12. Cassius

12

CASSIUS

I lean against the cave wall, feeling the rush of renewed strength coursing through my veins. Faye's blood was... intoxicating. I can't remember the last time I felt this alive. My eyes roam over her body, taking in every curve and angle. Damn, she's beautiful.

My wing curves around her, but she makes no move to dress. Instead, she stays leaned up against me, and for the first time since I met her, she seems relaxed. I lie to myself and think that it must have been the hours of sleep we got, since I can now see the sun is up high, but I doubt it's the truth.

"So, sweetheart," I drawl, a smirk playing on my lips. "Now that we've gotten... acquainted, I suppose I owe you an explanation."

Faye narrows her eyes, pulling her knees to her chest. "You think?" she snaps, but there's less bite in her tone than before.

I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. "Fair enough." I sigh. "Okay, so I told you I was sent here on a mission — by my Council. We need intel on Liiandor – troop movements, defenses, that sort of thing."

"Against the dark elves," she pieces together and I nod. Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe it's a bad idea for me to tell her this, but at this point, there's no more hiding it.

And I kind of owe her. She saved my life…even if I saved hers.

And paid it back in orgasms.

"The dark elves have been getting bolder lately. They started attacking our bases, trying to get rid of us before our presence becomes more widespread knowledge, I presume." I run a hand down her back, unable to stop myself. "And so we're planning a major offensive to knock them down a little."

"And what exactly are the vrakken?" Faye asks, her voice laced with suspicion.

"We were once human," I admit, and she shifts to look at me, eyes wide. I only nod. "But with the venom of The First, we've become faster, stronger, with magic and wings. We're immortal, which is how I've been surviving without the blood." I blow out a breath. "And like I said, we've been at war with the dark elves for centuries. They drove us underground, but now..." I trail off, shrugging.

Faye's silent for a moment, processing. "So that thing you did earlier, with the venom..."

"Ah, that," I say, feeling a twinge of... something. Guilt? Impossible. "It's a natural defense mechanism. Makes the feeding more... pleasurable for our prey. Keeps them docile." I fight to keep from feeling anything as I say, "I didn't mean to take it so far."

But she just leans into me, smoothing a hand up my chest. "I told you I wanted it."

I swallow hard at the sentiment, wiggling my eyebrows at her. "I'm sure you did the second you saw me fighting the thlii." I lift my free arm and flex. "Who could resist?"

Faye scoffs, but I catch the hint of a blush on her cheeks. "You're awfully full of yourself, pretty boy."

I grin, leaning closer. "Can you blame me? That was... incredible. I've never felt anything like it."

"It was just sex," Faye mutters, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.

I want to shake my head, but I contain myself. It wasn't just sex, though. It was…fuck, what was that?

It felt like Faye was everything I ever needed. Her touch, her taste, her fucking cunt. I can't get enough. Already I want to gorge myself on this girl, and I'm trying to hold back. This human has somehow burrowed beneath my skin, and I'm not sure how to handle it.

"So what now?" Faye asks, breaking the tension.

I consider it for a moment. "Well, I still need that intel. And you, my fierce little human, seem to know these woods better than anyone. Care to be my guide?"

Faye narrows her eyes. "And why should I help you?"

"Because," I say, my voice low and seductive, "I have a feeling you enjoyed our little... encounter as much as I did. And there's plenty more where that came from."

She scoffs, but I can see the interest in her eyes. "You're incorrigible."

"Part of my charm, sweetheart," I wink.

"I'm not going back to Liiandor," she huffs, turning her face away.

I open my mouth to protest, but then I remember my pack. A flicker of hope sparks within me. Hooking one finger under her chin, I turn her face up to mine, savoring the warmth of her skin against my cold touch. "Did you grab my bag by chance?" I ask, my voice low and urgent. She had my sword, so I have to hope she snagged the rest of my belongings too.

She turns to look in the corner, her golden-brown eyes scanning the dim cave. "It's over there," she says, nodding towards a shadowy recess. "But I didn't see much in there. Just some clothes and useless junk."

