Chapter Nine
CASSIAN
Aweek after Sterling sent the report, he still hadn’t received a letter. I didn’t mind his idle presence, except that the inn was losing money every day. Not even the donation box convinced passersby to stop for the night anymore, and I didn’t know what to do. My only option was to wait.
“Cassian…” Sterling said to me one night as we snuggled together in bed.
I nuzzled against his chest. “Yes?”
“I visited Willorunia today. She’s clearing her schedule to help you find the rune stones,” he said.
I leaned back to look him in the eyes. “Really? How did you talk her into that?”
Sterling laughed, rubbing my back to pull me against him again. “It definitely wasn’t me. I suspect it’s out of spite for Ezzila.”
“Hm, yeah. Willo doesn’t seem to like her much,” I said. “What are you going to do about the writ? Shouldn’t they have responded by now?”
“Yes. I’ll give it one more day, but if I receive nothing tomorrow, I’ll need to return to Ladiall to hand it over myself.”
My heart sank. I’d been trying not to think about him leaving, but the time came sooner than expected. “Will you be back?” I asked.
He kissed the top of my head. “As soon as possible. I’d like to look at your grandfather’s will while I’m in town too. Would you like to come with me so the legalers let me view it?”
A smile took my face. “You want me to come with you?” I asked, looking up at him.
He leaned down to kiss me gently. “Yes.”
“I thought you didn’t want me involved in the investigation anymore,” I said.
“We don’t have to talk about the investigation. We can pretend we’re going on a trip together,” he said, brushing my hair out of my eyes.
I liked the idea of going on a trip with Sterling, but I wasn’t sure. “How long does it take to get to Ladiall?”
“Half a day.”
I had forgotten the trip there was so long. My words caught in my throat when I realized what this meant. A long-distance relationship with Sterling would be nearly impossible if it took almost an entire day to reach each other. How often would I even see him? Maybe twice a year? Surely he was busy as a Force officer, and I was always busy as the owner of this inn. Jasmine could cover for me if I visited him, but it took both of us to run the place as it was. I couldn’t ask her to do that often.
I didn’t want to lose Sterling, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t work out when he returned to the city.
“I don’t know. The curse got worse the last time I left. I better stay here,” I said.
“Oh… Sure, Cass.”
In the morning, Willorunia arrived with Griffin while Sterling sipped his morning coffee beside me at the front counter. The inn was as empty as it got. Olive hadn’t arrived yet, and Jasmine was still asleep.
“Cassian!” Willorunia said. “Walk with me, darling. Stay here, Thorndrop.”
Sterling and I exchanged a confused look, but he gave me a short nod, so I followed Willo outside. “Hey, Willo, what’s the matter?” I asked, crunching through the snow one pace behind her.
“I want you to watch the river with me,” she said, marching toward the river and over the wooden bridge that crossed the lake. She stood on the bridge, peering into the water. “Come here.”
I stood beside her and peered into the slushy water. The cateyes lining the riverbed gave the water a deep blue tint. “What are we doing?” I asked.
“Cassian, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest,” she said.
“Okay…?”
She didn’t look away from the river. “You’re falling in love with Sterling, aren’t you?”
