The Bloody Anne Saga

The two men dragged him into her room, his body too pained and worn out to protest. The punishment had continued the moment he got back into the carriage and it wasn’t over yet. He sat up, taking shallow breaths, looking at her stride in through the veil of his hair. It wasn’t fair. Why the hell was he always being punished? What in Merlin’s name did he ever do that was so bad to deserve some of the punishments he received from her? And why was he being punished for keeping her from killing an old woman. Pulling himself painfully to his feet, he threw off the cloak, glaring defiantly at her. She turned from the large closet, betraying a brief amount of surprise at him standing up. Surprise that quickly turned to anger.
“I do not remember telling you to stand.” She stated. He pushed his hair back with a trembling hand, his eyes still defiant.
“Why am I being punished for keeping you from killing that woman?” He asked, his tone demanding. “Especially after you yourself admitted it would not have boded well with your plans?”
“You are being punished for not knowing your place.” She snapped, striding towards him. He stood his ground.
“I wasn’t aware that I had a place.” He snapped back.
“Crucio!”
The bolt hit him in the chest, knocking him off his feet, the burst working itself through his body before dissipating. Gasping for breath, he pulled himself to his feet again, glaring up at her.
“You’re place,” she snarled. “Is at my feet. It would be beneficial for you to remember that.”
“You can’t even control me without your magic.” He sneered, walking towards her. She frowned again.
“Perhaps Fiona was correct, keeping a pureblood as a pet is turning out to be too much trouble. Should I just send you down to her to play with?”
He smirked. “You won’t do that. I’ve heard you say too many times that I’m your project. To hand me over to her to torture and maybe kill wouldn’t sit well with you at all. I’m afraid you’re going to have to kill me.”
She waited until he was almost upon her, before she lashed out, catching his cheek with a well-placed blow. He rocked back, losing his balance for a moment. In that moment she lashed out with her foot, kicking him in the side of the knee. He fell to the ground, his hands catching him before he completely hit the floor.
“I need no one to kill you.” She spat out, accentinch wch word with a well-placed kick. “I need no one to train you. You are my project, Malfoy, remember that.”
Another kick just under his chest. Another to the side of his hip as he tried to roll away from her. Another kick, knocking his arm out from under him. His chin hit the floor with a sickening thud.
“As I told you at the beginning of this venture, Malfoy, you are my project and when I am finished wiou, ou, you will beg for more.” Another kick.
“Now beg.”
He pulled himself up to his knees, gasping for breath. She reached down, grabbing his hair to pull him up.
“I said beg!”
“Please stop.” He whispered. She let go of his hair, striking him across the face again.
“Wrong. You will beg for more before I am finished with you tonight, Malfoy.”
She came at him again and again, without the use of magic, using only her hands and feet to punish him. Well placed kicks and blows that hurt worse than any curse she’d ever put on him. Because curses finally wore off, the pain she was inflicting on him now lingered and never went away. He crawled away from her, hissing as her nails raked down his back, ripping the shirt beneath them. Another kick to the side of his leg and he fell down again. She kicked him over on his back, and then straddled his hips, grabbing the remains of his shredded shirt, her dark eyes wild and full of malice.
“Beg for me, Malfoy.” She snarled.
He tried to move, hissing as her knee tightened into a bruised side of his thigh. His eyes widened as pain briefly gave way to another feeling. A feeling he hadn’t had in over a year.
No, no, no, no, no! His voice screamed at him. Not this! Not now!
She tightened her kneain,ain, moving slightly. “Beg.”
He drew in a shaky breath. Any minute now, she is going to realize! His mind told him. Do something!
“Pl…Please…” he gasped. “Please hit me again.”
Smiling, she climbed off of him, much to his relief, and stood up.
“That’s all I wanted.” She s wal walking away from him. Curling up on his side, he focused on the pain from his entire body, willing his erection to disappear. How the hell could he be in the worst pain ever from her and the minute she straddled him to continue the beatings, his body would choose that moment to sit up and take notice.
Maybe if I just lay here, it’ll all go away. He thought inanely.
He lay there for a while before he heard her footsteps coming towards him. He didn’t move, although he wasn’t sure he d ifd if he wanted to.
