Page 13 of Elysian

Neither of us said a word.

CHAPTER FIVE

Quarrel

Ihad yet to look away from the ring he’d torn off his hand. Flesh clung to the insides, and the ring’s black, polished stone reflected the torchlight across from the cells.

“Volcan was not the only one I believed was murdered by redbloods.”

Cassiel sat with his back against the bars facing my cell. His unsaid words insinuated he had also believed his mother’s death was caused by redbloods. When he tipped his head back, some of his locks spilled onto my side. I curled my fingers into my palm. Wanting to touch his hair was not much of a surprise considering he was my bondmate.

The title sank into my stomach like a stone. With everything that had happened recently, I had not given more thought to what we were to each other.

“Another lie,” I mused, shaking my head.

He hummed his assent.

It must have been a reminder each time he touched me that redbloods took everyone he cared for away from him. I stamped down the smidgen of sympathy rousing in my belly.

Cassiel stood. He kept yanking and tugging at his tunic. His scabbed blackened thumb had begun to heal.

With a sound of frustration, he tore the blood-stiffened fabric off, exposing his sculpted chest. I hated that my eyes tracked the carved ridges of his torso. Especially the way the dips framed his midsection.

I exhaled hard, dropping my head to scratch at a dried bloodstain on my dress. “How long were you on the streets until the council came for you?”

“I had reached my seventeenth annum.” He offered a response with ease. I paced to the corner and gingerly lowered.

“How did they Awaken you?”

“I do not know.” Frustration coated his words.

“Is there anything you do know?” I tucked my chin onto my raised knees.

He was silent, and his eyebrows raised. “Yes,” he responded in a silky tone.

I lifted my head, waiting.

“That you are mine.”

“You are mad,” I blurted. “I want nothing to do with you.”

His focus sharpened, and he barked out a laugh. In a single fluid motion that belied his size, he strode toward the bars between us.

I huffed, pushing onto my feet with a bit more effort since I had to favor my hip. “Humored to hear the truth?” I retorted.

“Sarcasm, Vessel, I thought you above it.”

“My lord,” I mocked pointedly.

His stare hardened. “You anger me.”

“That is quite evident.” I lifted my chin, gritting my teeth.

I knew the cell was empty since someone had removed the bucket I had peed in while I had been with Al, but still, I scanned.

“What are you searching for?”

“Something to toss at your hard head.” I limped over to the bars.