"No, Barni, wait- "Aribelle called after him in vain. Momentarily forgetting her weaken state, she attempted to rise so as to follow after him. However, only accomplished falling from her mattress. Her descent interrupted by Cassius, she only narrowly avoided a face plant onto the flagstones.
Embarrassed and mildly frustrated, Mikel's disgusted glare did not escape her notice as she was placed back in bed. Still scowling, he too stood to leave. "Rest. You'll have plenty of explaining to do later." He warned, before also dismissing himself from their presence abruptly.
Turning to regard Cassius, Aribelle sighed as she regretted being too ill to properly chastise him for his earlier behavior. "Why did you tell them that?" she asked, only able to exert herself enough to add a hint of annoyance to her tone. However, this did not seem to faze him in any way, as he smiled contentedly.
Visibly pleased at having successfully driven away the other men around her, he replied "Should I not have?" As if the feigned innocence of his question was not easily discernable enough, Cassius leaned in closer to her unabashedly as she contemplated her response. Gazing into his expectant eyes, Aribelle noticed that within Cassius's sparkling amber eyes, were flecks of rich crimson. Distracted by their depth and subtle changes in color, she found herself unable come up with any valid for why the excuse he provided wasn't good enough.
Mikel and Barnibus, were overprotective, however they had no justifiable claim on her. Although, it was obvious they should be upset over a 'lover' who had supposedly been kept secret from them. Surely, they could not honestly expect her to never date a man in this lifetime!
Seeing that she remained absorbed in thought over the two other men, even after they had departed. Cassius became steadily more displeased, after seeing how desperately she searched for a way to escape baring the title of his lover. Caressing her cheek with a curled finger in order to draw her attention back to him. Cassius asked in a serious tone, "Perhaps, you would have preferred one of them as your mate?"
"They're my brothers." Aribelle exclaimed, instantly denying the accusation.
"Not by blood though, am I right?" he questioned.
"We grew up together, that bond is more precious to me." She replied firmly.
Feeling assured now, Cassius encroached on the abysmal straw mattress. Although his gaze had softened, his smile came to be more devilish as he spoke his next words with confident determination, "I would have snatched you from them whatever your answer." Made uncomfortable by this declaration, Aribelle shifted away from him slightly. "Really, how did I end up tied to such a villain?" she muttered. Although, this was only meant as a private passing remark, Cassius's keen hearing was sure to pick up on it.
"Villain?" he asked, moving to close the gap she had made.
"Yes, that's something a villain would say." Aribelle chided.
Assumed by how childish this statement sounded, Cassius laughed softly. "Would you prefer I wasn't one? A villain that is." He inquired jokingly.
Sighing deeply as she regretted voicing this observation. "I don't mind really. Afterall, perhaps I am a villain too." she said pensively, recalling her actions over the past week. "Just please don't go deciding things for me without my consent."
"Of course, Fawn. I would not wish to go against you desires." He responded.
Surprised by his compliancy, Aribelle looked upon him again, to see the tenderness in his gaze still present. Glancing across his broad chest, her eyes fell on his shoulder. Her hand making an unconscious movement towards his wound, Aribelle paused once she realized what she was doing. Cognizant of her folly, her hand began to recede back, only to be caught by Cassius. Placing her palm against the spot where his injury had been just yesterday, he released it. "Are you healed then?" She asked, her thin fingers tracing the area attempting to detect any suggestion of the indentation.
Aware of his eyes upon her as she began to inspect his shoulder carefully. Only the thin fabric of his shirt separating their skin, she felt the heat rising from his body and the warmth of his hand still on hers cause her temperature to increase. Trying to ignore the fever that had overcome her, Aribelle could hardly concentrate long enough to make out the faint lines of a scar. "Hmm, it left a mark." She observed managing to uphold her composure, "It seems to be healed though."
Feeling foolish for being so easily flustered by the unexpected intimacy of his touch and his piercing gaze, Aribelle withdrew her hand. Whilst she had been experienced in these matters in her past life, this sensation was new to her in this one. Relentlessly persisting as Cassius's hand followed, coming to rest along with her own on her abdomen, Aribelle continued to admonish herself for being so easily swayed by his charms.
A faint blush rising on her sickly complexion she continued their conversation. "Will you be leaving then?" Aribelle asked. Wondering whether he might part now that there was nothing preventing him from doing so after his recovery. "I should let you rest." He replied, solemnly. Wiser now towards his sly nature, her eyes narrowed skeptically. Seeing as how he chose to evade the real meaning of her question; she knew he was purposefully acting coy to avoid broaching the topic of their contract. "You know what I meant." She said peeved. Smirking at having been discovered by her so easily, Cassius answered noncommittedly "I'd rather not." Rubbing his thumb distractedly on the soft skin on the back of her hand, he looked off into a far corner of the room as though it held the answer.
It was then it occurred to her, that she could potentially foil yet another scheduled catastrophe with the original plot line of the novel. Although, it was not due until at least a year and half later and the possibility mostly dependent on Cassius's reaction, Aribelle decided to test the waters. Her turn now to feign innocence, she asked "Did you come to take the egg?"
The question hanging awkwardly there between them for some time. Cassius peered down at her as he responded, "I hadn't intended to." Looking less affected than expected, Aribelle felt somewhat disappointed that her own attempt at deviousness had failed. "I guess, not all dragons are interested in that old relic." Aribelle remarked. Growing tired, she began to wilt like a flower as her body curled on the mattress. Attracted by Cassius's warmth, she tilted towards him still.
Helping to pull the patched sheet over her, he then pressed his large hand to her cheek. "Sleep now, Fawn." He coaxed softly.
"Thank you, Cassius." She muttered sleepily. Falling under the spell of his gentle words, too soon she missed his smile as he added "Stealing you would be enough."