13. Faye

13

FAYE

O nce we're both dressed, I lead Cassius out of the cave, my eyes drawn to his bare chest. All I can think about is what it was like to run my hands down that chest as I rode him, how fucking good he felt. I can't help but stare, marveling at his otherworldly beauty.

Man, I am glad that his shirt didn't survive the thlii now.

But fuck, it's hard to focus around him. Maybe I should be more bothered about how drugged up he can make me feel, but those fucking orgasms have me ready to offer up more blood. Not to mention it is a major turn on to think about my blood filling up his body, fueling him, driving him to the brink.

"You're gonna catch bugs if you keep your mouth open like that, sweetheart," Cassius smirks.

I snap my jaw shut, heat rising to my cheeks. "Don't flatter yourself, pretty boy. I've just never seen anyone so... pale."

His laughter echoes through the trees. "Sure, that's it."

I roll my eyes, trying to focus. "Speaking of pale, what about the sun? Won't it burn you?"

The memory of his burned and peeling skin — which I've seen twice now — flashes through my mind, and worry turns my stomach.

Cassius glances up at the canopy. "Not with my sun glamour. It's a spell that lets us walk in daylight for a while."

"How long?"

He shrugs. "Depends on the vrakken. I can manage a few hours, when I'm well fed." He winks at me.

I nod, processing this information and ignoring his reminder. "So that's how you can be out here."

I lead Cassius deeper into the forest, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The weight of my secret feels heavier with each step.

"So… Care to tell me where we're going?" Cassius asks, his voice low and smooth.

I glance back at him, trying to ignore how the sunlight dances across his bare chest. I have got to get it together. "I have something to show you. Something important."

We weave through dense underbrush, ducking under low-hanging branches and stepping over gnarled roots. The forest seems to close in around us, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.

Finally, we reach a small clearing. At its center stands an ancient oak tree, its trunk twisted and knotted with age.

"Wait-" Cassius mutters as I approach it, running my hand along the rough bark until I find a hidden seam.

"Watch," I whisper, pressing my palm against the tree.

The bark shifts and groans, revealing a small hollow. I reach inside and pull out a cloth-wrapped bundle.

Cassius's eyes widen as I unwrap it, revealing a stone tablet fragment covered in strange, glowing symbols.

"Is that...?" he starts, his voice trailing off in disbelief.

I nod. "The other half of your tablet. I found it months ago, but I couldn't decipher it."

"I found mine the same way." Cassius takes a step closer, his eyes fixed on the artifact. "How did you know it was connected to mine?"

"I didn't," I admit. "Not until I saw yours. The symbols... they're the same."

He reaches out, his fingers hovering just above the surface of the tablet. "May I?"

I hesitate for a moment before handing it to him. As soon as the fragment touches his skin, the symbols flare to life, pulsing with an eerie blue light.

"Incredible," Cassius murmurs. He looks up at me, his dark eyes intense. "How did you find this?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the memories that are about to surface. Cassius's eyes are fixed on me, waiting for an explanation.

"I found it during my escape from Liiandor," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper. Immediately, my memories threaten to over take me.

Fire licking my skin, screams filling the air, smoke stuffing itself into my lungs.

I close my eyes, transported back to that night. "I…I had to get out. And I was chased to the edge of the city. Going into the forest was the only way to lose them."

I can still feel the heat of the flames, smell the acrid smoke. My hands start to tremble. "But as I was running, I felt…something. It was almost calming and soothing, some kind of magic that told me that I would be safe as long as I could make it there."

"Faye…" Cassius' voice was low, but I shook my head.

Forcing the words out, I kept going. "The magic grew more and more intense, and I worried it was a dark elf trap. Or that they would feel it, too. But I made it to a clearing, and there was a ward set up. It felt almost like moving through water to pass through.

"And once I did, everything changed. Outside the words, I couldn't see anything. But inside them, I could see a temple. The book was hidden inside…and it hid me that night as dark elves ran past it, keeping me safe."

Opening my eyes, I meet Cassius's gaze. "I could feel... something from the tablet. Like it was important. But I couldn't read it, couldn't understand what it meant."

