CASSIUS Read online

  “Why haven’t you come to see me?” I whisper, but I know that he heard me when I hear his intake of breath.

  “Haven’t the women been there, and Kade?” he asks

  “It’s not the same, you keep the memories away.” I whisper, telling him the truth. I know that I’m not playing fair, but he’s not playing fair either trying to make this decision without consulting me.

  “Oh baby, I’m sorry” I can hear the anguish in his voice and I feel the prickle of tears behind my eyes. “I will be there as soon as I can.” He promises.

  “Thank you.” I say and then disconnect the call before he can say anything else. I don’t want him to hear me choked up and worry.

  “So?” Brielle asks excitedly

  “He says he will be here as soon as he can.” At my words she claps, and does a little jig.

  “Hopefully he will forget all about his nobility now or we will have to take out the big guns.” She suggests

  “What are the big guns?” I ask curiously

  “Oh, that would be Nova. That girl can come up with the weirdest ideas.” I smile at her silliness but my stomach is clenching knowing that Cassius is coming to see me. I’m about to ask Brielle about Nova when I see someone from the corner of my eye. Turning my head I see Cassius walk into the infirmary. My breath catches at his presence, I wasn’t expecting him so soon but now that he’s here I’m nervous.

  “Cassius” I murmur as he approaches.

  “Scarlett, you’re looking better.” He says as he comes to stand next to the bed.

  “Well, that’s my cue.” Brielle says as she starts to walk away, “I’ll come to check up on you later”

  I don’t reply as my concentration is centred on Cassius, the width of his muscles in his tight black t-shirt is impressive. The tattoos that adorn his arms and I see peeping at his neck make me want to trace them with my fingers.

  “Thank you for coming.” Now that he’s here I don’t know what to say. His presence engulfs me, the peace that I’ve only ever felt when near him returns and I breath out serenely.

  “I’m sorry baby, I didn’t mean to upset you.” He murmurs a disturbed frown on his face.

  “Why were you keeping away, don’t you want me as your mate?” I have always believed in having things in the open and especially now that my life is in the balance I’m not going to change. He closes his eyes at my question, pain evident in his posture. I want to sit up and hug him close to try and lighten this burden that this man carries around.

  “Don’t ever think that, no matter what, know that you are the most important person in this world to me. You are my other half, all the time you were in a coma I prayed that you would awaken, that you would be okay.” He takes in a deep breath and then continues. “You won’t understand and this might seem sudden to you but to us Elemental’s it’s as if we have known each other since we were born. You are the light, the goodness to my darkness, to my evil.”

  “Then why?”

  “That is why; I won’t hurt you more than you already were hurt because of me. I want you to be happy, to be at peace and that you will never be with me.” He says in a growl, his beautiful green eyes alight with determination.

  “But you the only one that brings me peace, you keep the memories away. You say that I won’t be happy with you because you have darkness in you, well so do I. These last three days I have been tormented with the things that I have gone through, but as soon as you walked in my body, by mind my very soul relaxed, I’m at peace.” I see the fight that he’s going through with himself.

  “Those memories are because of me.” He growls

  “No, those memories are because of evil men. And no matter what you say, you’re not evil.”

  “Scarlett, I can’t be the man you need me to be. I am broken in so many ways.” He argues

  “Stop trying to decide for me what I need and what I don’t need, I’m the only one that knows what is good or bad for me. You have no right to make this decision for me.” I argue angrily

  “You wrong, as your mate I have every right to decide what is best for you. I will always keep you safe no matter what.” He declares with a lift of his defined chin.

  “Well there’s one problem with your statement isn’t there. You’re not my mate yet.” I point out.

  “Even if I don’t bond with you, you will always be my mate no matter what. So, don’t forget that” I can feel his anger as he snaps his reply.

  “Are you saying that you won’t have me, therefore no one else can?” I enquire sweetly

  “Yes … No, fuck” he grunts, his eyes a stormy green as he stares at me. His muscles on his arms straining with his ire.

