A Court of Hope and Anguish

Fourteen

!!! Mature themes ahead!!!! If you don't like mature content skip this and the next chapter. Will give a small summary of important details there.

Netsa felt shaken to the core as she ripped her hand back. The just stared at each other for what seemed like forever. She finally broke the stare and looked down at her hand resting on his wing.

" They are beautiful. " She said in a hushed tone. So quiet she wasn't sure he had heard. He seemed to shift and his wing now draped over her knees. She gaped a little as the warmth from his wings warmed her lap. They were heavier then she had imagined. She looked to cassian whos face was distant but observing. She let her hands run along the bones under the skin of his wing and the talon on the highest peak. She had read book with males with great big wings that swept the ladies off theit feet. Usually into a bedroom somewhere.

She supposed that had happened to her in a fashion. She had hardly notice cassian move a pillow into his lap and focus on anything but her. Once she did notice she looked at him puzzled. She looked too the pillow on his lap and his erratic attention.

"What is it." She asked curiously, looking to what he was looking at. Nothing but carpet. Her head snapped back to him as he didn't respond. sudden flare of irritation and the lack of response she slid put from under his wing and stalked to infront of him. She reached down and grabbed the pillow and the shock on cassians face seemed to catch her off guard. He didn't have time to yank the pillow back as she gawked at him.

Her face became flush with a dark red as she gripped the pillow tighter. She hadn't realized that touching his wings would cause such a reaction. The looks, the growls, it was all making more sense. A bubbling tightness in her rose as she took a step back.

"I- I need to shower before dinner." She quipped before hurrying up the stairs and into her room. once the door had been locked and she had a second to breath she slid down the door. She tried to level her breathing as she stared at the pillow, as she remembered what it had been covering. She threw the pillow. She didn't understand why it was making her feel like this. Like it was her first time seeing a male excited and in need for female attention. She swallowed and did her best to push the thought and ache of her own down.

She had taken some time in the shower to breathe and get a grip on herself. She couldn't seem to shake the fantasy that filled her mind. The want, the need. She had wanted him in that moment, suspected the reaction that touching his wings would cause. But yet she had been so eager to think of any other possibility. The thought of wanting something, someone like she had just wanted him. Filled her with a terrible fear. Fear of loosing it. She couldn't loose something she didn't have. But the pain from not having it she realized was almost as painful. She had been wanting him for weeks, since that morning. The way he stayed by her side. How he had sworn to protect her. How he had done everything in his power to do so.

She decided that the least she could do was to explain to him. Explain that the things she said weren't true. That maybe she did want him, that maybe being his mate wouldn't be a bad thing. She dressed and seemed to sit on her bed coming up with reasons this was a horrible idea. But as she looked to the pillow on the floor in the corner of the small room she knew. She had stood and made her way down the stairs.

She called for him as she came into the living area. He did not respond. A small note was next to a basket of local fruit on the table. She picked it up and read it.

You were in the shower, so I am going to use the one across camp. I will be home in time for supper.

She huffed and sat on the chair as she regarded the note. Why should she wait? No. She wouldn't. She stood abruptly grasping the note in her hand. She strode to the door and flung it open and walked out into the brisk rain.

it had taken a time for her to to locate that baths but she had quickly realize she had walked past the path to the bathing house twice. She now walked down the muddy walk to the bathing houses, her dress and stalkings soaked entirely.

As she saw the bathing house she froze. Cassian was there with a bathing towel over his shoulder as he leaned up against a wall near the door. She watched as she turned and held the door open for her as they filed in. The baths were separated into two parts but with the same entrance. Or so she had been told by cassian earlier that week. Nesta felt a surge of jealousy as her feet moved towards that door. Was she too late. Had he decided to move on? She paused at the door, the sound of running water filling her ears. She went to reach for the door but it swung open. The girl, a small readhead with skin a shade lighter then cassians came out of the door, hair wet and a small smile on her mouth. She excused herself as she hurried past her. She watched her go before turning to the door again. She slid into the door before it closed. A small path sat there a cloth over each side of the hall. One mens and one females. There sounded like there was only one shower on. A deep humming echoed off the dense walls. She recognized it and pushed past the cloth to the showers on the other side without so much as a thought. Cassian stood naked, his back to her as he let the water glide over his tan shoulders, over his wings and down his back.

"Women arnt allowed in the mens side of the showers." He said with a teasing tone. He did no so much as look back at her.

"Tell that to the girl that just ran out of here. I saw you go in with her." Nesta hissed, she stayed clear from the water splashing into the floor from the shower. His back muscles rippled as he leaned his head back and let the water soak through. He stopped at her words for a small second before continuing.

'Did you just come to stalk and yell at me nesta?" he asked with a bored but with a taunting tone. She saw red as a marched closer so she could see his face from the other side of the stream of water. She now stood three feet from his left side as she balled her fists in anger.

"I did not stalk you! I came here to apologize. But as you found yourself other company I will just see myself out." She exclaimed to him. She went to turn on her heel but his warm wet hand caught her wrist. She turned ready to slap him but his face was soloum when their eyes met. She felt some of that rage fade as she watched the water drip off his face.

"I didn't do anything with her.She was showing me a hole in the girls wall that needs repair. She flirted with me but I didn't return it." His voice dark but his eyes a blaze with intensity. She shifted to she was facing him again. A kernel of self consciousness rose to the surface as she looked away.

"You could have. It was clear she liked you." She mumbled only just audible over the water. He pulled her closer with a strong gentleness. He took his hand and moved her chin so she had to look him in the eyes. He slowly leaned down, dripping water on her already damp head as he kissed her. The kiss was not sweet or gentle but firey and full of passion. He pulled her to him and then against the wall infront of him. Water now poured over her already soaked clothed body.

"I don't want anyone but you Nesta Archeon. I already told you. You are my mate and I will wait tell the world dies for you if I need too. Be with as many males as you like.As long as I am the last one. The one you choose in the end. When your ready." He said after he pulled away from the kiss. His hand on her side. His wings out loosely behind him. That shiver and ache seemed to return in full force again.

"Couldron boil me. Are you going to kiss me again or what." She said placing her hands on his chest. she watched as she trailed those tattoos. He let out a small rumble of a growl and kissed her. It was a rough passionate kiss that lasted for over a minute before they pulled apart to breathe. The hand that had been on her cheek had moved to the wall above her to stabilize them. He seemed to watch her now with a feral gaze. She continued to trail the tattoos tell her gaze dropped down. Down to the same area that had been covered with a pillow earlier. That flush returned to her cheeks as she stared at the length of him.

"Do you like what you see?" He purred into her ear and her toes curled. She wanted him deeply. She wanted him now.