"You went through it?" I raise an eyebrow, feigning offense. "That's not very nice, sweetheart." But I can't help the grin that spreads across my face as she turns back to face me, her expression a mix of defiance and amusement.

"Get over it, pretty boy," she retorts, rolling her eyes.

I reach for my pack, my long fingers rummaging through its contents until they brush against something smooth and cool. Relief washes over me as I grasp the tablet fragment.

"Actually..." I pull it out, holding it up so the faint light catches its surface. "You must have missed something because I found this little beauty right before that thlii decided to make me its lunch." I turn the fragment in my hand, watching Faye's eyes widen with curiosity. "And trust me, sweetheart, this is far from useless junk."

Faye leans in, curiosity piqued. "What is that?"

"No idea," I admit, turning the tablet over in my hands. "But it's got some serious magic wards. Led me right to it...and led the thlii to me."

She snorts. "So you're telling me you just stumbled upon some ancient magical artifact in the middle of the forest?"

I raise an eyebrow. "You doubt my incredible luck and charm? Clearly I'm so smooth, I got a tree to let me." I wink at her. "I'm wounded."

"Oh please," Faye rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. "So this thing set off the thlii?"

"Seems like it," I nod, tracing the strange symbols etched into the surface. "Damn thing went berserk the moment I picked this up."

Faye reaches out, hesitating before touching the tablet. "And you have no idea what it says?"

I shrug. "Not a clue. But it's got to be important if it's got that kind of power."

"Great," she mutters. "So now we've got dark elves and magical artifacts to worry about. Any other surprises you want to share?"

I grin, leaning in close. "Well, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that might surprise you, sweetheart."

Faye pushes me away, but there's no real force behind it. "You're impossible."

"Impossibly charming, you mean," I wink.

She groans, but I can see laughter dancing in her eyes. "So what's your plan now, oh charming one? Wave that thing around and hope it leads us to more trouble?"

I narrow my eyes at her, feeling entirely too amused. It's foreign to me. "I think I need to figure out why it called to me. There's got to be more to this than meets the eye."

Her gaze drops from me to the tablet, her mouth twisting to the side in that way I'm starting to find oddly endearing. "Let me see it," she demands, her voice a mix of curiosity and impatience.

I can't help but chuckle at Faye's sudden interest, holding the tablet just out of her reach. The weight of it in my hand feels significant, like it's more than just some ancient relic. "Oh, now you're interested? I thought it was just 'useless junk.'"

She narrows her eyes at me, a delightful mix of annoyance and curiosity flashing across her face. I can practically see the gears turning in her head as she tries to figure out how to get her hands on the tablet.

"Don't be an ass," she growls, her voice low and determined. "Let me see it."

I lift it up higher as she tries to lunge over me, my wing wrapping around her bare waist and locking her in place. Her nipples scrape over my chest, and I will myself not get hard right now.

But damn I want her.

"Magic word, sweetheart," I tease, enjoying the way her cheeks flush with frustration.

"Please," she grits out, extending her hand.

I relent, placing the tablet in her palm. "There you go. Was that so hard?"

As Faye examines the artifact, I find myself watching her intently. The dim light of the cave catches the golden flecks in her eyes, highlighting the determined set of her jaw. She's... beautiful. Not in the polished, artificial way of the vrakken women I'm used to, but in a wild, untamed manner that calls to something deep within me.

I swallow hard, feeling an unfamiliar tightness in my chest. The urge to taste her again, to feel her pulse quicken beneath my lips, is almost overwhelming.

And her blood…I could gorge myself for days and never be satisfied. She was glorious, and if the need to hear her moan, the drive to protect her, wasn't so strong I'd be worried about how addicted I was becoming.

But it's more than just hunger. There's a warmth spreading through me, a fondness I can't quite explain.

"See anything interesting?" I ask, my voice rougher than I intended.

Faye looks up, her brow furrowed in concentration. "These symbols... I think I've seen them before."

I lean closer, drawn in by her fascination. The scent of her skin fills my senses, and I have not forgotten she's still naked. It's distracting. "Where?"

Her head snaps up as she looks at me, and then she scrambles to her feet. "Get dressed."