  “You know if you don’t want me, then you can’t stop me from getting it on with one of those drop dead handsome guys that have been coming here to visit me.” As soon as the words are out I can see that I’ve pushed him too far. His eyes turn a darker green, all his muscles are tensed as if he’s about to spring. His anger palpable as he glares at me.

  “Who has been coming here, that you find so irresistible?” his voice when he speaks is a low guttural growl that if I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t hurt me would have me running in fear. “Who?” he asks again when I don’t reply. There is no way I’m going to get any of the guys that have come here into trouble when all I’m doing is trying to make him jealous enough to finally take me. Yes, all the others are handsome but none of them compare to Cassius. He has a roughness about him that calls to me.

  When he realises that I’m not going to answer he turns and walks out of the infirmary, his back so tense that I can see his muscles straining under his t-shirt. “Cassius . . .Cassius” I call but he doesn’t turn around and continues walking.

  I hope I didn’t ruin it, maybe I shouldn’t have tried to make him jealous, because it looks like I accomplished it way too well. What if he doesn’t come back? Maybe Elemental’s get put off when their woman looks at other men.

  I should really have asked Brielle more about Elemental’s, all I know is that they are possessive and will do anything to protect those close to them. I close my eyes in frustration but then I hear running feet approaching. I see Brielle and Nova run in both have worried looks on their faces.

  “Scarlett, what happened?” Nova asks as they approach my bed, “Cassius stormed past us like a thundercloud.” I groan when I hear how upset he seemed.

  “I might have made him jealous.” I grumble closing my eyes in embarrassment but then snap them open when they both burst out laughing.

  “How?” Brielle asks with a twinkle in her eye. After I finish explaining to them what I did they both laugh again excitedly.

  “You will fit in just perfectly.” Nova suggest with a huge smile adorning her face. “By the way what gift do you have?” she asks with a raised brow.

  “What do you mean?” I have never told any of them about what I can do, unless Kade said something, but I doubt Kade would have said anything. How would they know that I’m different?

  “Well, all of us women can do something. Brielle can heal, I can persuade, Jasmine can see events in the future by painting them, Gabriela can tell what’s happened or to happen with someone by touching them and Aria can hear people’s thoughts. What can you do?” I’m stunned at her revelation, I have never met anyone that could do anything like that. I have also never willingly revealed to anyone what I could do, as people tend to shy away from things like this.

  “I can tell when someone is lying, and the truth comes to me.” I whisper and to my surprise Brielle leans down and hugs me tightly.

  “That is so great, if Scarlett can tell when someone is lying we will be able to tell who’s our snitch as Aria hasn’t been able to hear anything productive out of Tina and Gloria and Sven apparently only thinks about bikes.” Nova grumbles, they must have noticed my look of surprise because both start to relay what has been happening in the last few years since Jasmine joined the Elemental’s as Wulf’s mate.

  “The me
n are sure there is someone leaking information to the Keres, but they can’t tell who it is.” Brielle confesses. “Maybe you will be able to find the culprit.”

  “I would be happy too, but I don’t think my gift is working anymore. Since I arrived here that I haven’t been able to hear any lies. Either that or no one has lied around me.” I state and both women smile at me warmly.

  “Don’t worry, your gift isn’t gone. It’s just that we can’t use our gifts with the Elemental’s, it just doesn’t work. We did find a way though.” Nova smirks, “If two of us are touching each other and one is touching one of them we can use our gifts on them.”

  “Yeah, Nova would know. She got into trouble for using her persuasion on her man.” Brielle teases

  “It was so worth it.” She says with a wink at me that makes me laugh. We are still chatting when Celmund bursts into the infirmary, a worried look on his face. “What’s wrong?” Nova enquires, but Celmund ignores her question and looks at me.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay to get out of here. We need you to come and try calm Cassius down. We worried that if we can’t calm him down soon he will turn. Nova maybe you can sing too” Celmund says hurriedly, my stomach cramps at the thought of him being so angry. This is all my fault, I’m the one that made him angry. What if he turns and I can’t stop it? What did I do?

