Page 34 of Master B-1901
“You don’t look well. Your face is bandaged, but did the doctor check you for injuries elsewhere?”
“Yes. No broken bones. Just bruises.”
Pressure eased into my touch as she almost seemed to nuzzle into me. Quickly, she righted herself, turning back to the door. Minutes passed as I watched her hold to the seriousness. Ally. Allison. My slave. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her having a name. The Main Master seemed to think it was a good idea that we bonded, but didn’t he see it was pointless? She lived this time. That didn’t mean she would survive the next. And I would be stupid to think I wouldn’t do this again. Already, my fingers itched to wrap around her neck. To put those bruises on her faceconsciously. Not out of anger but…something more. Lust? Fuck yes. But…more.
“Come lay up here with me, slave.”
“I detect arousal in your tone.”
My fingers pushed back through her hair, gripping tight as I angled her head back so that I could see her face.
“I could have killed you. I want you close.”
Knocking followed by the door opening had my gaze cutting up. A nurse got a few steps in before she jerked to a stop. Her eyes lifted from Allison to me.
“I apologize. The Main Master mentioned you might need some pain reliever.”
“Took you long enough.”
I released my grip, not missing the anger in my tone. The nurse kept her head down, quickly making me a glass of water and sliding the pills in my palm. The moment I drank them down, she scattered from the room. The door was barely closing as I grabbed the back of Ally’s neck, pulling her from the chair.
“Master,your wrist.”
“Lay up here with me. Let me see you.”
Full lips pouted, and she pulled back, quickly walking around the bed.
“The door,” she pointed. “I have to be able to see who comes in.”
“You’re really taking this soldier part seriously. That’s what the Main Master said to you, didn’t he? He said, ‘soldier up’? Why would he say that? I get that he made you more alert, but it was more than that. Both of you are acting strange, and I don’t think it has anything to do with me. I can’t shake this feeling. There’s more. There’s…You’re both hiding something from me.”
With each word, the building inside grew. The blistering heat held pressure and although the amount fluctuated, it was never truly gone.
“Slave? Allison.” Her eyes jumped to me. “What is going on?”
Slowly, she eased in the bed, positioning herself on her side.
“I am to protect you.”
“Protect me from myself?”
Her head shook at my sarcastic tone, but the look on her face was sobering. The anger, the slight aggravation, it all faded the longer I looked at her.
“What exactly happened during my episode? I…I can’t remember much. I try, but it’s like I’m walking through darkness. Just when I feel like I’m going to remember, it slips through the fog.” At her silence, I kept searching. Searching. Searching. As soon as I tried to explore who I should be protected from, my mind would start to shut down. The heaviness grew. It was more knocking that made me want to groan. “Come in.”
The doctor and a nurse approached, followed by two guards who positioned themselves at the far side of the room.
“Alright, Master. I was given the go to release you. Although there were no serious injuries, I still want you seen at our clinicin a few days. We’ll contact you soon with times and dates.” He reached over, grabbing my hand with the fractured wrist. As he did, Allison sat up on my side, watching his every move. “The break was clean. We’ll send you home with a medication to help with the pain. If there’s not anything else, you’re free to go.”
“With them?”
I pointed at the guards. The doctor’s hands came up as to say he wasn’t responsible for their presence. It was a blonde guard that stepped forward.
“Wait. I know you.”
He smiled.
“We’ve met before. I’m Nineteen. I’m the High Leader.”