9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Thea

I t had only been two days since Cassius attacked my camp. Only two days, I told myself, so why did it feel like I missed a man that I didn’t know? I longed for him to come attack our camp, and that was such a stupid thing to think of. I couldn’t help it. Even my darkness seemed to be encouraging it. I was a fucking traitor to Cerithia, and it didn’t bother me in the slightest. If my prize was Cassius, I would hand over my own kingdom. I would give him my family.

Did that make me psychotic?

Probably, but again, I didn’t fucking care. I was losing my mind the longer he hid from me.

I dreamt of him. I dreamt that he didn’t just give me a fleeting kiss. I dreamt of an all-consuming kiss. When I woke up, it was as if I knew exactly how his mouth would dominate mine, how his hands would touch and grip me, how he would whisper dirty words into my ear as he filled me.

“Captain?”

I shook my head and stared at the men in front of me. My cheeks were flushed, and my breathing was at the rate of a hussy. Fuck, I was losing it.

“We did not see any Crimson armies close.” They reported. Damn, I had hoped he was planning another attack. Stars above, I was a sick and twisted fuck. I was hoping for a battle so I could see Cassius. No wonder my father wanted me to stay away from him. Maybe my father knew I would not be able to resist him.

“Alright.” I nodded. “Let’s rest up today, and we’ll move on to them tomorrow.” Because I was going crazy sitting here thinking of him. They bowed to me, and I went to my tent to stew in my lust away from peering eyes.

My eyes dropped to a dark green envelope sitting on my bed. I lifted the small envelope and glanced around. It was forbidden to be in my tent, so I wasn’t sure what soldier thought they were clever in leaving a note in my personal space. The envelope was soft. The paper was high-end, and the color was stunning. I opened it slowly, like it might explode. A small white card fell into my hands. The writing on it was definitely a man’s .

Captain,

I’m disappointed at how easy it was to infiltrate your camp, let alone your tent. With how well you fought, I expected you to be impenetrable. You’ve made this war more interesting... more fun. If you want to forfeit, let me know. Or you may always choose to fight with me. I promise to treat you so well, Thea.

Captain of Crimson Armies,

Cassius, aka coward

That smug prick. How did he have time to get here and put this in my tent without being caught? I have been here all day. Did he walk right past me as I daydreamed of fucking him? I glanced around to make sure he wasn’t lurking in my tent, but nothing was amiss. I should feel threatened that he had been here. But this somehow felt like a game of cat and mouse. It made me excited. I sat at my desk fiddling with the envelope and card before grabbing a piece of paper. My heart pounded in my chest as I quickly wrote my response. Two could play this game, Cassius.

Coward,

Do you think entering my tent while there are no guards is impressive? How pathetic. I want you to know that unlike you, I can put this letter in your tent while your men guard it. You and I are not on the same level. I will always be a step ahead of you. If you would like to submit to me, you are more than welcome to beg on your knees, but I will still slaughter you.

Captain of Cerithian Armies,

Thea

I smiled to myself as I folded the paper into an envelope and scribbled ‘smug prick’ onto the front of it. When darkness fell, I slipped my green cloak on and trekked through the woods in the direction of Crimson. My darkness had crept from me for the first time since the cave. It did so without permission, and I was dazed by it looking for something. Suddenly it exploded and expanded through the forest as it became frantic.

Then I realized it was searching for Cassius. I could tell the moment my darkness detected his magic because it practically dragged me along with it. It was excited to see him, maybe more than I was.

The only signs of the Crimson armies were smoke from fires. Once I saw the camp, I bided my time. A large black tent stood at the center of camp, and I knew that was where Cassius was. So, when his men switched guard detail, I hurried to the camp, undetected by anyone, and slipped inside .

I paused when I saw him sleeping in his big bed. His space smelled like rain and forest, like him. His smooth, tanned skin lifted slowly with each breath he took. My eyes cascaded over all the black tattoos covering his chest. His face was hidden by his arm draped over it. My body hummed at the sight of him. An overwhelming sense of need pulsed from me. It felt like torture to see him and not touch him.

I pulled the envelope from my pocket and set it on his black uniform, which he tossed onto the chair. I wanted to see his reaction so badly. My eyes scanned his body once more before turning to leave.

“Leaving so soon, Captain?”

His smooth voice stopped me. I smiled brightly as my back was turned. I lowered the green hood of my cloak as I turned to face him.

“Just dropping off a gift.” My voice faded as his handsome face came into view. His eyes were black as night, which seemed wrong. But gods above, his face was made to be admired. He gave me a small, lopsided smile when he saw the envelope on his uniform.

“You are quite impressive,” he said. “Did you come to catch a peek of me?” He moved the blanket off of him, showing off a body made of muscles and tattoos. Gods. My eyes drifted over all of him without giving a shit if he saw. Even his legs had black tattoos covering them. After a moment, I collected myself.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

“You’re as smug as I imagined.”

“So, you’ve been thinking of me?” he smirked. I turned around to leave but paused for no reason in particular. When I turned back, his smugness was gone. His head tilted as he examined me slowly.

