“You think this was sparring? Please, this was barely a warm-up.”
He chuckled, the sounds traveling straight to her toes. “Then I look forward to actually sparring with you soon.” He didn’t glance back as he left.
Thalia felt her warm cheeks with the backs of her hands, swallowing hard. Her eyes were drawn down to the chessboard, her queen taking out his king.
But Thalia didn’t feel like she’d won at all.
Chapter Nineteen
“Hunger.”
A chill ran down Thalia’s spine at the word spoken low in her ear.
“Hunger.”
She didn’t want to open her eyes, didn’t want to see the sick Vampyr hovering above her.
“I hunger for you.”
A cold finger pressed into her cheek, leaving a trail of wetness in its wake.
“Hunger—”
Thalia woke, gasping for air.
She twisted in the sheets, trying to untangle herself from where they were wrapped around her throat like a noose.
“Thalia—” Cassius’s voice was a beacon in the dark as she finally flung the sheets off her. “What’s wrong?”
She felt a warm hand on her bare shoulder. She hadn’t heard him slip into bed after he’d finished whatever he’d attended to. Thalia jerked, her feet finding the floor as she stood, pacing away from the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Cassius’s words were sterner now, but she couldn’t look at him. She shook her head, arms wrapping around her middle as she walked to the window, trying to get air into her lungs.
“Talk to me.”
She turned, making out Cassius’s form at the end of the bed, his bare torso gleaming despite the lack of light. He looked like she remembered him. Back before he’d betrayed her, before she’d stabbed him. Before this whole mess got dumped in her lap. He didn’t even seem to have been affected by their time together earlier that evening. After his confession about missing her had sent fire straight into her bloodstream and she couldn’t tell whether she burned from rage or something else.
“Thalia?” Cassius’s face was open, his brow knotted in concern.
She wished he would stop saying her name. Wished he would stop looking at her as though he cared. Because how could he care as … asthat? As a monster? As a creature meant to drink blood, not water? How could he still feel human?
Thalia’s throat tightened.
“I’m here.” Cassius’s words broke through her racing thoughts.
She stared at him, her throat tightening further.
He’s a monster. He’s who you’ve sworn to destroy.Her mother’s voice seemed to whisper like a snake in her ear. And yes. He was a monster. Her plan to use him to get close to the prince was the only one she had. But even that thought sent an oily feeling through her stomach.
Because he was … Cass.
Cass who’d bandaged her arm when she’d fallen off Helios and scraped it against a sharp rock when she was fourteen.
Cass who’d rescued her from her first ball when all her mother wanted was to parade her before the court—yet he’d snuck her out so they could go walk in the garden instead.
Cass who’d promised to be by her side no matter what. No matter if she married someone else. No matter if she had to live in a different kingdom.
He’d vowed to be with her until the end.
