NOVPUBCassius never said anything about the scent coating her own, though when they exited the barracks to the hybrid and lycan waiting for them, he’d grabbed Harry by the throat and slammed him into the wet pavement. Something snapped from the pressure, a breakage somewhere in his body, but Harry only growled back at him, snapping his elongated canines, eyes glowing wildly blue.
Aila was astonished, flicking her gaze to Davian, who glanced at her and away, making it apparent he couldn’t do anything.
Cassius pulled his head back, revealing his fangs as venom and twisted jealousy stirred in his gut. Aila inhaled sharply to the swirling storm of emotions she felt through the bond and was beside him in seconds.
"What are you doing?" She asked quietly, calmly, as though the way Harry clasped at his hand and clawed at Cassius’ face while his own was going red from the lack of air did not disturb her in the slightest.
"Why is his scent over you, pup?" Cassius all but snarled. Yet his eyes remained on Harry’s, his lips tugging up like he was enjoying restraining the lycan.
Harry’s body began to shake, black fur starting to sprout and his nose elongating into a snout; he was in the middle of shifting before Aila grabbed Cassius’ hand and ripped it away. She hovered over Harry, who gasped for breath and returned to his human self. Cassius stood in front of her, his solid chest against hers as his icy gaze moved to hers. His temper coiled and was aimed at her now. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
The childe in her, the one attached to her master in this ridiculous bond, recoiled, upset at feeling Cassius’ anger aimed at her; she wanted to make him feel at ease. But the other part of herself looked at him defiantly. Cassius needed to remember that although he was her master, she was still herself, her thoughts were her own, and it wouldn’t be believable if she always caved into his needs.
"Harry helped me out. It’s as simple as that. The hunters.. it was almost like they were expecting us.. Most of them were in the barracks and trapped me." The lie left her lips as easily as breathing air because half of it was true. Aila scouted the area, ready to attack the hunters, to find there were a lot more than usual.
They really did seem as though they were expecting her, but they never trapped her.
Cassius’ rage faltered, and he frowned while his eyes scanned her features before flicking his gaze over her shoulder to Davian. Aila didn’t bother following his gaze, she assumed he wanted confirmation from her ancestor, but he wasn’t there. She did, however, stiffen when Cassius’ looked back at Harry, his brows pinching together.
She waited to be caught out for the lie but instead, he smirked, and a low chuckle vibrated his chest.
That was it. The drama was over in a flash as he turned away from them and to the parked SUV. Davian followed behind him, his face stoic, eyes masking what his fists could not; they clenched and unclenched, revealing his agitation. Aila didn’t bother to speak to him; they were in the presence of their master now.
Instead, she reached her hand out to Harry, who begrudgingly took it. "Thank you." Her thanks were barely an audible whisper, but his lycan senses picked up on it.
"No problem, Queenie." His voice was hoarse, and he cleared it, dusting off his jeans, but they were more wet than dirty.
Guilt coursed over Aila at the sight of Cassius’ fingerprints on Harry’s throat, even as she watched them begin to disappear at a rapid rate of healing. "Please.. I’m a grown-ass man. I can take care of myself." Aila arched her brow at that, but Harry continued. "It was my decision and one I’d make again."
Harry left Aila’s side, opening the car door for her. She always sat in the back so as not to have anyone recognise her when they roamed through towns. Her white hair and the fact that the Alpha Queen was declared missing put a bit of a target on her back.
Sliding into the car, she met Harry’s gaze again and felt the weight of her guilt subside. There was no anger or resentment in his eyes, just the flash of his lycan or wolf coming to the surface for a moment. It was almost as if to reaffirm he was on her side.
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Within the week, the group had at least hit another six compounds, each one harder than the last. By then, word had spread in the hunters and creature communities that the Hunters Association had been attacked multiple times. Nobody knew by who or what because no victims were left alive.
Each time they ’rescued’ lycans, the dungeons in Cassius’ castle filled up. Frequently, Aila would see Esme out of the corner of her eye, in the shadows or waiting, crossed arms and back and leg leaning against a wall in a hall or other spots where the others could not see her. She did help Aila when it seemed she grew too bored waiting around.
There she saw her skills, the swiftness of her blade, and the stoic expression as she killed in one strike, ending lives with no remorse. Not that the hunters deserved any.
In those moments, Aila was happy to have Esme on her side. Even though she was a hybrid and considered more powerful than most, Aila knew the rogue was highly skilled and possibly better than Chiara in combat. There was something especially dangerous about her, and she wouldn’t want to be on the other end of her blade.
It was helpful to have Esme with her because there were moments when she slashed through hunters that she might have been close to death’s doors. Again. But the she-wolf was always there and quick to get rid of threats. With the hunters now on high alert for these attacks, they were ready for them each time. This didn’t stop Cassius and his plans, though.
"Cass, this is getting too risky," Aila admitted at first light as she followed him to the car. "They know we are coming."
"Why are you worried? You aren’t the one getting injured." Cassius stopped and stared at her, his hand flat against the door to the SUV.
"I’m worried about them." Aila cast a glance at Davian and Harry. "At least bring someone else with us."
Cassius laughed heartily, like what she said was incredibly funny. It was not. "Where’s the fun in that?" He questioned like he really meant it. Aila looked at him like he had lost it. Maybe he had?
"There isn’t any fun in this-"
"Don’t lie to yourself, darling." Cassius interrupted, the lightness to his voice hardening as he stared down at her now. "The vamp in you revels at the sight of their deaths. They were the ones who hurt you, the ones who hurt others like us.. the creatures." He leaned forward, his mouth near her lips, a whisper leaving them menacingly. "You justify yourself for the needs this side of you craves.
And I’m giving you what you need without feeling guilty."
Aila’s features paled both from the revelation that Cassius was right and that he, in some twisted way, was helping her release this.. this monster inside of her in a way that would not teem her with guilt. She thought it was only a blood lust that stirred inside of herself, the type that made her crave to sink her teeth into someone, to drink their blood.
A shiver rippled through her and her throat burned at even thinking about that idea.
Cassius leaned back and watched her in amusement as her eyes flickered with the ruby specks in her crystal blue eyes, revealing the hunger striking her vampiric side. At that exact moment, Aila’s gaze landed on Harry, who had stopped walking towards them, his face pale and in shock. She blinked, her lips parting slightly.
Did he work out she was a vampire?
Was it her eyes giving her away, or did he hear their conversation?
Aila swallowed past the lump forming in her throat, her eyes becoming misty with unshed tears at the idea Harry might despise her. But she let anger wash over her instead as she glared at Cassius. The vampire was grinning broadly, his head swivelling to look at Harry arrogantly.
"Don’t pretend to act like you are doing this for me. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you," Aila snapped, letting the force of her anger roll off her and into him.
Cassius snapped his head back at her. "You’re right." He leaned close to her, lips pulling back, his fangs glistening menacingly. "If it wasn’t for me, you WOULDN’T be here," he snapped, and Aila tumbled backwards slightly at feeling the emotional turmoil brewing between them in the bond. "And there has never been an act.. little wolf. This has been for you and your..
pathetic compassion."
He walked towards her, and she began backing away, for once fear gripping at what Cassius might do. Instead, he stopped, a sneer crawling on his ungodly good looks. "But I doubt there will be anything left of that after today.. I think revenge is on our schedule for today.."
Aila’s brows drew together at that, halting her steps as tension began to grip her muscles, her stomach twisting.
"We are off to visit your favourite person.. Clint."
