章 3: You Can Talk?
Cassandra's breath was stuck in her throat for a while, the way this man was unnerving her was not ordinary. Such feelings didn't exist for her.
Clearing her throat Cassandra finally willed herself to step forward and address him.
"Let me arrange the guest chamber for you. You can wait here."
The slight tilt of his head and that deep inhale unsettled Cassandra even more. Instead of speaking he only stared with those gold-infused eyes. She wondered if he even understood the language.
Sighing heavily, Cassandra's always straight shoulders slightly slouched, and she let her arms fall. Turning around she began to head for the guest wing of their castle.
A few steps in she felt his presence right behind her. Abruptly turning around, resulted in his colliding with her. She flailed again, her mouth opened in shock but his strong hands caught her by the waist and had her flush against his naked chest.
'Two times in a matter of a few minutes, that's my personal best level of awkwardness of falling and being rescued by men,' Cassandra thought to herself while blushing all shades of red.
But there was a stark difference in how both men had rescued her. While her fiancé had simply stabilised her and let go instantly.
This male was holding her snugly against his glistening chest, her face was buried in his pectorals. She could feel the swirling heat, the unique scent and cords and cords of muscles that were perfectly packed on his torso.
Most importantly she could sense the static sparks that travelled from wherever he touched and made her skin tingle. Plus that intoxicating scent seemed to ooze out of every pore.
His embrace was gentle and warm in comparison to how rough his hands were. She could feel them through the fabric of her gown.
"Careful!" He slowly breathed on the outer edges of her ear, making her bristle in his arms.
The voice so dark, rich and almost sinful.
'So the beast can speak,' she breathlessly mumbled to herself and made the mistake of lifting her eyes.
The pools of gold held only her as they swirled and almost sucked her inside. Her breath was stuck in her throat as her lips slightly parted and she tried to detangle herself from his extremely thick arms.
A flicker of disapproval flashed on his face at her actions but he let her go. She seemed overwhelmed and they were in the open area.
She scampered away as soon as he removed his arms from around her and accusingly asked, but she wasn't ready for the answer.
"You can speak?"
"When needed," he instantly replied in such a deep tone that sent a pang of shiver running through her. A hint of tease could be sensed.
"Good to know. Why are you following me?" She asked with a scowl while trying to get her frantic heartbeat under control.
He didn't answer, only gazed at her, rattling her.
She began to walk again, and he followed but leaned in and whispered. The hot breath made the tiny hair on her nape stand erect.
"To save you from falling on that pretty ass and hurting yourself."
A deep shade of crimson was what Cassandra's face turned into. Even a tomato couldn't rival it. She abruptly turned to face him, the scowl transforming to a full-on glower.
'Did he just speak about my ass?'
'Is that what he had been looking at?'
"Stop! Looking at my ass. Keep your eyes here?" She pointed to her face with her other hand on her waist.
He seemed unfazed, almost amused, a slow smile was curling up on his fuller lips.
They were interrupted by a servant. She bowed her head and waited for their staring contest to end.
"Yes! Tabia," Cassandra finally turned her head to face her. She was her father's special messenger.
"According to your father's wishes, the guest chamber in the East Wing has been arranged for your Warrior. Your father says all his needs and requirements are your responsibility. There shouldn't be any slacking in his care," she informed Cassandra, almost haughtily. Servants didn't respect her, knowing that she wasn't her father's favoured child, the other two were. The lack of magic made circumstances even more difficult for Cassandra.
"I will handle it," she told Tabia in a calm voice, knowing they wouldn't help her and would only add to her misery.
But the man with golden eyes observed how she had spoken to Cassandra. The playfulness he had held while talking to Cassandra disappeared, replaced by flickers of disapproval and darkness. His annoyed glance flitted towards Tabia and she felt an immense surge of raging energy emanating within that strange man.
She instantly retreated and ran away like a wet cat.
"Come! I will take you to your chamber and will get you something to eat." Cassandra diverted his attention towards her and all darkness dissipated. The rest of their short journey went in silence as they arrived at the intricately designed wooden door and she threw it open from the silver knockers.
"Here! Make yourself comfortable, I will bring you food. You must be hungry," she said while remaining outside the chamber.
"Come inside, we need to talk. Food can wait." He stepped in and held the door open for her.
It was highly inappropriate for her to be alone with him in his private chambers. But then he had been literally thrust into her life, tied to her bed. What more could go wrong?
Not experiencing any negative vibes from him, Cassandra took a deep breath and entered the place. They had a lot to discuss related to the arena and she needed to talk to him as well and tell him how useless she was.
Pathetic to be exact.
He wouldn't treat her any differently than others.
Once she was inside, he closed the door and locked it. Making her heart leap.
The natural light from the window flooded the room as he sauntered over on his thickly muscled legs and planted himself on the armchair. Pointing to his lap he teased with a twisted smile.
"Come sit and I might tell you my name."
Cassandra's mouth opened and her jaw hit the floor at his audacity.
