“We have arrived, Papa,” Ismael and I said in unison. I curtsied while Ismael bowed.
Papa nodded as he exchanged glances between us before he read my report. He kept nodding as his lips drew out into an evil one. “This is the best course of action that you must do?” I nodded at his question. “Good. You are thinking properly this time around, Domi.”
I did not react to his words. But that certainly offended me on my part. Now, I knew Ismael was right. Papa was testing my emotions.
I curtsied and smiled. “I am honored to be praised by you, Papa.” I sounded grateful that I was being ‘complimented’. The sound I made was the same tone I used to say whenever Papa praised me.
He nodded before he turned to Ismael. “Ismael.”
“Yes, Papa?” he asked in a deadpan tone.
“Here is your next assignment.” He bestowed another parchment which Ismael took it. “You shall be dispatched three days from now. Prepare all your luggage and your henchmen.”
Ismael had this dazzling smile. “As you command, Papa. I cannot wait to fulfill my next assignment.”
“You two are good to go.” He dismissed us after a few moments of discussion.
We said our farewell after that. But before I could leave, Papa called my attention.
“If you are looking for your pet, he is in Porter’s underground fighting arena.”
I acted surprised before there was a sly smile appeared on my lips. “Is it?” I giggled. “How is his match with the rogue slaves?”
Papa looked taken aback. He must be expecting me to react that I would be mad or something. “He won three matches overnight.”
“Will he be competing again? I would love to watch my pet on how he is doing.” No, that was not the case. I would like to see how my honeydew was doing.
Ismael had explained to me how Papa had started noticing how my behavior toward Valerian. He said that he happened to hear the conversation between Zoey and him.
If Ismael was true that Papa had an inkling that Valerian was my mate, I must act like I did not care about him. I must act like I was only treating him like a toy.
“Tomorrow night. He will have five matches to win.”
“I see. I shall look forward to that.” Look forward? No. Five matches would mean death for Valerian since he was still injured for certain.
Papa… You were making my blood boil with your course of action. Whatever you did to him… I should make sure that it would return tenfolds on you.
“Wait, Dominixe,” Papa said before Ismael and I could leave.
“Yes, Papa?” I slightly tilted my head, confused since Papa was not the type of person who would call someone if everything was already on set.
“Shouldn’t you suppose to be mad that I put your precious pet in that arena?” He arched his eyebrow.
I almost smirked. It looked like he did not get the reaction he wished me to react. Looking at him, I knew that he was dissatisfied.
“No, Papa. I know that you have your reason why Valerian is in there. Perhaps, he displeased you again, right? And I know that you are only teaching him some lessons,” I said politely. “I trust your judgment, Papa. I know that what you are doing is to make him suffer.” My lips curled up into a condescending smile. “If you excuse me.”
I curtsied one more time before I finally left. I thought that Ismael was still outside Papa’s study room but I was surprised when I came to see Arthur who was leaning against the wall. His hands were on the pockets of his trousers.
I walked past him and ignored him.
“Expect your pet’s death tomorrow night, Domi.”
That made me halt and turn at him. “Want to bet, Archie?” I said his nickname instead of his name, Arthur.
He scoffed bitterly as his face darkened. “Don’t you ever call me by my nickname.”
“Says the one who calls me Domi.” I arched my eyebrow before I smirked and left him there before he could retort back.
Even though I was exhausted from my trip to Solacia, I decided to pay a visit to the underground fighting arena where they were keeping Valerian. I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess hoping that Valerian was alright.
But as soon as I saw him dragging to the room where I needed to see him, my heart broke upon seeing him bathed with his stench blood. My insides were clenched when they handled him poorly as he was shoved to the floor.
My wolf almost cried upon seeing him in that state.
“Leave. I wish to be with him alone,” I ordered which they gladly obliged.
Valerian groaned as he rolled to the ground so he could open his eyes and see me. “Honeydew…” Even though he looked like he was on the verge of hydration and hyperventilation, he still recognized me.
I couldn’t help shedding tears upon seeing how he looked so happy upon seeing me.
“Val…” I almost sobbed and immediately rushed to him, feeling mad to myself upon seeing the deep wounds all over his upper body.
He purred under my touch as his expression softened. “You are here, love of my life…”
My heart skipped a beat from his words. Love of his life… He only said those words when it was the moment that he had fallen deeply for me.
Why?
Why at this moment he would address me that?
All he experienced here were full of hardships when in this timeline. It was much worse than in my previous life.
Moon Goddess… Did I really deserve to be Valerian’s mate?
“Here… I have brought you some antidote to heal your wounds from the wolfsbane.” I tried so hard not to break some tears as I tried my best not to startle Valerian.
