Although she had heated for him quickly, like their few times before, unlike those times, the longer they shared intimacy, the more nervous she became.

Cassius understood this had to do with his declaration that he had given her a climax in the garden that morning, but that had not been reciprocated, and he wished for it to be so.

He’d thus gently ended their time together, deciding such would need to be led up to, come naturally, not announced it would occur, and then be taken.

However, for the most part, she responded to him beautifully.

One could definitely say they had chemistry. She roused him, he roused her.

But she was still virgin, and they’d known one another but days.

He had to tread cautiously, apparently in all things, and give her time to get used to him.

Hearteningly, the impossible seemed to be occurring. They were learning to come to accord and doing it swiftly.

A Nadirii and an Airenzian.

Unbelievable.

But it was true.

Until now.

“Let us go back to how we were in those times,” he suggested.

Elena turned fully to him.

“With your hand between my legs?” she asked sarcastically. “Or with your tongue in my mouth?”

“I meant us speaking to each other and listening to each other in a civilized manner,” he replied, seeking patience.

“We did this before you behaved in the manner in which you behaved during the fight,” she retorted.

“Elena—”

“I do not know who those assailants were, but they were untrained. Easily dispatched. They factored surprise, numbers and brawn higher than skill and strategy. This is always a faulty play, as it was last night. I was in no danger.”

“I disagree, my princess, for the minute I entered that room, you were moments away from receiving a mortal blow.”

“And did this happen?” she queried.

“No,” he gritted. “But only because True interceded.”

“I did know he was near, Cassius,” she spat. “Any warrior in any battle knows where her allies are.”

She wished to speak of this?

They would speak of it.

The fullness of it.

“And of course it was True who was near,” he returned.

“He was fighting to Silence.”

She might be right.

She was still wrong.

“He was fighting to you.”

She shook her head. “You cannot say that as you’d just arrived.”

“I can say that because he’s besotted with you.”

“He didn’t seem besotted with me not long ago, when he clashed with Mars over Farah.”

“And does that wound you, my future wife?” he drawled.

She blinked rapidly three times before her eyes stayed open and they did this wide.

“I am no longer True’s,” she snapped.

Oh no.

Bloody no.

Those words did not just leave her mouth.

He leaned forward and bit back, “You were never True’s.”

Her eyes again narrowed. “You cannot know what True and I had.”