NOVPUBDid Cassius know they were there? No, no, keep your thoughts under control. Aila redirected her thoughts back to the vampires who would burn in the sun soon. Just as she did, she felt her master sliding into her mind like cold fingers coiling around her, trying to find out anything she may be hiding. Aila fixated on her anger, which made her gums ache and throat burn.
It was all too easy to fall prey to that need for blood, that need for power. It was like a drug, and she made sure to use it to her advantage right now.
Cassius smiled, and Aila relaxed slightly after feeling his powers fade away from her mind as he took a few steps back towards the castle, casting her a look over his shoulder and calling to her. "Are you sure you’re not hungry?"
Aila kept her back to the vampire and shook her head. She could tell through the bond that Cassius was pleased and hoped he would continue back to the castle and away from where her heart ached to go. But he did not and instead was now walking in her direction; she could hear his footsteps drawing closer.
"I figured you were holding back again or was the sight of what those youngsters did to the humans too much for you?" There was an air of nonchalance in his voice, and it grated at her.
Of course, what they did would affect her. Aila scoffed and turned around abruptly, glaring at him. "Why are you asking such a ridiculous question? Did you think I would suddenly be okay with killing humans to feed?"
Cassius tilted his head to the side, placing his hands in his trouser pockets. "Of course, I did not-"
"Then why did you bring them? Why did you put on such a show if you knew I’d hate it?" Aila asked through the growl rumbling across her chest. She couldn’t help it; her eyes glowed with the specks of red burning brightly, revealing her annoyance and the blood she lusted for. Their blood.
"I’m getting you used to it, my sweet, sweet Aila," Cassius replied as he stopped in front of her.
Used to it! Malia snapped, and this time she ripped through the fringes of Aila’s mind and took control of her body. "I do not wish to get used to it!" Her wolf snapped. Malia had been bristling the whole time and was struggling to resist her mate’s call, knowing Darius, knowing Damon was behind them on that hill.
"Enough," Cassius snapped in Aila’s head, and she stiffened at the unsettling feeling falling across her skin, chilling her; it was almost like a cold numbness. Cassius was annoyed by Malia’s sudden disturbance; he hadn’t pushed her back since the first day she awoke inside the castle.
The vampire glanced around them and stepped even closer, clasping his hands on Aila’s shoulders; Malia leaned away, her lips twisted like she couldn’t stand the stench of the vampire. Aila could tell his touch felt different to Malia; it was cold and like black slime was crawling down her shoulders.
"Malia, I am helping Aila control her urges as a vampire. I do not follow their lifestyle, it is far too tiresome for me, but these are the things she needs to be exposed to. Anything can set her off, and that includes high and powerful emotions. So, be a dear now, and let Aila have control over her body," Cassius crooned in her mind. "Don’t make me order you to, Malia."
At his words, her wolf relented. She didn’t want to be controlled by the vampire, even though he still handled the situation; at least for now, she could still talk to Aila when Malia wished and not watch hopelessly like she used to when she was locked away all those years.
Aila’s body sagged slightly, and her head tipped forwards but not for long as Cassius cupped her cheeks, caressing them sweetly with his thumbs.
"How are you feeling?" Cassius asked as he stared at Aila intently. She blinked back at him and felt her stomach knot and her heart drop from how he was touching her so comfortably in front of her mate. She kept wondering if he knew Damon was there, but she couldn’t let her thoughts run away with her; she needed to stay strong.
Even though her legs felt like jelly and her head started to pound along with her throat burning, she gently removed Cassius’s hands from her face. "I am fine," She replied quietly, turning away from him, almost stumbling as she felt the colour drain from her face. Why was she so fatigued so suddenly? Was it really because she was hungry? Or was it because of what Cassius said?
Aila’s emotions were stretched thin at the moment, either constantly alert, angry and sad at her situation, and right now, her muscles were tensed anxiously by the idea of her mate being so close by."
