Aila twirled on the spot letting the skirt of her dress balloon around her. Her heels made her stumble slightly and sloshing some of the champagne from the flute in her hands. She leaned into Cassius, gripping onto his arm, halting herself from falling further. She was drunk on the alcohol and the two feeders she’d fed from; both were lying on the couches, pale, their necks almost ripped open. But their hearts still beat, and Davian was caring for them, leaving her to enjoy the music and Cassius’ company. 

It had been two weeks already, and she was in some crazy routine, following Cassius’ lead. Aila maintained her humanity at the end of the night, when she’d stare at herself in the mirror, the blood staining her clothes and her wolf reminding her of their mission. Malia explained to her once that during the time she fed and lost herself to the craving of blood and sometimes Cassius’ blood, Aila was almost unreachable. It was like a red, thick fog was kept between them, and it would take her a while to find her. After some time, they realised it had nothing to do with Cassius and more to do with the vampiric side of her that would take over.

Already Aila had killed a feeder after going overboard in gaining Cassius’ trust; she’d lost control of herself and he let her. She revealed to Cassius how disgusted it made her feel, and from doing that along with following his orders, she sensed the trust growing between them. Cassius seemed to like her humane side, although his own seemed to have gone long ago. But after searching deep inside the bond, she realised her presence made him curious about it. That didn’t mean he was sad by her killing a feeder; he found it more annoying than anything. 

Yet Aila was still putting down the groundwork, which was precisely why she was dancing with her master right now like there was no care in the world. Cassius removed the glass from her fingers and placed it on a side table in front of a grand painting. He spun Aila around until she was flush against his chest, and the music changed to one of a violin. 

Cassius kept his hands on her waist, and Aila hesitated in wrapping her hands around his neck, clasping her fingers together where his white locks were already starting to grow out from his shortened haircut. “It really was a shame you cut your hair,” Aila murmured, eyeing the strands that shimmered under golden lighting, giving it a faint yellowish glow. 

“Hmm, did you prefer it longer?” Cassius asked, his eyes searching her face.

“Well, now you just look like Gabriel.. I thought the long, annoyingly elegant hair suited you better,” Aila replied, losing her footing slightly. Her mind was still hazy from the blood and the alcohol in her system, so hazy that she forgot Cassius’ mood dropped by the mere mention of his brother’s name. His grip tightened on her, and any warmth and sensual gleam in his eyes was gone. Now she was staring back into what was like icicles piercing into her skin and making her shiver from the cold, his features stoic and unreadable. 

Cassius released her waist, raised one of her hands and spun her around, returning her back into his chest. It took her a while for the room to stop moving around her, and she could focus on the vampire’s face. With much effort, she tilted her head up to look at him. He was smirking again, his eyes hooded as he lowered his face to hers. Aila’s eyes widened, and she held her breath, her muscles going tense. But Cassius stopped just before her lips. 

“Aila..” His hand caressed her jaw, and his thumb brushed across her bottom lip. “Stop playing games with me.” 

Aila’s lips parted in surprise, making Cassius’ eyes light up in amusement. “What are you talking-“

He moved his lips to her ear, making her shudder and halt in their dance. “Then how far are you willing to go, Aila?” He whispered, the warmth of his breath heating her face to a rosy blush upon her cheeks, 

Aila released a shuddering breath. “I’m following your lead, Cass. What game could I possibly play?” She whispered, afraid of speaking any louder for fear her voice might tremble. Cassius’ fingers dug into her skin, and his lips lowered to her neck, making her inhale sharply from the sharp points of his fangs grazing against her skin. 

“Following my lead..” Cassius murmured. “Hmm.. But can you help me, Aila?”

That snapped her out of whatever hypnotic state she was succumbing to. “What..” Aila frowned, looking ahead of her and watching Davian’s face harden as he re-entered the room after removing the two unconscious feeders. He stilled on seeing the pair dancing and the conversation they were having; her eyes were screaming for help, but she kept her voice calm. “What can I help you with?” 

