Chapter Eight
Cassius couldn't sleep.
His mind was alive and awake and it drove him mad with rage. He wasn't particularly a nasty Broslan or a cruel king but he was stressed.
Rumors of darkness were spotted off to the east of Asna, deep into the Suffering Forests where some magic still thrived. Even though magic was outlawed within his own kingdom, he couldn't vouch for the Elvin king of Drovalor. Possibly some stragglers still practiced magic when they were not born with it. Humans possessed zero magical abilities while only the highborn in his kingdom could wield it.
Even now, he felt the familiar tingle rise in his fingers, itching to be released. He so longed to flick his wrist and harm a being but he repressed it.
There was a reason he didn't allow magic in his kingdom and he needed to lead by example. However, he used his gift to protect those within his walls, enchanted those four tall, black towers to ward off all who posed a threat to him or his people. Ieslal was secluded and he was okay with that. He'd rather be isolated over a warring and deteriorating kingdom that had no hope in the end. At least this way, he could control what went on around him.
Sighing, he turned onto his side, feeling the silken sheet slip down around his waist. Aye, he slept naked. Aye, it was comfortable this way. But, even the smoothness and comfort of his bed did not ease the slight ache that began in his chest and ended in his groin. Sure, he was satiated, satisfied from the elf girl earlier but that didn't halt the uneasiness or the dread that seemed to seep into his veins. He needed something wholesome, something to warm his bed as he lay restless. Nay a wife, perhaps a mistress or even a concubine but would that be good enough for him?
And it wasn't even that he needed a warm body at night. No, he just felt...lonely sometimes.
Sure, he tended to segregate himself often but that didn't mean he didn't possess any feelings. He was, after all, a man. Maybe not entirely human but he was still a male, one capable of missing interactions and passionate moments between two beings.
Knowing that sleep would not be coming anytime soon, Cas stood and stretched. He bent down to retrieve his black breeches that he wore when he was relaxing in his chamber. Shirtless, he didn't feel the cold air as it blew in through the open window. Snow was beginning to fall but he could bear it. After all, his father had forced him to take baths in ice water in the dead of winter when even the wind froze.
He put on some slippers so as to quiet his wandering footsteps. He might be king but he could be a very considerate king. After all, grumpy subjects were by far the worst to deal with.
With his mouth covering in place, he left his lavish chambers, leaving behind the massive, four poster bed and the numerous plush rugs that adorned his floor. The warmth of the fire called out to him, beckoned him back but he didn't heed it as he trailed down the spiraling stone stairs that led to an inner network of meandering hallways. Instead, he turned right and padded his way down the lengthy halls not bothering with the direction he was going.
The castle was rather large with numerous spires jutting out from the corners. This is where the chambers were located so as to prove who were noble and who were not. The slave's and servant's quarters were down below the main halls and entrances. His chamber was housed in the Royals Wing, the tallest towers at the back of the castle. His occupied the very top with a round room and several windows that allowed in the natural lighting of the night and day. Extravagant his father had been but Cassius thought not to make any changes to his late father's chamber.
Ieslal was vast and Cassius was a proud Broslan and he cherished the fact that his forefathers had conquered this land. Not from any other beings, mind you, but from nothing having stepped foot onto Asna in quite some time. Scholars claimed their world was an old one, dating back many millennia and had inhabitants far greater and brighter than its current species, until they all died out from war and diseases.
Of course, there were a few stragglers who had survived to repopulate but his kind were extremely bountiful and blessed to have continued. Save for the humans and elves, Cassius was more concerned with protecting and ensuring the persistence of his species.
Lost in his thoughts, Cassius hadn't noticed just quite where his feet had taken him. He had already passed his sister's old chamber which was situated near the base of the King's Tower and noticed the soft glow of a dying candle. She was most likely reading by firelight and he smirked, recalling her old habits. He could feel his cheeks tugging the corner of his lips as he smiled slowly. He missed the older days when he was a carefree child and did not have to worry about such trivial matters like ruling a kingdom. Those were better times.
Coming to the chamber where he placed his brother-in-law, at the very base of the stairs and closest to the back, Cassius paused, fighting the urge to blow open the door with his fingertips and strangle the bastard. Unsure of why his father chose Lord Toros to marry his daughter, Cassius wanted nothing more than to separate the couple and keep his sister safe.
He was just about to pass up the chamber room when he heard cries coming from behind the thick door. There were grunts and even what sounded like a body being thrown against the stone wall. Velorina couldn't possibly be behind that door as he had seen her off to bed just hours before. Unless, Toros snuck into her room and took her forcibly and was now having his way with her. And, by the looks of it, he would surely kill the babe.
With one swift twitch of his fingers, the wooden door splintered and inside, on a set of shivering knees, sat that slave girl with the violet eyes. Her silver hair was wound tight in Lord Toros' fist as he had his head bent near her exposed neck, nearly drawing blood from her pale skin. She was bare and he could see fresh marks from fingers and hands marring her flawless skin along with whip-like welts lining her thighs and sides. She was also bleeding from the corner of her full lips and a large bruise was beginning to develop around her left eye.
When the door burst into a million pieces, her big eyes looked up to catch his angered gaze. She was pleading with the king, silently, and Cassius knew, no, felt he had to help the poor girl. He growled out his brother-in-law's name. "Toros!"
