Chapter 35: You are a bloody idiot
"Good morning"
Cassian’s eyes lifted in the direction of the voice and for a moment his and Ayla’s gaze met and held.
She was wearing a cream- colored dress with her hair pulled back from her face, loose waves falling past her shoulders.
Looking at her made his heart ache and so he looked away.
"Good morning" He muttered, his tone flat.
Ayla hesitated before she walked into the dining room and took a seat in front of Cassian. A servant appeared to fill her cup with tea and place a plate before her.
Ayla’s eyes met Damon’s and she gave a small nod of acknowledgment to which he responded to with a nod of his own.
They were at an impasse ever since he helped her with Alistair and the salve he had given her which worked considerably well.
Her gaze returned back to Cassian.
She had come to the dining room because she knew this was the one place Cassian could not avoid her.
After thinking through the night about whether or not she should meet with Alistair and ask him what he meant when he said she had to know about herself, she decided she should not.
She barely knew the man and there was the scene where he had harassed her just before Damon had stopped him.
There was something about him that she could not totally place and did not like at all.
She knew from working as a maid that there was a room which housed information on the pack and wolf history that dated back to a very long time ago. If there was any place that would tell her what was happening to her then it would be there in that very room.
She also knew Cassian had the only other access to the room asides Alpha Kieran and she could not very well go to him for it.
He would want to know why she wanted access to the room and she did not think she had any explanation that would satisfy him without telling him the truth which she was not about to do because what would she say?
I am having dreams and bout of light exploding from my body and hey... I killed two members of your pack but it’s okay because their body is hidden by a total stranger who wants to be friends with me.
Ayla shivered.
Yep, Cassian was her best bet and she would have asked him outright if he wasn’t mad at her for Ares.
Ayla cleared her throat.
"So, how is the antidote coming along?"
Cassian looked at her again before he answered.
"Very well."
"That’s wonderful."
Cassian merely nodded, taking a sip of his tea.
Damon’s eyes moved from his brother to Ayla, then back again. Something was happening here. Something he did not understand.
Ayla shifted in her seat then decided to try again.
"I was thinking about what you said," she tried. "You know the moonleaf also needs..."
"Ayla..." He cut her off. "We would like to finish the meal in peace and quiet, if you do not mind."
Damon saw the color rise to Ayla’s cheeks.
"Of course," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I apologize."
She picked up her fork and began eating in small bites, her eyes fixed on the plate in front of her, not lifting once to look at either of them again.
The meal continued in silence until few minutes later when Ayla set down her fork, her food barely touched.
"Excuse me," she murmured, rising from her seat.
She did not look at either of them as she walked toward the door like she could not get away fast enough.
Damon set down his fork and turned to Cassian.
"What the hell was that?"
Cassian did not look up. "What was what?"
"That." Damon gestured toward the door. "Your little performance. ’We would like to finish the meal in peace and quiet.’ What is wrong with you?"
Cassian’s jaw tightened. "I do not know what you are talking about."
"You know exactly what I am talking about." Damon leaned forward, his amber eyes narrowing. "Your deal with Ayla. What did she do to deserve that?"
"Nothing." The word came out clipped. "She did nothing."
"Then why are you treating her like... like I would treat her.?"
Cassian’s hand tightened around his teacup. "I am not treating her like anything."
"You are being an ass, brother."
Cassian’s head snapped up. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Damon did not back down. "You have been cold to her ever since Ares marked her. You think I have not noticed?"
Cassian’s eyes flashed. "You do not know what you are talking about."
"Then explain it to me." Damon set his hands flat on the table.
Cassian rose to his feet so fast his chair scraped against the stone floor.
"I am not having this conversation with you."
"You are mad because she had Ares first," Damon said. "Tell me I am wrong." Damon pressed.
Cassian said nothing.
"You are a bloody idiot, brother."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you are sitting here feeling sorry for yourself when you do not even know the full story."
Cassian frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Damon leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"I know for a fact that Willow tried to sabotage Ayla at her party. She put a heat potion in the wine. She meant for Ayla to drink it."
Cassian went still.
"She did what?"
"But Ares took it instead and he was forced into heat. That is why he had to mate with her."
"I did not know that." Cassian whispered.
"Of course you did not. Ayla did what she had to do with the intent of saving him. You know what the heat potion does to Alphas. It is meant for Omegas for a reason."
Cassian stared at his brother, his face had gone pale.
"You have been punishing her for something that was not even her fault."
"How did you find out about this?"
"From Willow’s friend, Celeste. She supplied her the potion herself."
Cassian’s throat worked.
"I have been a fool."
"Yes, you have."
Cassian rose to his feet.
"I need to find her."
"That will be a good idea."
Cassian turned toward the door, his hand paused on the handle.
"Damon."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
A ghost of a smile crossed Damon’s face.
"You are welcome."