They all saw it.
And without him, they may not have been enough to protect her.
No more Shades came, though. Either because he had eradicated them all or they deemed the commission not worth risking their lives to collect. The Celestials were also being cautious.
“Lady Aerina was gracious enough to lend you the foreman’s cabin,” Lucenna said. “Even after you have destroyed her property. We haven’t told her who you are yet. Do you realize why we are here in the first place?”
He nodded. “I heard about Rawn.”
Her throat tightened as she thought of Lord Norrlen, dreading to imagine what he must have been enduring this past week. He must have arrived in Red Highland by now.
“We leave for Avandia tomorrow.”
“The capital of Greenwood?” Cassiel blinked up at her. “Why?”
“We have a meeting with King Leif to discuss what can be done about Rawn’s capture. And no, you are not welcome,” she added when he opened his mouth to respond. “Rest here for today, but you need to be gone by first light.” Lucenna pivoted on her heel for the door.
“I can’t…” Cassiel rasped, his voice meek and defeated. “She’s my mate, Lucenna.”
She glowered at his reflection in the window. People who meant to be in your life would be. If it was so easy for him to leave, he gave up any right to be in Dyna’s life. He had his chance.
“Not anymore.” Maybe it was cruel of her to say, but Lucenna didn’t care.
Still, she expected Cassiel to snap back, to be the Black Hearted Prince who used to argue with her over everything. But he looked more like a sad bird who could no longer fly.Hmm, no demands today?
His tired, red eyes blinked at the ground. “Let me see her. Please.”
“Do you not understand?” Lucenna said. “She doesn’t want to see you, Cassiel. Did you think taking out the Shades would absolve you? What you did broke her apart. Being around you now would only reverse everything she did to put her pieces back together.” Even if they had not been put back in all the right places. Lucenna took the door handle. “Stay away from her, or we will hurt you.”
She left the foreman’s cabin, and Zev straightened where he had been leaning up beside the door with his arms crossed.
Klyde was on guard duty. He sat on a barrel on the other side of the door, sharpening his short swords with his sleeves rolled up, enjoying the spring breeze. The grinning skulls on the blue pommels glinted in the sunlight. “Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on him?” he said when they turned to go.
“Hard on him?” Zev growled. “We are being too soft on him. You know what Dyna endured.”
“Aye, I do, mate. But I think we have forgotten how young Cassiel is. I was no wiser at his age, and I have done plenty of wrongs I wish I could take back. Can you stand there now and tell me you have never made a mistake you regret?”
The question left Lucenna stunned, because she could easily think of her greatest regret from two years ago, and she still carried those consequences. Zev was silent beside her, his fists clenched so tight blood seeped through his fingers. The scars from his manacles were waxy and horrid in the sunlight.
At one point or another, she knew he wished things had been different on that full moon night. To go back in time to change her mistakes was something Lucenna wished for every day, too.
Klyde nodded at whatever he saw on their faces and continued sharpening his blades. “We all have regrets. I think we can spare him a little kindness in that regard.”
Sighing, Lucenna decided to let it go. She was mostly angry at what Dyna had gone through, but Zev’s resentment ran deeper. He stormed away toward the garden. It would be harder for him to let go, because Cassiel had been his first true friend. And his betrayal had stung deep.
She frowned. “When is the King’s escort going to arrive? It’s been five days.”
“Shouldn’t be long now…” Klyde said, stilling when he noticed something past her shoulder.
Lucenna turned to see Dyna come out onto the terrace with Keena sitting on her shoulder and the former commander at her side. Tension immediately charged the air as Von and Klyde locked eyes.
Lucenna smirked. “I think you should also take your own advice, Captain,” she said before going to join them. “All right?”
Dyna fleetingly glanced at the cabin. “There is a commotion at the gates.”
Her heart leaped with hope. “Has the escort arrived?”
“I’m afraid not.”
