Cecilia’s pov
I quickly collected myself and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. The cool air hit my face, but it didn’t do much to calm the chaos in my brain.
When I walked back into the living room, I nearly tripped over my own feet.
Cassian was sprawled half-naked on the sofa, wrapped in haphazard bandages like an extra who’d stepped out of a low-budget action movie set.
Sebastian stood nearby, one eyebrow raised so high it practically touched his hairline. His voice was colder than ice.
"Are you auditioning for a zombie movie, or have you switched to playing a mummy?"
Cassian didn’t even flinch. Instead, he stretched out languidly and struck what he clearly thought was a seductive pose.
"At least I’m the sexy version," he quipped. "Limited edition."
Sebastian rolled his eyes and moved in to assess the disaster Cassian called a bandage job.
"Shut up. You’re bleeding out."
Cassian gave him a mock-offended look, though his eyes sparkled. "I knew you cared the most. "
Sebastian ignored him and began wrapping fresh gauze with practiced, almost clinical precision. "Say one more word and I’ll package you like a sausage and leave you on the balcony. Muffin can lick the wounds clean."
Cassian grinned wider, clearly delighted. He extended a blood-sared hand toward Sebastian like a dramatic actor mid-monologue.
"Don’t you want so interactive healing?"
I stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, clutching my water bottle like it was the only thing keeping grounded in reality.
Their banter was so natural, and weirdly intimate, it felt like I’d walked into a scene from a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story.
I wasn’t angry.
I was just...short-circuiting.
My Alpha mate was bandaging a half-naked man who was openly flirting with him, and Sebastian? He wasn’t even dodging it.
I swear I wasn’t shipping them. Really. But if soone had livestread this mont, the internet would’ve exploded.
Fan edits. Reaction videos. "Enemies with benefits?" trending on Twitter.
"Cece?" Cassian turned his head, his brow furrowing slightly. "You okay?"
Sebastian didn’t even look up. "Ignore her. The visual probably lted her brain."
Cassian laughed, light and careless like a boy who’d never been hurt. "I think it’s your venomous tongue that poisoned her."
Sebastian pulled the bandage tight, making Cassian yelp dramatically.
"Ow! Easy! Are you trying to murder your beloved?"
My face burned instantly. I spun on my heel and escaped to the kitchen like the room was on fire.
I twisted open the water bottle and took several large gulps, trying to wash away the bizarre, half-flirty battlefield scene still replaying in my head.
A mont later, Sebastian leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, entirely too relaxed.
"Whoa, slow down. You trying to drown yourself?"
I nearly choked and coughed several tis. "A-Are you done bandaging him?"
His lips curled into a smirk. "Hasn’t Cece seen enough?"
"Stop joking..." I muttered, lowering my head. The floor suddenly looked very interesting. Guilt pressed heavy on my chest.
He walked to the sink, washed his hands with slow, deliberate movents, then dried them on a towel. When he turned, amusent danced in his eyes.
"Want to record a video next ti I change his bandages? We can add voiceover comntary. You know, for educational purposes."
I glared at the water bottle like it had betrayed . "Has Cassian... eaten? Should we make sothing?"
Sebastian feigned a thoughtful look. "So now you want to watch feed him too? Developing new kinks, are we?"
I gave up. Words failed . I looked at him with the universal expression for "I’m begging you, please stop."
He chuckled and walked over, reached out, and gently pinched my nose.
"You’re sothing else," he said softly.
And just like that, the tension broke. It suddenly felt a little less heavy.
--
When we returned to the living room, Cassian had finally put on a shirt and was mid-call with his assistant. He lounged back on the couch like nothing had happened.
"You head back first. I’ve got so ss to clean up here... Yeah, just tell him I’m gravely injured and he should start prepping an urn," he said casually, as if discussing lunch plans.
He gave a few more instructions before tossing his phone onto the table.
Sebastian and I sat down as he ended the call. I watched Cassian with a strange mix of awe and anxiety.
anwhile, I felt like my own nerves were unraveling one by one.
My fear wasn’t just about . Sure, I’d pissed off Maggie Locke, and that alone was terrifying. But at least the target in that case was clear: .
But now that I knew the truth about my family, a whole new fear kicked in. It felt worse.
I wasn’t just scared for myself anymore. I was scared for my mom.
If Maggie’s people could go after Cassian, who was tall, trained, and probably had security around him.
So how was she supposed to survive that?
Cassian stretched and leaned back, clearly unfazed. "Sebastian, I’m crashing here for a couple days."
Sebastian nodded without hesitation. "Fine by ."
Then, with a more serious tone, he added, "You need to replace your security team. If soone could get that close to you in broad daylight, it’s either gross incompetence or a serious breach."
Cassian nodded, his jaw tight. "I know. I’ll replace them all once I’m back. Trust is a rare commodity these days."
He sighed and threw an arm dramatically over the back of the couch. "Why don’t you lend Tang?"
Sebastian didn’t even blink. "No. He’s busy."
Cassian threw a hand over his heart like Sebastian had just ripped it out and stepped on it.
"I’m bleeding. I’m broken. And you won’t even lend your elite bodyguard? Wow. So this is how it ends."
He paused, shook his head slowly, then gave Sebastian a wounded look.
"What happened to loyalty? What happened to ’bros before...’"
His eyes slid over to . He smirked like he’d just figured out the plot twist in a drama.
"Oh. Right. You’ve got a new leading lady now."
Sebastian gave him a sharp, cold look that said it all.
I pressed my lips together, offering an apologetic smile.
Sebastian checked his watch. "It’s almost eleven. Let’s call it a night. I’ll show you to the guest room."
He led Cassian down the hall, their voices low, fading into the quiet like the end of a long day.
I slipped out of the living room and headed upstairs before they ca back. I didn’t really want to talk. I just needed space.
By the ti Sebastian returned, I was already in my room with the door shut.
A knock ca, soft but distinct.
"Cece?"
I didn’t answer.
The light in the bathroom was on, water running. I stayed where I was, behind the door, letting the sound fill the silence.
"You taking a shower?" he asked.
"Mmm," I said, just loud enough for him to hear.
A second passed. Maybe two.
"Good night," I added.
He knew what that ant. I needed space.
Today had been too much, and my brain felt like it was running in circles.
I needed to be alone for a while. Just to breathe.
There was a pause. Not long. But long enough to notice.
"Sleep well, then," he said, a little quieter.
I heard his footsteps moving away, slow and even, until they vanished.
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