He pushed up off her, couldn’t get away fast enough.
“Mireille, I…” he stuttered. “That’s…”
He didn’t say another word. Didn’t even look at her as he walked out of the room.
She curled into a fetal position, unable to stop the hot, salty tears that flowed down her cheeks.
He still wants us,her wolf whispered.
I know,she answered.
He still hates us, too.
Obviously.
But, he might not forever,her wolf whined.
Don’t hold your breath,Mireille said as she pushed up off the floor, replaced the swords on the rack, and tried to put the pieces of herself back together.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“Iwas wondering why Mireille asked us to talk with you the other day,” Silas said, the rustle of his dove-soft wings the only sound in the midnight-cloaked streets.
Cassandra had just finished telling him her history.
And all he’d done when she’d finished was raise his thick, dark eyebrows and say, “Huh. Never met a Turned human before.”
Unflappable.
No wonder Mireille had suggested he help with training.
He offered her a wry smirk. “She did mention that you needed some additional motivation to take down the Koenig. I would’ve thought your own survival would have been enough.”
“I would have, too,” Cassandra offered with a weary laugh. “It’s been a rough few weeks.” She cringed. “I’m sorry, how thoughtless of me. When you’ve?—”
“Trauma’s not a competition. Feel however you need to feel, Cass. Can I call you Cass?” She nodded.
They walked a few more steps in silence, Cassandra contemplating the wisdom in his words. He had a graceful countenance and a quiet depth. She might have evenappreciated how handsome he was if her chest wasn’t still tied up in knots over?—
“So what happened to the male who Turned you? He waiting for you outside the wards?” Nothing colored Silas’s questions but simple curiosity. There was noI’m interested in yousubtext. She was grateful for that.
But she also didn’t feel like talking about it with a total stranger. Regardless of how calming his presence was.
“No comment,” she answered, as kindly as she could.
And Silas, bless him, didn’t push.
When they reached the Kennel, Cassandra adjusted the linen bag of healing tonics and the glass vials tinkled as she opened the door. “After you.”
Silas shook his head. “I’ll stay out here on watch. You distribute the tonics.”
“Why?”
“The Brethren don’t like us coming here. They claim we’re spoiling the humans by giving them extra food and additional care. Insist the humans need toknow their place.”
Rage glowed fierce in Cassandra’s chest. “But that’s… High Gods, that’s absurd. They’re being kept in fuckingcages.”
“I also think they don’t like to be reminded that so many of us share ancestry with them. That the main difference between our species is the gift of magic. Especially when none of us can wield it in here. In its absence, the Koenig and his Brethren find other ways to maintain their dominance.”