She looked down at him, and sighed heavily. “Oh Draco, look what you’ve make me do.” She murmured, bending down to take stock of his injuries. He let her move him, too tired to protest. His eyes slid shut as she probed his face and chest. He heard her whisper something, and then felt her hand glide against his cheek. A wave of calmness washed over him and he gasped, eyes still closed, his face turning towards the caress.
Again, if you had kept youthouth shut, you wouldn’t be in this mess now, would you? His inner voice chastised him. This is all your fault. What were you thinking, trying to put up one last grand stand before you fell? That was rather pointless, now wasn’t it? I thought we had agreed that we were going to give in, accept the fact that she owns us. That e hee hers.
Right now, with her stroking his face lightly, his inner voice made perfect sense. What was he thinking? He didn’t know the old woman and he had been treated well. There really hadn’t been that many punishments lately. And she had been gradually becoming nicer to him, allowing him more lenience. He really wasn’t a prisoner anymore, just rather her pet. And was being her pet really a bad thing?
He pulled himself up towards her, leaning further into her hand.
“Mistress.” He whispered. She stopped stroking his face. He pulled himself further up, his head bowed.
“I dishonored you today. I will gladly accept any further punishments I deserve.”
Smiling, she lifted his face, peering into his lowered eyes.
“I think punishments are over for tonight, Draco.” She told him. “Sometimes you just make me so angry with you.” Standing up, she pulled him up after her.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, and see what will happen from there.”
He allowed her to pull him into the bathroom, the voice in his head all the while telling him this was the right thing to do. That he belonged to her, and to accept it.
Sitting him on the side of the tub, she looked him over, before going over to the medicine cabinet and pulling out a small vial.
“Here. Drink this.” She said, handing it to him. He took it without protest and drank it all in one swallow. Walking out of the bathroom, she returned a moment later with folded garments.
”Can you undress?” She asked. Reaching down to unbutton his shirt, he winced as he tried to pull it off. Reaching over his hands, she gently pulled the blood-encrusted shirt from his shoulders, whispering a cleaning charm to erase the blood from his body. Handing him the green shirt, she helped him slide it over his shoulders, letting him button it up.
“I found these for you a while back.” She told him, watching him kick off his shoes and socks. “These are only to be worn when you are with me, understand?”
“Yes, My Lady.” Came the quiet answer.
“Good.” She handed him the pajama bottoms. “Come out when you have finished dressing.” She told him, and then left the bathroom.
He stumbled out after pulling on the bottoms, looking around the room. The terrace windows were open, letting in the cool summer breeze. Anne was standing in front of them, looking out at the night sky. Draco stepped further into the room, quickly focusing on a lingering pain in his leg to dispel the sudden urges rising up in him. She turned, smiling when she saw him.
“You’re finished. Good. You’ll be staying in here with me tonight. It’s far too late to find anyone to take you back to your cell anyway.”
He nodded his head. She pointed to a blanket lying across a smaller couch.
“You can sleep there tonight.”
Shuffling towards the couch, he grabbed the blanket and lay down, feeling more tirhan han he ever had in his life. The moment his head touched the fabric, he was asleep.


The seasons gave way to another, and slowly, Draco began to learn his place at Lady Anne’s feet. He was allowed more freedoms in the lower levels, but he was still watched. Every once in a while, when he had been good, he was allowed to sleep in her room.
All the while his inner voice kept telling him that this was the right thing. He truly was her pet now, her only companion. To believe anything else was ridiculous. And he agreed with the voice.
One winter night, he walked through the dungeon halls. His own cell was cold and he was feeling a type of cabin fever. He had to get out and walk, even if it was only around the halls. He was deciding on whether or not he should go up to the kitchens later that night and get something warm when he heard Fiona’s voice around the corner. Panic set in and he pulled himself against an inlayed door in the hallway. Ever since the day in her room a year before, he tried his best to stay away from Anne’s right hand lieutenant. Even though sometimes he was forced to be in the same room with her, he tried to stay as far away from her as possible. The fact that she looked at him like a potential toy for her to play with was just incentive
Staying hidden, he closed his eyes, hoping she didn’t see him as she passed. He heard her talking, then more feet walking past.
“We’re going to have so much fun with you, my dear.” He heard Fiona say. “I believe you will really enjoy your stay with us. At least until Lady Anne grows tired with you. Perhaps she’ll make you her new pet? But no, I believe she is too fond of the one she has now.”
