Chapter Forty
CASSIA
MY TENSE MUSCLES relax once I arrive in camp, beyond happy to be away from the stench of death and the confused gaze of my father.
My new bond grows stronger with proximity, and I follow it to the infirmary.
Rexton took it upon himself to seek medical help, and my nerves spike as I step inside the tent and lock eyes with him.
He’s sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, his arms crossed over his exposed chest as he glares at the healers moving about. They’ve done something to piss him off. I don’t care, and I practically trip over my feet in my mad dash to him.
“I’m being held hostage,” he says as I near.
“What?”
“I’ve been told I’m not allowed to leave until you come and retrieve me.”
I cock my head to the side. “You outrank everybody here. You didn’t have to listen.”
“That would set a bad example.”
I shouldn’t laugh. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.
It’s common for flight risks to be held in the infirmary.
We don’t need weakened Wraths returning to the battlefield and dying.
It’s an inconvenience to everybody involved, and we aren’t in a position desperate enough to take unnecessary risks.
Rexton glowers.
“You look like an angry little boy waiting for his mom to pick him up,” I tease.
Rexton rises, and my heart lurches when he winces halfway through. There’s a large bandage on his chest, and it’s already stained red.
“How bad is it?”
He shrugs. “It’s not ideal, but I’ll survive. The spear didn’t hit anything vital.”
A healer approaches from my left. “That’s untrue. Rexton won’t let us examine and bandage his back, so we have no idea of the full extent of the damage. Hence why he’s been prohibited from leaving.”
Rexton looks away. Our bond snaps shut for the first time since forming.
I run my tongue over my teeth.
Aziel’s power fills the tent. He strolls inside with his head held high and his emotions expertly masked. I can tell he’s upset, probably at me. He raised my siblings and me to cherish the mate bond, and I’m sure he’s hurt to learn that I’m not only in a relationship with Rexton, but bonded to him.
I wasn’t intentionally keeping anything from my family. It happened so fast that even I haven’t had time to adjust to it.
“You left so quickly after Raum’s declaration,” Aziel says. “I was eager to see for myself whether or not it was true.” His gaze flickers between Rexton and me. “Rexton.”
Rexton blinks. “Aziel.”
This is awkward.
Aziel clears his throat. “If you’ll excuse me…” He brushes past me, moving toward the small cluster of healers standing off to the side.
I should ask them for an update on the injured. That’s the right thing to do, but I also want to go somewhere private and look at Rexton’s back. I need to make sure he’s healing properly. I reach for him through the bond, but the wall between us remains firmly in place.
“Go ahead,” Rexton says. “Talk to them. I’ll wait here.”
He begins to plop back into his seat, but I grab his arm before he fully sits. I should be ecstatic that he’s willing to sit here like a child while I handle this. I suspect I know why.
When the demons of Wrath learn I’ve bonded with Rexton, there will be assumptions.
They’ll think our bond was a calculated move orchestrated by Rexton, me, and my parents.
I’m the next in line to take the throne, but I’m not heavily liked.
Rexton has no real claim to my father’s title, but he’s the popular option.
They’ll say our bond was a political move meant to prevent any possible uprisings when I inevitably take over. People will be happy to have Rexton leading beside me, and they just might consider him Wrath’s true leader.
I’m sure Rexton recognizes that, and by so publicly taking a bystander role in this battle, he’s sending a clear message to Wrath. Rexton may be my mate, and he may eventually be king, but I’m in charge.
I should let him sit. It benefits me, and it enforces my position as Wrath’s clear leader.
My fingers curl around Rexton’s wrist, and I ignore the pain in my shoulder as I tug him into a standing position.
“Do you understand that you will never outrank me?” I ask. “Despite the royal title that being my mate grants you, I will always be in charge. Wrath is my birthright, and I’m not sharing it with anybody—not even you.”
The corners of Rexton’s lips twitch. “I understand, Cassia, and as I’ve already told you several times, I have no interest in taking Wrath from you.”
“Good.” I lick my lips. “Then stop belittling yourself for me. I’m not attracted to weak men.”
“Thanks for that, Cassia.”
I shrug, then head toward the healers. Rexton follows.
Our bond remains locked down. I continue pushing at it, urging Rexton to open back up, but he pretends not to notice. I know he notices. There’s no way he doesn’t. I’m not being subtle.
The update with the healers is quick. The most gravely injured Wraths are from the backup unit that Raum brought in. First Unit soldiers are powerful, and they have faster healing than most demons. We lost a few, fewer than fifty, but the others will heal.
In total, the healers have seen almost six hundred soldiers today.
That’s more than expected, and I hope it’s because I ordered all injured Wraths to cycle out and report to the healers. It sounds like most were patched up and cleared to return to battle. That’s good, and I’m hoping the death count we get from Androl is low.