I gesture to the ancient oak. "So I hid it here. I figured if I couldn't use it, at least the dark elves wouldn't get their hands on it either."

Cassius nods slowly, his expression unreadable. "And you've kept it secret all this time?"

"Yeah," I admit. "Part of me always hoped I'd figure out what it meant someday. But mostly, I just didn't want them to have it."

I run my fingers over the rough bark of the tree. "I've checked on it regularly, made sure it was safe. But I never imagined it was part of something bigger."

"And why didn't you stay in the temple?"

A smile pulls at my lips. "Your half had a thlii. Mine had a pack of wild likar that feasted on dark elves." A grin curls up his face. "I couldn't stay in case the magic turned deadly to me."

I take a deep breath, studying Cassius's face as he examines the tablet fragments. The way his dark eyes light up with curiosity and excitement is... captivating. I shake my head, trying to focus on the bigger picture.

"Cassius," I say, drawing his attention back to me. "I think... I think I want to help you with your mission."

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Really? What changed your mind?"

I gesture to the tablets. "This. Whatever's going on here, it's bigger than just me hiding in the forest. And if the tablet chose me somehow..." I trail off, shrugging. "I don't know. It feels like I'm supposed to be part of this."

Cassius nods slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I won't lie, having you along would be incredibly helpful. Your knowledge of the area, your skills... not to mention your personal experience with Liiandor."

I wince at the mention of the dark elf city, but I know he's right. "Plus," I add, "I need to get out of this forest anyway. The dark elves are getting bolder, coming closer. It's only a matter of time before they find me again."

"So, partners then?" Cassius holds out his hand, his eyes locked on mine.

I hesitate for just a moment before grasping his hand. His skin is cool against mine, but there's an undeniable spark at the contact. "Partners," I agree.

As we shake on it, I can't help but feel like I'm stepping off a cliff into the unknown. But for the first time in years, I'm not facing that unknown alone.

"So," I say, pulling my hand back and trying to ignore the lingering tingle in my fingers, "what's our next move, pretty boy?"

His eyes rake over me before a grin pulls across his face. "You tell me. You know I like a girl that takes charge." He winks.

I glance between Cassius and the tablet fragment, an idea forming in my mind. "Hey, why don't we try combining them? Maybe we'll be able to read the whole message."

Cassius's brow furrows, hesitation clear in his dark eyes. "I'm not sure that's wise, sweetheart. We don't know what kind of magic might be released. It could alert the dark elves to our location."

I roll my eyes, unable to hide my impatience. "Come on. If it was going to do that, it already would have. The magic let us take the tablets for a reason. What's the worst that could happen?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Famous last words."

Despite his reservations, I can see curiosity burning in his eyes. I press on, "Look, we need answers. This might be our only chance to get them."

Cassius sighs, relenting. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, I'm blaming you."

"Fair enough," I grin.

Turning back the way we came, I lead us to where we left Cassius' tablet. I slip inside to grab it, and when I come back out, I can already see the half in his hand glowing brighter.

We stand facing each other, each holding our fragment. The air around us seems to thicken with anticipation.

"On three?" I suggest.

Cassius nods, his muscles tensing. "One... two... three."

We bring the pieces together. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, a blinding light erupts from the seam where the fragments meet. I feel a surge of energy course through my body, starting from my hands and spreading outward. It's like lightning in my veins, exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

The tablet grows warm in my grasp, almost uncomfortably so. I can't let go, though – it's as if my hands are fused to the stone. Through the glare, I see Cassius in a similar state, his eyes wide with shock.

The magic swirls around us, creating a vortex of shimmering energy. It feels alive, sentient even, as it envelops us both. I can sense it probing, searching, binding us together in ways I don't fully understand.

As suddenly as it began, the light fades. The forest around us comes back into focus, leaves rustling in a breeze that wasn't there before. I look down at my hands, surprised to find them empty. The tablet, now whole, lies between Cassius and me, symbols glowing with a soft, pulsing light.

"Well, I'll be damned, sweetheart." Cassius lets out a low whistle. "It worked."