Chapter 24 Territory Or Mate

Chapter 24 Territory Or Mate

Kael's POV

I walked to Cassian's territory alone. I knew that I could have gone there with one or two of my men just in case something happened, but since I was hoping that Cassian and I would settle on a good note. I didn't want to make it any more complicated than it already was.

I walked through the massive doors without knocking. Guards tried to stop me but one look from my wolf had them stepping aside.

The living room was exactly what I expected from a bloodsucker, it was decorated with dark furniture. Expensive art on the walls. And women, Lots of them.

Three girls were sprawled across the couches, looking pale and weak. Their necks had fresh bite marks, still bleeding slightly. They looked at me with glazed eyes, like they were not fully there.

And in the center of it all was Cassian.

He had another girl in his arms, a pretty blonde who was leaning against him like she could not stand on her own. His fangs were buried deep in her neck, drinking slowly. She moaned softly, her eyes rolling back.

Irritation burned through me. This was why I hated vampires. They treated humans like cattle. Like disposable food sources.

Cassian pulled his fangs out and licked the wound closed. Then he looked up at me with a smirk on his face. Like he knew exactly how much this disgusted me. Like he was enjoying it.

"Kael!" he said, his voice smooth. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We need to talk."

He waved his hand dismissively at the girls. "Leave us."

They all stumbled to their feet, moving like zombies. The blonde he had been feeding from nearly fell but caught herself on the doorframe. They disappeared down a hallway, leaving us alone.

Cassian walked over to his mini bar and poured two glasses of vodka. He handed one to me without asking if I wanted it.

I took it and downed the entire thing in one gulp. The burn felt good and Grounding.

"So," Cassian said, leaning against the bar. "What brings the Lycan King to my humble home?"

"My pack is furious."

"About?"

"About my recent involvement with a vampire." I set the glass down harder than necessary. "About working with you. About sharing a mate with you."

Cassian chuckled. "That sounds like your problem."

"My throne is being threatened."

"Still sounds like your problem." He poured himself another drink. "I never asked you to work with me. That was your choice."

My jaw tightened. "I need something from you."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "I see where this conversation is headed, And what would that be?"

"The territory. The one you took from my pack twenty years ago. I want it back."

The smirk dropped from his face. He set his glass down slowly and walked toward me. His eyes were starting to turn red.

I knew that look, I had seen it before. Right before he killed someone.

"That territory," he said, his voice deadly quiet, "is the same territory where your pack killed my soulmate!"

I did not flinch, knowing that has always been his reaction each time "That was twenty years ago, Cassian."

"Do you think I have forgotten what it felt like to hold her dying body? To watch the life drain from her eyes because your people decided she was an acceptable casualty?"

"It was war. People die in war."

"She was innocent!" His voice echoed through the room. "She had nothing to do with our conflict. But your wolves tore her apart anyway. Made me watch while they did it and you think that I would hand that territory to you, you would have to kill me before that would happen."

I took a deep breath. "I am sorry for what happened to her. But keeping that territory will not bring her back."

"No. But it reminds your pack every day of what happens when they cross me."

"We could go to war over this," I said. "Is that what you want? More bloodshed?"

"If that is what it takes."

I stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on. "You have Serena now. You do not have to keep living in the past. She would not want to see you like this. Consumed by revenge."

Something flickered across his face. Pain, maybe. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"There is nothing you can say that will make me give that territory back," he said coldly. "It is payment for what your pack took from me. And I will hold it until the day I die."

I let out a long sigh. This was pointless. Cassian was too stubborn. Too broken by what happened.

"Fine," I said. "Then be ready for war. Because my pack will not stop pushing until they get that land back. With or without me."

I turned to leave but stopped at the door. Something had been bothering me since yesterday.

"Do you not think it is dangerous?" I asked without turning around. "Letting Serena stay in the human world when she has not mastered her powers yet?"

"It is fine. I have it under control."

I spun around. "How? How do you have it under control? She killed five witches without even trying. What happens when she loses control again? When she is surrounded by innocent humans?"

Cassian just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then he picked up his glass and took a slow sip.

"That is not your concern."

"The hell it is not. She is my mate!!"

"Then trust that I know what I am doing."

But I did not trust him. Not with this. Cassian was too focused on giving Serena freedom. On making up for all the horrible things that had been done to her.

He was not thinking clearly. Not considering the danger she posed. Not just to humans, but to herself.

"If something happens to her because you were too busy playing savior," I said, my voice low, "I will hold you responsible."

"Noted."

Frustration boiled inside me. This conversation was going nowhere. Cassian was as stubborn as ever, and I was wasting my time.

I walked out without another word.

The drive back to my territory was long. I spent most of it thinking about Serena. About the bond between us that was still incomplete.

I needed to mark her. Soon.

Once I marked her, Cassian would have no claim on her. The bond would be sealed between her and me. She would be mine completely.