Draco bristled, opening his eyes and chancing a glance down the hall. Lady Anne training in a new pet? Or perhaps Fiona was just being mean. Sliding out of his hiding place, he crept down the hall after the group. Peeking around the corner, he had a glimpse of long red hair before the prisoner was thrown into a cell. Fiona grinned evilly.
“Have a nice sleep, my dear. Tomorrow, we’ll see what Lady Anne has in store for you.”
He flattened himself against the wall, waiting until he could hear no more feet or talking. Peeking around the corner again, he chewed on his lip, looking carefully at the cell. Inside, he could hear someone screaming like a wild animal. He frowned thoughtfully. The voice sounded female, which meant Lady Anne would never make her a pet. Relaxing slightly, he turned back the way he came, the prisoner forgotten, going back to his previous thoughts of seeing if he could get the house elves to make him something warm to eat.

For three days he stayed in his cell, only coming out once when Lady Anne came in briefly to collect him. She took him up to her study where he happily sat next to the fireplace while she read old text.
The fourth day, crying awakened him. Frowning, he slipped out of his cell and walked down the hallways. He found himself by the locked cell of prisprisoner Fiona had brought in four nights before. Creeping towards the door, he peeked in the small opening. In the corner, she could see a petite red head huddled on the floor, crying. Even in the gloomy light of the dungeon, he could see the wounds and bruises from Fiona’s torture sessions.
Suddenly, she looked up and he fell back startled. He hadn’t expected her to see him.
He turned to go back to his own cell when her voice stopped him.
“Wait! Please, don’t go. Please! Who are you? Are you a prisoner, like me?”
Draco turned back to the cell. A prisoner? That was absurd. He peered back through openopening to see blue eyes looking back. He blinked once, and the young woman stepped back.
“Who are you?” She asked. “How did you get out?”
He frowned. “My cell is open.” He told her.
“Open? Why? You aren’t a prisoner? Who are you?”
The questions left him confused. Who was he? Some days he didn’t know himself. Blue eyes peered at him closer and gave him an answer he hadn’t expected.
“Malfoy?”
He recoiled, glancing around fearfully. The only time that name was used was right before punishments.
“No wait, I’m sorry.” She said quickly, watching him back away fearfully. “It’s just; you look so much like a boy I went to school with. But you can’t be him, can you? He’s supposed to be dead.” She watched him as he moved closer. “Draco?”
He looked back at her at the sound of his name. fro frowned deeper as he approached.
“Draco? Is it really you? Merlin, we thought you were dead!”
“I know you.” He told her, his mind trying to place her face. “I know you from somewhere. Are you one of the Mistress’ people? Have you done something wrong?”
“Mistress? What are you talking about?” The woman’s eyes looked at him sad. “You knew me from school. I’m Ginny Weasley. Ron Weasley’s younger sister.”
His mind tried to place the name. It was stuck in the back of his mind. “Weasley? I know that name.” He mused. He thought about it for another moment, and then gave up. It would come back to him later. He looked back at the girl called Ginny.
“Are you hungry? I could get some food from the kitchens?”
Her blue eyes lit up. “You can? Please. I haven’t had anything to eat for two days.”
He grinned. He now had someone to talk to while he was down here. “I’ll be right back.” He promised.

He sat in front of her door, watching her as she ate everything he brought down to her.
”Thank you so much.” She said, ripping off a piece of bread from the loaf he brought down and handing it through the bars to him. He took it, chewing on it thoughtfully.
She ate hers, watching him.
“What did happen to you, Draco?” She asked. “We all thought Anne killed you after she took you from Hogwarts. You were the last person I expected to see walking around freely down here.”
“I went there once.” He told her. “Last year, with my Mistress. She went to speak with the Head Mistress.” He didn’t go into detail about what happened afterwards. He tried to block it from his mind and he really didn’t think she wanted to hear about his punishments.
Ginny cocked her head. “There you go again. Your Mistress? Who is…”? Her blue eyes widened when she realized whom he was speaking of. “Oh, Draco. What has Anne done to you?”“Nothing. My is is gracious, especially when it comes to me. Sometimes I mess up, but she’s more forgiving than I would be.”
Ginny dropped her food, crawling towards the cell door. “You used to be the most self serving, stuck up, pure-blooded bastard that ever walked the halls of Hogwarts. But this…I wouldn’t even wish this on you, Draco. To be beaten down into nothing more than…a pet for her to abuse.”
