I laid my hand on Raya’s shoulder and turned to go in search of William, but a movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.
Cassandra descended the staircase.
Utter rage overtook my entire body, filling every crack and crevice of my soul. “You.”
I lunged toward her. A blast of light left my fingertips before I even knew what happened. I lost complete control, my light exploding toward the woman I believed responsible for losing Kade.
If she had been more honest with us, more forthcoming, he might be here.
Cassandra held up a hand, splitting my light so it diverted it around her and crashed into the stairwell wall behind her, leaving a singed mark on the stone.
Storm stopped me before I could get any closer to her, grabbing me by my middle.
“Don’t you stop me, Storm,” I screamed. “She knows. She knows what’s happening and is keeping secrets.” I pivoted back to face the seer. “You spoke in riddles, not giving us an ounce of direction. Do you see what happened to us? Do you see who is missing? Who wastaken.This is your fault.”
Another blast of light left my palm, again without me even trying. Storm jumped away from me as it careened into a chair next to the stairs. “Lana, calm down.”
I turned to him. “Calm down? You want me to calm down? Her evil mate is free, trying to destroy our very world, and you want me to calm down?” I shook my head incredulously. “Oh no, not whilemy mateis out there, with only the Fates knowing what is happening to him.”
Cassandra appeared unbothered by my outrage. The lack of reaction to my words about Kade seemed so unlike the caring woman I’d met those few short weeks ago. “I’m glad you finally realized he is your mate. One less thing for me to worry about.” She finally finished coming down the stairs and stood before me. “But you may want to get all that in check.” She pointed to the incinerated chair before looking me up and down.
This woman was unbelievable. Who did she think she was, acting like she was so unaffected by it all. She cared for us, she loved Kade. I know she did. This wasn’t the same Cassandra who’d healed me at Mount Legion.
“This is your fault,” I said, pointing at her. “You did this.”
Cassandra faltered for one moment, a flash of guilt, before steeling herself back into this new hardened version. “You touched the amulet. As did Kade. What’s meant to pass did. No use being upset over it,” she retorted.
I screamed, grabbing for her, only for Storm to wrap his arms around me again.
“Lana, it will do us no good if you cannot have a productive conversation,” he whispered to me.
I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths, slowing my breathing and my racing heart. Tears flooded my eyes at how angry I felt, and I hated it. Hated the reaction that would let her know how much her actions got to me.
Several moments passed before I opened my eyes, letting some of the rage dissipate enough for rationality to return. Unclenching my fists, I nodded at Storm. I could behave. My anger must have visibly simmered to an appropriate enough level because he felt comfortable to release me from his grasp.
“You have not fulfilled your destiny,” Cassandra said as she met my gaze. She moved across the room toward the bar top. Kalliah appeared, and she gasped. “Lana.” Hurriedly, she set the cup of tea she carried down on a table by Cassandra and ran toward me.
I choked back a sob, sweeping her into a hug.
“We were so worried,” she said, pulling back and looking me up and down. “Ian is travelling to gather your army.” She squeezed my arm before letting go.
I swallowed down some of the anxious energy I’d felt seeing her again. Once I put eyes on Ian things would be better. Then we’d find a way to Kade and I’d know everyone I loved was here. Safe. I adjusted my tunic, my gaze shifting back to Cassandra. In order for us to get Kade back though we needed answers. Giving myself a moment, one steadying breath, I faced the seer again, refraining from cursing her for good. “What else aren’tyou telling us? There must be more about the prophecies you can share. You must have seen something else.”
Her eyes narrowed in my direction as she sipped the tea. “You do not ask the right questions.”
Frustration didn’t even begin to come close to how I felt at the way she continued to act. I clenched my jaw tight to keep from spewing hateful comments. Storm stayed close to my side, ready to intervene again if necessary.
Before I could fire back a retort, Jax finally returned, trailing behind a flustered William. “What is all the racket going on in here? I leave for two minutes and there’s screaming. Sounds like absolute pandemonium, and you know I never want to miss a fight.”
Somehow Jax had found another damn apple, and bit into its juicy red skin.
“Do you ever stop?” I huffed, rolling my eyes.
“Me? Never.” He winked at me before moving to Raya, who still sat slumped in her chair.
“A healer can be here in twenty minutes.” William grunted. “We’ve just sent your stable hand to fetch her. Room three on the left is clean. You can meet with her in there.”
Cassandra had turned her back to the room, slowly making her way toward the stairs, clearly trying to escape unnoticed.
