When morning dawned again, Alinea awoke feeling refreshed despite the wild dreams she had fallen through that night. She stretched as far as her limbs would allow, enjoying the way the tension in her muscles slipped away. Alinea sat up, her thoughts still a blur as she rubbed at her bleary eyes. She glanced around the room, suddenly realizing how different it felt in the light of day. The shadows that had danced across the walls and furniture in the night had been replaced by warm sunlight filtering through the curtains. The roses in their crystal vases sparkled as if they had been sprinkled with diamond dust, and the intricate patterns on the wallpaper glimmered in the light.

Alinea slid off the chaise lounge and onto her feet, feeling completely refreshed and invigorated It had been a long time since she had such a restful night, the last time still vivid in her mind and it brought her back to thoughts of Seth. She had failed to find him yesterday, but he was still out there somewhere. As she headed down the grand stairs ready to begin her search for Seth anew, the tantalizing scent of cooked food drew her attention. Her neglected stomach roared like a wild animal under the barrage of mouthwatering scents. Alinea followed her nose, guided to the source of the delectable smells. She soon found herself in a cozy little kitchen where Rennik was busy preparing breakfast. "Have a seat," He gestured to a small table. The sight of all the fresh food laid out on the table before her made Alinea’s mouth water even more than before. There were soft boiled eggs, freshly baked bread still hot from the oven, slices of melon and strawberries, and a variety of cheeses and jams. An array of pastries and cakes filled one side of the table and a pot of herbal tea perfumed with jasmine and rose petals stood steaming before them both.

Alinea sat down eagerly, feeling like she had been transported to an entirely different world; one full of luxury that she had never experienced before. She took in the scene around her with awe; it was truly something special to behold such abundance after living so long on meager rations for months. Rennik served her a plate overflowing with delicious food and took a seat across from her. "This is all for me?" She asked hesitantly taking note of the empty space before himself. He nodded, humming in affirmation. "There is so much... I couldn't possibly-"

"Have your fill." He told her simply. Alinea spared no second thought as she greedly dug into the spread before her. "We have a long journey ahead today."Alinea paused mid shovel, looking at the demon curiously. "It's a long walk between here and the human lands."

Alinea furrowed her brow. "I'm not going back to the human lands." She said, choking down a bite of eggs." My friend is still out in the borderlands somewhere, maybe even as far as the wastes, I have to find him."

Rennik shook his head giving her a stern look. " Too dangerous for a human to go wandering around out there. I'm talking you back where you belong."

Alinea slammed her fork down onto her plate, anger flashing in her eyes. "I belong with Seth, he's my friend, we're partners," she said through gritted teeth. "And I am not leaving without him." She emphasized each word staring down the demon with narrowed eyes. She had nothing else and no one else. "I don't need your help," She said. "I appreciate what you've done for me but I didn't need it... and I'll be fine on my own."

Rennik regarded her for a moment, his face unreadable, then he chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down Alinea's spine. "You humans and your stubbornness," he said mostly to himself. "I suppose I can't blame you for wanting to find your friend. I really can't allow you to go wandering around out there though, you've already gotten yourself mixed up with Blandette, I can only imagine you making things worse for yourself from there." He leaned forward with a thoughtful expression. "I have already expended energy keeping you out of trouble once, I would prefer that effort not go to waste. If you insist on staying and looking for your friend, then I will help you."

"Really?" Alinea felt a sparkle of hope at his words. Rennik seemed to be a powerful demon with access to resources she could only dream of, his help would ease the struggle significantly.

"There are conditions." Alinea's heart fell as quickly as it had risen, silently she cursed herself, knowing better than to trust a demon. "It may not have occured to you as you were making your daring rescue last night, but there is no freedom for humans outside of your lands. Those humans, even if they had escaped Blandette, would have found themselves in another cage sooner or later," He held her gaze with a serious look. " Or, worse. If I allow you to roam around freely, even within my territory, another demon would be all too happy to capture you and sell you off to the highest bidder. If you won't go back to human lands, if you insist on staying here, then the only way to ensure your safety is for you to blend in with the humans already here."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Alinea held her breath with apprehension. "What exactly are you suggesting?" A knot was beginning to form in her stomach.