Aila placed her hand against her head, her eyes clenching shut as another sharp pain pinched behind her eyes. "I have a slight headache.
"You need to feed more."
"No, I just need rest." Aila continued with her excuses even as Cassius rested his chin on her shoulder, whispering in her ear, questioning her and claiming at the doubts in her mind. Was it rest, or was it because she really was hungry?
Cassius bit into his forearm, and his sweet smell hit her nostrils like a small tidal wave, the delicious scent reminding her of what it felt like to feed on a creature like Cassius. He was an ancient vampire, one of the first to roam the earth; his blood was the purest of them all.
She closed her eyes shut again, hoping it would help against the wave of desire coursing through her, but she swallowed loudly after feeling her fangs elongate. Cassius reached for her waist and pulled her harshly into his rock-solid chest, making her gasp and then moan as his bloodied forearm touched her lips.
Aila inhaled sharply, and she lost all sense of herself. She didn’t care; he was holding her like a lover, brushing her hair while she ravaged his forearm, sucking on his blood like her life depended on it. That red mist was covering her eyes again, and she shut them, moaning as her taste buds run wild.
She could scarcely hear anything Cassius whispered into her ear, but his hot breath tickled her ear.
"You can’t hide anything from me, Aila." His words were a threat, but while she drank from him, she couldn’t understand what he was threatening her about. He continued to stroke her hair back, and she couldn’t recall if she liked it or not; she knew through the bond that he liked to do it, especially while she drank from him.
But her mind started to shut off again, enjoying the high and the way her body started to feel afloat, like a sweet song radiated through her being.
"She will get addicted." Aila frowned at the new voice and opened her eyes, growling at her ancestor, who was reaching for her.
"Aila.. I’m helping you. You don’t need anymore.." Davian said soothingly, wrapping his hand around her wrist, staring at her intently.
Davian was right. She knew he was right. But it was hard. It was so, so hard to let go. Cassius’ blood was like a little piece of heaven; she liked how she felt from it. Human blood made her feel powerful, but Cassius’ made her feel like some sort of a goddess, untouchable and unbreakable.
She struggled against the forces in her mind telling her to enjoy herself more, but she managed to pull away from Cassius’ arm, staring back at Davian.
Cassius clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Fine," He snapped. "Ruin our moment." He let go of Aila’s waist and lowered his arm before abruptly turning. "As per Aila’s request. I will get rid of our guests." It suddenly grew silent until she heard the door swinging shut at the castle.
Aila released her breath and watched as the world around her started to spin. It was like she was drunk from Cassius’ blood. Was he really going to let her have more? What would happen if she had more? How would her body react? The part she hated the most about it was that she felt like she would do anything he’d ask of her, and that was ridiculously scary.
She’d lost herself to him and everything else around her.
Aila barely caught onto what Davian was saying as she used his bare chest as a pillow for her head. She couldn’t help it; she felt like she might fall otherwise. ""I have had plenty. There are countless bodies in there," She muttered bitterly and abruptly turned and almost fell onto her side after her heel caught on the ground, but Davian caught her.
"But you are not the one that turned them into corpses," Davian replied quietly as he helped her back towards the castle and lowered his voice even more. "Harry picked up on a scent; he said it was a shapeshifter. A friend of yours, perhaps?"
Aila’s eyes flashed as she stared at him before her gaze wandered to the skies, but she swiftly looked ahead again."Possibly," She whispered. She still didn’t know how much Davian could be trusted, and so she kept her lips sealed about her mate and possibly Ajax. Her heart fluttered at the idea that Finn was probably with them as well, and she couldn’t help but smile in longing.
"Why do you look so glum, Aila?" Cassius asked as he approached her once more before the stairs in the grand hall. He descended the stairs slowly; his eyes were brilliantly blue, lit up in excitement as his arms spread out. "Are you not happy with the show we put on for your mate?"
Aila’s mouth gaped open.
He knew. He knew!
"W-what?"
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Authors Note:
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