Chapter 29 Lazriel
~Lazriel~
Mmm… dinner was served.
I sat at the small four-seater table, Sylas to my left, Velra to my right, and Cassius opposite me.
It was a modest pine thing that he hadn’t had when I’d come here before, so he must have conjured it, along with the high-backed chairs that had hella comfortable white cushions on them.
He hadn’t conjured the food, though. He’d made it with his bare hands, with non-magical effort.
And Sylas had helped.
I could tell the steak was all him. Massive and rare, just the way I liked it, and sprinkled with just the right amount of spices, including a dash of cinnamon, which somehow really worked with the rest.
There was a chicken pot pie that Cassius had made, the delicious scent filling the room.
He’d even made a potato soup to go with, which I’d learned tonight was one of his favorites.
Kind of like Sylas with his oatmeal. Cassius sipped from a mug of green tea every now and then.
He’d made some crispy potato wedges that I loved and topped it with caramelized onions and even goat cheese, which Velra enjoyed on her flatbread that she had for lunch in the Dining Hall on campus.
She was drinking from a glass of lemonade, while Sylas had his blackcurrant tea. I’d actually gone for the lemonade too, because they’d ruled out alcohol for this dinner, so my favored whiskey was off the menu.
Cassius was dressed really casual tonight, actually even wearing jeans.
A fitted charcoal crewneck shirt stretched across his hulking muscular body in a sexy, snug way.
He was eating at his pie with one hand, while his other was clasped in Velra’s, as it had been since we’d sat down.
She’d clocked his nervousness about this night so she was trying to reassure, calm, and center him all at once.
Knowing how he was in that state of mind, I’d been trying to be discreet about gawking at my bite mark on his wrist. The actual wound had healed, but he hadn’t taken away the scar of my fangs piercing his flesh.
It sent a hell of a thrill through me seeing it on him, knowing he’d kept it, but also delighting in the unspoken intention behind it.
The offering of it. Him wanting more of that from me.
A kick to my shin under the table from Sylas had me blinking and swinging my head. Guess I’d been staring too long again.
Sylas was dressed down too. I mean, he’d brought his hooded leather coat, but it was hanging up on a hook by the front door. He had that sexy tank on that showed off his defined arms and a pair of black pants that did amazing justice to his ass.
I was in a long-sleeve black tee with it rolled up to my elbows and sporting my gray jeans.
And Velra—shit, she looked fucking stunning.
Good enough to eat. She had on a cream wrap top that contrasted beautifully with the black smoky marks of her skin from her Wraith side, and showed off her full, round breasts in all their glory.
Her amethyst eyes really popped against the plum mini-skirt that she’d paired it with.
Her ombre hair was in a half-up, half-down style, all sexy and relaxed.
I briefly flashed my fangs at Sylas, making him chuckle.
Then, of course, he responded to my challenge and started sliding his boot up my calf really fucking erotically.
I jerked away, determined to keep myself in check. At least for a little while longer.
Besides, Velra was telling us all about the success and growth of the Crossborn Refuge System that Nyx had shown her during their tour, and she was so excited about it, talking animatedly, her gorgeous eyes even sparkling as she conveyed everything.
“They’re really coming out into the open now,” she said. “So many hybrids, venturing out to be part of the world.”
“CRS has certainly made it much more feasible for them to do so,” Cassius spoke.
“Exactly. It happened at the right time too, so perfectly. When Chimera Circle was destroyed, Crossborn was ready to deal with the fallout, to help, and provide the resources needed.”
Cassius eyed me. “Warlow read your expansion proposal of HICI, yes? When will that roll out?”
“It’s going to start next week,” I said, proudly.
“That quickly?”
“He made it easy and efficient to implement,” Sylas told him. “With the way he structured the proposed rollout of advancing the hybrid-based curriculums via Covens and Academies.”
“Very impressive,” Cassius said, then told me, “You really did the work.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Just following Velra and Nyx’s example—CRS has been a game-changer on several levels.”
“As will your initiative,” Velra assured me, leaning in and kissing my cheek. “Well done, sweets.”
“Speaking of work, did you get those notes from the classes you missed earlier?” Cassius asked me.
I looked across the table at him with a mouthful of steak and nodded as I chewed.
“You’re sure?”
I swallowed and flashed my eyes. “Yes, Professor,” I responded, my words dripping with sensuality.
He didn’t avert his gaze like I’d expected.
