Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I turn to see my breeder standing by the car, wrapped in the fur lined cape I provided for her on the plane. She seemed so small and vulnerable. Something within my chest twinged. “Follow me, Jameshia.”
It’s the first time I’ve spoken her name and it seems to take her by surprise because she raised her head sharply.
“Jamie?” Comes her soft retort.
“Jamie,” she repeats.
I’d heard her family and Magnus call her this name.
It made no difference to me what she wanted to be called. “Fine. Follow me…Jamie.”
Once inside, I’m greeted by a maid who takes my coat.
Two other maids are waiting by the entrance with bowed heads. One has long straight black hair, held back with white ribbon. The other has curly light brown hair. “Welcome back My Lord,” they greet in unison. I don’t recognize either one of them. There are hundreds of servants in the fortress, but at some point, I have seen most of them at least once. I always make note of the people I come in contact with. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been labeled an anomaly by some, I never forget a face or a scent and recognize neither on these women.
I give them a brief nod of acknowledgement and then focus my attention on Jamie. “Are you hungry? You didn’t eat anything on the plane.”
She raises her head and our eyes lock. I take an involuntary step away from her. Looking down into her eyes is unnerving and I don’t like feeling things I can’t explain.
“No,” she simply replies.
“That’s no, My Lord, to you,” the one with brown hair corrects her.
I turn my gaze to her.
“Did I give you permission to speak? What’s your name?”
“It’s Rhea, My Lord, and my apologies for speaking out of turn. It’s just that we were assigned to the care of your new breeder. I meant no disrespect.”
“Who assigned you?”
“I did. Is there a problem?”
Braeden appears in formal attire. His suit is fashioned like an Enforcer’s but with gold embroidered designs on breast pockets of his shirt, jeweled buttons and a black fur-lined collar. He wears dark hair cut just above his ears and styled in a way that makes it appear messy like he’d just risen from bed, but I know he has a barber who spends hours on his hair to make it right.
He claims his hair is one vanity, but he has many.
“Who are these two females? I’ve never seen them around the fortress.”
“They’re newly assigned. I thought to save you the trouble from dealing with assigning her a maid. I even gave her two, since she’s your precious breeder.”
“The Steward usually handles the assignments of the domestic servants. I’d sent the orders ahead and I entrusted him with them. Was there a reason for your intervention?”
A wave of red flushes Braeden’s face. “Do we need to have this conversation in front of the servants…cousin?”
He only throws our familial connection in my face when he feels I am being overbearing. Perhaps he was only trying to help and I am making a bigger deal of this than necessary. Why do I care so much that he’s taken over a task that needed to be done anyway.
Besides, that scent is starting to get to me again, and I need to put some distance between me and my breeder.
I say to the maids who’s heads are still bowed. “Take my breeder, to her room and see that she is settled in properly. I’ll have further instructions sent later.”
“Yes, My Lord,” the say in unison.
The one with dark hair grabs Jamie by the arm and pulls her away. I’m not sure if it’s because I barely got any rest on the plane or not, but I thought she used more force than necessary to escort Jamie away.
No, surely I imagined it. Besides, what did I care, she was simply a means to an end.
Once they are out of my sight, I feel I can breathe again. Her smell gets fainter the further away she gets.
“You’re never going to shake that beastly reputation of yours if you continue to frighten the servants.”
Braeden is the only one who would dare call me a beast to my face. He’s the only one I’d allow because he was by my side at my worst.
“Make sure you run it by me before you make new assignments in the fortress.”
“I didn’t believe you’d be interested in such minute details.”
“There are no minute details when it comes to my breeder. She will have my heir.”
Braeden purses his lips and narrows his eyes. “About that. I tried to access her file and I’m blocked from seeing it.”
I tilt my head to the side to make sure I’d heard him correctly. There’s absolutely no reason he’d need to look through Jamie’s file. I was the only one allowed access to her file. I’d put a block on her profile to keep people out of our sector from viewing it. I didn’t think I needed it to keep Braeden out as well.