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“Heal yourself,” Cassius demanded.
“I can’t I used all my magic up,” I whispered. “Why are you so angry with me?” Tears pricked my eyes at how he acted towards me. I risked everything for him.
He didn’t answer. When the horse stopped, he handed me down to Nev and Haden. Cassius turned to the king who was approaching quickly.
“Cassius, we're so relieved you're alright.” He held out his arms like he wanted a hug. Cassius stood still and said nothing. The king’s smile faltered when he saw me. I was beaten to hell and bleeding profusely from my shoulder.
“Cassius…” The king started, but Cassius didn’t let him finish. Shadow tendrils twisted and crept along the ground in his anger. His eyes turned completely black with rage.
“How fucking dare you.” Even at a whisper, his voice held so much authority and rage that I shrank away from it. “Out of everyone you could have sent, you sent her?”
“She volunteered,” the king said beseechingly.
“Then you should have told her no. What part of ‘I don’t want anything to do with her’ do you not understand? Keep her away from me. That is all I asked of you. You could have sent anyone else in her place and it would have been a better choice.”
I felt everyone’s stares, and could sense their pity and embarrassment, as I stood there, bleeding on the castle grounds. I felt stupid and pathetic. I risked my life for him because an uncontrollable need to save him fueled me. Because I care about a man I barely know, but I thought he felt the same. Obviously, I was wrong.
The words spoken by the tall man earlier rang in my ears. Would he have done the same for you? No, I guess he wouldn’t have. Embarrassment painted my cheeks. I must look so pathetic and weak in front of all of them.
“Cassius!” the king snapped. I’m sure others didn’t speak to him in this manner, so there was no way he could allow Cassius to. His eyes shifted back to me, and Cassius’s black eyes followed. I stood still, not sure what to say or do. Gods, he must be so uncomfortable, and he would have every right to. Just because he flirted and touched me didn’t mean anything. The feelings of never doing anything right crept up. Cassius didn’t speak. He looked more pissed off when he caught my eye. He sneered towards me before he climbed on Onyx and left.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I walked away. Again, he humiliated me in front of everyone. I had only just made it inside the door of the castle before Nev lifted me and carried me the rest of the way. Crying was the last thing I wanted to do. Especially in front of Cassius. I would not appear weaker than I already did. Nev sat me on the bed as Haden came into my room with warm water and rags.
As soon as Nev looked at me, I lost my battle to keep my tears at bay. Sobs wracked through me. Nev frowned and squeezed my hand tightly in reassurance.
“What a fucking prick,” Haden scoffed. “Look at you. You did this to help him, and he threw a tantrum about it.”
“Can you heal yourself?” Nev asked.
“No. I used too much magic. I’ll have to try tomorrow.”
He nodded but didn’t leave. His hands grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and ripped it from where the arrow had entered.
“We need to get this cleaned up and then you can rest.”
“I need to shower,” I said, sitting up.
“While you do that, Haden and I will find some salve to help it from bleeding.”
The hot water stung my wounds as I leaned my head against the side of the shower and closed my eyes tightly. How could he say all those things in front of everyone? My heart ached at the thought that he had requested for me not to be near him.
I wondered what I could have possibly done to make him hate me so much. He was the one always seeking me out and starting conversations with me. I numbly watched the dirt and blood circle the drain. When my legs started shaking with exhaustion I got out and dried off. Glancing at myself in the mirror, all I could focus on were the bruises and cuts covering my face. My body was already starting to form deep purple bruises. I looked away from my reflection, feeling completely disgusted with myself.
I pulled on an oversized shirt and crawled into bed. A moment later Nev and Haden walked in with a small container of paste Nev sat on the edge of the bed without a word and applied it with a surprising amount of gentleness. Nev finished with a bandage and wrap. I dressed the wound on my thigh without looking up at their worried eyes.
“Thank you,” I said to both.
They gave me sheepish smiles full of pity as they left. I stood and locked my door, barricading it as best as I could. Then I laid down, facing the window and stared out at the stars, wishing I didn’t have to ever see Cassius again.
Chapter 14
My eyes stared at the crest on the wooden door. I turned towards the darkened hallway, but Cassius wasn’t in my dream with me. I shook away the disappointment and turned back to the marking on the door. It had an A at the center with swirls of silver and blue. The crest had small trees within it, crossed arrows, stars in another section, and a blue flower in the last section. On the outside, two golden dragons held each side.
It was a stark contrast to the Crimson Kingdom’s which was gold with a phoenix sitting upon a skull, illuminated by rays of sunlight, two swords crossed behind it. Of course, the emblem was wreathed with vines of red flowers.
My hand started to trace this unfamiliar crest, but the door opened before I finished. I walked in, half expecting to see the same scene I had the last time, but this was very different. I watched a memory of myself standing in the center of the room dressed in a blue guardsman uniform. The faceless man who had been in my dreams before was standing in front of me.
“So once again, you didn’t do what I asked you to do.”
