Chapter 41: Interrupted by a Dragon’s Roar

Valen shoved his tiny body between Cassian and Karina, his small hands pushing against the Sovereign’s legs with all his might. The six-year-old’s lips were pulled back in a clear, protective snarl. He glared up at Cassian with deep, burning suspicion, as if the white-haired man had just tried to steal his mother away forever.

Karina blinked, then let out a soft, unexpected chuckle despite the lingering queasiness. The sight of her little prince defending her was so adorable!

Aww... look at him. My fierce little cub. Protecting his mama from the white panther.

"Valen..." she said gently, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Cassian looked down at the little cub, and slowly raised his hands in surrender, taking a step back.

"Oh?" He drawled, a faint, teasing smirk touching his lips. "Relax, little prince. I am not taking the Empress anywhere."

Valen didn’t lower his guard. He just narrowed his eyes. "Hmm."

Still smiling, Karina carefully lowered herself onto a nearby stone chair that sat beneath the chapel’s ivy-covered wall. The cool stone felt grounding against her back. She rested one hand on her stomach and used the other to gently stroke Valen’s hair, silently thanking him for his fierce protectiveness.

Cassian chuckled, completely unfazed by the hostility. He crouched down slightly, looking at Valen. "Anyways, did you like the ride, little one?"

Valen’s suspicious glare melted instantly, and he gave a vigorous, enthusiastic nod.

"Yes! Thank you for it!"

"Nice, you’re very polite. Have you shifted into your beast form before?" Cassian asked, his tone gentle.

Valen’s ears drooped slightly. He shook his head. "No. The king says I am too young. And... I don’t know how to do it properly yet."

Cassian’s smirk crumbled, leaving behind a tender, open expression. "Well, if you want, I can teach you how to."

Valen’s purple eyes blew wide open. A brilliant, breathtaking smile broke across his small face, revealing his tiny fangs. "Waaa, really? I would like that! I would like that very much!"

Karina’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

Oh, absolutely not, she thought, her maternal instincts flaring up like a wildfire. You are not bribing my son with beast-shifting lessons, you white-haired menace!

She stood up again, despite her tummy, and stepped forward, her hand shooting out to grab a fistful of Cassian’s expensive silver collar. She yanked him forward, forcing the tall Sovereign to look down at her.

"Why are you doing this?" Karina demanded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You have an ulterior motive. You always do, that’s what I was told yesterday. Are you just trying to rile Leonidas up? Is this some pathetic game to prove you are better than him?"

Cassian didn’t pull away. He leaned into the tug on his collar, his chest thrumming with a dark laugh.

"Partially," Cassian admitted smoothly, his voice vibrating in a low purr, and sending a tremor straight down her back. "Watching my dear cousin lose his mind over you is highly entertaining, yes. But... I am also here for you, Empress."

Karina let out a mocking snort. She released his collar, crossing her arms over her chest. "That tells me about your priorities. What of your people, Lord Cassian? What of the feral sickness ravaging your borders? Shouldn’t you be out there playing the saviour, instead of flirting with your cousin’s wife in a chapel courtyard?"

Cassian’s playful demeanor vanished completely. He stood up to his full, towering height, looking down at her with a shrewd, analytical stare that completely shattered his ’foolish flirt’ persona.

"Don’t mistake my playful personality for foolishness, Karina," he warned. "I already spoke with one of the lead healers yesterday evening, to do something about this plague. While I’m ’playing’ here, the royal physicians are currently scouting the lower city markets. They are confiscating and analyzing all dangerous weeds and rare herbs that can be used to synthesize the feral sickness."

Karina’s breath hitched slightly. Her red eyes widened a fraction.

He’s actually competent, she realized, a faint sense of respect blooming in her chest. He isn’t just a pretty face. He’s a true Sovereign. Interesting.

She quickly masked her surprise, narrowing her eyes to maintain her icy facade. "I see."

Cassian cocked a brow, leaning in just a fraction. His glacial blue eye and deep purple eye seemed to pierce right through her soul. "What happened to you?" he asked softly.

Karina stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"I heard a lot about you, being my cousin’s wife and all. About how you used to behave. But something has changed. What happened to you, Empress?"

Karina’s heart skipped a beat. He’s too observant. This is dangerous.

"It’s not your concern," she said coldly, lifting her chin defiantly. "Or would you rather I go back to weeping and grovelling at your cousin’s feet like a pathetic dog? Would that make you more comfortable?"

A faint and admiring smile touched Cassian’s lips. "On the contrary," he said softly. "I respect the changes. You have a spine now. It is... incredibly refreshing."

Is he....complimenting me?

The way his eyes traced the sharp line of her jaw, made a sudden, traitorous heat rush to Karina’s cheeks. She felt her face warming up, and she hated it.

Ugh.

"Your flirts will get you nowhere, Lord Cassian," she scoffed, turning her head away to hide her blush. "I am not one of the simpering noblewomen who fall at your feet just because you have a pretty face."

Cassian stepped closer to her, but without invading her personal space. He looked down at her, his expression completely devoid of his usual mocking tease.

"Am I flirting, though?" he breathed the question into the space between them.

Karina swallowed hard. Her throat felt suddenly dry. She looked up into his eyes, searching for the punchline, searching for the arrogant smirk. But there was nothing. He looked completely earnest.

Her lips parted to deliver a sharp retort, to tell him to back off, to reassert her boundaries—

ROOOOOOOAAAARRRR!

Karina immediately froze.

That wasn’t a panther’s roar.

That was a dragon.