Chapter 50: Caught in between
AYLA
The knock came as an insistent pounding that dragged me from the warm cocoon of sleep.
Cassian’s arm was draped across my waist, his chest pressed against my back and his breath warm against my shoulder. He shifted at the sound of the knock, a low grumble escaping his throat.
"Leave it." He grunted, holding me tighter to himself.
The knock came again, jolting us.
"I will get it," I whispered, untangling myself from him.
The cold morning air hit my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. I spotted his shirt crumpled on the floor and bent to retrieve it, pulling it over my head.
I padded to the door, my mind still hazy with sleep when I pulled it open.
Arms enveloped me before I could register what was happening and the familiar scent that was Ares hit me.
"I have missed you." he murmured, nuzzling my neck.
I froze in shock.
Ares pulled back, his hands still resting on my shoulders, his green eyes drinking me in with a smile on his face.
I was now very much awake, unable to believe my eyes.
A scar ran from his cheekbone down to the corner of his mouth, a line of raised tissue that pulled at his skin. His hair had been cut shorter, cropped close to his head, and there was a new hardness about him that had not been there before but his eyes were still the same intense and hungry forest green that fixed on me and stole the air from my lungs.
"How...What are you doing here?" The words came out as a squeak.
"I know how shocking this must be but I came back."
"When did you..." I was about to ask when Cassian’s voice cut through the air behind me.
"Ayla?" he called out.
I turned my head to see him walking up to the door, shirtless, his silver-white hair tousled and the marks of our night together still visible on his skin. He stopped in his stride when he saw who was standing in the doorway.
The smile on Ares’ face dropped instantly. I stood caught between them, unsure of what to do.
"Brother" Cassian cleared his throat. "When did you return?"
"Some hours ago." Ares responded.
His gaze returned to me. "I just thought I should check up on you since I left so abruptly but I can see that you are doing quite well."
"If you will excuse me." Ares stepped back.
I opened my mouth, but no words came. What could I say?
Ares’ eyes dropped to my throat. I saw him register the new bite, the second mark sitting beside his. Something flickered in his gaze before he turned and walked away.
I stared at his back, my heart slamming against my ribs and my throat too tight to speak as I watched him disappear around the corner.
Cassian’s hand settled on my shoulder, guiding me back inside and closing the door.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I nodded, but I was not sure it was true.
I did not know what I felt. Relief that he was alive, that he had returned in one piece. Anger that he had left without a word of goodbye or any explanation. Confusion at the scar on his face and what it meant. Guilt at having moved on so quickly, at having given myself to his brother while he was still gone.
Cassian’s hand found mine, his fingers lacing through my own.
I looked down at our joined hands.
"Ares being back does not change anything," Cassian said quietly. "And you do not owe him an explanation for what is between us. It is meant to be, Ayla... you are meant to be mates to all of us."
I nodded.
A knock sounded at the door again and before I could wonder if Ares had come back, the door burst open and Astrid strode in, her face bright with energy.
"Good morning, my lady! I brought you fresh fruits and I was thinking we could try..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes landed on Cassian, still shirtless, standing in the middle of my room.
Her cheeks flamed and she immediately dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I did not know you had company."
"Astrid. What are you doing here? I told you to take the week off to be with your sister."
Astrid looked up, a smile tugging at her lips. "My sister is fine, my lady. She is resting in the servants’ quarters, and I have checked on her three times already. I am more than happy to return to my duties."
Cassian cleared his throat. "I should leave you to your lady things." He turned to me, a small smile playing at his lips. "Breakfast after?"
I nodded. "Breakfast after."
He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off his bare chest. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. Then he leaned in and kissed me.
"If we did not have company," he murmured for my ears only, "we would be back on that bed."
Heat flooded my cheeks. My eyes darted to the rumpled sheets, the scattered pillows, the evidence of everything we had done in the dark hours of the night.
Cassian’s smile widened and he released me and stepped back.
"Later." He promised.
Then he walked out of the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, Astrid whirled on me.
"Ayla! Did you just mate with Prince Cassian?"
I pressed my hands to my burning cheeks and collapsed onto the edge of the bed, my knees suddenly unable to hold me.
"Oh my... you did!"
"Astrid" I looked at her.
The smile fell from her face.
"Why? Was it not good? Did he hurt you?"
I shook my head furiously.
"It is nothing like that."
"Then why do you look like the world has come crashing down on you?"
"Ares is back," I whispered.