HOLDING HER CLOSE TO HIM

"Should I wake her up?" Hanna seemed to know why Cane came over, she also heard there was a banquet that was held in honor for the alpha and luna.

"You may go," Cane said simply, as he stood in his place.

Hanna was about to say that she would get Iris ready in a few minutes if Cane could wait, but she swallowed it back and nodded respectfully to the alpha, as she walked out of the bedroom, leaving the two of them alone.

When Cane heard the sound of the door closed softly, he walked over toward the bed and stared at Iris's sleeping face. She looked very tired after a long journey. She had been so strong in the arduous way to the capital city. Not even a single complain escaped her lips, despite the extreme weather.

This must be the time she could sleep comfortably on the bed, not inside the shaking carriage after weeks.

Cane shook her shoulder lightly to wake her up, because the dinner was held in the honor of both of them, thus it was a courtesy for Iris to attend, but seeing how his mate was in deep sleep, Cane still didn't put more effort to wake her up.

He shook her shoulder lightly for the second time before he caressed her, soft, curly hair and then left.

========================

"What have you done to me?" Aria's voice was very grated when she spoke for the first time, she sounded like someone, who just ate sand. Her throat was burning and her eyes focused on Dexter's bleeding palm.

She repulsed by herself for craving his blood. It took everything in her to stop herself from drinking on his blood to sate her thirst.

Aria didn't know how long she had been like this or how many days or weeks had passed, since she was with this sorcerer, but the last memory of the gallows started fading away from her mind, as if it was something that had happened years ago, yet at the same time, the emotions of that day was still so fresh, she could feel the pain of suffocation when she couldn't breathe, as the rope tightened around her neck.

She still could feel the disappointment and misery that she felt that day when she couldn't see him for the last time. He didn't even grant her wish to see him in her last moment, but she still longed for him.

"Don't hurt yourself and come here," Dexter said softly, he treated her with kindness, if one could say, but there were a lot of things in Aria's mind and heart to see that.

The sorcerer's blood dripped on the white sheet, because Aria refused to get it. She looked at him with disdain in her eyes, but her eyes would flicker back to the blood. She was on the verge of giving up and took the offer, but then, she was always a stubborn woman to begin with.

On the other corner of this hut, Letto curled himself, as he watched the whole exchange, he tried to not attract attention to him, as he observed silently.

"Explain to me!" Aria roared, she hurt her throat, but she couldn't care less. Her whole body was shaking, she fought the urge to give up. "Why I am still alive?!"

"I will explain to you later when you have gotten better." That was the only reply that Dexter gave for her question.

"I want the explanation now!" Aria barked, but Dexter simply put his palm close to her lips, so she could taste his blood and that was all it needed for her to give in and started sucking out his blood hungrily.

The look of it was so painful and horrendous, Letto grimaced and winched when he heard the sound of blood- sucking noise from Aria, but all Dexter did was simply caressed her back and cooed softly at her.

"Slowly," he said.

=============================

There was nothing eventful that happened during dinner because Cane didn't talk much. He was sitting there alone and the only leader without a mate by his side, while the other had their mate or mistress to accompany them.

"She is sick."

That was the only reply that Cane gave to them whenever they asked for Iris. Seeing this, the king ordered the daughter of his chief royal guard to be with the alpha.

Yet, Cane was so cold and callous, which scared the poor girl. She tried to make an advance and please him like the way the king and her father wanted, but one deadly look from him was enough to scare her out of her mind.

Cane looked like he was in a bad mood and he didn't stay longer than necessary. The king invited him to talk about the recent issue in the morning court and after that, he left. His excuse held the water because he had been in arduous journey for weeks, thus he needed to rest.

The king didn't hold him back, but he stared at his retreating back for a little bit longer before he talked something to his advisor in low voice.

On the other hand, Cane went straight to the bedroom. His head felt so heavy and if it was not necessary, he would have skipped dinner altogether.

He had made sure that Ethan was well behave in his bedroom, though he made a fuss that he disliked the fact that he was being locked and that made him anxious and fidgety, Cane managed to talk him down about it and the gamma reluctantly listened to him.

Once he was inside the bedroom, Cane peeled off his cloak and changed his clothes, he glanced at Iris, who was still sleeping soundlessly and then joined her on the bed.

He didn't know what Iris was talking about when she mentioned the dark wisp, but right now, he only wanted to close his eyes and stopped thinking of anything, while holding her close to him.