I put my hand over my eyes immediately as soon as saw the beast sunk it's claws and teeth into the flesh of its prey. Violently, Theo removed my hands from my eyes and pinned them at my back.
Watching in terror made the insides of my stomach churn. "Please, I don't want to see this," I cried, trying to pry my hands away from him. The beast had taken a huge chunk of flesh from him and his blood spurted everywhere.
His cries of anguish reverberated round the arena.
"Please stop!" I yelled but he was unrelenting.
"Theo what the hell!" Came a beastly roar from behind us. Theo's hands were ripped away from mine with so much force. I whipped my head around to see Cyrus with blazing red eyes. "You sent me to the throne room to torture my slave mentally with this?"
Theo met his gaze without faltering. He gave a hard stare and snatched his hands away. "She is obviously messing with you and I had to show her what would happen if I find out anything dark about her."
"Messing with me how?" Cyrus raised a brow. "You thought she was messing with me and you could not come to me about it?"
Theo said nothing but glanced at me staring daggers.
"She's my slave!" Cyrus seethed. "You have no business with her. I will be the one to teach her any lesson that needs to be taught."
"She's in your head Cyrus, I can see that clearly."
"Why should it concern you."
"Because you are the alpha and—"
"And what?"
Theo dragged Cyrus to the side whispered his next words. Surprisingly, I could hear what was being said which was strange to me. Since when was I able to have such good hearing?
"You missed the beginning of an important court meeting and then you show up with her. Your scarf was around her neck!"
"Why does it bother you?"
"The people are talking Cyrus! You are messing around with someone of such low status. A human slave," Theo spat the words with utmost disgust.
"I'd like to know who these people talking are," Cyrus said calmly. "Perhaps for spreading rumours, I should feed them to the beasts."
My skin crawled at the mention. The screams of the defenseless man had stopped a long time ago but I could still hear the crunch of the teeth, munching happily on the man's bones. When I looked, tears formed in my eyes.
"I see the way you look at her Cyrus," Theo snarled. "How am I sure you two have not been intimate?"
"Let's go," Cyrus hissed, stomping away from Theo. He grabbed my arms roughly and dragged me out of the arena. His expression was stony and difficult to decipher his emotions. He looked at my hands which were still trembling in fear and for a second, I though I saw a flicker of concern flash in them.
"I am serious about the leash Agnes." His voice was not his usual one. It shook a little, like he was speaking in fear but then again, why would Cyrus of all creatures be scared?
I wanted to tell him that I would not be wearing it but I knew I had no choice so I simply nodded and followed him back to his study. He picked up the leash from the floor and walked towards me then with an apologetic look in his eyes, he clipped it around my neck.
His hands did not leave my neck. His thumbs caressed it softly, drawing circles close to the leash. Suddenly, some memories flashed through my vision. I saw myself standing in front of the Alpha but not in a maid's uniform. My clothing was somewhat noble and he had a smile on his face.
"There's something about the way you touch me," I whispered, lowering my eyes and all of a sudden the memory was gone.
"What did you say?" Cyrus's eyes flashed and he stepped away from me like I was a burning flame. The movement of his eyes were erratic.
"What?" I stammered. "I-i"
"You said something a few moments ago."
Did I say that out loud? I questioned myself.
"It's nothing I just... I—"
"You just what?" He whispered hoarsely shaking my shoulder.
"I saw... I..." I could not explain to him that I had seen a vision of us. It would make me sound mad.
"You saw what?"
"Nothing," I finally said. "It's nothing of importance."
"Damn you!" He swore. "What the hell did see?"
"I—"
"You're a witch," he said in a shaky voice, stepping away from me. "That's the only explanation."
I sighed in exasperation. "I have told you I'm not but if that is what you choose to believe why don't you kill me?" Tears were beginning to form in my eyes. "Just kill me or send me away. Things will be better that way. You or your Beta would not have to worry that I am bewitching you, neither will your subjects or the other vain women interested in you treat me like dirt. I wouldn't have to wear this goddamn leash and—" I trailed off. "If you have to identify me as your slave, why can I not wear the scarf like the other day?"
"You just spoke of women treating you like dirt,"Cyrus deadpanned. "Giving you my scarf sends out the wrong message. And I have told you, I intend to use up my money so I am not letting you go."
"Then kill me instead!" I cried. "Since you're so confident that I am witch and you had to resort to taking me into that dungeon and—"
Cyrus gave me a warning look and I looked behind me to see Theo. He shot me a look of disdain and walked towards Cyrus giving him an odd look before dropping a pile of papers on the table before walking out.
"What did you tell Theo?" Cyrus asked.