Page 13

13

The Art of Falling

Annalise

The engine goes silent. Now, the only sound to be heard is the occasional flutter of insect wings, and birds chirping their morning song.

I’ll admit, I wondered where we were headed when Cas pulled off the main road and onto a stone path that’s led us deep into the forest. Lush, thick greenery surrounds us like high-reaching walls. Straight ahead, at the end of the path, is a foreboding archway that’s half-collapsed at the keystone. Climbing off Cas’s bike, I study the structure, the tall pillars and dilapidated walls of white stone—the diminished remains of ancient ruins.

“Careful,” Cas says, and only now do I spot the log that would’ve tripped me if he hadn’t reached for my hand, drawing me into his side.

He’s warm and his touch is still so familiar. Hence the reason the contact has me sucking in a breath, admitting to myself how much I’ve missed it.

It’s been weeks since we’ve talked. Or rather, it’s been weeks since I’ve reciprocated conversation, and there’s so much I want to say, so many questions I want to ask. For starters, what changed his mind about the Consort Elects? He made it seem like there was so much on the line, like there were so many reasons to follow through with his initial plan. So, how did we get here ? To a place where it’s only the two of us, just me and the man who makes my stupid heart skip every other beat.

Like now, as his hand slips from my waist, and he casually laces his fingers with mine.

“What is this place?” The question leaves my mouth as we pass beneath what’s left of the archway. Ivy slinks up the large stones, and an array of wildflowers add a splash of color to the bases of the crumbling pillars that surround us.

“I assumed you’d been before,” Cas says when he glances toward me. One corner of his mouth curves with a smile, and my gaze briefly slips toward his lips before I force myself to look away.

“I—no. My aunt and uncle weren’t big on exploring. Because they were raising a household of girls, they only saw value in activities that promised to yield some sort of financial or social benefit.”

Cas’s expression has me wondering if he wishes he’d chosen his words more wisely. Life for men within the clan differs greatly from those of our women. Even from an early age. For them, education and self-discovery are both highly encouraged. For women, it’s abundantly clear in the way we’re yielded that it’s believed our place is within the home.

“Would you like me to tell you where we are? Or would that make this feel more like a history lesson than a date?”

I blink twice when he uses that word.

Date.

Yes, I’m aware that’s what this is, but… who would’ve guessed that the alpha even knew how to date?

Clearing my throat, and clearing the thought from my head, I nod with a smirk. “Mmm, tough call,” I tease. “If we’re not careful, we could find ourselves leaning into after-school special territory, but you’ve got me. I’m dying to know more.”

He laughs, and I’m adding that sound to the list of things I’ve missed while we were distant.

“This temple belonged to an ancient civilization. One that existed long before our clan came to be,” he says. “Well, I suppose that’s only half true. Technically, our people occupied this land even then, but the four quadrants didn’t exist. There was no division of clans at all at that time. There was only one unified clan among all of wolfkind.”

My brow quirks. Our history before we were Clan Centauri is such a tightly held secret. It’s almost as though the elders would prefer that we believe there was nothing before there was us. I’m reminded of the plea I made to Cas when I first stepped foot in his study. So many months have passed that it feels like a lifetime ago, but the moment was too pivotal to have forgotten the details. Like how I all but begged him to lift the veil, to educate our people and trust them with information that had previously been gatekept. So, for him to now be sharing so openly, I can’t help but wonder if he’s beginning to evolve.

“There were four families,” he continues. “They all reigned together, but as you can probably expect, having equal power only worked until it didn’t.”

I smirk because that outcome was so incredibly predictable. Very rarely are two or more powerful entities equipped with the level of emotional stability and humility to truly coexist in harmony.

“Long story short,” Cas continues, “the four families had their own vision of how they saw the unified clan growing and prospering into the future. And, of course, these rogue thinkers also had hoards of followers who aligned with their ideals. So, they split, formed their own clans, then connected with covens of witches who either bought into their vision, or saw opportunity to thrive with one clan more than another. It was out of this turmoil and chaos that the four clans were born, and this fallen temple is all that remains of the past.”

I imagine what it may have been like for Clans Centauri, Eris, Sedna, and Atria to function as one powerful, united people. It’s wild to me that something so pivotal, something so essential to our history, isn’t more widely known.

“I had no idea that’s how it all began.”

Cas nods. “It’s easy to think things are as they’ve always been, because the transition took place millennia ago, but our history is actually quite colorful.”

I don’t speak. Not because I disagree with him, but rather because I do agree, and he seems to realize this pretty quickly.

“I suppose I’ve just inadvertently made a good argument for why our people should be taught these things.” His expression is contemplative, and I wish I was inside his head as the revelation unfolds.

Silent, we walk toward the clearing at the center of the ruins, beautiful and damaged, a shadow of its former glory. Sunlight glints off the tips of the dew-covered grass, and a gentle breeze sweeps through, turning the shimmering droplets into liquid gold. We stop beside a deteriorating staircase, and Cas places his duffle bag there.

This place truly is magnificent. Everywhere my gaze lands, there’s something new to observe, something new to be in awe of. Cas mentioned that the ancient civilization that reigned here fell apart thousands of years ago, and it’s evident that nature has been slowly reclaiming this space ever since. But although I’m taken in by the beauty of it all, I’m admittedly unsure why I’ve been brought here. Dressed in sportswear, no less.

Cas chuffs a laugh, and my gaze slips toward him.

“I’m guessing you’re confused,” he says, and I can assume this means my facial expressions are a bit more transparent than I realized.

