Dawn of Fire

Chapter 4

Cassius

Mate.

He had a mate.

How could everything he ever wanted happen at the worst time possible? With the council breathing down his neck to take a mate and even going as far as to arrange him one, with the war against the humans approaching nearer by the day, Cassius felt conflicted. When he scented her, he knew immediately that the pull was the mate bond. When he scented and saw her blood on her lips, he couldn't help but bound towards her. He wanted to touch her. To hold her. Her hands in his when he passed the dagger over were soft.

Who was she? He knew her name, but who was the Fae who chose now to show herself to him?

He had no idea today would happen the way that it did. Cassius and his brother Sirius frequented the market and the surrounding town outside of the castle. Most of it was a way to escape the dull life of court and politics that running the throne caused. But he never thought in a hundred years that he would meet his mate, in a blacksmith tent of all places. He had searched far and wide before he took the throne. He checked along the coast of the black sea, the mountains of Rapida, the river lands of Astrinia, and even went as far as visiting the desert land of Nyvema. All to no avail. He returned from every trip with an alliance treaty but no mate.

“Clover.'' he whispered after she left. Tasting her name on his tongue and liking the way it felt rolling out of his mouth. It felt right.

He knew instantly as soon as he saw her that this was his soul bonded mate. The one that the gods chose for him. He felt almost sorry for her. Sorry that she was paired with a broken and scarred fae as a mate. Surely one as beautiful as she deserved someone of equal beauty to match right?

Even still, he was paired with Serena, Councilman Ettarks daughter. Ettark had been like a father to Cassius ever since his own parents passed. He had refused at first, wanting to wait for a mate. A soul bonded mate pair would be stronger than a chosen mate but Ettark had informed Cassius that the council was losing their patience. Tamarisk needed complete unity. A united front. An assurance that the Royal Line would live on after Cassius was in the afterlife.

Cassius was approaching his 100th year of life, which was still young for an immortal fae, and his 50th year as a ruler. His parents had died young and cast the throne onto him way before he was ready. Ettark, who had been his parents' closest friend and advisor, took him and his twin Sirius under his wing.

Normally fae would follow the god's wishes and wait for their soul bonded mate but with Cassius being on the throne, he needed an heir and with him approaching his 100th year and 50th year ruling the council was worried that the kingdom may feel unrest without a bloodline for the throne solidified.

With no luck in finding his god blessed mate, he was running out of time. So it was decided that Cassius would take a chosen mate. He didn't like it, but he was king. He needed to do what needed to be done.

Luckily the chosen mate for him wasn't terrible. It was his best friend, and Ettarks daughter Serena. They had grown up together and she was a trustworthy and kind Fae. She was beautiful and had a personality that could win even the weariest of Fae, so it wasn't like he was dreading his chosen mate. He just didn't love her like a mate should be loved. Of course, he held love for her and she was near and dear to his heart, but something was missing, would always be missing.

They sat up and talked every night under the stars about what their mates would be like. She of course had already found hers, but tragically he was killed in the war against humanity. His parents before they passed had sent soldiers to the kingdom of Daramond to help turn the tide against the humans. They hadn't expected it to be so disastrous and unfortunately for Serena, her mate was one of the soldiers who didn't make it home. She cried for weeks. Was a shell of herself.

When a Fae loses a mate, it can break them. Their souls were torn in two. It could drive a weaker face to madness and death. Slowly, Serena was returning to the female he remembered and held dear. Though their relationship was strictly platonic, he loved her. But the love wasn't the love a mate should have, chosen or not.

Cassius and Ettark had not talked about what would happen to the agreement of a chosen mate if he were to ever find his mate but he had a feeling. A feeling that he would be forced to go through with the agreement regardless.

The council could be ruthless. He remembered the meetings he attended when he was younger. They were cutthroat, unyielding, and strong. He didn't want to put his mate through that. Didn't want to possibly take the risk of hurting an innocent face. He may be known as the scarred king, but he's not heartless.

“What was that brother?” Sirius asked as he approached him.

Cassius was still watching the cloaked figure walk away with the dagger he had wanted. He wondered if she was a shifter Fae. She clearly had wings hidden under the fabric.

Cassius didn't have wings in his Fae form, but his shifted form was an Eagle. He often took to the skies, loving the feeling of the wind in his feathers.

He turned to his brother, his twin and saw him picking up a broadsword before twirling it in the air. He remembered the dagger he let Clover walk away with. It wasn't often that you saw a female with weapons but with war approaching their borders, some may be taking extra precautions.

