Chapter 12: Chapter 12 - Second Chance
"Still? You continue to act as though you know me. Tell me honestly, when have we spoken?" Lilith questioned, starting to believe she had forgotten.
Cassian’s confidence in knowing Lilith started to bother her.
Lilith stepped away from Cassian so his head no longer rested on her shoulder. She felt uneasy in Cassian’s presence, so until she had some answers, there was to be distance.
"One day I will tell you, but not right now."
"Until you are ready to give me an answer, I would prefer you not act as though you know me. Since I have no memory of you, we should start over," Lilith said.
"I don’t mind starting over," Cassian replied, interested in a second chance. "I love second chances."
Lilith stepped back, worried Cassian might be more dangerous than she thought. He wasn’t to be taken lightly. His attitude in getting to know her was strange and driven by something more than just wanting to possess her.
Men whose actions could not be read were terrifying.
"You are going around in circles again, and I don’t have any interest in chasing you. Your soldiers just returned from war. You should allow them to rest before the next battle is upon us," Lilith suggested.
"They will rest, but first I must get rid of everyone loyal to your family. Someone slipped by me and sent that person to attack you," said Cassian.
"Unfortunately, you chose a princess not loved by everyone in the castle. There will always be a plot to kill me."
Cassian leaned forward and whispered, "Not if I kill all of them first."
It was subtle, but Lilith saw a switch in Cassian’s gaze. It troubled her, but she didn’t let it show.
"Well, you claim to know the future, so you should do well at finding them. You should keep Thalia alive for now," Lilith suggested, raising her hand to press her finger against Cassian’s chest. She pushed him back, creating distance.
"Because you want to torture her?"
"That, and we will need a hostage to keep some of the nobles from attacking. Kill the other Beauforts, but keep Thalia alive. They won’t misbehave and have the last pure Beaufort killed," Lilith said, thinking of their enemies.
Lilith smiled, revealing her cunning side. "But yes, she should experience being on the other side of the whip."
"You shouldn’t get too caught up in revenge, Lilith-"
Lilith frowned, annoyed that Cassian had chosen now to be righteous.
"Don’t offer me advice. You have not spent a day in my shoes and endured what I have. I’m going to enjoy some satisfaction. Besides, you don’t have any moral ground to stand on," Lilith said, walking around Cassian.
"You did just kill your king," Lilith said, throwing Cassian’s actions in his face.
"I have my plans, and I will see them through all the way to the end. No man, regardless of status, is going to get in my way. I bid you goodbye, Your Grace. I have a wedding to plan," Lilith said, turning on her heel to return to where Solomon awaited her.
Cassian watched Lilith, his eyes glistening with a keen interest in the woman before him.
"I’m amazed. She looks like she would kill you at any second, and you stare at her like she is your world," Eric said, stepping out from where he had hidden. He gained an interest in Cassian’s courting of Lilith.
Cassian didn’t acknowledge Eric since he was more concerned with watching Lilith.
"Even now, you can’t take your eyes off her. I noticed you didn’t share that you have already slaughtered the other Beauforts," Eric said, surprised that Cassian didn’t offer it as a gift to Lilith.
"She’ll find out in due time," Cassian replied, turning to Eric. "Right now, she should keep her attention on the wedding and keeping the castle in order. She is now your queen. Instruct the men that they are to obey her every command."
"I have already done so. While you spoke to her highness, I was informed that the crown prince is officially dead. Should I continue putting his head on a stake beside the former king?" Eric inquired, eager to personally do it.
"No, there will be a mourning period for all the fallen Beauforts. George’s head will remain on display, but the crown prince and others will be buried. Do you dare challenge my orders?" Cassian asked, noticing Eric’s expression.
There was confusion in Eric’s gaze.
Eric lowered his head so Cassian wouldn’t think he was picking a fight. "No, Your Grace. It is simply different from your earlier plans. There wasn’t going to be any mourning period."
"Plans change. The princess has requested it, so that is what my plans are now," Cassian explained.
Eric remained silent for a moment, but his curiosity got the better of him. "You cannot share the truth with the princess, but surely you can share it with me."
None of this was in Cassian’s plans before he left for war. In fact, Eric vividly remembered that Cassian had wanted to step away from the castle. Now, he was going to live in the castle as a king?
Eric had heard all the soldiers’ theories and now started to wonder if Cassian was well. Would they be safe?
Eric was ready to fight to the death with Cassian, but if Cassian was in a dark place, Eric needed to save his friend before he lost him.
Cassian contemplated sharing the full story. "Many times I have heard the soldiers say that in battle, their lives flashed before their eyes. Mine didn’t."
"I lived a life far beyond this day. I had left the castle, leaving the life of war behind me. It was somewhat peaceful until I lost someone dear to me. I don’t know what happened, but I went back to the day I was out at battle," Cassian said, looking at the palm of his hand.
There were moments when Cassian felt like he was dreaming, but since Lilith was present, he didn’t want the dream to end.
"I remember those final moments before I ended up back in this time. If I share this with the princess, she wouldn’t believe me. She would run away from me," Cassian said, clenching his fist.
"What does all of this have to do with the princess?" Eric asked, feeling like a piece of the story was missing.
Cassian relaxed his hand. He closed his eyes, vividly remembering his last moments with Lilith. "In that life, she was my wife."
