Chapter 5 Seduction or Survival?
The clock on the wall wouldn't stop. Every tick felt like a hammer hitting a nail, pinning her nerves to the floor. Forty-eight hours. That was all the time Cassian had given her, and it was the exact same amount of time the Syndicate gave Leo to live. It wasn't just bad luck; it felt like the world was laughing at her.
Aria stood in front of the fancy mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back. Her eyes were sunken and dark from no sleep, but her hands were steady. They had to be.
She had spent the whole morning thinking. If she could have fought her way out, she would have done it already. But her own inner wolf wouldn't stop whimpering whenever Cassian was near, and his guards were everywhere. Every hallway had a pair of eyes; every door had a lock she couldn't break. If she couldn't use force, she had to use something much more dangerous.
Seduction.
She needed him to stop thinking like a King and start thinking like a man. She needed him to drop his guard and take her to the one place where even the strongest Alpha was vulnerable.
His bed.
A wave of shame hit her so hard she felt sick. Using the mate bond—the one thing she was supposed to cherish—as a weapon felt wrong. It felt like she was breaking a piece of her soul.
Then, she touched the scrap of Leo’s shirt in her pocket.
The fabric was stiff with dried blood. It smelled like rusted iron. The guilt vanished, replaced by a cold, hard focus.
"I’m sorry, Cassian," she whispered to the empty room. "But I love him more."
She stopped looking for sweaters or gear. Instead, she pulled out a silk slip dress in deep emerald. The fabric was thin and hugged her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. She let her dark hair fall messy over her shoulders and bit her lip until it was red and swollen. She wanted to look like she was burning for him, not trying to kill him.
Aria checked the hidden strap on her thigh. The silver dagger was cold against her skin. One quick move. One clean strike. That was all it would take to end this.
A heavy sound echoed from the hall. Cassian was back.
The door pushed open. He stopped at the entrance, looking exhausted. His boots were covered in mud and there was a fresh scratch on his arm. He looked like he’d been through hell at the border, but when he saw Aria, his whole face changed.
"Aria," he said, his voice deep and rumbling. "You’re up."
"I couldn't stay away," she lied. She walked toward him slowly, making sure every movement was soft. When she stopped right in front of him, she could smell rain, wood, and metal on his skin. It was a heavy, intoxicating scent. "You were gone so long. I was worried."
Cassian leaned down, his nose brushing her neck. He took a deep breath, and she felt him shiver. "The rogues are pushing the borders," he muttered, his hands twitching at his sides. "But I didn't come back to talk about the war."
He reached out, his rough hands settling on her waist. He pulled her flush against him, and Aria almost gasped. He was pure heat. Feeling his heartbeat against hers was a terrifying reminder of what he could do—and what she was about to do to him.
"You’re beautiful," he whispered in her ear. "But you’re shaking. Are you still scared of me?"
"Not scared," she breathed, tilting her head back to show him her throat. "Just overwhelmed. It’s a lot to take in."
He let out a low groan that sounded almost animal. He started kissing her jaw, moving slowly toward her lips. He was being so gentle, as if he was afraid she’d break. The guilt tried to come back, but she pushed it down deep.
She reached up and touched the scar on his shoulder. "You’re hurt."
"It’ll heal by morning," he said, his voice thick.
"Let me help you," Aria said. She took his hand and led him toward the bed.
Cassian followed her like he was under a spell. He sat on the edge of the mattress, watching her every move. Aria knelt between his knees, seeing the pulse thumping in his neck.
"Aria," he rasped. "Stop. If you keep doing this, I’m not going to be able to stop myself."
She looked him right in the eyes. Her heart was hammering against her ribs. This was the moment. "Who said I wanted you to stop?"
Cassian didn't wait. He growled and pulled her into his lap, his mouth crashing onto hers. It was a desperate, hungry kiss. Aria fought her instincts and kissed him back, her fingers tangling in his hair, drawing him closer until nothing else mattered but the heat between them.
His hands moved over her, possessive and soft at the same time. Then, his fingers brushed the hidden knife on her leg.
Aria’s heart stopped. But Cassian was too lost in the moment, too blinded by the bond to notice. He shifted, tilting her head back.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips. It sounded raw, like he was tearing the words out of his chest. "I don't even know your middle name, and I’d die for you. Tell me you feel it. Tell me you’re mine."
The words felt like a punch to the gut.
He wasn't just a target. He was a man giving her his heart and his life, totally unprotected.
Aria’s eyes began to sting. She buried her face in his neck so he wouldn't see the tears. "I’m yours," she choked out. For the first time, she wasn't lying.
Cassian laid her back onto the pillows, his weight heavy and warm. He closed his eyes as he kissed her again.
Her fingers slid down to the dagger.
She gripped the handle. One strike. Just one.
The tracker in her boot buzzed. Leo.
Aria started to pull the blade out. But then Cassian opened his eyes. They were a bright, trusting gold. She looked at him and realized she couldn't do it. She couldn't become a murderer.
"Aria?" he asked softly.
She broke. She let go of the knife and collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest while the weapon stayed hidden behind his back. "I love you," she cried.
Cassian held her tight, whispering that everything would be okay. He had no idea how close he’d come to death, and Aria had no idea how she was going to save them both tomorrow.