“That was my mate.” he whispered lowly so no one could hear.

Sirius halted playing with the sword and gaped at him. His eyes are wide. He seemed to like the news though, because he smiled and clapped him on the back and had a smile. A smile that was so similar to his own except his skin wasn't pulled taut from scarring.

“Why do you look distraught?” he asked, taking in his brother's stiff posture and rapid heart rate.

Sirius turned ridgid. He was a fighter through and through even though he oftentimes was the carefree twin. He liked to keep the mood light, but the minute there was trouble, you'd regret crossing him.

“Serena.” was all he said and his shoulders drooped. What was he going to do now? Surely the female felt the bond? Unless she was young. Most younger fae wasn't accustomed to feeling bonds unless they were looking for it.

‘Who was she?’ he thought again. He wanted so badly to run after her, to grab her and hold her. He wanted to claim her. He wanted to ravish her. Fae was territorial and animalistic, when with their mates they could become primal creatures. Either in the bedroom or when under threat.

His heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he laid eyes on her.

She was wearing a cloak and black trousers that fit close to her skin. She had boots on and a white blouse with a corset tied overtop. Her wings were so long that they nearly dragged the ground behind her. He wondered what they looked like. Were they the color of her hair? Were they dark like his features? She was beautiful. Not just her body but her voice, her scent. She smelled like honey and flowers. His mouth watered remembering the way her scent caressed him. The way her essence surrounded his entire being. Her long blonde hair had been braided and draped over her shoulders. And her eyes, they were the brightest shade of green he had ever seen. She was everything light while he was everything dark. She complimented him in ways he had yet to discover.

“Well, let's go talk to Ettark! Let him know the news. Serena will be happy for you!” Sirius was always so optimistic. It felt like a knife in the gut to Cassius.

Sirius was allowed to be carefree. He was the lighter of the twins. He was playful, a flirt, he was like a puppy playing with his littermates. Full of energy and life while Cassius was dark, brooding, domineering.

Cassius had been like Sirius once, until his parents died. That awful night, the night he got his scar, the night he lost the people he loved the most besides his brother, had changed everything about him. Both twins were lethal, powerful, strong. But only Cassius exhibited that daily.

“Ettark may be happy for me but brother, you forget the council. They are the whole reason Serena and I are betrothed in the first place.” Cassius nearly growled. Sirius didn't shy away though. He was used to his brother's temper. They spent many days sparring and fighting while younger. Fang, claws, dagger, fists they used it all.

“It would be a crime against the gods to keep a soul bonded pair apart.” he mentioned which Cassius knew was right, but he just couldn't quite agree yet.

“And what? Cause an uproar like what's going on in Daramond? The revolution and the war on the humans they are dealing with? The traitors they are fighting? All because their Queen and King refused a marriage alliance with the humans. Their daughter, the princess, was the cost and they denied it. Denying the alliance their courts and Council wanted to start a revolution even though the war was already on their footsteps.” Cassius was growling with every word he spoke. He was snarling and baring his fangs though not at his brother but at the audacity of Daramond.

Sirius sighed and bowed his head. Of course, he knew what was going on. They were their main alliance as they were neighbors.

Their royal family had written letters to inform them of the war with the humans, but it was a shock to receive the most recent letter delivered in person from their King's Hand. His most trusted advisor. He was worn down and looked exhausted to the bone. He waited while Cassius opened the letter and read it in front of him. The Hand, Tyson, had wanted to be there to give further detail and answer any questions they had.

Of course, they had questions. Who was the traitor? What was the end goal? How were they fighting an internal revolution while also dealing with the humans? What of the princess? Is she in any danger? Cassius obviously offered refuge for her and the family but Tyson had assured him it was taken care of and plans were underway. He didn't divulge her whereabouts or their plans, but that was as to be expected.

If Cassius had a child that was in danger, he wouldn't trust anyone, not even an ally.

He remembered the princess of Daramond. He had only met her once at the ball her parents had thrown for her birth. She was a tiny babe with golden wings that wrapped around her and protected her. The infant had golden hair and was calm and never once cried the entire night.

Fae whether related or not always were protective of young and children. This was 25 years ago, but he remembered the protective instincts that overcame him when he beheld her for the first time. His parents had already passed by then, but their alliance was strong and never faltered even when he took the throne.

He didn't remember much after that night. He never met her again, so he couldn't tell you what she looked like now. He only hoped that she was protected. There was another female he cared about more right now. A female that he had just met, but he only knew her name.

Clover.