6. Cassius

6

CASSIUS

I come to slowly, my head throbbing with each heartbeat. The pain is intense, like a thousand tiny needles stabbing at my skull. Darkness surrounds me, pressing in from all sides, an inky blackness that seems to swallow everything. I try to move, but my limbs won't respond.

They feel heavy, as if weighed down by invisible chains. Panic surges through me, jolting me fully awake. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps, and I can feel my heart racing, pounding against my ribcage.

What the fuck happened to me? Where am I? The questions swirl in my mind, adding to the disorientation and fear that's gripping me.

My eyes snap open, adjusting to the dim light. A cave. I'm in a fucking cave. The musty scent of damp earth fills my nostrils, mixed with the acrid tang of smoke from a dying fire. Shadows dance on rough stone walls, cast by flickering embers.

I attempt to push to my feet, but ropes bite into my flesh. My wrists are bound behind my back, ankles lashed together. The coarse fibers chafe against my bare skin. Bare skin? Fuck. I'm half-naked, my chest exposed to the cool, dank air.

Instantly, I am fighting to get free, and pain erupts up my back. My wings. I try to extend them, to wrap myself in their comforting embrace. Pain lances through my left wing, drawing a hiss from between clenched teeth. It's still there, but damaged. Broken. As if I didn't heal at all.

The inability to move freely sends a fresh wave of panic crashing over me. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps. I struggle against my bonds, twisting and thrashing, but they hold fast. The ropes tighten with each movement, digging deeper into my flesh.

"Fuck!" I spit the word out, my voice raw and hoarse. It echoes off the cave walls, mocking me.

I force myself to be still, to think. What happened? The forest. The tablet. The thlii. Then... nothing. How did I end up here? Who brought me to this godforsaken hole?

I grit my teeth, frustration and anger boiling in my veins. "Release me!" I demand, my voice cracking. The words scrape against my parched throat, each syllable a painful reminder of my desperate need to feed.

Akeldama help me, I definitely needed to feed after the fight alone. But being knocked out and sustaining I don't even know how many injuries, it's no wonder my wing is still hurting. I'm half out of my mind right now with my thirst.

I twist against the ropes, feeling them bite deeper into my flesh. The effort leaves me panting, my strength depleted far too quickly. What the fuck is wrong with me? I should be able to snap these pathetic bindings like thread.

But I can't. My muscles tremble with exertion, weak as a newborn fledgling. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut - I'm practically human. The thought sends a shudder of revulsion through me.

I try to summon my magic, reaching for that familiar well of power within me. Nothing. Not even a spark. Panic claws at my chest, threatening to overwhelm me.

"Fuck," I hiss, blinking back the sting of frustrated tears.

The cave air feels too warm against my skin, and I become acutely aware of a burning sensation across my chest and arms. I crane my neck, trying to see the damage. Angry red blisters mar my ghostly white skin - unmistakable signs of sun exposure.

My glamour must have failed after the thlii attack. The realization sends a fresh wave of fear through me. How long was I unconscious in the sun? The burns aren't severe enough for prolonged exposure, but even this much damage will take time to heal without access to blood or magic.

My throat constricts at the thought of blood, the need clouding my mind. My lips feel cracked and dry, my mouth a desert. The thirst claws at me, threatening to consume my thoughts entirely.

I force myself to focus, to push past the hunger and pain. I need to assess my situation, find a way out of this mess. But every movement sends fresh agony through my broken wing, the bones grinding together in a way that makes me want to scream.

A figure emerges from the shadows, and I tense, ready for a fight despite my weakened state. But as she steps into the dim light, I'm struck motionless. She's... breathtaking.

Long brown hair cascades down her back in a messy braid, framing a face that's both fierce and beautiful. Her golden-brown eyes seem to glow in the firelight, filled with a wild intensity that makes my breath catch in my throat.

I can't help but stare, transfixed by the way her skin seems to shimmer with an otherworldly radiance. She's unlike anyone I've ever seen before, a perfect blend of strength and grace that sets my cold blood on fire.

Despite my weakened state, I feel a surge of energy coursing through me, my senses sharpening as I take in every detail of her appearance. The curve of her lips, the arch of her brow, the way her muscles ripple beneath her skin as she moves - it's all etched into my mind in an instant.

