“Do they not wonder where you are? You have had all your meals in the mansion since the entire Drakos family descended on Nightshade Manor.”
“It is unlikely,” he laughed. “There are so many around the dining room table that I am certain I will not be missed.”
Nina stirred her soup with her spoon. It wasn’t too hot to eat, she simply wasn’t hungry.
“Do you think you might marry one day?” she asked.
“No.” He laughed.
“Do you not wish to?”
“What do I have to offer a wife? Our lands are gone, the title means nothing, and I am poor.”
She understood his excuses. Cassian also did not have an income. Everything they had came from the family that had saved him. Yet, he could find a position somewhere, maybe as a tutor, or teaching at a school. Or he could return to France and try to reclaim their family estate. Instead, he was here because of her.
“What of love?” Nina asked.
Just because she had to reject such, did not mean that her brother should not experience the overwhelming life-altering love that is shared between soul mates.
Soul mates! Could Orion have been hers if circumstances had been different? If she had not been injured but raised as Cassian had been, in the Cardwell household?
He chuckled. “Some are meant to experience love, Nina. Others are simply allowed to know it exists.” He pushed his soup aside and rose to pour a glass of brandy as sadness nearly overwhelmed her. “We should be thankful to be alive,” he reminded her.
Cassian would forsake happiness to remain with her. It was unfair to him, but what could she do to alter his decision?
“Perhaps a siren or nymph would have you.” If he was going to remain in the sacred grove, dryads and nereids lived here as well.
Cassian nearly choked on his brandy. “There are rules, and I would not break them. I would be banned and never see you again.”
“That is not true. They do not fear you as they do other men. All you need to do is ask.”
His face turned a light shade of red.
“Have I embarrassed you, Cassian?” She couldn’t help but tease her brother. “I believe Maera may have a particular liking for you.” She grinned.
His face grew even redder. “That is none of your concern.”
Nina couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good to do so as it lessened the turmoil deep within.
“It is not something we need discuss, nor would a siren or nymph marry me,” he insisted.
“You could still meet someone away from the grove.”
“Enough, Nina.” Cassian set his glass aside. “Even if I did, I could not bring her back here. How would I explain something that is to be a secret? I would not endanger you or the others, nor will I marry someone I would need to lie to when I visited. It would be unfair to her and you.”
“What of the daughter and nieces of Lord Wharton. Certainly, they would understand.” She needed her brother to find his happiness even if she could not.
“I would never presume to court one of the daughters. It would be disrespectful, and they are almost as much a sister to me as you are.”
“Then what do we do?” she asked as depression once again settled about her.
It wasn’t just depression, or panic. Her brother should not be made to suffer because of a decision he made when he was six. He had begged for her life, and now he would pay that price.
“We will be content with what we have and thankful that we survived and have each other.”
It nearly broke her heart that Cassian would deny himself love and pleasure because of her.
It wasn’t right, but she knew that she’d not change his mind tonight. However, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try again. One of them should be happy and experience the joys of love, marriage, and having children.