"You'll be my pet." He said it so simply, so casually Alinea almost thought he might be joking.

Alinea's eyes widened with shock as she stared at Rennik, unable to believe what he had just suggested. "Your pet?" she repeated incredulously, her voice raising in disbelief. "I'm not some kind of animal that can be owned!"

Rennik remained calm, watching her with an almost amused expression. "You're not an animal, Alinea," he said, his voice steady. "But you are a human, and unfortunately, that means you're vulnerable in this world. So long as you play your part, you'll be protected. No other demon will dare touch you if they believe you belong to me."

She swallowed hard and chewed her lip nervously, the thought of being owned by someone, anyone, least of all a demon, made her feel uneasy. "What exactly would I have to do?" She asked.

"I won't have you do anything too unreasonable, you'll be acting as my pet, not a slave."

"There's a difference?" Alinea mumbled.

Rennik ignored her commentary. "Inside the privacy of my manor, you are free to do as you please, only the three locked rooms will be off limits to you. You have your own room, your own space, I'll provide you with whatever comforts you require. You are my guest. Beyond these walls, however, you are my pet. You will follow my orders without question. If I give you a command, you will say 'Yes, Master' and complete the task immediately."

"So I do this...How does this help me find Seth?" The thought of being at the mercy of the whims of a demon wasn't one she enjoyed, but if I got her closer to Seth, she would do anything.

"I'm a fairly powerful demon, Alinea. As a demon lord, I do have various 'diplomatic' duties that I am expected to attend to." He said the word diplomatic with a slight air of sarcasm and an edge of contention. "You'll accompany me to territories far beyond my own, and in doing so, I'm giving you access to eyes across every corner of these lands. The humans these demons keep see everything that goes on in their master's world."

"And when I find Seth?" In her mind, Alinea had already agreed. She had vowed to do anything to find her friend even if it meant she would belong to this demon for the rest of her life.

A sly smile touched his lips. "The choice is yours." He said simply.

Alinea took a deep breath. "Okay," She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it." For Seth.

“You know,” He purred. “For this facade to work, you’ll need something more appropriate for your new position.” He stood and gestured to the ragged clothing she wore. “Enjoy your breakfast, I’ll be in my study when you are ready to leave.” Alinea watched as Rennik left the room, her stomach a swirl of fear and anticipation; suddenly the delicious spread before her didn’t seem as appetizing. She shook her head reminding herself that she was doing this for Seth and that nothing else mattered.

After breakfast, Alinea made her way to Rennik's study. As she walked through the manor, she couldn't help but marvel at the opulence and extravagance that surrounded her. She had never seen anything like it before. When she finally reached the study, she hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

"Come in," Rennik's voice called out from inside.

Alinea slowly opened the door and stepped inside. The study was just as lavish as the rest of the manor, with bookshelves lining the walls, various displays of strange unassuming objects held in glass cases with arcane symbols etched into the glass and a large desk at the center of the room. Rennik was seated behind the desk, poring over a stack of papers that seemed to spill over one side of the desk and onto the floor into a stack of ancient scrolls and books.

"Ah, Alinea," he said, looking up at her from an ornate and official looking scroll. "Are you ready to go?" He carelessly tossed aside the scroll as if it were a trivial thing in comparison to her presence.

Alinea nodded silently, not quite sure what to expect. Rennik stood up and walked over to her, eyeing her up and down. "Yes, but where exactly are we going?" She asked unable to hide the hint of suspicion in her tone.

"If you are going to pass as my pet, you'll need the appropriate clothing. We will take a short trip into town for a few outfits that will help you fit in with your new position better. Come." He gestured for her to follow. Alinea followed Rennik out of the study and into the hallway. They walked in silence, Alinea still feeling uneasy about the entire situation. As they descended the grand staircase, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of life awaited her as Rennik's pet. Would she be treated well? Would she be safe? The questions swirled around in her head as they stepped outside into the bright sunlight.