I’m not foolish enough to think I handled this ambush as well as Raum or Aziel would have, but I’m proud of what I achieved. It was terrifying, but I managed to keep a level head. For the most part. I suppose I panicked and bit Rexton, but I refuse to feel guilty about that.
Rexton puts his simpering facade aside and takes charge, asking questions and giving orders as somebody of his title and position should. I’m pleased to see it, and I find myself pausing to watch him lead. I could’ve chosen worse for a mate, and I understand why the Wraths like him so much.
He killed Mammon, which was a huge accomplishment, but more than that, he’s intelligent and well-spoken. If Rexton wanted, he could easily make himself Wrath’s primary leader. A royal’s power comes from the respect and obedience of their people, and it wouldn’t be hard for Rexton to circumvent me.
Raum seems to like me, but the other generals merely tolerate my existence. If Rexton ordered them to report to him instead of me, I fear they would listen. Rexton could easily force me into a background role, destroying my credibility and reputation.
My hands curl into fists. I shouldn’t have bonded with him. I gave him exactly what he needed to overthrow me, to steal Wrath for himself. I’ve destroyed everything I’ve ever worked for with my foolish, irrational actions.
I should kill him.
“Breathe.” Rexton slides up beside me. “Lower your eyelids and breathe.”
I do as he says, finally realizing our bond is open once again. When did Rexton do that? Why? My side is open, and my anger blooms as I feel him prying into it. He’s taking advantage of our bond, sneaking into my head and reading my most private emotions.
I didn’t give him permission to do that.
Rexton pulls back as my anger hits him, and I snap my end of the bond shut.
“Do you need me to sit?” he asks.
He sounds genuine. I’m not sure whether to trust it, and it’s making my head hurt. I want him to sit. I want to belittle and smash him into a thousand little pieces until I’m certain there’s no way he’ll ever steal Wrath from me, but I also know I’d hate to see him like that.
I don’t want to put him down, not really, but I don’t have the confidence to let him lead.
“We should get moving,” Rexton says.
He hesitates, then places a hand on the small of my back. The world spins, and I blink as Rexton teleports us to his home. I’ve never been inside it, but I recognize the layout from the images Wren secured for me.
Rexton purchased this apartment building after the first war with Mammon. He spent months renovating it, and then he moved into the penthouse unit. It’s cozier than I expected. The walls are covered in artwork, the rugs feel expensive, and the furniture looks comfortable.
The kitchen is small, but I assume Rexton doesn’t cook much. Neither do I.
Rexton leads me down a hallway and into a bedroom. It’s again covered in artwork and filled with expensive, comfortable furniture. The bed is large, and I eye the white sheets as Rexton guides me into the ensuite bathroom.
“This is your bedroom?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes.”
“You’re showing me where you sleep?”
He shouldn’t. Killing him would be easiest once I know the locations where he’s most vulnerable. I rarely let people inside my apartment, and I never bring them into my bedroom. It’s a risk I’m unwilling to take.
Wren never slept in my bed. I allowed him to enter my main living spaces, but I chose to spend nights at his place. He didn’t like it, but I didn’t care. I was protecting myself.
Rexton turns on the shower. “You should clean up before meeting with Aziel and the generals.”
I avoid looking in his mirror as I strip, removing my bloodied clothing.
Rexton stands to the side, openly eyeing my revealed skin.
I figure it’s only fair after the way I evaluated his naked body yesterday, and I don’t acknowledge his staring as I step into his shower and wash the blood off myself.
“Do you like what you see?” I eventually ask.
He hums. “Yes.”
“What part of me is your favorite?”
I’m not above asking for compliments. I like them, and Rexton has never denied my requests. I don’t imagine he’ll start now.
Rexton’s eyes light up. He’s holding back laughter, and he makes a pointed gesture of looking me up and down before answering.
“Your thighs,” he eventually says. “They look…strong.”
“They are strong.”
I scrub my skin raw, desperate to remove the evidence of war.
Seeing the water run clear doesn’t remove the heavy weight in my chest, and I frown as I begin working on my hair.
I had it in a braid, but it came loose hours ago.
My hair is matted, and suspicious chunks are woven within the knotted strands. I might have to cut it.
“What else do you like?” I ask.
“You’re sure not bashful.”
I shrug. “Should I be?”
Rexton shakes his head. “No. I like all of you, Cassia.”
I clear my throat. “Can I see your back?”
I’m nervous to ask. The topic of Rexton’s abuse makes me uncomfortable, mainly because I’ve never encountered anything like it. I had a privileged upbringing, and I don’t know what’s appropriate.
“No.”
Rexton’s answer is curt, and I’m honestly not expecting it. I thought he’d let me look. I’ve already seen his back, so I don’t understand why he wants to hide it. I need to make sure he’s healing properly. I have to.
I frown, locking eyes with him.
“Let me see it.”
“No.”
I grind my teeth. “Show me. Now.”
Rexton seems just as irritated as I feel. He drags his hands through his hair, his chest expanding with breath. “No, Cassia. Stop asking.”