Autumn Burn

Chapter 16

We stayed in bed for a while before Eris announced that Cassian had returned. I quickly threw on my clothes and hurried the steps down, Eris close behind me. At least he would catch me if I fell. 

„Any news?" I asked when I saw him. Cassian's gaze lingered on Eris a second too long to be casual and then looked at me.

„Amren wants you to come to her. She needs help with the information." If Amren asked for help, it had to be serious.

„Alright, let's go." When Eris wanted to follow us, Cassian raised a hand.

„Rhys requested your presence." My mate didn't seem too delighted.

„I won't leave her."

„Yes, you will." Cassian's voice was the one of the general. Bad thing is that Eris was a general himself and when I saw the look on his face change from determined to pissed off, I felt like things were about to escalate.

„I'll be fine." I said to him, squeezing his hands softly.

„We don't have time for your bickering." Eris gave in and winnowed to meet with Rhys while Cassian and I stepped outside.

„Don't say a word." I warned him and he lifted his arms in surrender.

„I wasn't going to." The look on my face told him that I didn't believe him.

„What you do with your mate is your thing. No one's judging."

„Mor would." It had slipped out and I winced when I looked back at Cassian's face, clearly not amused.

„Mor..." he started but sighed and changed his sentence.

„Mating bonds are sacred and even though we might not like him, as long as he is good to you, we will respect it. And Mor doesn't have a choice in it, it's not her decision to make." Upon finishing, he bent down to pick me up, my arms coming around his neck automatically. Flying with him, I had always liked best.

„But she could decide that she won't be my friend anymore." I whispered, hiding my face against his chest, feeling Cassian take a deep breath.

„That may be true. But I am sure it will pass and then everything will be fine." I knew he only said that to make me feel better. Eris was a sensitive topic for her and after centuries she hasn't forgiven him for what he did. I hadn't forgiven him either, but I could see past that, firstly because it has been so long and secondly, because he has been redeeming himself, at least for me. Mor would never forgive me but he was my mate and I couldn't get myself to regret the decisions I've made regarding him.

At my silence, Cassian rose into the sky, flying me toward Amren's apartment.

—————

„You stink of him." Was Amren's greeting but I only rolled my eyes.

„And you look clueless." I countered. Amren and I had never been close but I liked to pretend that we both enjoyed our little bickering.

„Sit, girl. And tell me everything you know." Cassian flew away, giving me a reassuring smile, before I sat down cross-legged on the floor next to her, looking over the countless papers laying around us.

„There is nothing there. Nothing." Amren hissed and I only shrugged.

„Told you so." If looks could kill, I'd be dead now.

„Speak!" I told her everything that came to my mind. About guns and other weapons. About security cameras and scans, that some doors wouldn't open without a keycard or fingerprints. I also speculated with her. If they knew about magic and now with Nyx, it could be possible that they would find a way to keep them from winnowing in or that any kind of magic would trigger an alarm. Venomous gas, secure windows, clothing and doors. When I finished, Amren looked ready to strangle me but I knew her fury wasn't directed against me.