027: THE TASTE OF TEMPTATION

027: THE TASTE OF TEMPTATION
Cassian walks out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist while rubbing his hair dry with another, but his head stays buried in thoughts.

Rebels. He never thought he would come across one or even a bunch of them. They are pitiful, with no hope and no way of surviving without blood, all because they are not part of the high class of vampires. Cassian can’t believe vampires are cruel to their own kind. It’s pathetic and disgusting.

Should he tell Oscars that he saw how pathetic those rebels were? But why does Casian care when he has his own problems?

“A penny for your thoughts, petal?”

A loud gasp rips through Cassian's throat, and he almost drops the towel in his hand as he snaps his head up quickly to find Alastor standing beside the door with his arms crossed over his chest, head tilted while watching Cassian like he’s the most important thing in the world.

Cassian immediately holds the towel to his naked chest, his heart pounding loudly in his chest as he realizes he is practically naked in front of the vampire. The towel is not much of a cover. “W-what are you doing here?” he stutters, flushing red in shame.

A twitch of a smile stretches on Alastor’s face, but he doesn’t move from where he stands. “I came to see how my mate is faring after being confined in a place with rebels. Pardon me for intruding on your privacy.”

Nothing in his voice suggests that he’s apologetic for seeing Cassian half-naked. His gaze doesn’t even move away from him, slow and haunting as it drags from Cassian’s damp hair, down the line of his throat, over the dip of his collarbone, and lower until Cassian shifts uncomfortably and tightens his grip on the towel.

Heat rushes to Cassian’s face, and he lowers his gaze shyly to the floor. “I-I-m fine. Thank you for coming to save—"

Cassian doesn’t get to finish his words. All he feels is a gust of wind before Alastor is in front of him, standing so close that Cassian almost loses his breath as another loud gasp rips from his throat, and he stumbles a step back, this time the towel falling from his grasp, but in an instant, Alastor’s arms reach out and circle his waist, putting him back.

Cassian’s eyes widen, and his heart feels like it’s about to rip out of his cage as he meets Alastor’s eyes that are dark with mischievous intent that makes Cassian swallow deeply.

“So pretty,” Alastor whispers as he reaches out to touch Cassian’s face, stroking his thumb against the smooth, wet skin of his jaw. “Are all humans this pretty, or is there something different about you, petal?” he asks softly.

Cassian opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out, the clot in his throat suddenly making it hard for him to find his voice, so he only stares with wide, unblinking eyes and his palms resting on Alator’s chest.

A smirk curls on Alastor’s lips while his dark eyes drop to Cassian’s lips. “Tell me, petal, have you ever been kissed?” he continues to ask in that soft tone, gentle like he’s talking to a naive child.

Kissed. The words ring loudly in Cassian’s head, and all the warning alarms beep red, but he doesn’t move; he can’t find the strength to, and for some strange reason, he doesn’t want to. “K-kissed?” he echoes, voice wavering while his eyes drop to Alastor’s own lips.

Cassian has never been kissed before.

Gently, Alastor strokes the side of his lips, taunting him. “Yes, petal. Do you want me to kiss you?”

Cassian stares dumbfoundedly. His voice. There is something about his voice that has Cassian hypnotized. He can’t bring himself to move, even though all his instincts scream flight.

Alastor finally clips Cassian’s chin, lifting his face, and then slowly, he moves in, his breath softly fanning against Cassian’s face. “Do you want to be kissed, petal?”

Kissed. Cassian forcefully swallows the lump in his throat. He wants to be kissed. He doesn't even realize it when he blurts out a “Yes.”

Alastor smiles. “Good, kitten."

And with that, he moves in even closer, but an inch away from finally having a taste of those lips, the door of the room bursts open without warning, and whatever spell that Cassian was under immediately wears off as he pushes Alastor back and steps away from him, suddenly panting hard.

“I’m sorry, Lord Alastor and Master Cassian!”

It’s Ollie. The poor valet immediately bows his head, almost as if scared for his life, as his hands slightly tremble.

Cassian doesn’t dare look at Alastor; he is burning brighter than the sun as all the blood in his body rushes to his head. He holds his breath to stop himself from perceiving Alastor’s scent, realizing it’s what stops his brain from functioning.

“I will leave you to get dressed,” Alastor says with a small smile, and without another word, he turns and walks out.

As soon as the door shuts behind the vampire, Cassian releases the breath. What in the name of the gods just happened?

Cassian can’t believe he was expecting to be kissed again, and fuck, they were interrupted again. Why does that leave a bad taste in his mouth? Does Cassian really want to kiss a vampire? Fuck, this can’t be happening to him at a time like this.

“Should I prepare your clothes, Master Cassian?” Ollie’s voice breathes through Cassian's strain of thoughts as he turns to the boy, but he only blushes harder and nods instead while the boy goes to work.

Forcefully, Cassian calms his heart, and then he tries to forget that this ever happened.

~~~

Cassian is trying to sleep when a knock comes on the door. He pushes the covers off his body and goes to open the door, finding the last person he expects to be at the front of his door late at night.

“Elyndra,” the name slips past his lips, and she smiles, bowing slightly as if to show respect.

“I apologize for coming to you this late. Can I come in?” She asks with a polite smile, as if it almost feels wrong to tell her to go away. Cassian nods and lets her into his room.

He watches the way her eyes scan the room over before she turns to look at him, again with that smile on her face. “I was told of what happened to you today.”

Cassian crosses his arms over his chest. “I didn't think you were one for gossip.”

Her smile doesn’t waver. “It’s not gossip when the whole city is already aware of how Lord Alastor’s mate was mistaken for a rebel, and besides, Lord Vikar is my brother. He told me himself, and my brother’s guards, who are in charge of making sure things run smoothly in our peaceful city, never make mistakes.”

Cassian’s jaw pulls taut at her words while his eyes harden. “You think I’m a rebel?”

She takes a step forward, wearing that same smile. “That’s what I think since your background is forged. Your surname is not Vale, which leaves me to believe you are one of those desperate vampires that would do anything to get their hands on blood.”

Cassian’s lips twitch into a smirk. “You thought wrong. Lord Alastor won’t mate a rebel.”

She shrugs casually. “Perhaps I am wrong about you being a rebel, but your identity is indeed fake, so I believe you are hiding something.” She takes a step forward, eyes piercing through Cassian’s face. “And whatever it is, I am going to find it out.”

Cassian’s smirk doesn’t falter, even though his heart is beating faster than it should. “You’re free to try, but digging into things that don’t concern you can be dangerous.”

Elyndra tilts her head slightly, studying him like he’s a puzzle she’s already halfway solved. “Dangerous for whom?”

“For you,” Cassian replies without missing a beat.

Her smile widens, amused rather than offended. “Bold. I see why my brother finds you… interesting.”

“I’m not here to entertain your brother.” Cassian counters.

“No. You’re here to entertain Lord Alastor, to steal and to destroy.”

Cassian uncrosses his arms from his chest and takes a step forward, eyes drilling a hole through her face. “You came into my room late at night to accuse me of having a fake identity. If you have proof, present it. If not, leave.”

Cassian has played with fire his whole life; she is nothing compared to the burns he has received. 

Her smile twitches as she says. “Very well, Master Cassian. I will take your word for it. Have a good night."

With a mocking bow, she turns and walks out of the room, and oh, she’s damn lucky because Cassian was very close to killing a vampire.

If he were scared of death, he wouldn't have wandered into its web.