5. The Rouge Mate

Cassandra

Her name slipped from my lips as my desires for her grew. Unbearable. I wanted to love her but had everything to lose if she was a monster.

No matter what my heart desired, she would never be mine until I knew where she came from and why she was banished. I am not really sure why we still banished people these days, a few internet searched on the dark web, a few select visits to key Schatten communities, and there you had it! You could discover who someone was before they were banished.

So my dear mate, would remain my prisoner until I learned about her past. We lived long lives, I was patient and she would have to be too.

If it were only that easy! Once I sent a team to search for her, I decided to head back down to the vault, hidden underneath my estate, to ensure that turnings were safe and silent from the humans above.

As I faded into the vault and appeared before her, I heard her breathing hitch, most likely in fear of my presence. My heart ached and couldn't stand to have her tethered, but I feared for my safety.

I was the head of the elite shadow team, ruling the world of shadow dwellers and keeping peace. If she was sent to harm me, it could send our people into chaos. But my heart said otherwise.

She was mine and I belonged to her. This situation, was not tenable.

I walked over and removed her iron cuffs, that had kept her from fading and performing magic, and I just waited to see her reaction.

I realized, after about ten minutes that she was as afraid of me as I was of her. She just sat on the marble slab and pulled her legs in, wrapping her arms around her legs. Tears were streaming down her face and her little frame shook.

She was broken.

And suddenly, I knew, I just knew that she was abused in her past. Somehow, that horror clung to her, as a layer of protection.

Every wall that I had built to protect myself from this potential threat, fell away. Every roadblock, every barricade, everything came crashing down and I found myself holding her in my arms, whispering "Cassandra, I promise that no one will ever hurt you again. I promise."

She clung to me and mumbled, "I can't remember anything but I just know it wasn't nice. My old life, wasn't nice."

"Come, let's go upstairs and you can pick out a bedroom and some clothes. Then you can shower and when you are up to it, we can talk and get to know each other."

"Oh! Stefan! What's to learn about me? I am a nobody! No past! No history! No future!"

"Hey, Cassi, you are my somebody! My mate! I am your mate! Full stop!" I said as I leaned in to whisper the rest, "I just want you, as you are. All of you!"

Then my lips kissed the tip of her nose when what I really wanted was to make love to her and finish our mating ceremony before we even left the vault. Damn self control!

I heard her ask, "Stefan, can you trust me?"

I looked into her silver eyes and tried to pull her memories but there was nothing left but the bloodied snow where I found her broken body.

"Yes. We don't know your past but you weren't evil. The banishment leaves you with your true self and you are too kind to be a banished assassin."

She let out a little laugh before pulling me closer and asking, "What are your intentions?"

Without hesitation, I leaned in and kissed her sweet lips. Oh, the power of mating.

Pulling back, I quickly asked for forgiveness. "I am sorry! That was bold of me! I shall not take advantage of you!"

She let out another small laugh, before answering me, "I didn't pull away! So stop apologizing."

Smiling at this beautiful rogue in front of me, I leaned in to kiss her again. When our lips touched, I could feel her passion combined with mine.

Our souls were starting to intertwine.

I was already lost in the danger that waited for me, in her arms if her plans were to harm me!

I didn't care.

I was hers!

She was,….

MINE!