Cassius chuckled and pulled back, releasing her from his hold. He turned around and walked towards the pillared wall and the arched door. He was expecting her to follow him, and so she did, although her legs still felt like jelly from the intoxication of blood and alcohol, along with her high heels. She quickened her steps to keep up with him and relaxed after sensing Davian followed them.

It was strange, but she was starting to see her ancestor as more of like a protective brother; he was always there to split her and Cassius up if he was taking things too far. Aila was grateful to him; he’d stopped her each time from killing anyone else. Since she drained the feeder, Davian stayed by her side and would snap at Cassius if he was being careless around her. Luckily, Cassius only complained of Davian ruining the fun or mood and never ordered him as his master to stop interfering. 

Aila looked around, surprised that Cassius had led them outside the front of the castle and stopped in front of the lake. It had a small pier with a rowing boat and a tree to the side with a white cushioned swing attached to it. The white-haired vampire stared at the lake for a while; the moon’s silver hues glistened across the dark waters and illuminated her master’s hair and most likely her own into some ethereal being. But when he turned his head to look back at her, she saw the sadness and felt the loneliness clawing inside of him. 

Aila automatically took a step forwards, her own heart-squeezing from the look on his face and the emotions pouring into her through the bond. But Davian’s hand wrapped around her wrist, halting her, she looked at him, and he was frowning. 

“Shit,” He whispered. “I can’t move.” With a sigh, he let go of Aila’s wrist like it had burned him. “Be careful.” He held her gaze, and she gulped from the intensity of his stare. She nodded then walked up to Cassius, who was glaring at Davian before he whipped his head back to look at the lake.

Aila presumed Cassius commanded Davian through his telepathy. He’d been doing that a lot recently, so she wouldn’t know exactly what orders Davian was following. She stopped by Cassius’ side, keeping her eyes on the lake that reflected the moon and the stars above. It made her want to reach out to the Moon Goddess and ask her for guidance about her situation. Was she doing the right thing? Or was there a better way?

“I know your loyalty to me is almost forced. The bond does that to you,” Cassius began; there was a slight bitterness and sadness in his voice though his features were anything but. He was unreadable as he stared at the lake. She wondered where he would go with this; she thought she was doing well but maybe not, considering he was bringing up loyalty.

“I want it to be real. I knew it wouldn’t be, but I have been working on something I think you would appreciate.. and maybe our goals might align..” Cassius continued with a slight twinkle in his eyes. 

Aila stared at him; her own feelings were mixed. She did and didn’t want to be loyal to him, but she needed to show she was to gain insight into these goals. Whatever it was he would ask of her, Aila could feel he was close to revealing any plans. But she kept her anticipation and excitement to herself, keeping her face neutral. “Maybe..” She replied, waiting expectantly for Cassius to expand further before reacting appropriately. 

Cassius smiled, his gaze again on the lake as the wind blew the strands of his hair away from his chiselled features. “We need to go hunting.” 

Aila frowned at his words. “As in.. hunting humans?” She asked, feeling a little flabbergasted at the idea of going from a feeder to actually hunt a human. It felt similar in the sense of going from buying your meat at a supermarket to going to the wilderness and hunting and killing the animal yourself. Though she had already killed someone, she thought this would be different. But then she observed his features more and realised that wasn’t what he meant. “Hunt who?” She asked slowly.

“How do you feel about hunting down the people who kidnapped you, killed your parents and tried to kill you?” Cassius asked and smiled at her like he’d already won something precious. 

Aila stilled and looked away, her nose twitched slightly, and a fire ignited in her chest, her eyes glowing with the embers of the ruby specks lusting for their blood. “Hunters..” She whispered in malice, her tone unrecognisable to her own ears.. There was one hunter in particular that she felt an all-consuming hatred for.