KANEEven as a child, I had been well aware of the fact that my new stepfather didn’t love my mother. Though the King of Wegalla had always treated us well, and Margaret never complained about his lack of attention or kindness, it wasn’t difficult to tell that he didn’t share any affection toward her. Truthfully, Asher’s father had only married Margaret because she had been his late wife’s maid. After Selene Collins’ death, the king was desperate to learn any and all information he could about the queen, and he saw his union with my mother as an opportunity.He asked Margaret to tell him everything about the late queen: how she had laughed, how she would smile, the things that brought her happiness. Every single detail about her. Selene was the only subject of their conversations, and while my mother didn’t outwardly protest or refuse him, it bothered her greatly.She had told me once that she believed the king was just trapped in his regret. He regretted that he had neglected his bea
CASSANDRARayden seemed completely surprised by the fact that Asher was here in Yurene as well, and though it was clear from his expression that he wanted to know more about the situation, he didn’t ask for the details.The new Alpha of Wild Crawler sat at the table patiently and allowed me to share some of the more vague aspects of the king’s presence while leaving out the ones that would get him in trouble if he were caught. I didn’t want to keep secrets from the sweet young man who had come here with the intention of rescuing me, but I didn’t want Rayden to get in trouble on my behalf and face punishment at the hands of these violent Northerners. I’d seen firsthand what the prisoners in the tower looked like after being tortured and medically experimented on. I wouldn’t risk Rayden’s life like that.At the same time, there were things I needed him for, and if it was possible to receive his help, I couldn’t refuse.I told him that we needed to take a sorceress back to Wegalla with u
CASSANDRAAs we crossed the banquet hall and headed toward the entrance, I caught sight of Asher, who stood on the other side of the room. His eyes were on Kaleb and me, and I watched his lips draw into a thin line. His stare was sharp, but thanks to the distance and his disguise, Kaleb didn’t notice him. He seemed too lost in the daze of his drunkenness, and I thanked the Moon Goddess for this. The less aware Kaleb was, the easier the plan would go.The king of Yurene brought me to a small meeting room at the other end of the corridor. He closed the door behind us and then led me over to the couch on the far side of the room. He slumped down and then patted the cushion beside him.“Sit beside me,” he requested.Though I didn’t want to, I did as he asked, and once I was there, Kaleb’s eyes trailed over me.“You look really pretty tonight,” he complimented me with an earnest smile.I didn’t know what to say, so I simply smiled back. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, but something was going
CASSANDRAThe horrible sight before my eyes was the worst nightmare I’d ever seen, yet no matter how hard I pinched myself, it wasn’t going away.As the fire covered Asher’s body, his skin began to peel down. Soon, the black burnt skin became ashes, and then the ashes disappeared entirely and blew down the corridor.“No!” I screamed out of anger and sorrow. “No, no, no!”My lungs ached as I cried out, but I couldn’t stop. Tears spilled down my face like a river, and my vision started to break out with spots as I shook.No one was going to take Asher away from me.This couldn’t be happening.My skin began to burn again, and I realized the flames were engulfing me as well, but I didn’t care. There was nothing I could see but fire, endless, unstoppable fire. The screams and cries soon faded away, and as the flames danced around me, I realized that Ronald, Helene, and the other guests were gone too.But somehow, despite my trauma and all that I’d endured at the hands of fire, my fear disa
CASSANDRAThough there was still so much doubt in my heart and mind about this entire situation, Emmett seemed to have an explanation for everything.“It’s true that Kaleb’s father’s condition worsened quickly, but he wouldn’t have died so early if Kaleb hadn’t been the one to end his life,” he said. “As for Asher, it’s because he’d been trying to control his condition for all these years.”I sat there for a second and then my frown deepened even further.“I don’t understand,” I admitted as my eyebrows creased together. “What do you mean, Emmett?”“People who drink the concoction gradually lose their own minds,” Emmett explained. “Over time, they become nothing more than mere puppets for their master. A vessel without their own souls. My father had felt sorry for Asher. He thought it was evil and unforgivable to use an innocent young boy like that. So, before his death, my father asked me to try my best to cure Asher.”I blinked back at him in surprise. Emmett had tried to cure Asher?
KALEBThe whole main building was on fire.I watched it burn from a distance, admiring the plumes of smoke as they rose high into the air. It was a gorgeous sight, though dark given the circumstances. Thankfully, I couldn’t hear the screams and cries within because the tightly shut windows and doors had blocked them. As I stared at the building, I wondered if this was what those people felt when they locked my siblings and me in the dungeon, leaving us to our demise.Had they stood outside the doors, wondering who would be the victor and who would meet a violent death at the hands of their family members? Had they felt satisfaction at the idea of us fighting one another?All of my enemies, as well as those with the potential to be my enemies, were there in that burning building, but I couldn’t feel even a tiny bit of happiness at the sight. Nor did I feel regret or horror.I felt absolutely nothing at all.Those who had stood loyal to my side of the conflict had been evacuated out of
CASSANDRAIt had been five years since I’d been in my wolf form.It was strange, this feeling of pure, primal instinct, and yet it was still so familiar.I thought I would forget how to run and how to fight, but on the contrary, I remembered them quite well. The muscle memories, along with the fighting skills my father Darrin and my brother Ector had once taught me were still so clear in my mind.As my claws dug into the damp earth beneath me, a shiver ran down my spine. I could feel the power flowing through me, electric and tense. It was exhilarating but admittedly a little scary since I wasn’t used to this sensation.I lowered my head and growled, glaring at the wolves circling me. Kaleb’s guards, no doubt, each ready to take me on. I attempted to count them all but soon lost track. Of course, I didn’t care all that much about how many adversaries stood against me. My wolf instincts had kicked in and taken control of my very being.These wolves could try to fight against me all the
CASSANDRAAs we raced through the grounds in our wolf forms, I saw the buildings beyond us and noted with horror that they were all on fire now. The smoldering flames rose high, as did thick plumes of smoke.I had hoped to get some medicine from my room to treat Asher’s wound, but there was no chance of that happening now. Part of me felt a small amount of loss in knowing that many of my belongings were still within the chamber, but the other part knew that material items didn’t matter. I had my family with me, and for now, we were all safe and sound. The medicine would have been nice, but I would have to find other methods of dealing with our injuries.As I tried to suppress the pain in my back and the panic of escaping this place for good, my eyes scanned the grounds. Servants were running around desperately, their expressions horrified as they fled away from the burning buildings. They were so terrified that they hadn’t even noticed us.Finnick clenched himself against Asher tightl