Chapter 36: And then there was one
AYLA
I was sitting on the edge of my bed when a knock sounded at the door.
Astrid was arranging fresh linens in the wardrobe. She glanced at me, then crossed the room to open the door.
"Prince Cassian..."
Cassian?
My heart gave a strange little lurch. I jumped to my feet, reaching the door in a matter of seconds.
"I need to speak with you, Ayla." he said immediately he saw me.
"Of course" I turned to Astrid who was staring between both of us with a knowing smile on her lips. "Please leave us, Astrid."
She nodded, excusing herself while Cassian and I just simply stood there staring at each other.
His eyes took me in as if he was seeing me for the first time in days.
"Come in" I murmured, breaking the silence.
"Right." he smiled walking into the room and closing the door behind him.
"Did something happen?" I asked softly.
"No... nothing"
Cassian took a step forward, stopping a few feet from me, his hands hanging at his sides.
"I owe you an apology, Ayla" he said.
The words caught me off guard.
"What?"
"I have been cold to you and distant and just minutes ago, rude. I am sorry." He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw working.
"I... what has changed?"
He looked at him, his gaze burning a hole in my eyes.
"I am selfish, Ayla. So selfish that when I found out you have completed the bond with my brother, I let jealousy get the best of me but I was wrong. I realize now that I did not know the full story."
"Cassian..."
"Take a walk with me."
I looked up at him.
"What?"
"Outside the palace." He took a step closer. "I know a route where we will not be disturbed. You have had a lot to deal with these past days and I think you could use some air."
I considered his offer.
He was right. I had been cooped up in these stone walls for days, drowning in my thoughts and my fears and the weight of everything that was happening to me.
Maybe some air was exactly what I needed.
"Please let me make it up to you."
"You don’t have to..."
"I want to. Please, Ayla."
"Alright," I finally said. "I will go with you."
His smile widened, reaching his blue eyes in a way I had not seen in days.
"Good." He turned toward the door, then paused. "I will pick you up at noon. Wear something comfortable for walking."
He was gone before I could respond.
...
At exactly noon, another knock sounded at my door.
I had changed into a pale green dress and braided my hair back before slipping on worn leather boots that Astrid had found for me.
She had been more excited about the fact that I was finally leaving my room.
According to her, I was still pining over Ares when I had two more Alpha princes at my beck and call.
I did not think Cassian and Damon were at my beck and call but I did not correct her.
"I have heard about how gentle prince Cassian can be." Astrid had sighed dreamily as she braided my hair.
"Gentle?"
"In the art of lovemaking, Ayla. Maids gossip so we know all of these things. I know Damon is skilled. A girl who had her time with him would not stop talking about the things he did to her with his tongue."
I felt my cheeks heat.
"His tongue?"
"Oh yes. She said he first asked his maids to scrub every inch of her body in steaming hot water then he had asked her to crouch over the edge of his bed and had pleasured her with his tongue until she was delirious and could barely hold herself upright then..."
"That is absolute nonsense" I scoffed.
I could feel my thighs clench and chided myself.
Damon was the devil. Why should I care who he pleasure with his wicked tongue.
Astrid shrugged.
"She still speaks about it till today in very descriptive details. She says it is the best thing she had ever felt in her life."
"Well, good for her."
"Do you want to hear about Cassian’s gentle lovemaking? I hear that..."
It was in that exact moment the knock sounded and I sighed in relief at the interruption.
When I opened the door, Cassian stood there with a small pack slung over his shoulder.
His eyes took me in, his mouth falling open.
"Damn Ayla, you are unfairly lovely"
I preened under his compliment.
"I love it when you blush."
His hand came up and his thumb trailed a spot on my cheek in circles.
I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
Astrid cleared her throat from behind, startling me.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded.
He led me through the princes’ wing and past the main hall until we reached a narrow door tucked behind the eastern pantry and half hidden by overgrown ivy.
Cassian pushed it open.
The air that hit my face was fresh and it carried the scent of pine and earth.
Beyond the door, a narrow path wound through the trees, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
"This way," he said, offering me his hand.
I took it.
The path led us deeper into the woods. The sounds of the pack faded behind us and soon there was only the crunch of leaves beneath our feet and the rustle of branches overhead.
We walked in comfortable silence for a while.
"How did you find this place?" I asked.
"I have always loved to explore." He grinned.
"I can imagine you were quite the explorer as a child." I smiled.
"You have no idea. One time I had stolen Damon’s favorite toy and he was looking for me to pay me back and so I hid here for two days while the whole palace frantically searched for me."
"You did not!" I exclaimed in mock horror.
"Oh yes, I did. I was oblivious to how important I was and so you can imagine my surprise when I finally came out and the whole place was in uproar at my disappearance. Safe to say I never disappeared again."
I threw my head back and let out a laugh.
Cassian had a soft smile on his face as he watched me.
"You have a beautiful laugh."
"Do I?" I murmured. "What changed?" I asked again.
"What do you mean?"
"I was so sure you did not want to ever speak to me again. This is so sudden."
"Damon called me out on my ill behavior towards you." He answered.
I glanced at him in surprise.
"Damon did?"
"You sound surprised that he would."
"Well considering he is a master at being ill mannered. Yes, it does surprise me that he would."
Cassian chuckled at this.
"He has his good days."
We emerged into a clearing. A small stream cut through the center. Moss-covered stones lined its banks, and wildflowers grew in clusters along the edges.
Cassian dropped the pack from his shoulder and sat on one of the flat stones.
"Come, sit" He said, patting the stone beside him.
I lowered myself beside him, tucking my dress beneath my legs.
He reached into the satchel beside him and turned to face me.
"I brought us something."
He pulled out two apples and offered one to me.
"I did not know you could be so domestic," I said, a smile tugging at my lips.
"I have many hidden talents. You will discover them all in time."
I took the apple from his hand, our fingers brushing with neither one of us pulling away from the other.
His eyes dropped to my lips and then came back up to my eyes. I could imagine if I leaned forward and kissed him, he would not resist me.
I began leaning forward when a loud whoosh cut through the air and Cassian’s eyes went wide, the smile on his face fading.
"What is it?" I asked.
His hands flew to his shoulder, a grunt escaping his lips.
"Cassian? Are you okay?"
His body jerked forward, and I saw it... the feathered shaft of an arrow protruding from his upper back.
"Cassian!" A scream tore from my throat.
Cassian’s eyes met mine in confusion before he collapsed forward, his weight crashing into me.