Page 19 of Surrendered to Mate

"Fair enough," Cassius nods. "But you can't keep me tied up forever."

I raise an eyebrow. "Watch me."

I grab some clean cloths and my medicinal supplies, steeling myself for the task ahead. Cassius watches me with those dark, intense eyes as I approach, and I force myself to focus on the task at hand.

"This might sting a bit," I warn, dabbing a cloth soaked in zabilla extract on one of his burns.

He hisses through his teeth but doesn't flinch away. "Your bedside manner could use some work, sweetheart."

I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the way his skin feels under my fingers. "Yeah, well, I'm not exactly running a spa here."

"Could've fooled me," he quips, his voice low and husky. "Your touch is quite... soothing."

I feel heat creep up my neck and concentrate harder on treating his wounds. "Don't get any ideas, pretty boy. This is purely practical."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," he says, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. "Though I must say, I'm flattered by your attention to detail."

I glance up, meeting his gaze. There's a glint in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine. I quickly look away, cursing myself for the reaction.

"Hold still," I mutter, moving to a particularly nasty burn on his shoulder. As I work, I can't help but notice the defined muscles beneath his pale skin. I swallow hard, trying to push away the unwelcome thoughts.

"You know," Cassius says, his voice dropping to a whisper, "if you need to see more skin, I'm more than happy to oblige."

I snort, hoping it masks my flustered state. "In your dreams."

"Oh, trust me," he purrs, "my dreams are far more interesting than this."

I feel my cheeks burn and resist the urge to smack him. Instead, I press a little harder on his wound, eliciting a satisfying wince.

"Oops," I say innocently. "Did that hurt?"

He chuckles, the sound sending an unwelcome thrill through me. "You're playing with fire, sweetheart."

I meet his gaze, determined not to back down. "I'm not afraid of getting burned."

For a moment, the air between us crackles with tension. I'm acutely aware of how close we are, of the heat radiating from his body. His eyes darken, and I see a flicker of something primal there – desire, hunger, I'm not sure which.

Clearing my throat, I quickly finish treating his wounds and step back. "There. All done."

Cassius flexes his shoulders, testing the bandages. "My compliments to the healer," he says, his voice rough. "Though I think I might need some more... thorough attention later."

I turn away, busying myself with packing up the supplies. "Don't push your luck."

Just like every other day, the rest of the afternoon passes in little quips between us. I ask questions he won't answer. He prods me about my past and Liiandor, though I don't know why.

When dinner finally comes around, I toss the fresh carcass at Cassius's feet, waiting for his reaction. I expect him to at leastwrinkle his nose at the dead animal since I suspect his earlier comment was a joke.

But his eyes widen slightly, nostrils flaring as he takes in the scent of raw meat. And he doesn't look at all unhappy with the prospect of his meal.

"Dinner's served, pretty boy," I say, crossing my arms. "Thought you might prefer it this way."

He looks up at me, something dark and hungry flashing in his eyes. "How... thoughtful of you."

I watch, waiting for the disgust or hesitation. Instead, Cassius leans forward, hunching over the carcass. His long hair falls like a curtain, obscuring my view. I hear a wet, tearing sound and quickly look away, my stomach churning.

When I glance back, Cassius is sitting up straight again, though blood dribbles down his chin. The carcass lies untouched, flesh and meat intact. I frown, confused.

"Not hungry after all?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

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