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Sunny_Shumail
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章 4: I Have No Magic
Cassandra took his invitation and flirt in a very different light. The distrust that had developed of people from constantly getting hurt by her close ones fuelled her fears.
She believed he thought her to be a pushover just like her family did. Just because she couldn't defend herself when they used magic against her.
Her nostrils flared and those cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Knowing her father had asked her to treat him like a proper guest of the Alpha and not disappoint him.
She believed this man was playing with her feelings too. Understanding by now that no one cared for her except Lotus.
"Don't disrespect me. I am engaged and although we are to work together for the arena, no way I am sitting anywhere near or in your lap," she told him flatly. The uneasiness in her pit kept growing from his sultry gaze.
"You will be comfortable, I have thick thighs." He patted his right one, the muscles rippled under his contoured hand.
The man certainly didn't know when to give up. Was he that stubborn or did his Alpha put him up to it?
To flirt with her just to embarrass or humiliate her. If anyone were to see her like that, her reputation would be ruined, and her fiancé, who already remained detached, might find a reason to break off their engagement.
"I would like to politely refuse. Can we speak about how we are going to survive that arena? It's not a child's play. Both of us can die there."
Cassandra tried to change the subject.
"We won't die, I will protect you," he nonchalantly said, placing one of his extremely tanned legs on the other and placing his elbow on the armrest.
'Protect? Did he really mean what he said? No males ever tried to protect her.'
He sat like a king, not an ordinary slave, though that slave collar around his neck said otherwise. Cassandra couldn't decipher this man at all and his objectives.
She had to be transparent with him, he needed to know what he was getting himself in. Cassandra didn't wish to be the cause of his death.
"I don't have any magic, all I can do is a few tricks with swords and kunai knives," she stated, a hint of sadness coating her words while readying herself for any derogatory remark he might float her way. She crossed her arms, hugging herself with her hands. A way to protect herself whenever people slandered her.
That's how it always happened. The youngest mage princess of the greatest magic kingdom had no magic.
What a joke.
Instead, he spoke smoothly as if he had been expecting the very answer from her. There was no derision, only swirling softness in his eyes.
"Show me and we will strategise from there. Don't worry about magic."
Cassandra blinked several times, hoping she had heard him right. Finally breaking out of the stupor she said.
"We will need to go to the training grounds, I can show you the arena as well. You will get an idea."
He slowly got up and ambled towards her.
"Lead the way, Princess Cassandra," he requested as if tasting her name on his tongue. Notes so deep that they unsettled her. Although the word 'princess' was said with a tease instead of being used as a title.
Gulping with some difficulty she willed herself to speak.
"Firstly tell me your name."
A vague smile tugged at his lips, turning them upwards.
"Siroos! That's what they call me anyways," he merely shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a big deal.
'Siroos,' Cassandra repeated his name under her breath and wondered what it meant.
"Thank you! Come." She led him through different corridors of the grand castle with its majestic towers and rich tiled floors. The exuberance and riches were evident in every nook of this place and yet Siroos's eyes were fixated only on her.
He remained behind her by a step but she could sense his looming presence. It unwinded something inside her, something she didn't understand.
The candles sputtered in their candle stands and the lanterns lighted the corridors they passed through. She grabbed one lantern off the hook from the wall.
The silence was awkward.
"You are not disappointed?" She shattered it with her question. It had been on the tip of her tongue.
"Disappointed?" He blankly asked.
"Every other participant will have a magic-wielding partner which will enhance their chances at winning, and here I am," she couldn't help but lament, lowering her eyes as their feet kept moving.
"I was sent as your warrior for a reason. It will be my duty to protect you in that arena," he vocalised so self-assuredly that Cassandra wished she had half of that confidence which oozed out of this mysterious man from a strange land.
Did he really wish to protect her?
Or was it part of some elaborate scheme?
Only time would tell.
Walking outside the castle Cassandra trudged along the winding path that led to the giant structure which they called: The Arena.
The colossal structure was constructed from massive white limestone blocks and extended to a height of several stories.
The exterior was adorned with a series of arches, stacked in multiple tiers, giving the structure a sense of elegance irrespective of the bloodbath that occurred within its walls.
"Here!" Cassandra announced as they entered through one of the entrance arches of white marble adorned with several gemstones.
Siroos watched the arena with wild admiration settling in his eyes. That animalistic side of his, which he kept buried under, began to surface, sensing the blood that spilt there.
Cassandra raised the glass-metallic lantern as they entered the dark passageway; her companion didn't need light to see in the dark, though.
The sharp tang of dampness abused their nostrils as they walked through the passage and arrived at the vast open area of rammed earth.
The walls on the four sides were adorned with weapons of all kinds while raised platforms behind them held the spectator seats and a grand podium for the important guests and members of the royal family.
"Not bad," Siroos observed, the gold in his eyes was flickering with multiple shaded flecks. As if a conglomeration of colours has been birthed in them. Cassandra was beyond mesmerised, she had never seen something like that before.
"Let's begin, show me what you got," he addressed her with a hint of amusement.
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