“You could have killed me on the battlefield; why didn’t you?”

“You didn’t kill me either, Thea.”

I nodded because he was right. My eyes traced over his face. Something ignited in me at the sight of him. Something primal and feral clawed at me when I saw the red crown tattooed on his arm. An urge to go to him overwhelmed me, but I didn’t move. He was my enemy. He was an obstacle that kept me from my task, killing the Crimson bloodline.

“Nice tattoo,” I muttered before I stopped myself. My words were breathless, and I knew he noticed it too.

A slow smile spread across his face as he lifted it up as if he were inspecting it. Something about it called to me. I took a step forward, then another, before stopping.

“It’s my favorite tattoo I have.” Tenderness crossed his face as he watched me. My heart was racing, and I didn’t understand why this man was making me feel crazy with lust.

“If you find yourself getting lonely, you can come back anytime you want.” He smiled brightly.

“Don’t mistake this for anything but psychological warfare.” I lied. Cassius stood up so quickly, but I didn’t move. I stood my ground as he stood close enough that his chest pressed into mine. Then he grabbed me and tossed me onto the bed. My heart pounded as he stalked at me.

“You have never been a good liar,” he breathed. “Tell me how much you’ve thought about me these past few days.”

I rested on my elbows as he stepped between my legs.

“Every day,” I confessed on accident. His eyes seemed to become more black. “I thought of all the ways I would kill you.” I tried to backtrack.

Cassius laughed softly as he leaned down to crawl over me.

“Oh, my little liar, you don’t have to hide from me. I can see how much you want me in those pretty green eyes of yours. All you have to do is ask, and I will gladly give you anything you demand of me.”

Gods, this felt too intimate for this to be the first time being close to him. I didn’t stop him as he pinned me to the bed. I swallowed hard as my eyes bounced back and forth between his .

“Lust is hardly a feeling.” I tried to sound bitter, but I failed miserably.

Cassius’ eyes darkened. Gods, he was impossible. I could call him the worst thing I could think of, and he would probably still look at me like I hung the moon.

“Lust is better than indifference.” He smiled. “I’d say we're making progress, little viper.”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

“Are you so desperate that you are willing to accept my meager feelings?”

Cassius’ eyes dragged over me slowly.

“I’ll take every scrap you throw my way, Thea. I can wait.”

I waited a moment before deciding what to say. I should leave, but that wasn't what came out of my mouth.

“You still have a prize for winning our fight,” I whispered.

He nodded before he leaned down.

“So do you,” he breathed.

Cassius stopped an inch from my mouth, and it was the worst torture he could inflict on me.

“We are enemies; this means nothing,” I said with as much conviction as I could. “Don’t let it get to your head.”

"If you feel the need to call me your enemy, then so be it. As long as I am something to you."

My heart went crazy in my chest. Cassius didn't make any movement. My mind was spinning with all the things I wanted him to do to me.

“Tell me what you want.”

“Kiss me,” I demanded. Cassius let out a noise of approval as his lips descended on mine. But he gave me just another fleeting kiss, like he was purposely teasing me. I growled, frustrated.

“I want a real kiss,” I breathed, not caring that I was weak.

“Then kiss me,” he demanded.

I lifted my mouth to take his. This kiss was all-consuming. He released my wrists so that he could grip my jaw tightly. Cassius’ tongue dominated my own. This kiss was more than want and need; it was full of longing and passion. I gripped him to me and rolled my hips up to feel him hard against me.

Cassius pulled away and stared down at me. Something intense took over the look he gave me, and it scared me, so I shoved him off me and stood. This was too much connection and emotion for a man I shouldn’t know. But I knew deep in my heart that I did know him. He felt familiar. He felt safe. He made the feeling of missing something go away.

“I’ll see you on the battlefield, coward. ”

I turned and left as he called out to me. My heart pumped rapidly as I made my way back to my own camp, to my tent, where I tossed and turned for hours. Cassius’ black eyes haunted my mind whenever I closed my eyes. Lust cascaded through my veins whenever I saw his face behind my eyes. This was so forbidden—to feel anything towards this man, but it only made my body want more.

“Fuck it,” I sighed as my hands skimmed my skin. My fire magic glowed as I touched myself where I pictured Cassius’ hands. My eyes squeezed tightly as I pictured a different scene than the one in his tent.

No, this time I didn’t leave. His big hands skimmed my naked skin. His eyes turned completely black as he pushed me onto the bed. His mouth claimed me, devouring me. It was as if he couldn’t hold back from what he wanted to do to me. He felt the same thing I did—an unbridled need to just feel him.

“Do you feel that, Captain? Do you see what you do to me?”

I nodded as my eyes clenched tighter. The image of Cassius leaning over me. Thrusting his hips into me so perfectly.

“Please.”

“Beg me, Thea. I want to hear how undone I make you."

I couldn’t keep it together any longer as my orgasm crashed through me like a violent storm. My face buried deep into my pillow to stop the noises from being heard. Sweat coated my skin as I stared at the roof of my tent. Fuck, I was screwed.