The duo arrived at the defensive post of the city guards just as the last rays of sunlight faded beyond the horizon.
The atmosphere in the camp was thick with tension. A fierce battle had taken place before their arrival, with beasts ranging from one-star to four-star attacking in waves. Cassian had missed the worst of it—the brutal clash between a pair of Two-Circle Warriors and several mages against the four-star beast. But from what the survivors told him, it had been anything but pleasant.
The biggest shock, however, was the death of one of the warriors during the fight. It was rare—extremely rare—for a Circle Warrior to fall outside of battles against their own kind. They were resilient, their strength forged through countless struggles. To die … it meant the battle had been far worse.
The tense atmosphere was understandable, especially with the arrival of a Third-Circle Warrior to reinforce the camp. But for Cassian and Lumine, it didn't matter much. Exhausted from a day of running, searching, and fighting, they retreated to one of the abandoned houses in the village to rest.
Lumine carefully placed the kitten on a soft, fur-lined blanket left behind by the house's previous occupants, ensuring it was warm and comfortable. Meanwhile, Cassian sank into a cushioned settee with a deep sigh. Judging by the furnishings, the family that had lived here had been among the wealthier ones in the village—it wasn't common to find such luxuries in a place .
Though clearly tired, Lumine smiled as she watched the kitten sleep soundly. Without hesitation, she walked over and settled into Cassian's lap, wrapping her arms around him. "We saved her," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet relief.
"Yeah, we did..." Cassian nodded, giving her thigh a gentle squeeze before adding, "Wanna take a bath?"
Lumine sniffed herself, raising an eyebrow. "Do I smell?"
Cassian shook his head. "Nah," he murmured, pressing his face against her neck, leaving a soft kiss there. "Just want to relax a bit..."
She chuckled, running her fingers through his hair before standing up. "Then let me see if there's still some water in the bathroom," she said with a small smile before heading off to check.
"See if there's anything to eat too," Cassian called after her, leaning back on the settee. Given that the house was noticeably larger than the usual village homes, there was a chance they might find some leftover supplies.
As Lumine disappeared down the hall, Cassian's gaze drifted to his altered warrior circle. It had definitely changed—he hadn't imagined it. But why? He had never heard of such a thing happening. Maybe Katherine would have some answers, but that would have to wait until all this chaos was over.
Thinking about her, he realized how little time they'd spent together in the past few months. First, he'd been caught up in the family murder cases, then the torture, then being trapped in the training ground. And now, here he was, thrown into another mess. His life had been nonstop ever since he moved to the city.
Not that he minded. He liked the thrill of it. Still, he wouldn't complain about a little downtime in between. A break that wasn't just filled with sex—though he wouldn't mind if it was.
Thinking about that very topic, Cassian looked up just as Lumine walked back in with a smile.
"Good news," she said, setting her hands on her hips. "There's plenty of water, and I found a lot of fruit too."
Cassian grinned as he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "My favorites…" he murmured before pressing a kiss to her lips. She melted into it, responding with equal warmth.
"So, wanna wash up first?" she asked, tilting her head playfully.
"I was thinking we could do it together," Cassian said with a smirk. His hands slid lower, giving her a teasing squeeze. "You know, so we can help each other out... reach those places we can't on our own."
Lumine smiled, her lips barely grazing his in a teasing touch before she whispered, "Places like what?"
"You know, the ones that are hard to reach," he murmured, his hand gliding up her back. "… the back is such a tricky spot to wash properly."
Lumine smirked, tilting her head playfully. "Well, maybe for you," she teased. "I can clean my own just fine."
Cassian chuckled, tightening his grip on her waist as he pulled her closer. "Oh really? Then I guess you won't need my help at all," he said, his lips grazing her ear.
Lumine hummed, pretending to think. "Hmm… I suppose an extra pair of hands wouldn't hurt," she admitted.
He smirked, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. "That's what I thought," he said, carrying her toward the bathroom.
As they stepped inside, the dim lantern light cast a soft glow over the space. The water in the large basin was still clean, a rare luxury in these times. Cassian set her down, his hands lingering on her hips.
Lumine turned to face him, her fingers playing with the hem of her top. "So… are we actually washing or just pretending to?" she asked with a knowing smile.
As Cassian helped her pull it off, he smirked. "You'll find out soon enough…"
Lumine grinned, just as eager, and helped him shed his own clothes before they dove into a hungry kiss.
The exhaustion of the day did nothing to slow them down. Their bodies pressed together, heat building between them as Cassian's hands roamed down, slipping into her pants to squeeze her ass. With effortless strength, he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist.
Lumine's fingers traced the muscles of his back, nails dragging lightly as her silver hair tumbled free from its ponytail, cascading around her like a halo in the dim light.
For a fleeting moment, her flowing hair reminded Cassian of Cassandra. But rather than hesitation, the thought only fueled his desire. It felt like he had conquered something that wasn't impossible, having sex with both sisters.