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“You hate him.” I’m grateful he won’t stop me, but I don’t understand his willingness to help someone he considers a nemesis.
“Yes.”
I wait for him to elaborate.
Finally, he says, “Do you really think so little of me? Just because I hatehim, little bird, doesn’t mean I want to seeyoudie.” He lifts my chin with a knuckle. “And since you won’t give up this foolish mission, I might as well save myself a lengthy argument and accompany you.”
Biting down on my lip, I reach for his hand and squeeze. “Thank you.”
The corners of his lips twitch, and he nods. “Meet me at the stables in an hour.” He strides toward the door and stops, turning to Della. “Stay with her.”
“Where are you going?” I ask. “You don’t even know my plan.”
“I don’t need to, little bird. If you’re serious about this, then we’ll need a reason to leave. I will provide that reason. I’ll let Elizabeth know I have business to take care of back at the estate, and you can tell me your plans on the way.”
He has a home outside this castle?Somehow that thought had never occurred to me.
Cassius takes my silence as his chance to leave.
When I woke up this morning, I thought I’d be making this journey alone. Now, I will have two vampires joining me. I don’t know what to expect, but it will be interesting.
* * *
The night air is frigid, biting at the exposed skin of my face. I appreciate the warm set of fur-lined leather clothing and boots that Della thoughtfully collected for me, along with the list of supplies I’d given her.
Della leads the third horse from the stable. We haven’t spoken more than five words to the other since Cassius left us alone.
Struggling with getting my chestnut horse saddled and ready, I glance toward Della from the corner of my eye.
She focuses intently on preparing the other two. One is a pretty seal dun color, the other a dark bay.
I want to ask her the reason why she wants to come. It’s clearly has nothing to do with breaking Elizabeth’s compulsion on Alaric. If I didn’t know better, I would say Della is avoiding any conversation at all costs.
By the time I manage to saddle my mount, Della has the other two finished. Pushing my curiosity to the side, I pull out the map and study it while we wait for Cassius.
We can reach the forest by riding east, moving south past Gloamfarrow and around the foot of the Sunfall mountains then north to the forest. It looks easy enough, but the pass will be faster and take us closer to where Varin said I will find the oracle.
“Is everything ready?” Cassius asks, removing a bag from his shoulder as he appears behind me with a soft whoosh of air.
I shiver, folding up the map, but before I can answer, Lawrence strides through the stable doors, dressed for a long ride and carrying a pack.
“Where is Asmod?” I ask, noticing the absence of the demon snake.
“Our demons will remain here at the castle,” he says tightly.
Della comes to an abrupt halt at my side with a low growl. The look of shock and mild betrayal twists her features. She turns to me, dark eyes pleading, as if she expects me to object. I raise a brow, not the least bit sympathetic to her plight. When she doesn’t get her desired reaction, she turns a glower on Cassius. She mouths the wordsyou bastardat him.
“Clara,” Cassius says, ignoring Della’s ire. “You’ll ride with me.” He strides past me to double check my—our—horse.
Lawrence looks displeased to be here. “Della insisted on going with you, though I cannot understand why. There is no love lost between her and Alaric,” he grumbles.
“Then by all means, stay here. You don’t need to come,” she snaps. Her head pops up from the other side of her horse to level a glare at the man.
Lawrence’s eyes widen at her sharp tone. “He is my friend. Not to mention the matter of how it would look when the woman I sired runs off with another man and Alaric’s claimed human?” he tsks. “Don’t insult me.”
He mounts the dark bay horse with an effortless leap and turns his back toward her. Della’s features crumple for a second before smoothing out. She lifts her chin, but there is still a wounded edge to her expression that tugs on my heart.
“It’s fine,” I say, not understanding what’s happening between them. “If no one else is joining us, then we should go.”