"Who the fuck are you?" she demands, her voice low and dangerous. "And what are you doing in my forest?"

I can't help but smirk at her possessiveness. "Your forest? I wasn't aware it belonged to anyone."

She narrows her eyes, taking a step closer. The movement sends a waft of her scent towards me, and I inhale sharply. Holy First, she smells incredible. Like sunlight and earth and something uniquely her. My fangs ache, desperate to taste her.

"Those wings," she says, gesturing with a knife I hadn't noticed before. "What are you?"

I consider lying, but something tells me this woman would see right through it. Instead, I go with the next best thing.

"Who's asking?" I answer with a slow grin.

Her eyes narrow. "You are not in the position to taunt. You would do well to remember that."

I try to shrug, wincing as the movement pulls at my injured wing. "It seems like I have all the leverage here."

She snorts. "Oh really? And how do you figure that?"

Her skepticism should irritate me, but instead, I find myself fascinated. There's a fire in her that draws me in, making me feel more alive than I have in centuries. The apathy that's been my constant companion for so long seems to break open…just a little.

"I have answers you want," I say, licking my dry lips. "Ones I'd be happy to tell you all about it if you'd untie me."

She laughs, a harsh, beautiful sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "Nice try. But you're not going anywhere."

I groan, letting my head fall back against the cave wall. "I'm dying of thirst here." Then I look up, giving her a pointed stare. "I can't tell you what you want to know if I'm dead."

It's not entirely a lie. My throat burns with the need to feed, and being this close to her, smelling her blood just beneath her skin, is torture. I want to taste her more than I've wanted anything in a very long time.

But it's not just the desire for blood. It's something more… Her scent is calling to me, begging me to take her. I can't remember the last time I felt anything remotely similar.

She regards me for a moment, then nods. "Fine. I'll get you some water. But try anything, and you'll regret it."

As she moves to fetch water, I can't take my eyes off her. There's something about this woman that calls to me on a primal level. For the first time in centuries, I feel a spark of genuine interest, of desire that goes beyond mere physical need.

It's terrifying. It's exhilarating. And I have no idea what to do about it.

I watch her return, a crude wooden cup in her hand. The sight of water does nothing to quench my thirst. What I need isn't something she can fetch from a stream.

"I don't need water," I say, my voice rough. "If you'll let me go, I can handle my own needs."

She snorts, a surprisingly delicate sound from such a fierce creature. "Right. Because I'm just going to untie you and let you wander off."

I can't help but grin. "It was worth a shot. You can't blame a guy for trying."

"I absolutely can," she retorts, but there's a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"At least tell me your name," I say, trying to sound charming despite my parched throat. "It's only fair, since you've got me at such a disadvantage."

She hesitates, then shrugs. "Faye."

"Faye," I repeat, savoring the name on my tongue. "Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Faye rolls her eyes, but I catch the faintest hint of a blush on her cheeks. "Save it. Your cheap flattery won't work on me."

"Who says it's cheap?" I counter, surprising myself with my sincerity. "I'm merely stating facts."

She laughs, a harsh, beautiful sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "You're either very brave or very stupid to flirt with your captor."

"Can't it be both?" I ask, flashing her a roguish grin.

Faye shakes her head, but I swear I see the ghost of a smile on her lips. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're intriguing," I say, unable to take my eyes off her. "Come on, Faye. Untie me. I promise I don't bite." The lie slips easily from my tongue, even as my fangs ache with need.

"Not a chance," she says firmly. "I'm not naive enough to fall for your charms, no matter how... persuasive you think you are."

I raise an eyebrow. "So you admit I'm charming?"

Faye snorts. "I admit nothing. Now, are you going to tell me what you are, or do I need to get creative with my questioning?"

The threat should worry me, but instead, I find myself more captivated than ever. "I'll tell you anything you want to know," I say, my voice low and husky. "But I'd much rather show you."

I'm not even sure where it comes from. But the burning desire for her — even more deeply rooted than my ache for blood — is tearing me open. And for her…

Well, fuck. I'm willing to do just about anything for this human already.

What the fuck happened to me?