15. Faye

15

FAYE

A s soon as night falls, I lead Cassius through the dense forest towards the coastline. The familiar scents of wood and damp earth fill my nostrils as we navigate the treacherous terrain.

"Watch your step, pretty boy," I call over my shoulder. "These roots have a nasty habit of tripping people up."

Cassius scoffs. "I'll have you know I'm quite light on my feet, sweetheart."

"Oh really?" I arch an eyebrow. "Is that why you sounded like a herd of stampeding dae back there?"

He grins, flashing those sharp fangs. "Perhaps I was simply trying to warn off any potential threats."

"The only thing you're scaring away is our future meals," I retort, ducking under a low-hanging branch.

We continue in companionable silence for a while, the forest alive with nocturnal sounds. Cassius's presence behind me is oddly comforting, despite the short time we've known each other.

As we crest a small hill, I decide to lighten the mood.

"Okay, pretty boy. You're going to have to entertain me. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?"

Cassius groans. "Do I have to?"

"Consider it payment for my expert guide services," I tease.

He sighs dramatically. "Fine. There was this one time during a formal Council meeting..."

As Cassius launches into a tale involving a mishap with his wings and a very important vrakken elder, I find myself genuinely laughing for the first time in years. The sound echoes through the trees, startling a nearby nocturnal creature.

"I didn't know you could make that noise," Cassius quips, a smile playing on his lips.

I roll my eyes. "Don't get used to it. I have a reputation to maintain." Among the forest, but I don't point that out.

"Of course, sweetheart. Your secret's safe with me."

As we continue our journey, trading stories and light-hearted jabs, I feel something shift between us. I'm not sure when I started getting so comfortable around this vrakken. He should be a threat to me…and yet I feel so comfortable with him.

I can't help but steal glances at Cassius as we make our way through the forest. The moonlight filtering through the canopy catches on his pale skin, highlighting the defined muscles of his chest, arms, and back.

The bastard insisted we didn't need to worry about getting him a shirt.

He moves with a fluid grace that's almost hypnotic, each step purposeful and silent. It shouldn't be so mesmerizing to me, but it is.

My eyes trace the curve of his jaw, the sharp angles of his cheekbones. Even in the dim light, I can see the intensity in his dark eyes as he scans our surroundings. It's hard to believe someone so ethereal could be real, let alone walking beside me.

A memory of our earlier encounter flashes through my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. The feel of his cool skin against mine, the passion in his touch... I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts. But I can't deny the truth – I don't regret what happened between us.

Cassius turns to me, catching me mid-stare. I quickly avert my gaze, focusing intently on the path ahead. My cheeks burn, and I silently curse my body's betrayal. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small smirk playing on his lips, but he doesn't comment.

We continue in silence, the tension between us palpable. Neither of us mentions what transpired in the cave, but it hangs in the air, unspoken yet impossible to ignore. I find myself hyper-aware of his presence, of every slight movement he makes.

As we navigate a particularly tricky section of the forest floor, Cassius reaches out to steady me. His hand on my arm sends a jolt through my body, and our eyes meet for a brief moment. There's a flicker of something in his gaze – desire – before he quickly withdraws his touch.

Clearing his throat, he starts walking again, and I fall into step beside him. His voice has hardened a bit as he keeps space between us. "So, you think you could tell me a little more about Liiandor now that you know why I'm here?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. Cassius's question brings back memories I'd rather forget, but I know this information is crucial for his mission.

"Alright. But I hope you're tougher than you look." I give him a smirk. "It's not a pleasant story."

He snorts. "You think all the muscles you can't stop staring at are for show?" Cassius cuts his eyes at me. "Hit me with it."

I begin, my voice low, "Liiandor is... well, it's a nightmare wrapped in a gilded package. The dark elves rule everything with an iron fist, and humans? We're nothing but property to them."

Cassius's eyes narrow. "Property? How so?"

