BLOOD OF KHARIS

CHAPTER 11: SOLUTION

Leonidas does not respond to Cassiel's words, clearly upsetting him.

"Commander."

"I value your silence more than anything at this moment."

"You need to feed on her."

"No"

"Then let someone else do it."

"And leave them to become savages?"

"Then feed on someone else."

"...No"

"What will you do during the next meeting with the generals?"

"..."

Feeling exasperated from his silence, he stands in front of him.

"Commander, you have come too far, and fought too hard for all this to come tumbling down."

"What you ask of me is to succumb to King Oleander's desire-"

"I am asking you to save your manor! You know how these things work. How will you protect her from General Louis and Talon?"

"They wouldn't dare-"

"They have been waiting for the chance to take your position from you. If you deny them wine during their visit you are going against the king."

"There has to be another way," he hisses in frustration.

"Commander-"

"Lord Leonidas," comes a rich, sultry feminine voice. Cassiel looks behind Leonidas, groaning in frustration.

The commander turns, his eyes on the woman.

"Speak of the devil," Cassiel mumbles under his breath, before plastering a smile on his face.

"Thana, what a pleasant surprise," he says, failing to suppress his wry tone.

The woman smirks at him, pushing her long silky black hair to her back.

She stands in front of Leonidas, touching his arm,

"You have not come to see me since we won at the Southern border."

"I believe the commander only entertains you when it comes to matters of war," Cassiel responds with a smile, earning a glare from her.

Thana, daughter of the Duke of Poenaria, is one of the most beautiful and dangerous women in all of Bethilore. A warrior that has fought alongside Leonidas since he became Supreme Commander, and won his respect as being one of the strongest in the king's army. Thana, bearer of death, as she is called, may not cover up like her male counterparts in times of war, but her large pair of crescent chakrams have been by her side, preventing a single scratch from staining her pale white skin.

Despite being a warrior that men fear but would die to get a taste of, she has her eyes set on one man alone, Leonidas.

"Yes, he does but that does not mean it is simply war we entertain whenever we meet. My father had thought you would come to see him, being the connoisseur of men's demeanor that he claims to be. Judging by your face, it is clear something is on your mind. Let me help you," she says, pulling herself into him.

Feeling bile rise up to his throat, Cassiel turns around, walking away after mumbling, "Revolting."

Removing his arm from her grip, Leonidas turns to head back into his manor, "Leave Thana, I am busy."

Narrowing her eyes, she follows him, "I can wait for you to finish. I'll be a fly on the bed waiting till you're ready to release your frustrations."

***