Run.

Goodbye.

It was hell. Seeing Alexis so defeated and broken down tore at every fiber of my being and I had to fight tooth and nail not to go to her. My instincts were to go to her, to hold her, to tell her what she did, although it was insanely stupid, would benefit her in the long run. I should be there holding her telling her she could have more now, more heirs. But I knew first hand that that wasn't the point. The point was she lost one due to her own decisions and she would have to live with that fact for the rest of her existence.

But I couldn't hold her, I couldn't be there.

So as Cassia made her leave, I followed behind her, taking comfort that the ancient immortal at least felt some form of guilt towards her actions. 

I wasn't blind though, I knew Cassia was interested in me. I don't know why but she was lingering around me more, she had even helped in seducing Ryan and compelling him to follow us. Her hands had touched me in ways I only ever imagined Alexis' to. It was comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. I didn't want her touching me but she...affected me. It was nice to know that I could seek some semblance of comfort from another woman when I left Alexis. I wouldn't have to be alone for however long this separation lasted.

Cassia didn't walk to her room, no, she walked to mine...Alexis'. She ignored my questioning look and walked into the adjoining bathroom. I followed her to see her washing her hands of the evidence of her kill. Blood covered the sink and I sneered in distaste at the sight. The white stood out so dramatically in comparison to the red that now stained it.

"As soon as it is confirmed that the hunters are no longer after Alexis, I'm leaving." Cassia announced  and turned to me. "But you still won't be safe until you disappear. You're a Yandir, they want your kind dead. So I have two options for you."

I cocked a brow in questioning.

"You and Cassandra may go into the world with a false sense of comfort that you will not be caught, but you will be, I can almost guarantee that." Cassia leaned back on the bathroom counter. "Or you can accompany my brothers and I. We can offer you the best protection on the face of the planet."

"Why?" I asked, knowing the reason already.

"Don't play the fool, Emilia," Cassia began to approach me slowly. "You are not blind to my advances and I don't hide them. I am allowing you time though, to understand that you are leaving your mate behind tomorrow and I will give you time to mourn that as well," Her hand touched my cheek and I felt a blush creep onto my face. "Just do not leave me waiting too long, for my time with you might be limited and I wish for it not to go to waste."

"What do you mean limited?" I stepped back. "We're immortal."

"Indeed we are," Cassia smirked. "But so is that pesky mate bond."

She slid past me and walked out of the door, leaving me baffled by what had just occurred.

"She needs blood-"

"No, what she needs is rest-"

"You obviously don't know her, she needs a nice big gulp of Mr. Beam's finest." Chuck shut both Melanie and Cassandra up and looked to me. "Now that they are quiet, how about you go ahead and let us know what you need, Lex?"

"I want to be alone." I mumbled, my voice hoarse and it almost hurt to talk.

Waking up after blacking out was strange. Three sets of eyes met mine and I was still shocked by the actual fact that I fainted, that had never happened before, I didn't even know it was possible.