“You’re cute when you pout.”
“Cute is the word humans use to describe things with fluffy tails… hamsters… pet birds. Hell, I’ve turned into your pet! Release me immediately!”
Laughing, I carried him back into my room and set him on his feet. “You’re not my pet, but you are weak.”
“I tire of your compliments.” He smirked. “My pride cannot handle any more—” He fell toward me.
Gripping his broad shoulders I slowly lowered him back to the bed. “You know, you only get one body, you better take care of it.”
“I—” Cassius yawned. “Despise humanity.”
“No, you don’t,” I answered quietly, bringing a blanket over his shoulders as tremors wracked his body. “You just need to rest.”
“I cannot rest until the mystery is solved and I can’t solve a mystery, train you, protect you, and love—”
“Love?”
“Er… food.”
“You weren’t going to say food.”
“I’m sick, cease your arguing.” He closed his eyes tight.
I kissed his forehead, only to have him pull me close.
“Stay,” Cassius whispered, his bluster spent. “When you’re with me…”
“What?”
“I feel… happy.” He opened his eyes as if the concept had only just now occurred to him. “More than that, I… feel complete.”
My heart soared as I answered back. “Me, too.”
He pressed his hand to my neck, then pulled me in for a searing kiss, one that burned so hot against my lips I let out a gasp. “Damn, you taste good.”
“Because you’re hot.”
“Attractive hot?” He pulled back, his eyes locking on mine with such heated intensity that it nearly took my breath away.
I brushed a kiss across his lips. “Still arrogant even when he has a fever. Good to know.”
“My body is different…” Cassius’s face fell. “But I find that my feelings… are very much the same.” His head tilted as he cupped my face. “More confusing than ever.”
“Cassius.” I leaned in until our mouths nearly touched. “Why are you really here?”
“To train you.”
The air twisted in front of me, it tasted bitter. With a smirk, I whispered, “Lie.”
Cassius’s mouth broke out into a blinding smile. “They taste different, don’t they?”
“Bitter… wrong.” I nodded.
“Because a lie spoken from your lips is a falsehood released into the universe, the atmosphere. A man’s destiny is decided by what he speaks. And when he speaks a lie, creation cannot knit together the pieces correctly, the result is bitterness.”
“So, why are you here?”
He was quiet and then, “I’m here for you.”