Twenty-Seven

Once back at the mansion, Zaire carries my bags up to Zachariah's room while Jade heads to the kitchen for something to eat. Zaire repeats what he asked outside the hairdressers.

"You never answered me. Is that how you are treated here?" 

I sigh and hang my dress for later on the door of the closet. "Yes, even the ones inside the mansion..." 

"Why haven't you said anything?" 

"And what would telling anyone really have done?" 

He looks at me but doesn't say anything else, putting a couple of shopping bags onto the table by the window. He surprises me by moving and standing in front of me. He then gets down on one knee, lowers his head, and says, 

"Luna Yasmine, I pledge my loyalty to you, and I will protect you with my life." 

I lift my hand and put it softly on his shoulder. "Zaire, your loyalty is to Zachariah, not me!" 

Zaire lifts his head and looks at me with a smile on his face. "My loyal