Chapter 20: Return

"Tell me, why are you in such a state of dismay?" His dashingly handsome looks intimidated her. It was obviously that he was wealthy but she had no idea he was a vampire because he didn't look like Ezra.

He sat tall with a fixed posture as if he needed to impress people at all times. His hair was black and long to at least past his shoulders which matched the color of his eyes. His attire was littered with gold-like stitching and hems with most of it as a creme color.

When she didn't respond, his eyes trailed from her face down to the collar around her neck. With a raised brow, "Were you running away?" He questioned.

He wondered who she had belonged to because he was in Caine territory which meant that she had to have been running from the castle. What sweet victory it would be for him to return the lovely pet. He glanced at her features, surprised by how beautiful she was. Surely a vampire would be missing such a delicate beauty.

Before he could simmer up another question for her, his eyes caught their attention on her fine ginger hair. For an instant, he thought that maybe..

He shook his head. Cannot be, he thought. He then looked over her eyes carefully to see that they were hazel in color. Coincidence, he thought again. He leaned closer to her in the carriage and noticed the faint freckle specks covering her cheeks and nose.

His eyes widened suddenly, astounded by what he was looking at. It scared Katerina for a moment but he quickly retracted himself and stayed silent for a moment more.

It was her. This was the woman that he requested from that wretched Manuel to find for him. He was quite surprised to hear the news that the girl was found in his own region but when he arrived at the shop. Manuel had the audacity to sell the specimen before letting him have her himself. He even refused to tell Alessandro who bought her! It ruined everything and the plans that he had.

Pets were a treasure. They were a prized possession for owners to groom, train and show at the rallies. With that exotic girl, he would have sure enough been the most reputable owner there. All the wealth he would of had and all the reputation he would have gained. Yet here she was, sitting in front of him like a gift from God.

"I was running." She spoke softly. Even her voice was sweet like honey and there were no bite marks on her at all. It was a glorious and tender dream for him.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He smiled politely, trying to contain his inner maniac laughter for joy.

"Here, allow me to help you with that." He pointed to her collar, knowing just how to remove it. She quickly turned her back to him in anticipation. She really wanted this thing off of her because it felt so constricting and painful against her skin.

"There." His eyes bared down on the neck that was revealed. There were slight red marks but it was most definitely tasteful. He could feel her pulse beating through the transparent skin as his eyes shined with a black intensity.

"Thank you." She murmured.

He pulled himself away from her when the carriage stopped. Alessandro pulled the curtain back to see that they were in front of the Caine Castle. With a sigh, he made a quick decision to return the girl to the castle. He had just made peace with them and wasn't going to wreck it. He would soon enough have his chance to take this girl.

"Katerina." He spoke lowly. Their eyes meeting for a moment before he flashed her a fang-filled smile.

She blinked her eyes, gulping her breath as she should have known that she couldn't get away from them.

"You're not afraid?" He continued to smile. She shook her head in response and that made him giddy.

"I am terribly sorry for whoever owns you. They cannot properly take care of you like I would." He reached over to pet her head of hair.

The carriage driver opened the door to be greeted by some guardsmen and the Queen awaited his company by the top of the stairs.

"Come my dear." He held her hand gently and helped her out of the carriage. With a more gentle rub on her back, she felt safe.

She gazed at the all too familiar castle as he led her up the steps to Elisabeta.

"It is a pleasure to see you Alessandro." She kisses both sides of his cheeks before glancing at Katerina.

"Why do you has this pet?" She questioned.

He smiled and presented her to the Queen. "I am returning what I stumbled upon. She must have been running through the woods for some time."

Katerina gritted her teeth and tried to contain her heart beat as the queen ushered the maids to take her back to Ezra.

"She is my sons pet. I'm so sorry you had to fetch her." She apologized but Alessandro was surprised.

"She is Ezra's?" For a moment there was a look of disappointment on his face but quickly changed it back to happiness.

"Do give my best to him. I will stay a short time with you before heading back to Mobley."

The Queen smiled, "I have some things I would like for you to look at for the ball tomorrow evening." They both trailed off into the hallways of the castle while Katerina was taken down another one.

She knew what would happen to her when Ezra found her. She was going to be severely punished and beaten to where she would not be able to walk. It wasn't Ezra that scared her, it was his actions and forcefulness that did. She did not want to be beaten. Nor did she want Ezra to touch her in such ways that made her uncomfortable.

Her eyes began to well with tears before the maids reached the west wing of the castle to find a pacing Prince.