Draco picked at his bread, disturbed by her words. “No. She is nice. Lady Anne is kind. I don’t deserve the kindness she does give me.”
“Are you listening to yourself? The Draco Malfoy I knew didn’t bow down to anyone. He made people bow down to him.”
He said nothing for a moment, his head still down in thought. Then he looked up at her, his gray eyes clear. “Things change.” He said quietly.
The sound of people walking down the halls caught their attention. Draco stood up, fear gripping his chest. He looked over at Ginny, who had stood up also. bingbing the plates he’d brought down, she pushed them back through the bars towards him.
“Here, take these back, so they’re not missed. Get out of here, before they find you.”
He took the plates, still not sure what to do. She waved her hands at him.
“Go Draco! Trust me; Anne needs me too much to kill me. I’ll be back here soon.”
The steps were growing closer, driving him to action, turning on his heels; he scrambled down the opposite hall and towards the kitchens, leaving Ginny to face her captors alone.

Draco was laying down on the soft rug in front of the fireplace in Anne’s study. She’d brought him up with her while she read over more old texts. He aimlessly picked at the rug, his thoughts on the girl downstairs. For months now she’s been beaten and tortured while Anne tried ind ind out any information on the rebellion group she was with. Draco had visited her after every session, bringing food and water, and later rags to help her clean herself up. They talked; mostly he listened to her talk about school and her brothers.
Looking over at the desk where Anne sat, he sighed. He wanted to tell her he’d been visiting the girl, but he wasn’t sure how she would take it. But it was best to tell her before she found out on her own.
Getting up, he shuffled over to the desk, dropping down next to her legs and leaning his cheek against them. He felt a hand slide down to stroke the top of his head.
“You seem restless today, my pet.” She mused. “Is there something you wish to discuss?”
Sighing again, he rubbed his face against her leg. “Please don’t be upset with me, my Lady.” He begged quietly.
She frowned. “What’s the matter, Draco?”
“The girl downstairs. I’ve talked with her. She doesn’t try to ask for anything, we just…talk.”
Anne smiled down at h “I “I know, my pet. And don’t worry, I’m not upset.”
He looked up at her startled. She knew?
“But you must promise me something.” She told him, her brown eyes darkening. His pulse raced.
“Anything, My Lady.”f shf she tells you anything, you must tell me.”
He nodded, relaxing against her legs, relieved that she wasn’t angry. “Anything, My Lady. But right now, all she talks of is her old school and her brother.”
Anne closed her book, turning her attention to him. “Her brother, really? Tell me, what does she talk of?”
Pleased that he’d gotten her attention, he positioned himself at her feet and told her everything she wanted to know.

“Do you ever think of what you used to be?”
Draco looked up from his biscuits, pondering the question. Finally he shook his head. “No. What I used to be doesn’t matter anymore. It’s too painful. Who I am now is much better.”
“But, you’re a pet. A thing for her to use and abuse. You’re nothing to her.”
Draco frowned. “You’re wrong. I am something. My Lady is kind to me. She thinks of me. I am hers.”
Ginny shook her head. “Noou aou aren’t. You are nothing.”
His eyes narrowed, darkening. “If I am nothing, then why am I still alive when so many other pure bloods are dead?” He sneered. “I am well aware that I am here to atone for my sins to her. And I atoned. I am still atoning. But I am alive, which is more than I can say for Flint and Zambini and the others who are dead.”
Her eyes went wide. “How do you know about them?”
“I saw their deaths. Every single one of them. I was made to watch every rebel’s death in the beginning. So much blood and screaming.” He swallowed hard, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, they were back to the same calm expression they were before the conversation started. “I saw them all. Zambini, Bludstrode, Flint, Goyle, Longbottom. I saw thll. ll. It was part of my atonement.”
She stared at him, not quite believing what he said. “You’ve gone mad, haven’t you?”
He smiled slightly, shrugging. Frowning in thought, she suddenly leaned forward.
“My brother? Were you there for my brother?”
He frowned back. “I thought you said he was alive.”
“No, my brother Percy. He came here to see Anne. He never came back.”
Draco thought about it. There was a time in between the punishments, when she came to him upset and angry. She’d used him to vent out her frustrations. He tried to think of what she’d said before he’d lapsed into unconsciousness.
