“As am I. Your fur isn’t falling out from stress yet?”
That only happens when you do something foolish.
“You think me foolish?”
Only when you go and get yourself captured by daemons. But I still chose you because of your greatness. Despite your occasional misstep.
“I’d think Sabriel would be the most stressed out of all of you. Considering who her bonded is.”
Oh, trust me. Raine stresses her more than you do me.
Casimir chuckled.
“What are you laughing about?” Ava asked.
He shook his head. “Just Aro being grumpy…Aro.”
That comment was unappreciated.
“Well, then you two are the perfect pair, aren’t you?”
Casimir reached for her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, and brought it to his mouth. He brushed his lips along her knuckles. “Did you just call me grumpy, love?”
“Yes. But come to think of it…you aren’t as grumpy as you used to be.” Her gorgeous green eyes met his gaze.
Still holding onto her hand, he said, “I didn’t know what I was missing until you stumbled into my life. How could I be grumpy when I find so much joy in you?”
And it was true. Before Ava, he’d just been…living. Of course he found happiness in his friends, but deep down he’d always longed for a partner. Someone to share every moment with. A love so strong and unwavering he could feel it imprinted in the depths of his soul. And now she was here, by his side, and he’d never been happier.
Ava’s amused expression morphed into tenderness as she smiled warmly back at him. Casimir let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Sickening. In the middle of the desert?” Jareth bitterly called from behind them.
“Fuck off, Jareth,” Ava said.
“Yeah, fuck off, Jareth!” Raine shouted, then, “Why are we telling Jareth to fuck off?”
Casimir halted their company. “It’s time to rest for a bit. Drink some water.”
“Thank The Mother,” Raine muttered.
Casimir took a seat on a flat stone, Ava plopping besidehim. He reached for his waterskin, unhooking it from his belt, and took a large swig, Ava doing the same with her own.
Nearby, Imsel created a large trough out of stone, Gisela filling it with ice which began to melt from the heat in the air. The animals stepped up, drinking their fill. Pascal fluffed his feathers in the water, happily enjoying a cool bath.
Jareth sat off by himself and that suited Casimir perfectly fine. When he’d shown up back in Mosshaven, insisting he come along, Casimir was prepared to deny him. They didn’t need him here. He didn’t want to be anywhere near the bastard.
Casimir had always despised him. As long as they’d known each other, Jareth taunted him, bullied him and picked on everyone Casimir loved. Ava seemed to think deep down he wasn’t as bad as he let on, but Casimir didn’t believe it. And after seeing his hand around her throat, he still longed to kill him for harming her.
Though he felt some empathy after learning what had happened to the woman Jareth had apparently loved, Casimir would not tolerate disrespect. And he would never like him.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Ava asked.
He glanced at her, amused. “I don’t know what that means.”
“Right. A copper for your thoughts?”
