8. Cassius

8

CASSIUS

I groan, shifting against the rough cave wall. My wings ache from being pressed against the stone for so long. Two days of this nonsense, and I'm no closer to freedom. The hunger gnaws at me, a constant, painful reminder of my weakened state.

Faye's footsteps echo through the cave. She emerges from the shadows, a bowl in her hands.

"Brought you some bahru," she says, crouching beside me. "Figured you might be hungry by now."

I eye the steaming stew, my stomach clenching. The aroma is tempting, but it won't do a damn thing for me. What I need is her blood, pumping hot through her veins.

But I don't want to hurt her. I want her taste.

And I want to fucking hunt something else. I want to unleash and drain every animal in this damn forest but I can't get free like I am a fucking human.

"Not interested," I growl, turning my head away.

She sighs, setting the bowl down. "You haven't eaten or drunk anything in two days. How are you still alive?"

I smirk, meeting her gaze. "Maybe I'm not."

"Funny," she deadpans. "Seriously, what are you? I've never seen anything like you before."

"I told you, I'm just a mystery."

"With wings?"

"You caught me. I'm actually a very large chirop."

Faye rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You're infuriating, you know that?"

"So I've been told."

She reaches out, running a finger along the edge of my wing. I can't suppress the shiver that runs through me at her touch.

"These are real," she murmurs, more to herself than to me. Her eyes meet mine, filled with curiosity and something else I can't quite place. "Why won't you tell me what you are?"

I lean in, as much as my bonds allow. "Why won't you let me go?"

"Because I don't trust you."

"Smart girl."

We stare at each other, tension crackling between us. I'm acutely aware of her scent, the sound of her heartbeat. If I weren't so weak, I could break free in an instant and have her pinned beneath me.

The thought sends a jolt of hunger through me, and I clench my jaw.

"You should eat," Faye says, breaking the silence. She picks up the bowl again, holding it out to me.

I raise an eyebrow. "And how do you propose I do that with my hands tied?"

She hesitates, then scoops up a spoonful of the stew. "Open up."

I bark out a laugh. "You can't be serious."

"It's this or starve."

"I'll take my chances with starvation, thanks."

Faye glares at me, frustration evident in her golden-brown eyes. "Why are you being so difficult? Just eat the damn food!"

"Why do you care if I eat or not?" I shoot back.

She sets the bowl down with a thud. "Because I'm not a monster! I'm not going to let you die, even if you are... whatever you are."

Her words catch me off guard. There's genuine concern in her voice, something I haven't heard directed at me in a long time.

I watch Faye pace back and forth, her movements fluid and predatory. She's like a caged animal, all coiled energy and wild grace. It's intoxicating.

"Are you from Liiandor?" she demands, spinning to face me.

I shrug, wincing as the movement pulls at my aching muscles. "Big city. Lots of dark elves. Not exactly a tourist destination." I'm careful not to phrase it like I know the place, even though her bringing it up makes me perk up.

We're finally getting to where this might be useful to me.:

Her eyes narrow. "Don't play dumb. You're too... different to be some random traveler just passing through." Her eyes trace over me. "Or are you going to Liiandor from Kaynvu?"

She has information I need. Maybe Akeldama is blessing me after all, and I just need to take advantage of it.

I flash her a smile. "Maybe I just got lost on my way to the beach."

"There are no beaches near here," she snaps.

I grin, despite the exhaustion seeping into my bones. "Well, that explains my navigational issues."

Faye runs a hand through her hair, frustration evident in every line of her body. "Why won't you give me a straight answer?"

"Where's the fun in that?"

She crouches in front of me, her face inches from mine. Her scent washes over me – earth and sweat and something uniquely her. My fangs ache, desperate to extend.

"Fun?" she hisses. "You think this is a game?"

I lean forward, my voice low. "Sweetheart, if this were a game, I'd be winning."

Her eyes flash, and for a moment, I think she might slap me. Instead, she stands abruptly and stalks away.

"Do you have something to do with the dark elves?" she asks, her back to me.

"Don't we all?" It just makes her scoff, but I don't need to push her too far away.

I decide to change tactics. She's not just going to spill all the answers I need, especially when I haven't, but maybe I can get her to tell me more about the city without her realizing it.

"You're quite the skilled hunter," I say, nodding towards her bow propped against the cave wall. "How long have you been living out here?"

