I glanced at Jasmine. There was no way Griffin could pass along my message without her hearing it. She must have known I was onto her, and that was why she’d followed me here. What else could I do? I needed Sterling. “I’ve bothered her enough. Perhaps I’ll take a trip into Ladiall to visit Gertrude. It’s been too long, anyway. Jasmine, can you watch the inn while I’m gone?”
“I had so much fun in Ladiall with Sterling. Can I come with you?” Jasmine asked, watching me with so much false hope that I had to look away before I snapped. She definitely knew.
“Someone needs to watch the inn,” I said.
“Don’t worry about that, Cassian. Olive and I will take care of it. You two deserve a break. Go enjoy the city!” Griffin said.
“Great. Thanks,” I said.
“Are you going to visit Officer Thorndrop while you’re there?” Griffin asked.
I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering how to navigate this. If Jasmine came with me, I’d have to have some reason for visiting him that wouldn’t make her suspicious. “I’ll certainly try. I miss him terribly,” I admitted. It wasn’t a lie, and I knew neither of them would think it was. They had both seen how down I was.
“Why’d you break up, anyway?” Griffin asked.
I clenched my fist on the bar top. “Was it that obvious?” I asked, deliberately avoiding the question.
“You’re not subtle,” Griffin said with a chuckle.
I forced a smile. “I made a mistake. I hope he’ll forgive me.”
“That boy was crazy about you, Cass,” Griffin said. “You should have seen the way he looked at you.”
I couldn’t force a smile anymore. Sterling only wanted to help me, and I broke up with him. After I promised I would accept his answer.
Gods, I was an asshole.
STERLING
I lost track of the days that passed after my return. I’d been demoted, which meant that instead of spending my days helping citizens in need, I spent nights standing guard at the eastern entrance to Ladiall, staring down a dark dirt trail.
I had to keep reminding myself I was still helping my community, but it was hard to believe that when nothing ever happened. It was the least-used entrance into the city. There were hardly any travelers, let alone crime.
I thought about Cassian a lot. It was hard not to. I wondered if I would have done anything differently, but I wasn’t sure if Icouldhave. Cassian was a temptation I couldn’t resist. How could I have broken the news about Jasmine to him in a way he would accept? He wouldn’t have accepted it no matter what I said. No matter how hard I begged him not to leave me.
But he had just been waiting for me to leavehim.We were together for less than a month, but I would have stayed if he’d asked. I would have done a lot for him. There was no one in this world, man, woman, or otherwise, who had captivated me as Cassian had.
Needless to say, I was not well.
After ending another long night of staring into the eastern void, I returned home. The sun was just rising as I reached my small, empty house. I fell into bed and passed into a dreamless sleep.
I awoke to a knock at my door in the middle of the day, rising blearily from my unmade bed. Who would possibly needto speak to me? I was no longer important, and I had no one in my life.
I staggered to the door and yanked it open, expecting a salesperson or a city petitioner, ready to tell them to get lost, but it wasn’t either.
It was Cassian.
And Jasmine?
The sight of him woke me right up. “Cassian!” I raked my fingers through my messy hair, wishing I had bothered to put on a shirt. “What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Sterling,” Jasmine said with a bright smile and a little wave. Cassian threw a subtle frown her way before fixing his beautiful blue eyes on me again.
“Hey, Sterling. Can we talk?” Cassian asked. I couldn’t believe I was looking at him. Was this a dream? He wore his usual black cloak, and his golden hair shone in the bright daylight of a rare cloudless day. It was as if his own radiance brought sunshine to Ladiall.
“You and me? Or you and me and Jasmine?” I asked.
Cassian opened his mouth to answer, but Jasmine spoke first. “Cassian brought me for moral support. He wants me here too, right, Cass?”
