or deserts, some did a dance number, a few might provide musical entertainment or one might even do poetry with the accompaniment of another talent. There were many skilled Pets and it was rare for a Master to choose a Pet with no known talents.

I’d never gotten to see Ria act before, so I was curious about how tonight would fare.

Loki and Ana were downstairs chatting and I looked on for a bit. She signed to him before dropping a peck on his cheek. Both turned to me and shared a grin.

“I see you’ve finally left the bedroom, brother,” he said, “You really should get Ria’s room soundproofed.” I opened my mouth to shoot him a biting reply but Ana spun me around excitedly. Did a Pet just manhandle me? One who wasn’t even…mine. I stared at Ria walking over to us.

The heels gave her enough height to come up past my shoulder properly for once. They were silver, strappy deathtraps that did wonders for her legs. Said legs were covered in slightly shimmery, white stockings that were obviously meant to match the dress. It was short with a hem cut in layers, had thin straps and showed off cleavage. The dress was one of silver and white; silk and sheer fabrics with a jewel encrusted accent in the band under her breasts. She’d even done the makeup already. Her face had an ethereal shimmer to it and there where little faux diamonds scattered around her eyes.

“What are you meant to be, darling?” Loki asked.

“I am a winter fairy,” she gave a bow.

“I’m sure you are the kindest, most gracious fairy in the play.”

“She kills everyone,” I interjected.

“Of course,” Loki said clearing his throat, “We’re going to head out.”

“Loki, brother .Why don’t we travel together and let these sisters go in the other car?”

“Alright,” he nodded with a glance at Ana, “I suppose there’s no harm in that if she’s with Ria.”

“Great. Our car will be right in front of yours,” I said to Ria, “See you soon, ladies.”

“See you,” Ria said and Ana signed.

We left as a group and Loki followed me to our ride while they went to theirs. Ria was now bundled under a knee length, leather jacket with the belt tied tight around her waist so that no one would see the outfit before time. Everything was to be a grand reveal on this night.

Loki and I sat on opposite sides of the limo, his eyes fixed on me. “I wanted to talk to you about Ana,” I said much to his surprise. Usually we would play around in circles with a bit of banter here and some allusions of friendship there. Perhaps even a dash of familial affection that had never existed. Not on my end, at least.

“To the point tonight, are we?”

“The ride isn’t very long. I thought it best to get this out of the way now.”

“So this is why you split us up from the girls. Tactful. Ria truly has been good for you.”

“Quiet yourself, brother. This conversation isn’t about my Pet, it’s about yours.”

“Oh, come on. We’re adults here. You and I both know that those girls are not just our Pets.”

“True. But I don’t particularly care for Ana as your girlfriend as much as I care for her as your Pet. She is a chink in your armor.”

“Excuse?” Loki’s smile fell, “What exactly are you getting at here?”

“Relax,” I rolled my eyes and poured us each a glass of Rouge, “I mean her no harm at the moment.”

“That is not in the least bit reassuring,” he griped even as he took the glass and waited for me to take the first sip.

“I know. But I am not going to promise you her eternal safety when I know I can’t guarantee it.”

“If you touch a hair—.”

“Yes, yes, you’ll be furious with me but entirely unable to actually do anything to harm me. I know. Let’s face it, what can you do to me? Kill me? That’s quick and easy. Torture me? I’m as masochistic as I’m sadistic. I’d enjoy it. I’d get off on it. Take away everything I love? There is nothing that I love.”

“There’s Ria.”

“You think I love her?” I laughed, “Loki, Loki, Loki. I care about her, sure. I’d burn the world to the ground for her. But I’d do the same just because it was Wednesday. Love plays no role in this.”

“I think you do love her. Perhaps not in the sense that a normal person loves, but as much as your personality can allow. You have nothing to compare the feeling to. That’s the problem. Only when you lose her will you get it.”

“When I lose her?”

“You did plan for this to last a week didn’t you? Do you assume that she will remain single and faithful to you after this is over? She’ll belong to another. She’ll kiss another. She may even share a bed and a family with another.”

“Shut up,” I told him all calm and ice on the outside but seething with the urge to kick him in that sympathetic face of his.

“What is it about Ana that you wanted to talk about,” he went on.

I let out a sigh and sipped from my glass, savoring the burn of the alcohol mixed with the sweetness of the blood. I swished the liquid around in the glass and gave my legs a bit of a stretch. I could sense his impatience despite his undisturbed demeanor.

When I felt good and ready to answer, I did. I didn’t take well to him trying to turn my conversation around on me. I especially hated that he knew he could get away with it.

Loki was one of those relatively safe people in my life. It wasn’t to say that I was unable or unwilling to hurt him, but it had to be something significant to trigger me into such an action. I valued him and his life. He held a place in the hierarchy of my life that Samuel once did, God rest his soul.

“I’ve recently come to understand what it is like to have a Pet and I think some arrangements need to be changed.”

“How so?”

“I think it’s time that Ana goes back home to you. Officially. Tonight.”

“You’re kicking her out? Did she do something?”

“No. I think she’d be happier with her own Master.”

“She will be, but why the change in heart? You are not the do-out-of-the-goodness-of-your-heart type of man.”

“I know what and who I am. I don’t need you to tell me. Now if taking her is a problem, I’d be happy to keep her in my care and influence.”

“I’ll take her, but I want the truth. Why are you doing this, Alejo?”

“I told you. I have a Pet of my own now. I understand what that means. I get the concept now and I think it would be better to return her to you. She’s of no use to me anyway. I’d originally planned on branding her.”

“But I got there first.”

“Yes indeed. Now you can take her. Tonight,” I took a generous gulp.

“My Lord,” Loki’s eyes narrowed at me, “This is empathy. You’re gaining a sense of empathy.”

“Perhaps. Who knows? Either way, you can take your Pet home with you,” I said.

We pulled up at the front door of the building and waited to greet the women riding in the car behind us. Ria grinned at me and took my hand in hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she gazed up at the modern, French architecture and sparkling glass windows. I nodded my agreement, mind at ease knowing that Ana would be gone soon.

The only reason Loki would now have to enter my castle would be to see me and then leave. No more chatting in the hallways with Ares. The lack of cellphones in soldier barracks put my mind at ease even further. I refused to believe I was now magically gaining the ability to empathize. That was ridiculous. “Let’s get inside,” Ria said and tugged me along after her. I went without complaint, perfectly content and body still too sated to mind much of anything where she was concerned.

******************************* 

Sweet Jesus on a flatbread. I swear I was just gonna do the party in this chapter and set up some plot points for the climax coming to the end. But um...yeah...they wanted to sex. They really wanted to. Like I mean that came out of nowhere. I was mentally trying to tear them apart but, y'know, obviously I failed. 

So next chapter for that. They weren't happy with me either. Like how dare I set up the plot when you two wanna frickle frack all over the place, right? Lol those two.

It's officially 4 more chapters until the end. And like 5 more days in their relationship. 

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