Tzara pulled me in, almost crushing my ribs as he slept soundly.

"Tzara?" I whispered. "I'll suffocate to death like this."

Tzara obviously didn't wake up despite my efforts. So I remained lying on the bed eyes wide open with him that way till sunrise of two suns.

Slowly a person came inside the room silently with a robot beside him.

Was he there to murder Tzara?

I stealthily picked up the sharpest object I could find on the bedside table and waited for him to come closer.

He flicked some papers from the prince's study and slowly walked towards the bed.

He had no weapon. But that was no reason to not suspect him.

He could easily suffocate the prince in his sleep with pillows.

The robot on the other hand started vacuuming the room, somehow silently.

The Xanilian walked closer to the big canopied bed and started to extend himself towards me.

I quickly pointed the sharp object on him threatening on the tip of his pupil.

"Put it down." He ordered.

"No." I slightly extended the sharp object.

"Why are you here?" I asked, trying to be calm.

The Xanilian let down a gulp. "I'm his majesty's personal butler."

"He didn't say anything about having a butler." I remarked still holding my weapon on the dangerous position.

"He didn't say anything about owning a pet." He remarked back and took out something out of his pocket.

"This....signifies that I am indeed serving his majesty and not here to kill anyone." He showed me his badge with a crest on it.

"Now if you will put down the weapon.."

"Why did you come closer to the bed?" I asked.

"I was just observing the thing his majesty was holding on to tightly. It was moving slightly. And here we are. Pure curiosity." He replied.

"Yuri, you can put the dagger down." Tzara woke up groggily.

I immediately dropped it.

Elbuod slightly jumped away from the dagger.

"This is Elbuod. Nothing to be worried about."

Elbuod bowed, "Good morning your royal highness,"

"Good morning Elbuod," Tzara replied pleasantly. "What are the tasks for today?" He asked as the robot pulled away curtains from other windows.

"No tasks sir. Only the royal ball to attend this evening." He said.

"Very well. Leave." Tzara suddenly became stern. Elbuod bowed again and quickly left the room.

"Swing back the curtains!" He ordered the robot irritated. The robot somehow looked sad and pulled back the curtains, hiding the sunlight entering the room.

"Leave." He ordered again.

The robot left sadly, hovering through the air.

He pulled me back into the bed with him. "I was having the best sleep and this double agent disturbs it."

"Dou—double agent?"

"He sleeps with the queen. So the queen controls him." He hugged me tighter, but also gentler this time.

"So, he was actually here to ki—kill you?"

Tzara's amber eyes glowed in anger. "Yes. That's why I got the zoomies. The constant stress of people trying to kill you from every direction."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you tried to protect me." He said in an amused tone.

"Do you love me?" I asked snuggling in.

He let go of me and closed my mouth with his hand.

"Careful of what you ask." He said. Almost being paranoid.

I laughed up. "What is wrong with you? I thought you didn't hate me anymore."

"I don't love you either. Now shut up and sleep." He hugged me in again.

I found myself being dressed up by a robot.

"Finally awake?" Tzara smiled down on me.

I looked away, trying not to meet his eyes after what he said. I had just realised. I was just a slave—no—a pet—no— a plaything to him.

He put the gold collar around my neck. This time it was just pure rage flowing through me. The urge to snatch the collar from my neck, throw it down and stomp and spit on it was stronger than ever.

But I bit my lip and controlled my anger. Maybe it's time for my escape after all.

The royal ball was really glamorous. It was just like being in a historical drama. Except large beautiful red people in silk clothes moved around gracefully with collared slaves behind them decorated beautifully.

The prince was meeting up with diplomats and royals from other countries.

Meanwhile I sat on the corner observing everyone. There was a strict no touch and no speaking policy on me. So I couldn't even get to talk to fellow humans. They just ignored me like plague.

"Don't like the party?" A female voice asked.

I looked up. It was a Xanilian. And she was beautiful if described for aliens. Her mono lid emerald eyes twinkled as she spoke to me.

I looked around to see if she was talking to someone else.

"Silly human. I'm talking to you." She laughed gracefully.

"I thought the prince banned anyone from talking to me." I replied quietly.

"I can break that rule." She sat near me.

"How?"

"Because I'm his fiancée." She said with pride.

My eyes widened. "Fiancée?"

"Yes." She sat up poised. "I'll be meeting you more often, so I thought I would familiarise myself with you." She petted my head which I hated.

"And also, I thought I could introduce you to mine." She said smiling and signalled one of the humans to come to her.

My jaw dropped to the floor. It was Damien.