Free Knight (An Impossible Novel) by Julia Sykes Page B

ask me any more painful questions.  Truthfully, he seemed to watch Master just as carefully as he assessed my own well-being.  I appreciated that he wanted to look out for Master, and I found his presence comforting. Clayton was always so kind and calm.  He laughed easily, and even Master’s more prickly comments seemed to roll right off him.
    A psychologist came to see me once, but – much to Susan’s disapproval – Master scared her off.  Master and Susan had a heated argument about it in the hallway just outside my room, but Susan finally backed down.  It was decided that I should recover my physical strength before facing therapy.  I was immensely grateful to Master for protecting me from the pain of facing my past.
    He was so good to me, and he never asked me to do anything for him in return.  All of his rules were established for my own benefit rather than his pleasure.  I was puzzled by this arrangement, but I knew better than to question my Master.  I eagerly accepted my new life, fully committing myself to serving Master and pleasing him through my obedience.
    I dreaded the rising sun; daylight meant Master’s absence.  He stayed with me every night, and the pang in my heart that accompanied his departure in the morning troubled me throughout the long hours until he returned.
    Now that pang had sharpened to the cut of a twisting knife.  Darkness had fallen hours earlier, but Master had yet to return to me.  He had called around sunset to let me know that he was going to work late.  He wanted so badly to track down the man who had hurt me, and apparently the FBI had found a promising lead.  I didn’t care about that, but it wasn’t my place to question Master’s wishes.
    Susan had agreed to stay with me until Master could come back to me.  She had been with me since the crack of dawn, and lines of exhaustion appeared around her eyes as midnight approached.
    The clinic had gone quiet.  Only minimal staff stayed on to cover the night shift, and the usual bustle in the hallway outside my room had lowered to intermittent hushed conversations.  Laughter emanated from the TV in my room.  Susan had put on some sitcom to help distract me from my growing anxiety, but the rapid-fire jokes exchanged by the beautiful people on the screen were lost on me.
    Susan yawned widely and glanced at her watch.  Sighing, she turned off the TV and stood, stretching her muscles.
    “I’m going to get a cup of coffee, Jane,” she informed me softly.  “And don’t worry.  I’m going to call Agent James to find out where he is.  I promise I’ll make him come see you soon.  In the meantime, close your eyes and try to get some sleep.”
    I knew it would be impossible to fall asleep without Master’s warmth beside me, but Susan had given me an order.  Compliantly, I closed my eyes as she turned to leave my room.  I did my best to brush off my uneasiness at being left completely alone.  I knew Susan would be back soon, and she was going to call Master.  She would convince him to return to me.  I took several deep breaths and tried to push down my rising panic.
    A hand clamped down on my mouth, long fingers digging harshly into my cheeks.  Despite Susan’s order, my eyes snapped open as fear shocked my system.
    The sick light in his muddy green eyes made bile rise in the back of my throat along with choking terror.
    “Don’t make a sound, whore,” my former master whispered menacingly.

Chapter 6
    No.
    He couldn’t be here.  Master had promised that the Bastard would never touch me again.  But his cruel grip on my jaw and the savagely pleased smile that twisted his lips were all too real.
    “You’re going to come with me quietly, slave.  If you resist me or try to call for help, your punishment will be even more severe.”
    His chilling words threatened to make my muscles freeze.  But I had to fight him.  I couldn’t allow him to take me from Master.  I didn’t belong to him anymore, and I