“I didn’t see him.” He admitted. “But there were many times I wasn’t allowed near her in the beginning.”
She sat back, hugging her legs. He bent down, trying to catch her eyes. “I’m sorry.” He told her.
She shook her head. “It isn’t your fault. Percy was stupid to try and come here to talk with her.”
How many bros dos do you have, anyway?” He asked. She looked up, her blue eyes full of tears.
“Only two now.”

Draco sat on the terrace, watching the summer night sky. Briefly he wondered what it would be like to walk free in the streets. And would he ever get the chance again?
“Come inside, my pet.” Came the call from inside the room. Taking one last look at the sky, he climbed to his feet, walking over to where she sat reading. He flopped down on the floor next to her feet, turning his attention back to the open doors and the sky. The stars were shining brightly tonight, making him remember hazy dreams of tall towers and the night sky.
“You’re quiet tonight, my pet.” Anne said, looking up from her book. “Is something the matter?”
He glanced up at her, and then shook his head. “Nothing important, My Lady.” He said his voice quiet as it always was around her. “It’s just….”
“Yes?”
“The girl in the dungeons. Ginny.” His brow furrowed, lost in thou “S “She hasn’t spoken much lately, and she won’t eat. She seems to be getting sicker. And she keeps calling for someone.”
“Hmm.” Anne closed the book and put it aside. ‘That is difficult. I had counted on her dolt of a brother being here sooner than this. Apparently his devotion for his sister isn’t greater than his devotion for his leader.” She looked down at him smiling. “I’ll have Fiona stop the interrogations for a while. Until the girl is strong enouo ato at least eat what you bring her. And I may have to put a push in her brother’s direction.”
Draco grinned widely. “I told her my Lady was kind.” He said, as if she had just confirmed all his arguments.
“Have you now?” She queried, standing up. She stepped around him walking towards the terrace windows. “Don’t worry my pet; her brother will be here soon to rescue her. I know him. Better then he knows himself. And when he comes, I’ll have my real prize.”

Draco sat in his cell, his legs against his chest, his mind playing over the events of the night. He’d been worried for days because Ginny hadn’t been eating and she was worse now than she was at the end of the er. er. As promised Fiona had let off for a while, and then gone back to the interrogations. This time, Ginny became worse faster than before.
He’d just come from seeing her, when he’d turned a corner and ran right into someone coming from the other direction. He stayed on the floor; terrified it was one of Lady Anne’s people, until he’d heard that hated name.
“Malfoy?”
Looking up, he saw a man his age with wild red hair. He was dressed in all black and looking at him like he’d seen a ghost. It was then that he realized that he knew this man and that this was Ginny’s brother.
“Weasley?”
Draco was silently relieved. No matter what his Mistress had said, he had grown to like the red haired woman and was very worried that she would not make it before her brother came. The man relaxed as he pulled a glowing orb out of his pocket. Peering at it, he realized it meant Ginny was safe. This meant this man had to get out of here also.
As the man was speaking to him, he felt her. She knew about the rescue and she knew who was here. A smaller part in his mind yelled at him that this was bad. That she couldn’t find him here. It was that smaller part of his mind that took control for a brief moment, and brought him back to his former self.
“Would you listen to me, Weasel? Get the hell out, now!
Then he heard her. Scrambling against the wall, he ducked his head, not wanting to see the interaction between His Mistress and this red haired man, knowing somehow that this would be worse than any interaction she’d ever had with any other prisoner. And he was right, the two started yelling at each other, Lady Anne loosing her temper in a way he’d only seen her do once before. She’d reached out her hand, and he’d gone to her, trembling at her anger, terrified that she would do something horrible. There was more yelling, and then she suddenly went still. The red head she called Ron didn’t notice. He was still too busy yelling.
Then he went silent also, and she began to lead them out of the dungeon, with him at her side. They came to an opening and he blinked at the fading light of dusk. She’d held him back, allowed Ron to leave and then…
He shook his head, trying to erase the memory from his mind. The curse she used was tamer than the ones she usually performed on traitors, but to see a person just crumple to the ground dead was unnerving. Plus it reminded him of things before. Things that reminded him of pain.She’d taken them back in, not saying a word and ordered him to his cell. At the time he scrambled for the small room as fast as he could, grateful she wasn’t going to use him as an outlet for her anger. But now….
