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Cassius doesn’t move for several heartbeats. Then he releases his hold and is gone in a flash.
I breathe a sigh of relief and push myself up, sitting against the headboard, panting from the exertion. Everything hurts. My skin feels tender and raw.
Asmod pokes their head out from under Cassius’s pillow and eyes me. The thin silver tongue pokes out of their mouth, tasting the air. Slithering closer, they tap me with their smooth nose. I run a finger over their head and down the long body, over the smooth, dark green scales. The demon snake turns their head then winks before ducking back under the pillow.
Cassius returns a moment later with a cup of water. He sits next to me and raises the glass to my mouth, helping me drink. The moment the cool water hits my tongue and slides down my throat, it eases the ache.
When I finish, he sits on the edge of the bed with a knee bent to face me. A small bead of water slides from the rim of the cup down to his hand, unnoticed.
“How do you feel?” he asks.
My first instinct is to brush him off. But the genuine worry in his eyes stops me, so I take a moment to scan my body from head to toe. “I’m sore… tired, but otherwise, I think I’m all right.” I look away as I remember the past few days. Being nice doesn’t make up for his deceit. “I would like to go to my room now.”
“I will escort you.”
I drop my legs off the edge of the bed and stand. My muscles are fatigued, but I think I can manage.
“I want to be alone.” I clench my fists until my nails dig into my palms, then add, “You promised you wouldn’t keep things from me anymore… but you still did.”
Sighing, Cassius says, “I am sorry for not telling you about Alaric or the oath.”
My chest tightens at the sincerity in his voice. The apology means more because he didn’t offer excuses or explanations. Already I can feel the threads of anger and hurt begin to slowly unravel.
“Even though I’m furious with you, Cassius Wellington, I forgive you, provided this is the last time.” I swallow. “But I need space before I can stop being angry.”
His hand reaches for me, hovering for a moment before falling back to his side. “A promise now would be meaningless, so I will show you instead.”
Those words are comforting. He broke his word, but my gut says he is still my ally.
For now, my focus needs to be figuring out what my next move will be.
Otherworld take me… I was a demons damned idiot to trust Elizabeth even for a second. But I doubt there was any choice other than, drinking it willingly or by force.
Cassius nods. “It is midday. You will be safe.”
He watches me walk away, no doubt looking for signs that I might pass out. I pause with my hand on the doorknob and glance back.
“I will be here if you need anything, Clara.”
I nod once then slip out the door, closing it quietly behind me. My pace is much slower than normal, and I’m nearly breathless by the time I get to the stairs. A light sheen of sweat has broken out across my forehead.
Turning the corner, I stop dead in my tracks as I look up. Alaric is halfway up the stairs heading toward his floor. I call to him through the connection we have with the mark, but he doesn’t turn around.
Instinct takes over, and I follow him. Just as I reach the top, he closes the door to his room. I pause to catch my breath and then slip in after him. He flings his jacket on the back of the nearby couch then turns to face me.
Alaric stands perfectly still. He shifts his weight to take a step, but his body jerks back. My gut twists as I approach him slowly.
“Alaric…” I say quietly. He doesn’t respond. Dread knots in my belly. There’s something off about him. “We can’t let the queen oath bind you—”
“You should leave,” he says, voice flat and void of all emotion.
I take a step back, shocked by the unexpected reaction, not when he found me on the ground, nearly half dead last night.
His fingers stretch then form tight fists. “Leave,” he says again.
It makes sense for him to be cold and distant in public, but we are alone here. There’s no evidence of anyone else around.
When I don’t move, he strides forward and snarls viciously. I pull in a sharp breath. Gripping my upper arm with one hand, he opens the door with the other and leads me into the hall, releasing me. I stumble to catch my balance and turn just in time for the door to slam shut an inch from my face.
