Chapter 34
CASSIUS
Shae flowed through the kitchen like her feet had mapped out every inch of the floor.
She had been with me for a long time. I still remember her in her youth. She had these tight, brown curls that coiled tight to her scalp. I can’t lie… when she was first assigned to my staff, I found great pleasure in pushing her buttons. But even with my years over her, she always spoke to me likeIwas the child. Like she had tomotherme. And maybe she did… a little.
I could smell the sweet mixture from the bowl—crushed cherries mixed together into a jam paste. She was preparing pie. I waited until she turned around, and slunk around the table before dipping my finger into the mixture.
As if she had eyes in the back of her head, she quickly swatted my hand away. “This isnotfor you,” she hissed, though a hint of a smile played at the corners of her now-aged lips.
“You’re not even the cook here.” I rolled my eyes and leaned against the wooden table. “You spoil her too much,” I sighed. “You used tolovecooking forme.”
Shae laughed as she removed the bowl from beside me and brought it to the pan that was now covered in dough. “Morrigan is much more fun,” she teased. “Shehelps me in the garden.”
“Ilovegardening with you!”
“Youusedto,” she accused.
“Youtold me I was horrible at it!”
A faint chuckle slipped past her lips. “You’re right… I remember that now.” Then she nodded. “Youarehorrible at it. I think I’ll leave it to Morrigan.”
Once she finished prepping the pie, she wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to me, shoving me off the table.
“Now, go.” She shooed me away with her hands, motioning for me to leave. “Go spend some time with her. If I’m lucky, you’ll convince her to stay. These withered hands have come to enjoy the welcome help.”
“You’re still eighty years young, Shae!” I yelled back at her as she all but shoved me out of the kitchen.
Her laughter echoed through the hall when she shut the doors, and I slumped in defeat, making my way to the library. Morrigan could survive a single day off of studying, and remove her nose from her books for once.
“Morrigan!” I yelled, shoving open the library doors and peering inside.
I was surprised to find it empty, which didn’t make sense because it was Thursday, and Harley should have been there. I stepped inside, looking around for any sign of them.
“Harley?”
No answer.
A black figure moved in the corner of my eye, and my head turned, assuming I would find Morrigan. Instead, I noticed a couple of books tossed around on a nearby desk. Narrowing my eyes, one particular book caught my attention. It was a record of the war, and the pages had been turned to a section titled “The Curse.” I swallowed thickly as I skimmed over it, remembering the day I learned what Rosina had done to us.
The people I had hurt…
I hadn’t meant to—I couldn’tstopmyself. Thank the gods Harley was there and pulled me back before I actually killed anyone. The others… well… some of them weren’t as lucky.
“Cass?” My head snapped to the side at the sound of her voice. She was walking down the stairs from the second level. “I thought you had more work to do today.”
Her hair had been braided back as she usually liked it. Shae always did it in the mornings for her. But even with it tied back, small, relentless curls peeked out, spiraling around her ears and framing her face in the most beautiful way.
You should just tell her,I thought to myself.She’d understand. You didn’t mean to. If you hadn’t been injured, you would have done it the right way. Thehonestway.
Would I have, though? I wasn’t entirely sure anymore.
“I decided to take the rest of the day off.” I sauntered toward the last step, meeting her just as she descended. “And so are you.”
Without giving her a chance for rebuttal, I slipped my hand around her back and pulled her in. I stole her lips in a kiss far sweeter than the cherries I had craved moments before. Her tantalizing moan vibrated against my lips, and it sent a jolt of heat straight to my core. A single look from this woman, and I would do anything she asked of me.
Anything but tell her the truth.
