Chapter 202: Your wish is my command

The past week had been the best of her life.

The ride with Cassian to the grove, just the two of them, the lanterns burning in broad daylight while he showed her where he meant to plant some cornflowers and this now, breakfast with Damon.

Ares, on the other hand was nowhere in sight.

In fact, she had not seen him since the morning of the grove.

Cassian had said he left the palace on important business and that he had no idea what it was. He had reassured her it had nothing to do with her and she believed him but last night, the nightmare had come again but she had told no one.

Ayla stared down at her breakfast. She had been staring at it for the past five minutes and hadn’t touched most of it.

Damon was sitting across from her, one elbow resting against the table as he watched her.

"You haven’t touched your food." he pointed out.

"I am." she counted, poking at it.

"Come on, Ayla... what is on your mind?"

Ayla sighed.

setting her fork down. "Where do you think Ares has gone?"

"I have no idea. I am the last person you should be asking." He chuckled, but when he saw that the smile on her face was strained, he stopped.

"Ayla, do not bother yourself so much. I am sure it is just official pack business. He is Alpha now, and he has to do these things."

"That is exactly what Cassian said."

"Then don’t you believe us?" Damon smiled.

"I do. It is just that... I don’t know..."

"Speak of the devil." Damon interrupted, looking past her shoulders.

Ayla spun around to Ares standing in the doorway.

Her heart immediately skipped as she looked him up and down.

He looked tired but he was smiling at her.

"Hey." he walked into the room and pulled out a chair.

"You are back."Ayla stared at him.

"I am." Ares chuckled.

"Where have you been?" Damon asked.

Ares glanced at him.

"Taking care of a few things. There was a land dispute in one of the villages. The families involved refused to settle it themselves, so I had to step in."

Damon nodded slowly.

"Anything else?"

"A few other matters that needed my attention. Nothing serious. Why?"

"Oh nothing. Ayla noticed your absence."

Ares turned to Ayla with a smile on his face.

"Missed me?"

"Oh, please." Damon groaned "She didn’t even notice you were gone. Cassian and I have kept her very busy."

Ares chuckled and turned to Ayla. "Is that true? Have you been kept busy?"

Ayla felt heat crawl up her neck.

"Yes, kinda."

Ares placed a hand dramatically against his chest.

"You wound me, Ayla Evermere."

Ayla blushed.

"Break it up." Damon set his glass down with a clink. "Is it not obvious I am trying to woo Ayla here? You are interrupting us."

"Far be it for me to do that." Ares winked and rose.

He gave his brother a mock bow, turned toward Ayla, his expression soft then he leaned down close enough that his breath stirred her hair.

"Talk soon." He murmured.

Ayla nodded.

Ares smiled and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind him, Damon looked at her.

"Satisfied?"

"I’m sorry." Ayla muttered, looking down at her hands.

"Oh, come on. Don’t apologize." Damon leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed.

"So what if you like him more? I do not mind having to fight for your affections, if you have not noticed. But do not tell Cassian. He is going to obsess over that fact."

A grin spread across Ayla’s face at this.

"He is obsessive, isn’t he?"

Damon gasped in mock horror. "Ayla Evermere. Did you just admit the truth about my own brother?"

Ayla giggled, and the sound surprised her.

She picked up her glass of water and brought it to her lips, looking over the rim at Damon.

"I do like them obsessed."

Damon’s eyes darkened at this.

Ayla’s heart began beating faster as the air around them changed into one of charged tension.

"Do you now?" He murmured, his teasing smile gone.

"Yes, I do"

Ayla’s own boldness surprised her but she did not take it back. Instead, she held his gaze.

Damon slowly reached for his glass, drained the water, placed it back down and stood all the while maintaining eye contact with her.

Ayla watched him as he walked around the table and past her.

She listened to him close the dining room door and her breath caught as the lock clicked in place.

Every hair on her body seemed to stand on edge, her skin was practically singing but she did not turn around. She was aware of him the way prey is aware of the hunter, and she strained her ears to track his footsteps across the room.

She heard Damon walk across the room, taking one step and the another until he stopped behind her.

Ayla’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

His hands came down on the back of it and he leaned into her, his chest against her shoulder blades, his mouth at her ear, and when he spoke his voice was low and rough, a growl with an edge that sent her body into a frenzy.

"How obsessed do you want me, Ayla..."

Ayla closed her eyes, her heart hammering against her chest.

"Very." She breathed.

Damon went still for a moment then he pulled her chair out from the table, turned it to the side, and came around until he was standing directly in front of her.

Ayla finally looked up at him.

His eyes were dark... focused entirely on her.

There was no teasing smile now or playful grin.

There was just Damon, looking at her like he was about to devour her.

Ayla’s breath caught as Damon slowly lowered himself on both knees in front of her.

"Your wish is my command, princess."

Then he looked up at her and in that split second, Ayla was completely mesmerized.