Between them, Delphine sat up straighter. The moment she noticed the frown forming on the other girl’s face, Cassia added, “He was helping me with a spell.”
Finn raised a brow. Once again, Cassia ignored him and hoped he sensed the wave of annoyance she tried to silently direct toward him.
“Why do you always assume the worst?” Castor retorted, shaking his head. “I didn’t know anything until Finn summoned me. There was no letter. It was just a ploy to fill me in.”
“Of course it was,” Cassia seethed, even though his words somewhat calmed her racing heart. Castor wouldn’t lie… no matter how many times she accused him of it. Or wanted to believe he would.
“We knew you would disapprove,” Delphine said placatingly.
Thatwas putting it lightly. Why go after Quinn when she clearly had the upper hand? The Witch had the Bloodstoneandseemed to know what the Sanguis wanted.
Staring out the window, Marin finally spoke. “They didn’t think you could keep the secret.”
At least the others had the decency to look ashamed, but beside Marin, Cade cracked a humorless smile. “Well, she’s not lying.”
Ouch. The comment sent a stinging all the way down to Cassia’s toes. Maybe she deserved that one. But she knew better now… even if there was no way to prove to them that she did.
“It's pretty obvious Quinn doesn’t want to be found. A reckless mission to Kastron isn’t going to change that,” Cassia hissed. Marin rubbed her arm, then fiddled with the hem of her pants. The casualness of the gesture irked her. “Have you seen where she is? Or what’s going to happen when we get there?”
“I told you… I haven’t been able to see anything.”
For once, Cassia heard a hint of frustration in the Tuathan’s usual monotone voice.
Whatever consequence she’d taken for Cade was affecting her more than she wanted to let on.
“I saw her near the border,” Finn said. “You know that.”
Taking a deep breath, Cassia nodded. She did. And that was only a week ago. Logically, she knew Quinn was probably still in the area. Despite the growing darkness that seemed to linger around Astraeus, Elyria’s borderwith Kastron was the area being haunted by unknown forces.Monsters, she’d heard whispered in the palace. And even in her own head by Cade when he’d shown her what Finn had seen.
“And you think it’s okay to use him as bait? Because that’s what is essentially happening,” Cassia prodded. “Aren’t fiancées supposed to be a little more protective?”
Cade banged his head against the seat.
“Lay off, Cass,” Delphine whispered.
A sharp pain entered Cassia’s temple. Cade’s annoyed voice echoed through her head.Finn says your emotions are suffocating him.
She glanced at Finn on the floor. He rubbed his temples. Without thinking, she shot back,Tell him to say it to my face.
Cade raised a brow, acceptance of the dare clear on his face. When his gaze cut to Finn, she held up a hand.Don’t.That was the last thing she needed said aloud.Why are you even doing this? You’ve spent months holed up in your room and now you want to go after Quinn?
That was before… everything.
Such a small word… but so weighted. An invisible hand clawed at Cassia’s chest. In theory, her twin brother sat across from her. The same one she’d known since birth. The boy she’d seen save a bird with a broken wing at age seven. The person she’d always believed would know her better than anyone… But apparently, he was someone else entirely. A Tuathan, with latent powers and a past life. A prince with a fate tied to a curse. One with an enemy willing to do anything to break it.
The train lurched forward, nearly nudging Cassia from her chair. She took a deep breath. No matter what, Cadewasher brother.
“Finally,” Finn mumbled. Castor hummed in agreement.
And what happens after you find Quinn?Cassia shot back at Cade.Do you kill her? Do you use her or the Bloodstone to bring Bridget back?
Across from her, Cade tensed.Bridget won’t come back here.
How do you know? She remembers. After your little stunt, she could be trying to get here on her own. Didn’t you say she was with Echnav?
Cassia peeked at Marin, still leaning against the window, a little paler than usual. The annoying, secretive Shamanstilldidn’t have an answer for that.
I don’t know what she was doing with him, but she won’t risk her sister. If it was Riker… Would you?
