This is written for the OTP Boot Camp Challenge with the prompt "agitated". It also explores a scenario that must have happened in canon and tried to fill in some gaps from the bits and pieces we know in canon.

Like a caged lion, she paced back and forth. Her high heeled boots clicked against the floor boards and her robes swished around her as she walked briskly. Her face was set hard; her eyebrows narrowed, her nostrils flared and her breasts heaved.

Lord Voldemort watched Bella's display with cool amusement from his plush armchair by the hearth.

He enjoyed observing her agitation. It was the preferred emotion he wanted to see from her. He could not have guaranteed how she would have responded to his news, but he was pleased this was her reaction.

"I still don't understand," she muttered under her breath as she paced with her back to him before she turned around. "I don't understand why he would ever do this."

"Cowardice," he said softly and quietly as he did not need to raise his voice. He was calm now. Unlike Bella he had a considerable time to soak up the news.

"But he is a Black!" Bella's voice became noticeable louder as she spun on her heels to face him. He raised an elegant eyebrow and she shrank and flinched having realised her error. "I'm sorry, my Lord. I do not doubt you. Of course you are right. It is just difficult to imagine my cousin, the Heir to the Black line, could be capable of such cowardice."

He accepted her apology with a curt nod as he allowed her to squirm under his gaze. "There are blood traitors in every line. Despite the Blacks impressive purity, they are no exception."

"Yes, my Lord." She lowered her eyes. He expected she was remembering the number of Blacks who had proved to be traitors in her generation. "Did- Do you know who killed him?"

"You do not need to know that," Voldemort said sharply. "It is irrelevant. He was killed under my orders for his crime of disloyalty. That is all that is important."

The truth was he did not know exactly what happened to Regulus Black. He had refused to respond to the call of his mark and, from examining the same connection, he knew the boy was dead. He did not know how or why, but it was easier to suggest he had dealt the killing blow to emphasise his power and prestige. It was not difficult to imagine Regulus Black getting cold feet.

"Of course, my Lord."

There it was. Despite her obedient answer, her agitation was starting to flitter away and that would no doubt leave it to be replaced by sadness. The emotion was not only useless but, in this situation, it could be dangerous.

Standing gracefully, his robes fell down his this frame as he strode over to her. As he knew it would, Bella's body tensed. Stretching out his hand, he gently caressed her cheek. "I know you understand," he said softly as Belle leaned into his caress. She was so predictable. It was so easy to manipulate her. "I know you understand loyalty more than anyone else. You understand disloyalty must be punished."

"I do, Master." Her voice was noticeably slightly husky. "I would not dare question you."

"I know. You are my most faithful."

She practically swooned against him as she often did in his presence.

"You do not need to worry about anyone else. Do not concern yourself with blood traitors or anyone else. Only concern yourself with me."

"Yes, Master." There was no reluctance in her answer. Her eyes only glowed with desire and something more that always showed in her gaze when she looked at him. He did not concern himself with that. He only concerned himself with how securely she was in his grasp and how she would never leave.