Faye eyes me suspiciously. "Why do you care?"

I shrug, wincing as the movement pulls at my bonds. "Just making conversation. Unless you prefer we sit in silence and ask the same questions repetitively for another two days."

She hesitates, then sits down across from me. "Long enough," she says vaguely.

"Must be lonely," I prod.

"I prefer it to the alternative," she snaps, her eyes flashing.

Interesting. "And what's the alternative? Liiandor?" I school my features so I look more empathetic. "I've heard it's not exactly welcoming to humans."

Faye snorts. "That's an understatement. It's a shithole."

"Sounds like you have some personal experience," I say, watching her carefully.

She looks away, her fingers tracing patterns in the dirt. "Maybe I do."

I feel a twinge of... something. Curiosity? Concern? It's unfamiliar, pushing through my usual apathy. "What happened?"

Faye's eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of pain and defiance. "Why should I tell you anything?"

"Because I'm an excellent listener," I quip. Then look down at my bindings. "And clearly not going anywhere."

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. "You're impossible."

"So I've been told. Come on, humor me. What's Liiandor like these days? Still run by that bastard King?"

Faye huffs as she leans back. "Aren't all dark elves bastards?"

"You tell me." My gaze sweeps over her, assessing. There's scars flecking her arms that I had assumed came from being in the forest. Maybe I was wrong.

She laughs bitterly. "Bastard is putting it mildly. The King's a monster. They're all monsters. The things the do to humans..." She trails off, her eyes distant.

I lean forward, genuinely intrigued. "What kind of things?"

"You should know, shouldn't you? It's the same across Protheka, I'd imagine. Not that I've ever left Liiandor." Faye shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. I got out. That's all that matters."

"How?" I ask, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice.

She studies me for a long moment. "Why are you so interested?"

I give her my most charming smile. "Maybe I'm writing a travel guide. 'Dark Elf Cities to Avoid: A Comprehensive List.'"

Faye snorts. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're avoiding the question," I counter.

She sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. You want to know about Liiandor? It's a city built on cruelty and human suffering. The dark elves there... I've heard other humans — other slaves — say that it's the worst city to be in. They take pleasure in torturing humans. It's like a game to them."

I feel a flicker of anger, surprising myself. "And you were caught up in their games?"

Faye's eyes harden. "I was a slave. Property. Until I wasn't." She huffs. "But isn't that the life of every human on this godsforsaken planet?"

I give her a shrug and a smirk. "I'd have to be human to know, wouldn't I?"

Her eyes flick to my wings and then across my muscular chest. "No…" She shifts slightly, and I wonder what's going through her head. "You could be a torturer yourself."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Sweetheart, if I wanted to hurt you, I'd have done it already. These ropes aren't exactly unbreakable."

Faye's eyes narrow, but I catch a flicker of uncertainty. Good. Let her question what she thinks she knows about me.

"Tell me something else," I suggest, keeping my tone casual. "What did you like most about Liiandor? There had to be something, right?"

She hesitates, then sighs. "The architecture, I suppose. The dark elves are cruel, but they build beautiful things. There's this tower in the center of the city that seems to touch the sky. At sunset, it glows like it's on fire."

I nod, filing away the information. "Sounds impressive. Why didn't you escape to another city? Surely there are safer places than this forest."

Faye's shoulders tense slightly. "Because I don't think I could find safe passage across the waters. Not that Kaynvu or Oshta has much better to offer me as a human, but getting out of Liiandor…especially since it's the only city on this island… the forest felt safer."

As she speaks, I notice subtle changes in her body language. Her posture relaxes slightly, and she leans forward, unconsciously closing the distance between us. Her fingers stop fidgeting with the hem of her tunic, and her eyes meet mine more frequently.

"Besides," she continues, a hint of pride in her voice, "I can take care of myself out here. No one tells me what to do or treats me like property."

I raise an eyebrow. "Except for the occasional winged stranger you tie up in your cave?"

That earns me a reluctant smile. "You're different. I still haven't figured out what to do with you."

"I have a few suggestions," I quip, unable to resist.

Faye rolls her eyes, but I catch the faint blush that colors her cheeks. She's lowering her guard, bit by bit. It's progress, but I need more. Both for my mission and for my own inexplicable curiosity about this fierce, beautiful woman.