He lifted his head, looking at the door. He couldn’t remember who that man was, save his name. But it seemed he was important to his Mistress. And she seemed very upset when she sent him off. Standing up, he kept his attention on the open door. She really shouldn’t be alone after this. She needed some comfort, whatever small amount he could provide.
But she hadn’t sent for him, and to go above the dungeon level without a guard was unheard of. But she needed him, he was sure of it.
Making his decision, he stepped out of his cell, walking down the hall towards the dungeon exit, his face determined. He waited until he spotted a younger girl who looked new, then stepped out into front of her before she could pass.
“You will take me to Lady Anne’s room, now.” He demanded, his tone taking on the hard edge it used to have. The girl was so startled at seeing him, she followed his order without question, which he was grateful for, he knew he looked a mess, and if she had an inkling of sense, she would have knocked him down with a wave of her hand.
She led him to Anne’s room and he opened the door, shutting it before she could say anything. He stood there a moment, frozen. He’d done it. He really didn’t think he was going to pull it off. Behind him he heard the bathroom door open and he was just about to turn around.
“Crucio!”
The bolt him frm from behind, knocking him to the ground. He cried out as his body shuttered wpainpain, then again as her foot connected with his ribs.
“Who brought you here?” She demanded.
Curling up, he whimpered, flinching as her foot connected with his shin.
“Answer me!”
“I don’t know.” He whimpered. “Some girl. I told her to being me up here.”
“You told her? You told her? And she did it?” She kicked him in the back and he gasped in pain.
She strode over to her desk, ignoring the bundle in the middle of her bedroom floor for the moment.
”Fiona!”
There was a brief pause, then the click and the voice of her lieutenant
“Yes, Lady Anne?”
“Some stupid girl just brought Draco up here, on his orders. I want her found and punished!”
“Oh course, My Lady.” Fiona answered the smile apparent in her voice. “Don’t worry, I’ll find her.”
Throwing down the phone, she turned her attention to the sobbing heap still lying on her floor.
“What in the hell possessed you to believe even for a second that you could order someone around?” She demanded, kicking him hard in the leg. He curled up further, his head bent down, and his hands over his face. Kneeling down, she grabbed his hair, pulling his head up.
“Answer me!”
“It’s my fault, Mistress.” He sobbed.
”You’re damn right it’s your fault.” She seethed. He shook his head franticly.
“No. I didn’t think about what I was doing. I was worried about you. I didn’t want to see my Lady upset. You should not be alone after such an ordeal. I came only to offer comfort, if I could. I know I can’t do much, but I couldn’t bear to think of my Mistress in pain.”
Anne dropped his hair, letting his head slip back to the floor. “You did this because you were worried about me?”
“I’m sorry my Lady.” He whimpered. “I don’t deserve to be in your presence, but I only worry for you.”
Her hand brushed his face and he sagged in relief, crying. She’d forgiven him. Everything would be fine.
“Draco, my pet, if you’d only think before you act, I wouldn’t have to hurt you.” She told him. He nodded, sniffling.
“I deserved my punishment, my Lady. But my only thoughts were of you.”
She stood up, pulling him to his feet, and helping him into the bathroom. Gathering his pajamas, she allowed him to take a bath and get dressed. When he stepped out, she looked at him, shaking her head.
“You are truly an odd one, my pet.” She said, smiling. He smiled back, and then walked towards the couch.
“No, come here.” She told him. He stopped, looking at her odd. Reaching down, she patted the end of her bed. “Grab your blanket and sleep here. As foolhardy as your stunt was, I do admit that your offer for comfort is very much appreciated.”
Smiling widely, he grabbed his blanket and climbed onto the end of the bed, curling up against her legs.
She charmed the lights off and snuggled into bed herself. It was warm and comforting, and right now there was no other place he would rather be in the world. Then, from the back of his mind, a small vice peered to the surface.
She’s at her most vulnerable. Right now, you could kill Lady Anne, and take back your true heritage. Be revered among your peers. Be hailed as a hero. One twist and it’s over.
Half asleep, Draco frowned, shaking his head to get rid of the thought. Sliding up further, he franticly clutched her legs, positioning himself against the back of her knees.
”I am loyal.” He muttered to himself, half asleep. “I am.”
From the head of the bed, a hand came down stroking his hair and ridding the last thought from his mind, settling him right off to sleep.
“I know you are, my pet.”