Chapter 68: Was she sick?

The night breeze gently carried his hair with it, and Della blinked, staring at him continuously.

Was it some kind of tradition that ever powerful Alpha has to be picture perfectly handsome? Or something carved from art?

She finally looked down at his outstretched hands, the back at his face. He wasn’t just asking her to come with him, he was asking her to come with him to Nightveil.

Like he’d always wanted.

There, she might find some peace.

There, wolves would still hate her, but at least she was far away from Malachi and Beatrice.

There, Cassian would probably look after her.

But... Malachi wouldn’t like that.

And it could escalate pretty quickly considering the two of them already carry bad blood. Worst case, it could lead to war. Best case? It could also lead to war.

"I’ll take that bath, if you’re still offering," She finally replied, a tiny smile on her cheeks.

"I’ll take it,"

She looked at his hands again, wondering if she should touch it. She didn’t want to taint him with her—

"Oh for crying out loud!" He reached over and took her hands into hers, pulling her up.

She froze.

"You overthink everything," He murmured, and began walking out of the Garden.

"Wait," She whispered, then turned back, "We can’t. There are guards that have been following me. What if—"

"Don’t worry. You won’t be hearing from them for the rest of the night,"

She blinked. What did he do?!

He looked at her, saw the question in her eyes, then flashed her a sheepish grin. This time, she couldn’t help but laugh a bit.

"Where are you taking me?"

"There is a hot spring behind the eastern wing of the castle."

She blinked again.

"I had the servants prepare it before I came here."

Her brows slowly knitted together, "...For me?"

He nodded once, "I thought..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I thought warm water might help your body relax."

Silence.

"You’ve looked cold for days."

"You’ve been watching me?" Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"A little,"

Della lowered her gaze.

"You’re losing weight very fast, too."

She looked up at him, then down at herself.

"You keep rubbing the back of your head whenever you think no one is looking. And every time you stand too quickly..." His eyes softened, "...you sway."

Della’s throat tightened, "I didn’t think..." she whispered.

"I know."

"...that anyone noticed."

"They didn’t."

But he did.

"By the way, I have a bone to settle with you,"

"What?"

There was a frown on his face now, "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Agree to the blood pact between you and Leo,"

Her heart jumped. How did he find out about that?

"I saw the cut in both your hands, Della," Cassian explained, his voice bitter, "Why did you trust him when he asked you to sacrifice yourself for something you didn’t do? What did he promise to give you in return that you couldn’t just ask me?!"

She looked down, suddenly feeling guilty. She did owe him an apology for everything that happened. He’d stood for her, and she’d let all that go to waste.

"I feel terrible,"

Cassian paused, his grip on her hand tightening, "Don’t go around trusting people, Little servant. You’re already in a bad enough position!"

"You’re making it sound like you know something about all this that I don’t,"

His lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Della’s blood ran cold.

He did know something!

"What is it?" She asked.

He shook his head and continued to walk, "Forget it,"

"I want to know,"

"It’s best you don’t,"

She looked at him closely, eyes narrowing against just slightly.

"Just don’t trust people too easily. Things around you could be fake!"

Seems like that was all she was going to get out of him, and they continued to walk. Luckily, there was no one in sight till they got to the Eastern side of the castle.

And just as Cassian said, there was a small hot spring here.

The hot spring lay hidden beneath a canopy of ancient trees, its crystal-clear water shimmering silver beneath the moonlight. Wisps of steam curled lazily into the cool night air, while smooth stones circled the quiet pool like nature’s embrace.

"Wow, it’s beautiful," She breathed.

"I’ll be right over there," Cassian smiled, and turned around to walk away but he was still holding her hand.

He ended up pulling her with him again, and she gasped as she propelled forward unexpectedly. He turned around just in time to catch her before she collided with his back.

"Sorry about that," He was grinning again.

"You don’t look sorry,"

"Sorry about that," He pouted this time.

She laughed, "You’re still holding my hand,"

"Ah!" He let go and stepped back, "I’ll be sitting under one of the trees. Just call me name if you need me,"

"I will,"

She watched him walk away, and her heart clenched again. Life would have been a hundred times easier if he were her mates and not Malachi.

The moment Della stepped into the warm water, a soft gasp escaped her lips. Heat seeped gently into her aching muscles, loosening knots she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying. For the first time in days, her trembling eased, and she felt as though the water was quietly holding together all the broken pieces of her.

She laid her head back on the stone, looking up through the spaces in the canopy where the stars in the sky were.

It was absolutely dazzling.

Her fingers skimmed across the surface, watching silver ripples scatter beneath the moonlight. They shimmered like tiny stars before disappearing into the darkness.

"Beautiful," she whispered to herself.

The word barely left her lips before another memory surfaced.

A younger version of herself.

Lian laughing as the two of them sat beside a shallow stream far away from IronRidge Castle.

"One day," he’d told her proudly, "I’ll find you a place even prettier than this."

She smiled.

Then the smile slowly faded.

"I found one before you did," she murmured, tears gathering despite herself. "You’d be so jealous."

A lone tear slipped into the spring, and the water swallowed it without a trace. She wondered if tomorrow would swallow her just as easily.

Some distance away, beneath the broad trunk of an ancient oak, Cassian sat with one knee raised, absentmindedly twirling a blade of grass between his fingers.

He couldn’t see much through the drifting steam, only the outline of her silhouette.

Every now and then he heard the faint splash of water.

His gaze drifted upward, where the moon hung high above the trees. There was through brewing inside of him — one that had to do with him stealing her away from all this. They would be gone before anyone realised.

But he’d already given her that choice before, and she refused.

Water splashed again, then something else followed.

Guttural retching.

"Little servant," He called, wondering if he should turn around.

When she didn’t answer, he shot up to his feet and was instantly by the spring.

She was there, bent over the edge of the water....and vomitting on the floor.

It wasn’t food. It was a clear liquid, a little foamy.

Cassian paused.

Was she sick?!

His mind drifted back to all the symptoms she’s been displaying so far these past few days, and realisation slowly dawned on him.

Was she...?!