It took him a moment to shake free from the lingering thoughts of her- her skin, her expression, the sweet, erratic rhythm of her heartbeat. But once he did, his mind sharpened, slipping back into its natural state of calculation. Cassius had never been one to let his thoughts rest, not even after enduring his father's latest punishment. Even as the ache lingered in his muscles, he was already anticipating the next game, the next performance in the cruel theater of courtly entertainment. This time, his father's chosen pieces were his two cousins and his aunt.
His fingers tapped idly against the edge of the bath as he soaked in the warmth, stretching out the moment. The heat dulled the pain, but his mind remained razor-sharp. But then, his sharp ears caught it, the sound of that familiar. That same noisy little heartbeat that always seemed to stutter and race, as if unsure whether to flee or stay. Stuttering. Skipping. Tempting.