  CASSIUS 5

  I must leave because the fury that overtakes me when Scarlett tells me she finds my brothers hot makes me boil with anger. I will find out which of them is visiting her and stop it right now, I know I need to try and calm myself as it’s not their fucking fault she finds them handsome. But the anger coursing through me needs an outlet, I’m not going to my room because the women have just furnished it with new furniture. I will have to go to the training room and get my anger out on anything and everything I can find.

  I thought I could let Scarlett go when she was feeling better, but the thought of her with anyone else drives me to commit murder. If any fucker even thinks to look at her I will decimate him, she’s mine and no other asshole will take her from me. She said I give her peace, that I stop the memories. Is it possible that my darkness won’t engulf her? Can I risk it?

  Entering the training room, I see that Draco and Bjarni are sparing in the rink, Celmund and Brandr are lifting weights. Not bothering to get changed from my jeans and t-shirt I make my way to the boxing bag and start to punch it with such force that I know if I continue the bag is going to split. All I can hear is my erratic breathing as I punch the bag repeatedly, but the anger isn’t dissipating, images of Scarlett smiling at a faceless man pops into my head and I growl.

  I hear someone calling me as if from far away, but I’m so consumed with rage that all I want to do is destroy. The seam on the bag pops, but I continue to punch until there is nothing else to punch. Looking around I grab the fifty-kilo weight on the floor and throw it. One after the other I start to throw the weights, but my anger continues to rise.

  Someone grabs me from behind and that just tips the scale, my vision tunnels and I see red. I don’t let anyone hold me from behind. I don’t even allow anyone to stand behind me, my brothers know that I will not accept that. I’m pulled to the floor and then turned on my back and Bjarni is astride me holding me down. “Fuck Cassius, calm down.” He grunts when I start to buck under him, but all coherent thoughts have left me. “I don’t want to fucking hurt you, fuck brother.” He growls.

  I hear shouting, but I can’t tell what they are saying, I feel another set of arms holding me down.

  Kill, kill, kill

  “Cassius” a soft voice penetrates my fury, “Cassius, please calm down. I’m sorry.” Scarlett? Is that Scarlett?

  “Cassius, I need you. Please come back to me.” I try to control my breathing, I need to appease Scarlett.

  “Scarlett.” Is that my voice? It’s more animal than human. I want to hold her, tell her that it’s going to be okay, but I can’t move. Focusing I see that Bjarni is over me straddling my waste, his hands holding my shoulders down. I can feel that someone is holding down my legs as I can’t move those either. “Let . . .go!” I order but the pressure isn’t subsiding.

  “Cassius breath, calm down.” I hear Scarlett persuade.

  “No don’t go any closer.” Snapping my head around I see Celmund holding Scarlett back. I bear my teeth in anger as I see his hand on her arm. I start to struggle, I need to get to Scarlett I have to get his hands off her.

  “Fuck Celmund, take your hands off her. His losing his shit again from seeing you touch her.” Draco roars, “Scarlett, don’t go near him.”

  “Cassius, calm down. Please, I’m okay you see.” I see her kneel an arm’s length away from me, a worried expression on her face. “I’m okay, listen to me, take in a deep breath and relax all will be fine.” I do as she says, and only then do I hear singing, the tone calming me. I take another deep breath and notice my vision clearing, my breathing calming.

  “Fuck Cassius” Bjarni grunts as he starts to loosen his hold on my arms, I feel the blood rush to my hands where I feel pins and needles. Bjarni must have been holding me with such strength that the blood was struggling to circulate to my hands. The manacles on my legs also loosen and then I see Draco lean back from where he was holding my legs down.

  From the corner of my eye I see Scarlett stand and then she’s walking slowly towards where my feet are, why the hell is she out of bed? Only then do I see that Brielle is touching my leg and Nova is touching her. I realize that Brielle is calming me with her healing and Nova is calming me with her voice. My heart constricts and the anguish I see on everyone’s face around me. I know they all worried about me and I hate it, but can I bond with Scarlett and expose her to my darkness?

