Chapter eight
Cassia
Cassia frowned as she walked the streets of Astraeus. Light mist filled the air and covered every surface, including her skin. The tops of the skyscrapers around her were split in half by a thick cloud. Even when it rained, the city always buzzed with life. But not today. The crowded stores and restaurants she usually frequented were lifeless and barely held a few patrons. When she’d woken to thunder, she’d immediately made plans to visit the city. Rainy days in Astraeus were an adventure for her. Those were the days she was just another face in a crowd at a packed bar full of people avoiding the weather.
She guessed too many people had been watching the news. Cassia even had to admit it was hard to tear her eyes away from the constant recycled footage from the Kastronian border. Even though it was always the same video, the beast in it sent shivers up her spine every time she saw it. It was identical to the one Cade had shown her. Almost human-like, but small and wraith like, with rows and rows of teeth. Instead of bright red eyes, the beast in the video had none. Its hollow eye sockets oozed a thick, black liquid she would guess was the sametexture of blood.
Today, though, she’d wanted to drink and get lost in strangers and forget about how everyone in her life had shut her out. That plan had failed. As she walked back home, Cassia glared up at the building where she knew the news anchors were probably getting ready for their next broadcast and cursed them for ruining her perfectly good day. She’d almost made it to the front entrance of the palace when someone called out her name. She didn’t have to turn around to identify the owner of the voice. He was the only person that insisted on always calling her Cassia, not Cass. The only person whose voice could make her heart rate spike with only one word. The only person she wanted to avoid when she looked like a drowned rat in the rain.
Maybe she should have just stayed and had a drink somewhere.
Slowly, Cassia turned around and spotted Castor jogging toward her. Chest tightening, she clenched her fists so her fingers wouldn’t tremble. How did he always manage to look so unbearably handsome? Even with raindrops stuck to his black hair, he looked the perfect picture of a prince. On the path behind him, she spotted every woman turned to stare at his retreating form. Cassia couldn’t blame them. It was hard not to.
“You’re back,” she said. She hated that the words sounded cold, but it was taking every ounce of her self-control not to reach out and touch him. Or smile. She’d lost the privilege to do that long ago, but it’d been solong. And the last time she’d seen him, he’d fought with her father to cross the gate. He’d only let him go because of Delphine’s sudden appearance. Without the interference, she wasn’t sure what would have happened.
“I just arrived a few minutes ago,” Castor panted. When he approached her, he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m glad I caught you out here. I needed to see you before… everything.”
“What for?”
“How’s Cade? I wanted to get your opinion on his state of mind before I go see him. He knows I’m here. I feel him trying to get in my head, but I’ve been able to block him… so far.”
The growing flush on her body suddenly stopped. Of course, it had nothing to do withher. It was about Cade. Like always. The distress barely hidden in Castor’s dark eyes, though, made her pause long enough to stop from snapping at him. In her head, she silently screamed at Delphine thatshehad been right. He didn’t have good news.
“How do you think he is? He’s obsessive. Stubborn…” Cassia sighed. She thought about how her brother had been holed up in his room and the library the past two weeks, trying to find any information he could about Andarre and the Sanguis, no longer pretending to be in good spirits for their father. Swallowing hard, she added, “He misses her. He doesn’t want to be here.”
“We’ve known that for a long time,” Castor replied softly.
“It’s different now,” Cassia whispered. Cade wasn’t just stuck in Elyria, he was trapped. And it was slowly turning him into a ghost. At least when Bridget had been here, he’d been close to his old self again. Clearing her throat, she straightened her spine before she did something stupid, like cry. Motioning for Castor to follow her through the palace gate, she said, “This is all just a guess. He’s barely spoken to me since his plan to get Delphine through the gate failed.”
“Hiswhat?”
“See what happens when you go away for too long?”
Cassia’s heart quickened when she felt Castor’s hand brush her lower back, whether unconsciously or to comfort her, she wasn’t sure. The moment he pulled back, her body screamed in protest.
“It’s harder to travel back and forth without access to the Astraeus gate,” he replied. “And my family’s company is going through a bit of a crisis. I was here too long during the tournament. I missed some important meetings... Plus, Elyria isn’t the only place being bombarded by random creatures.”
“Is everything alright?”
“It’ll be fine,” Castor said, waving his hand. “My parents and older brothers don’t need my help, like always. You know that.”
Cassia resisted glowering at him. Even though she wanted him to share what was going on, it was typical Castor to keep everything to himself. He was always composed. Always calm. Never needed any help. She both admired and hated it about him.
Glancing back at the skyline, Castor murmured, “The city is quiet today. Before I left Tafari, I saw the video of what happened in Kastron.”
“That hasn’t been the only incident. My father sent Finn to check out another one. He still isn’t back.”
“Is that why you bought those herbs?”
Cassia locked eyes with Castor. The dark orbs knew too much. Breathless, she fingered the small paper bag in her coat pocket. How had he known what was in there? The purchase had been an impulse, a quiet yearning to be useful if one of those creatures did appear in Astraeus or someone needed her help.
“If you’re trying to learn again, I can help,” he said. “I know that last time…”
Cassia quickly shook her head. “I don’t need any help. That’s not why I bought them,” she lied. She reddened, remembering the last time she tried to perform a spell in front of him. Castor was the last person she wanted to know how weak she really was.
Brows furrowed, he opened his mouth to argue, but his curious gaze moved to the two figures waiting for them by the white stone wall of the northern courtyard.
“What are you going to say to him?” Cassia asked quietly, eyeing where her brother stood in anticipation, Delphine beside him.
