Chapter 624
“Your Highness, you should not have provoked Theo,” Ian warned with concern as they still sat in the mansion’s hall. “I’ve cautioned you about the extent of his influence. He won’t just sit back; he will use the senior council members to challenge your very right to rule p>
“Then I shall deem those council members unfit for their positions if they choose to side with a man like Theo,” Casaio declared. “What he is doing is blatant fraud. He assumes that because an ’insignificant’ omega died, I would simply look the other way. He is mistaken. I may have turned a blind eye to such corruption in the past, but those days are over p>
Casaio leaned forward. “Theo will repay every penny he stole from those he exploited under the guise of lending money p>
Zilia watched him from her seat, noting the tension in his jaw. He wasn’t just angry; he was deeply annoyed by the systemic rot Theo represented.
“The Prince is right in his heart, but that is rarely how the higher Alphas see the world,” Ian added with a weary sigh. “I will take my leave and see you both later p>
He rose from his chair, offering a respectful bow to Zilia before turning to leave the room.
She placed her hand over his as soon as Ian left. Casaio was quick in apology as he felt Zilia needed to hear it.
“Why are you saying sorry?” she chuckled, her confusion coloring her voice.
“Didn’t you hear what Theo said? The audacity… I felt like ripping his mouth apart! He’s playing the innocent martyr while bleeding people dry,” Casaio muttered. His eyes flashed a predatory, deep red, the mark of an Alpha pushed to his limit.
Zilia knew exactly how to dismantle his rage. She stepped into his space, cupping his face with both hands, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. “Calm down, okay?” she whispered. Her words were like a feather brushing against his skin. For a second, his eyes turned back to their natural color, but the reprieve was short-lived. A different kind of intensity flared in them, darkening to a deep crimson.
He stood abruptly, his fingers lacing with hers to pull her up.
“Eh? Where are we going?” Zilia asked, her heels clicking against the hardwood as she tried to slow him down. “Ah!” She let out a soft yelp when he suddenly scooped her into his arms.
“To our room,” Casaio said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
In seconds, they were inside the suite. He lowered her onto the plush mattress, before he turned to lock the door.
“I thought we were going out to—” Her words were cut short as he leaned down, capturing her mouth in a relentless, hungry kiss. His knee sank into the soft mattress between her legs as he pressed her back into the pillows. Zilia’s hands flew to his chest, this time gently pushing him back just enough to catch her breath.
“What’s going on with you, Cas?” Zilia asked softly, her hand finding his cheek to caress the stubble there. “You’re restless p>
Casaio leaned further into her palm. “I just want you. I’ve taken care of the matter for now,” he murmured against her skin. He pressed a lingering kiss to the center of her palm before his lips traced a path down to her wrist, lingering over the pulse that he could feel under her skin.
Zilia felt a surge of heat rising in her body. Reaching up, she gripped the collar of his thick outer robe and pulled him down, closing the distance for a deep kiss. She sank back into the pillows as he followed her down, hovering over her. He was careful to keep his weight supported by his hands on the mattress, framing her body with his own.
His one large hand moved down to her feet and removed the shoes she had put on while he already had removed his own to make sure her feet could stay comfortably on the bed.
They nibbled and sucked at each other’s lips before their tongues took charge to taste each other.
Casaio’s hand shifted from the mattress, his fingers sliding into her hair to hold her head steady as he explored every inch of her mouth before he finally pulled away, giving both of them a moment to breathe as much air as they could.
Casaio peppered kisses along her jawline, each one burning against her skin, before stopping at her chin. He nipped at it lightly, a playful but sharp bite that drew a soft moan from her throat. Suddenly, he pulled her up, shifting her until she was straddling his lap, her legs wrapped firmly around his waist.
Both of their hearts were thundering with joy, forgetting their earlier confrontation with Theo and the surrounding tension regarding the matter. Zilia moved urgently, pulling her hoodie over her head and tossing it aside, followed quickly by her warm white sweater.
Casaio’s eyes darkened as he watched her, his hands helping her discard the layers before she turned her attention to him. She fumbled slightly with the buttons of his shirt, her fingers trembling with cold and anticipation. Becoming impatient, Casaio let out a low growl and tore the shirt open, shucking it from his shoulders in one swift motion.
His broad, muscular upper body was finally bare before her. Zilia didn’t hesitate; she reached out, pressing her palms against his heated skin of the chest.
“You’re freezing,” he rasped, his hands coming up to cover hers, pressing them harder against his chest to warm her.
“I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just too cold outside,” Zilia murmured.
“I’ll warm you up. Don’t worry,” he promised with a tease.
Zilia leaned in, pressing a fervent kiss against the side of his neck. Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer as she inhaled the intoxicating scent of uniquely his. She trailed a path of hot, lingering kisses down his throat, her focus narrowing until she stopped at the mark she had given him, the beautiful matebond symbol that declared them bound to one another.
She brushed her lips over the skin of the mating mark, feeling him shudder beneath her.
Casaio let out a low hum of approval, his hands sliding down to her hips to pull her even tighter against him, his head falling back as he gave her better access. His hand slowly moved to the back of her head, pulling it up to kiss her once again.