Before Cassandra and Siroos could resume their practice, the mind link opened and a very confused sentinel warrior who was posted towards the North border spoke in an uncertain tone.
’Alpha! There is a very angry woman accompanied by a man, here to see you. She says she is Nissa’s sister. What needs to be done?’
Siroos’s forehead creased in perplexity.
’Black hair or light brown hair? Tall or short?’ He questioned through the mindlink while keeping his arm around Cassandra’s and adjusting the position of the dagger in her hand.
’She is rather short and has light brown hair.’ The warrior answered and Siroos’s lips curled up into a cunning grin.
’Bring her to the Dwelling, take her to the guest chamber and make her feel at ease. We are coming,’ Siroos ordered, closing the mind link and plucking the dagger away from Cassandra’s hand.
Cassandra sharply turned to watch him in confusion and he jerked her forward so her soft breasts squished against his hard ones.
"Ah! What are you doing?" She questioned while Siroos’s lips came down on hers rather ravenously.
Closing her eyes Cassandra liquefied in his hold from the fervour of his kiss and branding of her skin by his large palms.
They finally parted, breathless and panting. Connecting his forehead with hers, Siroos quietly said.
"That’s enough for today, we will resume tomorrow. Let’s head back."
Cassandra’s heart wished to leap out of her chest; summoning a gigantic effort to steady it, she placed her hand on her chest and nodded.
The two pots of melted gold simmered with some hidden mischief as he guided her back without informing her of what his warrior had told him through the mind link.
"I will practice daily, and tomorrow, I will hit the target," Cassandra said with determination as they walked under the falling dusk, which had turned everything reddish orange. Her hand held onto his strong bicep.
"I am sure you will, my Saffron," he gleefully answered, seeing her enthusiasm.
Nearing the dwelling he led her straight to the guest chamber instead of towards her personal one.
Confusion marred her features as she turned to face her mate.
"Why are we headed towards the guest chamber?"
"There is something I wish for you to behold," he said without hesitation but didn’t reveal much.
"What?" Cassandra questioned, raising a brow at him.
"You will see."
They soon arrived at the Guest chamber, and Siroos opened the wooden door; it creaked noisily while he let Cassandra enter first.
Cassandra dubiously did and loudly shrieked seeing the two people who stood inside. Although she wished for one to disappear from the face of the Earth she ran forward and hugged the other like a mad woman.
"Lotus!!! You are here girl."
Lotus had an affectionate smile going for her younger sister as she hugged her back and spoke.
"I decided to come as soon as I read your letter and here I am. And look at you all tanned up. This suits you." Both girls separated but Lotus kept her arms around her younger sister; she was an emotional wreck. Tears pooled out of her violet eyes.
"I missed you, Lotus," Cassandra sniffled.
"Same, but now I am here, and I will stay with you for a few days," Lotus answered, cupping her baby sister’s face.
"Welcome to Dusartine, Princess Lotus. Could have chosen another travelling companion, though," Siroos took sure steps their way, but his eyes were fixed on the man behind Lotus. He stood so rigidly, so very out of place.
"Believe me, brother-in-law, I tried. But I was only granted permission if I was to bring him along," Lotus defeatedly answered, not at all pleased with the choice of companion.
"Look, I am not here to stir trouble. As the Commander of royal forces, it was my duty to keep Princess Lotus safe and accompany her here," Razial quickly answered, seeing the apprehensive looks everyone threw his way.
"You had many other duties as well, but let’s not dwell on that right now. I wish to spend time with my sister. Make yourself discreet," Lotus haughtily answered, waving him away.
"As long as you stay well away from my mate. We won’t have an issue, Commander Razial. I am not hostile to guests, and today, you are my guest. Don’t give me a reason to."
Siroos was towering over Cassandra, his posture extremely straight to seem taller than he was. His eyes held a threatening glare while his right hand reassuredly rested on her shoulder, inadvertently informing him she was his.
Cassandra should have felt something, like the old wounds opening but she felt nothing for the man who used to be her fiancé. Every connection between them which used to have existed was now severed. It was like he wasn’t even there.
"You will not be disappointed, Alpha Siroos. I appreciate you welcoming me to your lands," Razial properly addressed Siroos, and for the briefest of seconds, his apologetic eyes dipped to Cassandra, but she averted her gaze, and he dropped his.
"Malakti, why don’t you take your sister to your chambers and help her freshen up? I will send over the luggage."
Before Cassandra could answer Lotus spoke up with her flushed cheeks. She was now holding a hand fan and fanning herself.
"Your place is hot, I think I have half-melted. I want cold water." Everyone smiled at Lotus’s cute antics while Cassandra guided her out so they could head to her chambers.
Cassandra showed her the inner walls of the passageways which glittered because of the minerals buried in them under the light of crackling torches.
"Wow! It’s beautiful. But you actually live in a cave now. My sister has become a cavewoman," Lotus said with a click as she continued to fan herself.
"It’s not that bad once you get used to it," Cassandra answered while nodding at the two passer-by women who had reverently bowed to her.
They soon arrived in Cassandra’s chamber and she opened her door to welcome her sister inside.
"Who’s chamber is this?" Lotus instantly questioned as she stepped inside and took a tentative look around the place. She knew it was Cassandra’s because of Siroos’s earlier words, but she wanted to confirm.
"Mine!" Cassandra answered while closing the door. Lotus sharply turned and asked in perplexity that reflected on her face.
"Both of you have separate chambers?"