Beg me

The next day began well for Sage, and she was relieved that she was doing something rather than being rendered unconscious by Cyrus and remaining in the room.

She was having breakfast with Charlotte and Mirabella and was wondering where Isabella and her father, Duke Sergio, had gone.

Breakfast wasn't as quiet as it had been in the past, and she felt compelled to speak despite her thoughts being consumed by the events of the previous days.

"You suddenly ran off last time. It would be a pleasure if you could accompany me to town today." Mirabella spoke politely, and Sage returned a polite smile.

"Naturally, I will. I apologise for what happened yesterday." Sage's words were punctuated by a heavy sigh.

"You mentioned Katherine... who exactly is she?" Mirabella inquired, hesitantly.

Sage's eyes widened in surprise.

"M.. m.. why do I keep forgetting about her?" Sage groaned in frustration.

Mirabella's eyes narrowed with interest. "Was it the water mage?" She inquired.

Sage rose up and nodded. "I'd like to go find her."

She turned away, but Mirabella interrupted her, saying, "Cyrus has sent her away."

Sage squinted deeply. "What!" She didn't care about masking her rage with her voice.

Mirabella amusedly grinned and nodded, as if realising something, while Charlotte looked curious.

"I don't want to become involved in your and Cyrus' relationship, but..."

Cyrus strolled into the dining room, groaning lazily. "But nothing," Mirabella scowled and rolled her eyes, earning a quiet chuckle from Cyrus.

Sage didn't notice Mirabella's reactions because she was shivering with rage.

"Where has Katherine gone?" Sage yelled at Cyrus.

"Unlike the other days of snoring and sleep walking to death, you slept sweetly, parrot." Cyrus replied quietly, completely ignoring her comments, then drew out her chair behind her and sat on it, one leg on top of the other.

"Where has Katherine gone?" Sage asked again, this time agitated.

"You touched my shelves, my book, lovely parrot, you are not allowed to do so," Cyrus spoke again, disregarding the enraged fire mage in front of him.

"Where is Katherine, Cyrus Dragos?" Sage inquired, her teeth clenched.

A smile pulled at his lips, and his eyes shifted to her. "You eavesdropped." He paused, hissing and carefully wiping his brow.

Sage's frown vanished. 'How does he know I was eavesdropping?' In astonishment, she inquired about her thoughts.

"You rushed in because you thought I had him?" Cyrus inquired, his face amused. The lethal glimmer in his icy blue eyes couldn't be hidden.

She was no longer angry, but rather stunned, which made Cyrus proud. He didn't want the water mage causing any problems.

Charlotte and Mirabella were looking at the couple as though they were watching a play. They prayed silently that Cyrus and Sage would not start kissing and touching each other in front of them like the last time.

"You two should leave." Cyrus muttered something to Charlotte and Mirabella.

"I guess we won't be going to town... again," Mirabella grumbled as she rose to her feet.

Charlotte, who had been quiet, was the first to leave the dining room, followed by Mirabella, who had a slight frown on her face that only Cyrus could see.

"Did you murder her?" Sage inquired, returning to the subject of Katherine.

"Who did you lay with?" Cyrus questioned sternly.

"Stop right now!" Sage yelled angrily. "Imprint this on your mind! I'm not married to you to be your wife; I'm married to you to kill you, so you have no right to question my sexual life!" Her heart was filled with hatred.

"Oh," Cyrus' voice lingered, amused. "I know you are married to murder me." He got to his feet, made a long step towards her, and grabbed her arm. "I married you to kill you, dear parrot, but you are mine until then." He hissed and drew her in close, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Mine to destroy." He chuckled deeply, his silver eyes blazing as he stared deep into Sage's angry gaze.

"I adore how you underestimate me," she said, forcing a smile.

"I do not underestimate you, my lovely parrot; you act terribly idiotic most of the time." He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

Sage was deeply offended but opted not to respond.

"You married me to kill me, the last ice dragon, the one who brought the eternal winter, gibberish, gibberish, gibberish," He murmured lazily and drew her in closer, pressing their bodies against each other.

Sage could hear her own heartbeat and felt her body reacting to the extraordinary closeness they were experiencing right now.

She blinked quickly, swallowing hard, trying to process what was happening to her, but she couldn't deny that the arrogant man in front of her was simply too scrumptious.

Her thoughts returned to the little heated moments they had experienced when she was under the grip of the mark of lust.

Did she like it? No, maybe?

Cyrus eyes sank into those emerald eyes that exposed rage, resentment and lust?

"Are you paying attention, darling parrot?" He inquired, his gaze drawn to her lips.

Sage nodded slowly, chewing her lower lip.

"Hmm?" Cyrus' lone brow raised.

He pushed her hair aside to see her neck, and there it was.... the mark of lust, visible.

"Interesting," he said quietly, caressing his fingers on the mark.

"No wonder!!" Sage exclaimed quietly and massaged her marked neck.

"You said you took it out!" She yelled.

"I did," Cyrus whispered as he pushed the mark, earning a pained gasp from Sage.

"What are you doing?" She wished she could scream, but she couldn't.

She slapped his large hand away from her neck and clutched the sides of his coat, peering at him intently.

"It can't dissolve." Cyrus muttered, his gaze and voice hardening.

Sage's head felt lighter than normal, and her vision was becoming blurry.

"Why?" She inquired, panting.

"Your hatred for me is extremely strong; the mark wishes to remain." Cyrus replied casually.

Sage's eyes almost sprang out of their sockets. "What! No!" Her eyes welled up with tears.

Cyrus hummed and agreed, "Unfortunate, isn't it?"

"Remove the mark!" Sage's voice eventually broke through, barely.

"His name?" Cyrus urged that he lean in close to her.

Sage trembled, wanting him to hold her tightly. The sensation was unbearable!

"Cyrus, please remove the m.." Sage stammered.

"Name?" Cyrus demanded eagerly.

"Darren Aldea!" Sage yelled hurriedly.

Cyrus' lips drew up. "The water mage?" He asked, amused.

"Do you know him?" Sage was stunned. "No, there is something far more important. Remove the mark!" She didn't want to be attracted to him.

Cyrus bit his bottom lip, nodded, and smiled deviously. "Beg me."