  “How are you feeling?” I hear Scarlett ask as she stands next to Nova and touches Brielle’s shoulder.

  “Fine” I murmur, I’m not going to tell her that my anger is still beating to be set free, but at least now I’m in control. I’m starting to feel calm again.

  “You are lying.” She says, “You are still feeling anger, but you trying to appease me.” Her eyes are staring at me as if they see right through me. “Always tell me the truth even if you think I’m not going to like it.” She requests.

  “Why do you say he’s lying?” Draco asks with a raised eyebrow.

  “Because I can tell when someone is lying and sense their truth.”

  At her words Celmund whistles, “Oh yeah, our very own lie detector.” He jokes with a grin.

  “And you can do that all the time or just sometimes?” Draco asks

  “If someone lies around me I know.” She confirms, “since I awoke that I didn’t detect anyone lie but then Nova explained to me how to hear the Elemental’s.”

  “Of course, she did.” Bjarni says sarcastically, and I see Nova stick her tongue out at him and then smile impishly making Bjarni shake his head. I move slightly letting Brielle know that I’m getting up, she moves her hand and stands. Once I’m up I look at Scarlett, she shouldn’t be out of bed yet, she’s looking very pale.

  “You shouldn’t be here, you still not fine.” I grumble

  “You could just say thank you.” She states as she puts her hands on her waste and glares at me. Damn, I feel my cock harden as she takes in a deep breath to calm her anger making her breasts stretch her shirt. That’s all I need, a hard on, my brothers will never let me live it down.

  “Come on honey, let’s get you back. You’ve had enough excitement for one day.” Brielle suggests as she places a hand on Scarlett’s upper arm. She stands like that glaring at me for a few more seconds before she huffs and turns making her way slowly out of the training room. I’m itching to take her into my arms and carry her back to the infirmary, but if I touch her now the bonding will begin. Just before she reaches the door I call out.

  “Thank you.” She stops but doesn’t turn. I see a slight smile on her face before she steps out. Once she’s gone I turn to be caught off guard by all my brothe
rs glaring.

  “What the fuck happened?” Draco asks angrily with his hands low on his hips.

  “It just happened.” There is no way I’m going to tell them I was blinded by jealousy and that’s why I lost my shit.

  “How often does this just happen?” Draco asks sarcastically, at my shrug he growls and then his on me. His face is a few milometers away from mine and his eyes are glaring at me. As I feel his chest heaving against mine in anger. “HOW OFTEN?” he roars.

  “Not often, sometimes I just lose it.”

  “I heard that your furniture was all destroyed in your room, is this why?” shit, I should have known that the women would have talked.

  “Yes” there is no use me lying, that is one thing I have never done to my brothers and I’m not going to start now.

  “This finishes now, you are going to mate that woman. Do you hear me?” Draco growls angrily.

  “Yes, I’ve already decided to mate with her.” the moment Scarlett told me that she needed me, that I kept her memories away I decided then that I was fighting a lost battle, I was trying to spare her but in doing this I was hurting her and myself.

  “Thank fuck.” Bjarni grumbles, “What are you waiting for, why don’t you just go and take her already?” he asks

  “When she leaves the infirmary and goes to my room, I will.” I confirm

  “Good, that means you will be calmer by the time we have to go and get the weapons for Alexey.” Draco states, his muscles still tense as he looks deep into my eyes.

  “I will be fine.” I promise

  “Make sure you are.” He orders as he turns and makes his way out of the training room.

  “She looks like a feisty one, no need to worry about her brother. If anything, you should worry about yourself.” Celmund teases making me lift my hand and show him the finger.

  “Well, seeing as you’re feeling better, there is a lot of work for you to do here.” Bjarni calls out as he starts walking away. Only then do I look around and see the destruction that I caused. There are dents on the equipment from throwing the weights against them. I notice that even in the rink there is a weight. Sighing I start to arrange the weights the same way they were before. I notice that Celmund is standing next to the equipment trying to take the dents out.