It was heartbreaking for her to see her mate in such a state and be the reason for his chagrins.
"At this point, I wish we had never met. I wish I had chosen death when it came knocking and you wouldn’t have lost your lover or had been betrayed. It’s my fault for choosing to survive," Aiko lamented, placing her hands on her face to hide the anguish. The tears pooled in her azure eyes.
From the moment Kanyon had spared her life because of her powers, she knew she was doomed. Aiko had regretted that decision from that day forward.
And now she had contributed to an innocent woman dying, another one being brutally abused and tortured and her mate getting hurt and betrayed in the process.
The burdens of regret kept piling up on her, and her heart was being crushed underneath. The tears in his eyes hurt.
The regrets in his voice hurt too.
Faris’s heart squeezed in the worst way hearing her words.
Did she say death?
What did that scoundrel do to her?
"Death? Did he try to kill you?" Faris suddenly blazed, his aura shooting out and surrounding her as if going into protection mode.
Aiko sniffled and began to unravel.
"I... was supposed to have died. Stealing is an offence with the death penalty in Volsra, and I used to steal money and goods all the time. My powers, I was so drunk on them that living among vampires, I still felt invincible, as if no one could touch me."
"Ohhh!" Being a fox spirit Faris understood the struggles to keep the morals in check. Foxes were tricksters and they deviated from social norms. But another truth flickered in his mind related to his mate and he knew he had to speak to his brother and others on the matter.
"The poor struggle to survive in Volsra especially if they belong to a faction other than vampires. I had this power I thought I could use to bring smiles to people who lived under constant fear and couldn’t make much of a living. But as it turned out, I wasn’t as invincible as I thought. A warrior of the royal army caught me stealing food and I was taken before Kanyon, who sentenced me to death."
Hot raw rage erupted inside Faris at the thought of his mate being threatened to be killed. He understood how his brother must have felt when Cassandra was taken.
His eyes had turned to two hot coals.
"That bastard! I should have killed him after the damage he has done." Faris found it ironic that three women in his life were so severely affected by the actions of one wretched vampire.
"You have no idea how much I have fantasised about doing just that when I was under his thumb. Every day was a struggle to just wake up and do his bidding. He broke my brother’s arm just to prove his point of what he would do if I didn’t stay in line..." Aiko unburdened; she wasn’t the kind who liked to share her story with people, but something was so easing about Faris.
Maybe it was the mate bond which propelled her to trust him and confide in him.
It urged her to get closer to him, to find solace in his embrace.
"Hey! No one will hurt you or your family anymore. You are under my protection now." Faris leaned in and gently touched her arm, making the sparks burst out between them.
The reassurance in his voice touched her soul, the promise he was making melted her heart like never before. No one had ever tried to keep her safe except her family.
She checked herself in time or she would have ended up gasping from his touch.
"I just wish that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me for the pain I have caused you. Before that time comes maybe we can try and be friends. That can be a start," she hopefully asked, wistfully staring at his artistic fingers that gently gripped her arm. The bluish veins stood out against his sun-kissed skin.
"I just need some time to get my life sorted out but I like your suggestion. I would like to try that friend part." Faris finally smiled; it was a weak smile, but it was a step forward in their relationship.
***
Cassandra stirred as gentle caresses of Siroos’s lips were felt on her neck.
"Siro!" She slowly opened her eyes and focused them on his mate.
"Malakti!!!" He blew against her healing neck, making her sizzle under his touch. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better; I am hungry, though. I want eggs and bread," she told him with a smile, snaking her hands into his soft hair and bringing him further in for a kiss.
Their bodies collided making her burn in the most delectable way.
"That can be arranged." Siroos licked her soft neck with his coarse tongue. "I will have someone bring us food and then I will feed you with my hands."
"I would love that," Cassandra giggled, arching her back, his tongue tickled.
"Until then, I will have my breakfast." Siroos lifted his head and Cassandra saw that smirk he only reserved for her. The eyes glinted with mischief.
"What are you going to do?" Cassandra casually asked, knowing what he meant. Her core was already aching from the build-up.
"It’s better to show." Siroos playfully touched the tip of her nose with his pointer.
He inched further down from her body and settled between her legs. Holding them from underneath her knees, Siroos propelled them upwards so that her beautiful softness was right in front of his mouth.
His tongue rolled and licked his lower lip as if he had been starved for a long time.
"Do it, Siro," she said with a shudder, the need for his mouth on her wetness was blinding. She was no longer shy or afraid to have what she wanted, and in that moment, it was to be devoured by her mate.
"It would be my greatest pleasure." Siroos opened his mouth and devoured her like she was a treat while Cassandra arched her body and fed him her juices in abundance.
"I love you...Siroos Dusartine. You are my past, present and future, and—I can’t even imagine my life without you," Cassandra said amidst shudders and pants.
She knew she was late in reciprocating his feelings but for her this was the right moment to open her heart fully for him. He was the only one who existed inside it.