Chapter 292 In This Lifetime, I Only Acknowledge You as My Master
Sensing her genuine fury, James held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll stop laughing, I promise."
His smile faded, replaced by a look of wary respect. He knew better than to underestimate Yara's temper when she was truly riled up. He was in no condition to survive another one of her...demonstrations.
As if sensing his sincerity, Yara gradually unclenched her fists, the anger draining from her face, leaving behind her usual stoic mask. She was once again a statue carved from ice, her only sign of life the occasional blink of her dark eyes.
James, looking at her, felt a pang of sympathy. She appeared as a living shell, with her true self deeply concealed within, shielded by numerous layers of ice and shadow.
"Tell you what," he said, an idea forming in his mind. "How about I give you a new name?"
Yara's head tilted slightly, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "What name?"
"Arianwen. Arianwen Smith. And from now on, no more 'Master.' You can call me...brother. It's not like I have a sister anyway," he said, trying to inject a note of normalcy into their unusual relationship.
Arianwen frowned, shaking her head. "I do not wish to be your sister."
"Why not?" he asked, taken aback by her vehemence.
Her gaze darted away for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "It...does not feel right. I will use this new name, Arianwen. But I am still your servant."
James sighed inwardly, deciding not to push it. "Fine. But at least call me James when there are other people around. No more 'Master.' Understood?"
"That is unacceptable. You are my Master. I cannot address you so informally," she insisted, her tone brooking no argument.
He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building. "Alright, how about this? You can call me... Boss. Yes, Boss. When others are present, I'm Boss. And don't even look at me like that, Arianwen. That's my final offer. Take it or leave it."
Arianwen's expression softened slightly, a hint of reluctant acceptance in her eyes. She gave a curt nod. "Very well... Boss."
As if a switch had been flipped, her demeanor shifted back to business as usual. "Now then, you still haven't told me who did this to you." Her voice was low, dangerous. Someone had hurt her Boss, and she wouldn't rest until she had made them pay.
"These burns?" he asked, gesturing to his bandaged form.
"Yes."
"It's...a long story. Let's just say it was self-inflicted. But there's someone else involved. Someone who needs to be...dealt with." His eyes hardened, a flicker of cold steel flashing within their depths.
Arianwen straightened, her hand instinctively moving towards the sword strapped to her back. "Tell me who it is, Boss. I will end them."
James studied her for a moment, then shook his head. "No. This is...personal. I'll handle it myself."
Disappointment flickered across Arianwen's face. She longed to be of service, to prove her loyalty. But she knew better than to disobey a direct order.
They talked for a while longer, catching up on the past five years, their conversation a strange mix of mundane and unsettling. Then, Arianwen's gaze sharpened, her senses picking up something. "Boss... The news reports mentioned you are...married."
"Yes," James confirmed, his expression carefully neutral.
Arianwen snorted, her tone laced with disdain. "I recognize only you as my Master. No one else."
Her words were possessive, almost territorial. James understood her meaning. She would not be sharing him, not with anyone.
He wasn't surprised. He had never expected Arianwen to accept Jennifer, not truly. In truth, he wasn't entirely comfortable with the whole "Master" dynamic either. But Arianwen was nothing if not stubborn, and he had learned to accept her quirks.
"Alright, Arianwen," he said, letting the matter drop.
They talked a bit longer, but their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Arianwen tensed, her senses on high alert. James didn't need to tell her to hide. She was already gone, melting back into the shadows a moment before Jennifer entered the room, carrying a tray of food.
Jennifer, of course, was oblivious to the silent exchange, to the presence that had just vanished. She settled down beside James, her touch gentle as she helped him eat, her every action radiating care and concern.
James found himself enjoying her attention, the simple act of being cared for. For a brief moment, he almost forgot about the danger, the uncertainty of his situation.
As the night deepened, the hospital grew quiet, and the only sounds were the hushed whispers of nurses and the rhythmic beeping of machines. Jennifer, exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the past few days, began to drift off, her head nodding against his arm.
"Jennifer," he said softly.
"Hmm?" she murmured, her eyes fluttering open.
"If...if I never fully recover from this... Will you... Will you stay?"
Her gaze met his, unwavering, filled with a depth of emotion that took his breath away. "Yes," she whispered. "Always."
"Then... Get some rest. We'll figure everything else out later."
"Okay," she murmured, a soft smile gracing her lips as she closed her eyes, finally allowing sleep to claim her.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the hallway, casting long shadows across the walls. Jennifer, despite her exhaustion, found it difficult to truly relax. Her mind raced, and her heart pounded against her ribs. Being so close to James, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers... It was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
