Page 128 of Remnants: Disruption
I forgot what it feels like to be desired like this.
“So,” I pant when she finally leans back. “Back to pretending like I can’t stand you?”
She huffs out a laugh and, God, I want to kiss that neck.
“Do you believe you could take on Loki and Beowulf’s colleagues?” she asks the question like she genuinely wants to know.
I shrug. “How much of that fight did you see?”
“Almost none. I almost thought something had snuck into the Citadel. You looked ferocious,” her tone dips like the idea of me being powerful is an aphrodisiac.
“I don’t think the other council members have it out for me, but I don’t think I could take Azazel.”
Cass grins and steps aside, letting me see the new black clothes arrayed on the stout drawers.
“Azazel is a mystery, too. Though they like you, so I suspect you will never have to find out.”
“And the others?” I ask, stripping my silky shirt off.
I hear Cass take in a sharp breath.
“It is strange to see this side to you,” I pull the shirt over my head and, like before, notice my braid is done. “Did you braid my hair?”
“Is it wrong?” Cass asks, sounding genuinely nervous.
“No,” I say, turning to face her. I drop the sleep shorts and watch her eyes widen again before pulling on the joggers. “It’s exactly how I do it. I noticed it last time, too.”
Cass regains control of her deepening blush before blowing out a breath.
“I watched you do it enough times to know how,” her nonchalance belies the worry in her eyes.
“I know you were spying on me. I just hope you kept your eyes to yourself when I showered.”
Cass nods fervently, and I place my palm along her jaw, feeling the muscles clench with anxiety.
“I told you before: you were there for me when no one else was. Without you, I’d be dead. I can forgive a few months of light stalking. Just be nice to me going forward, yeah?”
She nods again, but there’s a flicker of something dark in her orange eyes.
Chapter 48
Election
November 14th, 1030 A.D., Afternoon
Let’s not pretend that Tempest is altruistic in its decisions and nature. It runs like any other society—fit with corruption and greed.
Tempest Originators, Protest from 1030 A.D.
Over the last few weeks, it’s become increasingly obvious why Bloody Mary instills such fear and reverence.
The moment we’d left her quarters; Cass transformed back into the woman that I’d come to regret ever knowing. Though, this time, it felt more like being in on an inside joke.
We’d decided to keep what we were doing a secret—for now. Though what exactlywewere was somewhat nebulous. Neither of us labeled it besides my quip about dating a goddess. Cass being nearly seven hundred years old also made this feel somewhat surreal.
And her being a legendary boogeyman was also adding to the strangeness of it all. Especially since I’d all but got into it with her on Marla’s front porch.
Whatever we are, I still feel a bit uneasy at having accepted her apologies and reasoning. The idea that her cold treatment had all been a ruse seems too good to be true.