“I… yeah. Maybe a little.”

He laughs again, gesturing toward the steps. When I sit, he drops down beside me, staring out toward the otherworldly scenery as I do the same.

“Well, I thought it would be fun to do something a little different, but now that we’re here, and I’m thinking about it… maybe this was kind of lame.”

He’s so solemn, concerned I’ll judge him as harshly as he’s judging himself, which makes it seem even more cruel when a laugh slips from my mouth. Cas slides a look my way, and I try to stifle the sound, but there’s no use.

“Damn, I haven’t even explained, and you’re already giving me shit about it?” When he laughs, I’m unable to hold in my own laughter.

“This is just… kind of new.”

“ What’s new?”

I shrug. “It’s just strange seeing you so… I don’t know… in your head.”

“Glad to hear my mental anguish is comedic gold to you,” he teases.

“Oh, yeah. Big time.”

Cas shakes his head, and that smile is still on his lips when he gazes out across the clearing again.

“At the risk of you laughing yourself to death, I’ll tell you what I have planned.”

I purse my lips together, pretending to lock them shut while he finishes. His shoulders rise with a deep breath, and when he blows it out, I’m practically on the edge of my seat.

“I brought you here… to spar,” he says. My brow arches because that wasn’t at all what I expected.

“Interesting.”

His smile broadens a bit. “Shit, I messed up. This is a terrible idea, isn’t it?”

“No, not at all!”

He shifts on the step beside me, disappointment marking his expression. I’m guessing he feels misunderstood, or like he didn’t put his best foot forward.

“The day we met, I heard everything you said. Even if, in my stupidity, I pretended not to,” he admits, chuffing a quiet laugh.

My thoughts take me back to that fateful day, recalling it as though no time at all has passed. I remember so clearly what it felt like being seated in his study with my heart in my hands, praying something I said would make a difference. Only to be shot down and objectified in a soul crushing display of flagrant disrespect. The memory races through me like poison flooding my veins, but I refuse to allow anger to consume me, dragging me back to the dark times I’ve only recently escaped. It takes me closing my eyes to rid my mind of the thoughts, and I feel centered again.

That was then, Annalise, and this is now. He’s changing, and the kindest thing I can do for him is to give him room to grow.

I reopen my eyes to find Cas staring, sadness swimming in his gaze. The look serves as proof that a heart does in fact beat inside that broad chest of his. If someone told me he had it in him to be sweet, thoughtful, and transparent, I never would’ve believed it. But somehow, he’s become all those things.

He lowers his head, and I don’t miss the hint of shame that lingers with him.

“All you wanted was to be considered an equal,” he says softly. “This is my way of declaring that I see you, an acknowledgement that you’re not some weak damsel in distress. You’re formidable and powerful in your own right, so I thought I might teach you to harness that power.”

He breathes deeply, wearing his heart and insecurities on his sleeve. While I’m certain he hates being so vulnerable, I kind of love it. The softness. The humanity.

“Okay, you have my attention.”

His eyes flit down to my lips as I wet them, and the rawness of the moment has me wondering if he’s thinking what I’m thinking. That I’d love to kiss him right here, right now, show him that despite what the last several weeks have looked like, I no longer believe we’re broken beyond repair.

“I figured we’d stretch for a bit first,” he says distractedly, forcing his focus away from my mouth. “Then, if you’re up for it, we’ll work on some fighting techniques.”

“I hear you,” I say, holding back a smirk. “But don’t you think it’s a bit presumptuous to assume I don’t already know how to fight?”

His stare stays trained on me, and I manage to keep a straight face. He’s been so worried he’ll screw something up, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mess with his head a little.

“I just… I figured you…”

A smile slips, hearing how he stammers.

“Relax. It’s a joke. Thanks to my upbringing, I’m actually embarrassingly helpless when it comes to combat.”

Relief fills Cas’s expression when he realizes I’m not actually offended, but I nearly laugh out loud when I think of that word.

Helpless .

My grandfather, the great Gideon Breedlove, would never stand for anyone in his bloodline falling under that category. Not even the women. But this is a fact I’ll let Cas discover for himself once we begin.

I place a hand on his arm to relax him again, but I’m now more focused on the feel of his solid bicep than anything else. He’s held me many times, and I don’t think the feel of his protective embrace warming my body is something I’ll ever grow tired of, but we’re not here to get reacquainted physically . So, against my better judgment, I deny myself the pleasure of letting my hands wander, and I pull away, dropping my hand to my lap again.

Focus, Annalise. It’s imperative that you take things slowly. Cas is still one hell of a wild card, and you’d be foolish to rush into something just because you’re horny and haven’t been touched in what feels like forever.

I take a breath as fantom pleasure pulses through my clit, prompting me to clamp my thighs tightly, owning my truth. Especially the part about being horny.

So incredibly horny.

Cas stands, and with his staggering height, he blocks out the sun. The glow illuminating him from behind makes him appear almost ethereal, and I don’t realize I’m staring until he smiles.

“Are you… ready to stretch?”

He extends his hand, and I don’t hesitate to take it this time. I’ve completely warmed up to him, and I’ve also warmed up to the idea of spending more time alone together.

I’m pulled to my feet with very little effort, and as I trail behind him, I’m overcome by a feeling I didn’t expect—hope.

And what’s more surprising is the fact that, for the first time in a long time, I’m not pulling back. I don’t know this new version of Cas, but what I do know is that I like what I’ve seen of him so far.

And at the risk of getting ahead of myself, I must admit… a girl could definitely get used to this.