Instead, his own eyes flashed with his white power and his lips quirked, letting me know that my bullshit wouldn’t go unchallenged.
Hot. As. Fuck.
“Mmm… I can get on board with this from you,” I told him.
Sylas chuckled. “I did warn you what you’d be dealing with, Cassius.”
“Yes. You most definitely did,” he said, stilling looking right at me. “Not in class, wild one. Are we clear?”
“Crystal. Just over the desk after the lecture lets out?”
Velra shook her head at me and stroked Cassius’ hand, telling him, “He won’t make a show of it. He’s just messing with you.”
“And trying to rile you up sexually,” Sylas cut in.
I wiggled my eyebrows at Cassius. “Is it working?”
“I believe you already know the answer to that. Your senses are deeply attuned.”
“Yes, they are. And it tastes fucking delicious, for the record.” I eyed Velra. “You too, love. Secretly enjoying the dirty beneath it all… I relish that about you.”
She slapped my arm playfully. “Stop. Can we at least finish our meal before everything descends into filth with you?” She gestured at Sylas. “And you.”
Sylas pressed his hand to his heart. “I’m insulted. And hurt. Here I am sitting here being the most polite and accommodating motherfucker on the planet, and this is what I get? Admonishment?”
I laughed. “Jeez, you’re laying it on thick.”
His magic sparked, and then a mason jar materialized. He shoved it across the table to me. “Here. Subject change. And something to help you out.”
Frowning, I picked up the jar, studying the brown diced herbs inside that were glinting with his deep red magic. There was a beige label taped across the back.
A pinch once per day dissolved in any beverage. Not spelled concoctions.
“What’s this for?”
“Your temperature regulation issue you told me. It was a finicky thing to determine a solution to, so it took some time, but here it is. This will prevent you from experiencing hot flashes or sudden bursts of freezing cold.”
“Wow,” I breathed, staring out at him. “This is ace. Thank you, Sylas.”
“You’re most welcome, babe.”
As I put the jar back down, I frowned in thought.
“How did you have time to do this? You had that time-sensitive project with Arcanum Order you were working on and then the Death Sense tracking that’s deeply immersive, from what you told me and Velra.
Were you… not working on the tracking of my protection detail then?
” They weren’t actually here right now. They’d obviously realized I’d been headed to Cassius’ place, knowing that it was heavily warded and that I’d be around a being of Immortal power, hence them not being needed for the night.
“I completed the Death Sense tracking spell.”
“What?” Velra uttered. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Yeah, like, right away? You knew we were waiting on this.”
His eyes darted to Cassius.
It was very brief, but it was rare for me to ever miss a thing.
“What was that?”
“What was what?” Sylas asked, trying to play it off.
“That shared knowing look between the two of you.”
“We’re here to have a nice, calm dinner. For Cassius to bond with the three of us. Let’s just focus on that.” He gestured at the perfectly set table, all the hearty food that had been prepared. “Look at all the effort he’s gone to.”
My hand shot out and I snagged his wrist. “Don’t manage me.”
He glared back at me, not liking the way I’d put my hand on him, the dangerous challenge in it. I could see his resistance to responding in kind.
“I couldn’t trace them back to their commander, clan leader, or whomever they are truly working for.”
“Why not? What happened?” Velra asked.
“They’re being shielded by a powerful force, one that was even cloaked so I couldn’t even discern that much.”
“All right, so it was a no-go. Why not just tell us that, then?” I released him with a grunt and pushed my plate away.
“Let me answer for you. Because you’re keeping some secret about it.
Some major thing that’s probably gonna hurt you in some way or involve you heading out on some suicide mission. ”
“Sylas, is that the case?” Velra pushed, albeit in a calm, even tone. The opposite of mine right now. “I thought we’d moved beyond this now? Has something happened to create this setback with you?”
“It’s not a setback,” he ground out.
“Then what the fuck is it? What the ever-loving shit is going on with you lately?”
“Lazriel,” Velra urged, stroking my arm. “Take a breath.”
I intended to do what she’d asked, until Sylas turned his attention back to his plate, then said, “Can we get back to dinner now?”
I lashed out, smashing my hand into his plate.
It careened across the kitchen and shattered to shit against the wall by the cupboards, the food spraying all over and dripping down the stone.
Sylas shot to his feet, seething at me. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, so take it the fuck down!”
I started forward.
But then Cassius was there, shoving his hand against my chest, using his Immortal strength to hold me at bay.
“Enough,” he rumbled.