The men caught up with Cassy and Lino in a little while. They were surrounded and it came down to fighting or getting taken. There was no turning back now. Or running for Cassy. She would stay with Lino and fight it out. Leaving no time for them to try communicate with each other, they attacked. It was not a fair fight. Lino held well against them, but they were nine men who were rather difficult to kill. Seven were left with two down. With each swipe against the enemy, the sound of bones breaking filled the air, and Lino stood in front of Cassy, shielding her from the enemy's attack, as they had to be in direct line of sight before the hold of their magic could be strong enough to wreck through them. He shoved her repeatedly behind him and each time, she felt pain through the mating bond. It hurt like hell, but Lino did not stop moving. He did not let her see his pain or feel it. He held her in place behind him, ensuring that she was safe, and when they tried
Cassy fell forward as a burning sensation filled her up. She writhed, lunging for him. She was yanked back by the male holding on to the rope around her like it was some leash. Growling, she jutted forward, pulling the rope out of the male's grasp. The male grunted, going after her but Cassy did not care that she looked like a ragged animal. She didn't care that she was ripping her skin by pulling back on the ropes. She didn't care that someone was pulling her hair from behind, trying to take her away from him. Her world, her life was reduced to Lino's form that was writhing in pain. Against the pull of three men, she reached her mate's side and leaned over him. A tear dropped on his cheek and her lips trembled as she watched him breath hard, holding his hand to the gash to prevent blood loss. "It'll heal," Cassy cried, nodding amidst sobs. "It'll heal, Lino." He coughed slightly...and Cassy's breath hitched when she saw the blood on his lips. "Won't," he gritt
Julian had blood on his arms, his clothes. It clung to him like second skin. Not that any of it mattered. All he could see were those eyes pleading with him to end their lives. The prisoners had not cried or begged him for mercy as he'd killed them. They had shown gratitude that their was coming to an end. He tried... tried so hard to pacify himself with the fact that he hadn't killed them like Sasha wanted him to. He had done it swiftly, so that they felt no pain. But their eyes had been added to the set that would forever haunt his dreams. "Welcome back," Sasha smiled, taking her sword from him, and though he felt sick, he forced a smile onto his lips. Bile rose to his throat but he kept it down. He would not vomit. It would ruin everything. This was who he had become for Sasha those years ago. Her killing machine, and he had done it that too gladly. Falling back in that place should not be so hard. But it was. He felt himself dying inside.
Cassy held on to Lino's arm as he was treated. Everyone sat in solemn silence around her, but she could barely hear them over the thudding in her chest. She wiped a breaking sweat from his forehead. He was running a fever and his skin felt wet and clammy. He looked pale. Too pale, it scared her. Her grip tightened around his fingers as she watched him breath slowly. Too slowly. Gerald has said he was out of danger, having spent the entire night and morning removing the last of the wolfsbane from the cut. The wound had begun to heal but it was slow as well. Cassy's lips quivered and she wiped the tears that dropped from her eyes. She reached down to the bond that lay dormant within her and she spoke a few words to him, hoping it would reach him. Anything to have him open his eyes again. Anything at all. But he didn't move. He just...kept sleeping. Kayden cleared his throat, having given her enough time with him. He'd been asleep for a while and the pac
Julian turned slightly in his steps at the mention of his name. It was becoming daily routine. The pretence. The lies. The deaths. Sasha had him do things that made him constantly feel more and more hollow inside with no chance of being saved. Julian's eyes darted about, settling on Dameon's smug face. The male strolled over to where he stood and reading his floundering gestures and the evil glint in his eyes made Julian worry. "She has called for you," Dameon cooed. "Best to get there quickly. She is in an awful mood." Julian kept his expression cool, even if he felt slightly rattled. He had not been careful, sending that message to the Alpha. But he had barely had the time to 'be careful'. He had seen Sasha sending off the men in secret and he had overheard her conversation with Dameon. He had thought after everything she had made him do, she might just trust him a little more and reveal her plans to him, but he had been wrong and he had only stumbl
Cassy slipped into bed beside Lino, wrapping her arms carefully around his torso and laying her head against his chest. He had looked much better when she had checked and now, his heartbeat was strong again. Why wasn't he waking up yet? She sighed, letting her eyes close. Tracing circles on his bare chest, she said, "I do not know if I have done the right thing." Rather than call for men to defend the castle, she had made Kayden send messages across the lands to give them warnings of the incoming onslaught. If Sasha thought she would use the people as shield, then she was wrong. The castle was at the far end of the lands. Cassy was more worried for the people at the outskirts and the humans who were in the direct line of Sasha's attack. It was why she had sent the messages. But she had left Kayden to device strategies to curb the attacks as well as the bloodshed, because there would be. She had considered riding out herself, to find the sorcerers. To find Sash
Cassy sat sullen on the bed. After hitting and screaming at at the door for hours, she had finally come to the conclusion that she couldn't escape. The windows were too high off the ground and jumping was going to end in sure death. She sat with her head on her knees, embracing herself. She had to find a way out. Cassy looked out the window, at the skies beyond. It was growing darker by the minute and judging from Lino's words, they would be riding out soon. She was angry. If she found a way out of her room, she would throttle him. She couldn't believe he was doing this to her. Locking her up while he rode off to war. What if she never saw him again? That too and he was injured. He could not fight in that state. It was by all means dangerous. Her ears perked at the sound of movement behind the door and she jumped from the bed, careening toward the door. She knew it had to be him since he rarely ever let people into his chambers. "Lino? Let me out of he
Lino watched Cassy as she slept and he traced the length of her nose with his fingers, knuckles brushing against the elegant panes of her face and body. He peered out the window. Darkness had fallen and in a few seconds, he would be riding out to battle. He couldn't say he was excited about any of it. He stayed in bed, even if he could hear the knock on the door beyond. Her breathing was steady and her eyelash caressed her high cheek bones, creating a sort of beauty was nearly impossible to find. Her features were smoothened out and she made a small sound in her sleep, snuggling closer to him. He placed his arms around her and stroked her hair softly. He didn't want to leave. He never wanted to leave her. But he had to. To ensure the safety of the pack and his mate. If he did not fulfil his duty now, it would all come find him later and possibly overwhelm him. He leaned in a pressed a kiss to her skin and he had her tightly to her chest as he whisper