He accepted the vial I bestowed on him while I kept my cool. I supported his body by leaning on me, not caring if he smelled with his drenched dried blood.
“There, there…” I hugged him and buried his face in the crook of my neck after I made him drink some water by transferring it from my mouth to his. “I am here, Valerian…” I whispered as I gently combed his unwashed hair that was covered with dust and sweat. I closed my eyes, offering my sympathy since I brought him into this situation.
I should have known… I should have predicted that he would be put here after he was severely punished by my four siblings.
“Please forgive me, honeydew…” I whispered into his ear. How cruel I was to you… I promised that I was not going to let you feel miserable, but here I was. I was letting him being severely tortured by the House of Cantavalle.
I did not know how long we were in that position. I could feel my legs going numb but I did not care. The most important that I needed to handle was to make Valerian feel secure that I was not going to leave him behind again.
Not anymore…
I must make haste with my plans before Valerian would be on the verge of death again.
“Dominixe?”
I peeled my eyes open upon hearing the soft, raspy voice of Valerian. My heart skipped a beat upon seeing him looking at me, bewildered.
“How are you, my dear pet?” I asked in a cold, firm tone.
That made him crease his forehead. But before he could say anything, I hushed him by placing my finger on his lips. Then I gestured my head telling him that there was someone eavesdropping on the door.
I had already noticed that there was someone dared to listen to our conversation as soon as Valerian was dragged here. I was suspecting that it might be one of Papa’s henchmen, so I must be careful of conversing with Valerian.
At that moment, I reached for his wrist and started tapping it gently, indicating a morse code. ‘Papa is already suspecting that you might be my mate. We must be careful from now on.’
As soon as Valerian got my message, he nodded before he grinned and held my cheek. “Wow… I thought my master does not care about me anymore. Glad to see you again, Dominixe.” Along with that, he lowered his hand to reach for my hand and tapped my palm to make a morse code message. ‘I missed you so badly, honeydew… I missed you so much.’
He even spoke and made a morse code message at the same time.
I almost gasped as my wolf was squirming from that message. When I looked at him, his gaze softened before he gently took my hand and brought it to his lips.
I bit my lower lip, wanting to cry at that sweet gesture. Moon Goddess, why did you fate me with this man? Why did I deserve this man who I would only hurt in the end? “Ah… So, it seems that you are alright, bastard. Your words are spine-chilling. Halt that. You are not a clown.” I felt hurt that I was saying that, but it was necessary to fake that Valerian and I were not really going along. ‘I missed you, too, honeydew. I was so worried that I almost rushed back from Solacia when I heard that Papa brought you here.’ I was gritting my teeth in annoyance. ‘I am going to kill him… for hurting you.’
Valerian looked surprised, but he smiled. “Oh, I hope you are going to watch my match tomorrow night, master. I am going to dedicate my fights to you again.” At the same time, he said, ‘Tell me the updates when you meet Henry.’
I nodded and took the folded parchment from my cleavage which surprised Valerian. That made him grin while I felt humiliated that he was looking at me so hungrily.
‘I want to see that compartment of yours.’ He wriggled his eyebrows. ‘It looks… interesting. I think my hand will fit there. What do you think?’
I rolled my eyes, feeling my cheeks hinting in red right now. He was being hilarious again. That was what I loved about this man. I mouthed ‘shut up’ before I frowned. “Well, do your best. Arthur is already betting for your death. Do remember that I still need your service. I am still not satisfied with you.”
Valerian smiled lazily at me after he read the contents of the parchment before he suddenly stood up and used his wolf speed to make me lie on the floor. “I can show it to you now, my dear master.” He held my hands and laid them on each side of me. “Can I please you before I am going to be returned to my prison cell, Mistress Dominixe?”
My wolf and I got excited about that. But then, I remembered that he hadn’t taken a bath. “Nope. You need to take a bath first. I am not going to let my pet touch me as he pleases.” With that, I kicked him off my top.
He was quick to get up and helped me to stand up. His six-pack abs were showing in front of me which made my mouth water.
When I looked up, Valerian’s eyes were already glowing as he licked his lips looking at me.
Biting my lower lip, I simply snatched the parchment and carefully folded it. “Let’s get you to take a bath. Then I might need your service.” When I was dragging him and he let himself be dragged, that was the time we both felt the intruder left.
We both exchanged glances before we nodded.
‘Are you ready to be treated poorly again?’ I asked through morse code as I looked at him, concerned about his welfare.
Valerian nodded and planted a soft kiss on the back of my palm. ‘Yes, honeydew. I am more than ready. Please treat me poorly and make me your slave.’
I did not know why but that certainly made my clit tingle in delight when he told me that. It was certainly making my body on fire right now.
Dear me, Valerian…
Yes, I would want you to be my slave again and fulfilled each other’s desires.