I'm mildly surprised by the anger there. I'd imagine if humans are his prey, they aren't treated well. He's clearly a killing machine from what I've seen.

I laugh bitterly. "Take your pick. Slaves, pets, playthings... we're whatever they want us to be. And it's not just Liiandor. The dark elves have their claws in almost every corner of Protheka, except for Milthar. Those minotaurs aren't having any of their shit."

"Impressive," Cassius muses. "And what of their society? How do they organize themselves?"

"Oh, you'd love it," I say sarcastically. "They've got this whole caste system thing going on. Makes them feel all superior and special. The nobles and warriors are at the top, living it up while the rest of us suffer."

Cassius raises an eyebrow. "Us? I thought you escaped."

I shoot him a glare. "Yeah, well, some scars don't fade so easily."

He nods, understanding flickering in his eyes. Thankfully, he moves to his next question instead of pushing. "What about their military? Their strategies?"

I shrug. "Can't say I know much about that. But from what I've seen, they care more about their fancy titles than actually being good at what they do. And don't get me started on their obsession with magic. It's like they forget how to lace up their own boots without it."

Cassius chuckles. "Sounds like they're in for a rude awakening."

"Oh, you have no idea." I grin at the thought of them being brought down. "But hey, at least some of them are branching out. Heard a rumor that on another continent, dark elves are actually marrying humans. Can you believe that?"

I shudder involuntarily, and Cassius notices. His expression softens slightly.

"Not a fan of interspecies romance, sweetheart?" he teases, but there's a hint of something else in his voice.

I roll my eyes. "Let's just say I prefer my partners without pointy ears and a god complex, pretty boy."

"Noted," he says with a smirk. "Though I can't help but wonder where wings fall on that list."

I feel my cheeks heat up and quickly change the subject. "So, what's the plan once we reach this underwater gate? Just see what's there and report back? Shouldn't you have backup?"

I can't help but smirk as Cassius puffs up like an offended bird at my jab.

"I'll have you know," he says, drawing himself up to his full height, "that I was personally selected by the Council for this mission. They chose me because I excel at scouting and combat."

"Oh really?" I tease, raising an eyebrow. "And here I thought it was just because of your pretty face."

Cassius narrows his eyes at me, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Very funny, sweetheart. But I assure you, my skills are unmatched."

"Alright, alright," I concede, holding up my hands in mock surrender. "So what is the plan then? Just peek through the gate and run back to your precious Council?"

He rolls his eyes. "We're gathering intelligence, Faye. It's crucial information that could turn the tide in our favor."

I'm not sure why, but a frown tugs at my lips when he calls me Faye. I much prefer sweetheart — and I don't know when that happened.

As we continue our journey through the dense forest, I find myself stealing glances at Cassius. Despite my initial wariness, I'm starting to feel... comfortable around him. It's a strange sensation, one I haven't experienced in years.

"So, tell me more about these amazing scouting skills of yours," I prod, genuinely curious. "What makes you so special?"

Cassius launches into a detailed explanation of his training and abilities. As he speaks, I realize I'm hanging on his every word. His passion is evident, and I find myself admiring his dedication. The way his eyes light up when he talks about stealth techniques and tracking skills is mesmerizing.

I catch myself leaning in closer, completely engrossed in his stories of grueling training sessions and hard-won victories. It's strange - I've never been this fascinated by anyone before.

But there's something about Cassius that draws me in, makes me want to know more. I have to remind myself to stay alert, to not let my guard down completely. Still, I can't help but feel a spark of excitement as he continues his tale.

It hits me then – I'm beginning to trust him. The thought is both thrilling and terrifying. I've spent so long relying only on myself, keeping everyone at arm's length. But something about Cassius is different.

Maybe it's the way he looks at me, like he sees beyond the tough exterior I've built up. Or perhaps it's the fact that he's never treated me as less than for being a human.

Whatever the reason, I can feel my walls starting to crumble. It's scary, but there's an exhilarating freedom in letting someone in, even just a little.