Cassandra wrapped the warm blanket Lana had given her, around Siroos and herself. He drove the carriage while she sat leaning on him and observed the moon sprinkling its silvery rays on her.
"Do you think my mother will be watching me?" She randomly asked her mate.
"I think so, yes. She is your Ma, she always watches over you. That’s how mothers are." Siroos placed a small kiss on the top of her head.
"I remember the time when I used to visit her on the moon. I loved the white castle she lives in made from moon rocks and fluffy clouds which won’t melt. She always gave me candy as if I was her forever little girl," Cassandra reminisced.
"You are her daughter, her only daughter as far as I remember. You are Aylin’s everything." Siroos remembered through Cassandra’s memories that she was an only child between Aylin and Arkiam. Her bastard father had fathered other children with other goddesses though. So Cassandra had step-siblings but Aylin only had one child.
"Yeah! She left my father because he constantly cheated on her and made the moon her permanent abode. That’s why she created shifters. She wanted true love so she gave that to her creations."
Arkiam’s mention and his ways always angered Siroos but Cassandra’s last statement put a small smile on his face.
"And then she created me and made you; her daughter, my fated mate. Through all eternity. She knew exactly what she was doing."
Aylin had done this on purpose. Ensuring her daughter would find true love, unlike her.
He wondered if that was the reason she bestowed him with so many powers too. In every rebirth, he was blessed with some unique abilities.
This version of him was the strongest, though, as if she was in a race to bless him with every gift possible.
"Best decision ever made." Cassandra snuggled in the warmth of her mate and closed her eyes, relishing in this beautiful moment that was only theirs.
The spark of love that ignited in his heart had the bond charging and winding all around her, bathing and dousing her in the passion and addiction that was Siroos Dusartine.
Razial galloped closer to them and pointed towards the clump of trees nestled together towards their left. The ground underneath seemed to have no snow and the canopy offered a natural shield.
"We can camp there for the night," he suggested, making Siroos take a look. It seemed like a viable option.
"Let’s."
They changed their course and headed towards the trees.
Reaching there, the men dismounted their horses and bound them around trees. Lotus and Aiko also woke up seeing the carriage had stopped.
Cassandra stepped down from the front and went round the back and told the ladies.
"We will be stopping here for the night. Let’s help the guys with the bedding for the night."
They nodded and began to take out the extra blankets and mattresses they had packed in her satchel.
Faris cut off some soft branches with some broad leaves and spread them underneath the mattresses so the coldness from the earth wouldn’t seep into their makeshift bed.
The wooden adjustable seat from the carriage was removed, so that space in the carriage would be maximised for the ladies.
The seat was given to Razial so he could make rest on it for the night.
"I can always shift into my wolf or fox form to keep myself warm or climb a tree and sleep on it. You should be comfortable," Faris added when Razial was about to suggest that someone else could take the seat.
Both men had come a long way from being at each other’s throats to working together and respecting each other.
"I will be on night duty. I don’t sleep that much either way," Siroos answered, seeing Razial’s questioning eyes turning to him.
"All right, but wake me up in a few hours and I will take on the duty." Razial took off his heavy coat and slipped under the blanket on the carriage seat.
Faris settled in his makeshift bedding, too, and soon dozed off, snoring loudly.
Aiko and Lotus settled in the carriage and went to the sleep realm as well.
"You should get some sleep," Siroos offered, picking Cassandra up in his arms. The muscles flexed and bulged in his biceps.
"I would prefer to keep watch with you." Cassandra brightly smiled and looped her arms around his neck, wishing to be carried.
"You must be tired, you have been using your shield too much. Your energy is depleted." A slight scowl formed on his face, half brightened by the lunar glow.
"I am not, I will tell you if I am," she insisted, tilting her head at him and winking.
It worked and he gave in with a shake of his head.
"Then we become tree people today." With that Siroos carried her towards the tallest and strongest tree of the bunch and jumped.
The wind swished and everything became a blur for a second until he found sure footing and landed on a sturdy branch.
Cassandra’s face was flushed.
Siroos moved and settled against the rough tree trunk and comfortably nestled her in his lap with her face over his heart.
His arm draped around her body while his hand rested on the side of her face, his index finger made slow circles on her temple.
The scent of her mate invaded her nostrils and Cassandra closed her eyes to relish the moment. Like being lost in a meadow.
Refreshing and soothing.
The tree was on a vintage point that Siroos could easily see all his companions. His bluish shield extended from him like a mist and covered each one of them.
The carriage
The commander
His brother
The horses
He didn’t want Cassandra to be more exhausted than she was.
Siroos took a complete look around, investigating that no wild creature or enemy lurked. He used his heightened senses to even hear the faintest of heart beats or detect any unusual smell.
All he found was white snow blanketing these lands, trees topped with freshly fallen one which had stopped for now.
She insisted she wasn’t tired or sleepy but once Siroos had ensured everyone’s safety and dipped his eyes towards his mate, she had already gone to sleep. Snoring softly in his arms and against his heart. Her mouth ajar, revealing how tired she was.
"Yeah! You weren’t tired at all. You just wanted an excuse to sleep in my arms," he softly murmured with a smile that crinkled the sides of his eyes.