From Blood and Ash shorts

Reliving The Past

I curled more fully into the hard planes of his chest, burrowing info the soft fabric of his shirt until his heart beat was all I could hear and feel. A rough, calloused palm drifted up my spine sitting in-between my shoulder blades where his thumb ran gentle circles over my bare skin, which was exposed to the warm breeze from the nearby window. Through hooded eyes I glimpsed at the softly swaying netted curtains that danced with the glowing light of sunset while I allowed my mind to wonder. Memories of Vikter and I training amongst night blooming roses beneath the banishing light came to me, the look of concentration on his face and the frustration when I struggled to pick up a certain movement or hold of a new weapon. Many a time he assured me his frustration lay elsewhere though it wasn't always easy to believe, especially when my own irritation was directed inwards. Once I had talked to Vikter to question his emotions while training me and eventually he revealed only the barest details about his anger towards Duke Tearman and his own helplessness as well as his regret that he hadn't been able to train me sooner, to protect me before that fateful night in Lockswood. 

The smooth caress of my hair, which fell in auburn waves around my shoulders, brought me back to the present, back to Casteel who kept my head pressed against his chest. "Do you think he's proud?" I questioned in a mumble. "Poppy?" Casteel replied in concern, his voice deep and strong. "Vikter. Do you think he'd be proud, or... ashamed by my brutality, towards the blood crown and in this war. So many people have died or been so damn injured and I just think if I were smarter, more capable, they could have been spared, that Vikter never intended for me to use my training in this way." I exhaled as I felt Casteel's chin rest on my head as he listened patiently, with care and love. "Princess, Vikter loved you so damn much. He'd be so proud to see the woman, warrior and queen that you've become. He taught you as he did so that you'd have choice: choice to fight back, to flee those who harmed you, to lead as you saw fit. You are incredible, Vikter always knew it, I know it and everyone who's come to know and loves you knows it. We're at war, Love, there's no one on this planet smart enough to avoid injury and death at war and there's no one more capable than you to lead it." I could feel how much he meant those words, every word. A tear escaped me and I wiped it off on the front of his shirt. The hand that had been soothing small circles on my shoulder moved further down to rest on my lower back where he pulled me in closer and pressed his lips against my cheek in a soft kiss before whispering into my ear, "I love you, Poppy." I wound my arms around his waist to snuggle closer and whispered back, "I love you, Cas." Casteel shivered in response to the nickname that he held so close to his heart before sweeping my hair off my neck and planting small, delicate kisses from my jaw to my collar bone where he sucked gently on the sensitive skin causing me to melt in his embrace. He smoothed his hand along my side, curving into my waist and over my hip to rest where my hip dipped back inwards, forcing the blankets to gather atop the curve of my ass. 

Right as Casteel's fingers inched forward the bedroom door swung open and my eyes roved over my shoulder to reveal a certain uninvited Wolven who paused midway thorough Cas' name before his mouth hung open in shock horror. The sort of horror... and anger that I hadn't seen from Keiran since he found me after Alister had taken me to hand over to the Ascended. Which just left me in confusion, all thoughts of telling Keiran to piss off, that we were clearly 'busy', vanished from my mind as Casteel turned me around and lifted up the blankets so that my back was flush with his chest, I was well covered and I was able to see Keiran properly, only then did Keiran's eyes meet mine and I noticed that he had been looking at my back, my bare back. "Keiran? What's wrong?" I asked with confusion and caution. 

"Who hurt you." 

It was plain, it was simple, it was gut wrenching. Casteel's arm tightened around my waist as I lay paralysed at the memory of Keirans guttural words.

Duke Teerman sneering in my face. Lord Mazeen smirking as his hands roved over my bare body, his eyes fixed on my breasts. My entire body washed cold and hot in a sickly response and Casteel pulled the blankets up higher and wrapped his arms more wholly around me, ensnaring me in his warmth and safety, in the beat of his steady chest.