Chapter 15: Chapter 15 - Victor
"Let go of me!" Michael demanded, his fist twisting Cassian’s shirt until his knuckles started to turn white. "I didn’t come to fight you. I came to see that the princess is well," he said, not ready for a fight when he stood alone.
"You don’t have the power to command me," Cassian said, keeping a strong hold on Michael’s shirt. "I allowed you to enter the castle, but you weren’t to come so soon."
Michael frowned, puzzled as to why Cassian had allowed him to enter. "Why? Why didn’t you stop me from entering?"
Cassian released Michael with a shove. "I wanted her to see how weak you were, but she has realised it on her own. Now that that is settled, you are banned from the castle. Appear in my line of sight, and I will have you hanged."
Michael dusted off his shirt. "You killed the king, but it doesn’t mean we are all afraid of you. I have some business with the princess to settle, so why don’t you just tend to other affairs?"
"Any talk involving the princess requires my attention. I was being kind since you would be useful in the future, but now I can’t let you leave," Cassian decided, not having the patience for a nuisance.
Michael was always going to chase after Lilith, but not for love. No, Michael wanted to get to the throne.
Michael looked around, quietly counting the soldiers approaching. Lilith left him to fend for himself.
"I am not here to fight. Allow me to finish my talk with the princess, and I will leave. I will not return to the castle unless you summon me, Your Grace," Michael said, bowing his head slightly.
Cassian snickered, amused by Michael’s act. "I always wondered what she saw in you. A man without power, ignored by his father."
"I am no different from the princess," Michael said, clenching his fist.
Cassian aimed for Michael’s throat, but Michael dodged the attack, creating distance between himself and Cassian.
"I fought alongside you once. You are no more skilled than I am. I will leave the castle now without speaking to the princess," Michael said, changing his plans to suit Cassian’s wishes.
Cassian looked to his right at one of his soldiers. He held out his right hand, awaiting a sword to be offered.
"But you’ll continue to seek her out when she doesn’t want to see you. A pity," Cassian said, inspecting the sharpness of the sword. "I don’t have the patience to let future obstacles slip by. She’s mine," he declared.
Michael chuckled, entertained by the turn of events. "I had been the only man to show her attention. Now you want her? I am her lover, Your Grace. She won’t take just any man to her side."
"You were her lover," Cassian corrected Michael. "You could have lived had you not shown yourself."
Michael’s laughter ceased when Cassian’s sword cut through the air. Then, he realised that Cassian truly meant to kill him.
Michael gritted his teeth. He unsheathed the sword hanging from his side, ready to fight to the death. If he could kill Cassian, then he wouldn’t need Lilith any more. He would be the one to claim the throne.
Not far away from where the two men clashed, Lilith watched, waiting to see who the victor would be.
"Princess, you should stand back," Solomon said, worried Lilith would get caught up in the spar.
"Here is just fine. If Cassian so happens to fall, you will need to kill Michael. Now that I have discarded him, Michael won’t stop being so persistent unless he dies," Lilith said, rooting for Cassian.
Solomon wished for both men to kill each other. Neither man was deserving of having Lilith.
Solomon glanced at Lilith, noticing how her lips curled each time Cassian’s sword struck down on Michael, making Michael lose his balance. Her eyes showed a glimmer of interest in Cassian.
"Stop staring at me, Solomon. Focus on those two since you’ll need to fight if the wrong man wins," said Lilith.
"What if they both harm each other? Wouldn’t it be better for his grace to die now?"
"No. The nobles are restless, so I need Cassian," Lilith replied, her gaze fixed on Cassian.
Lilith felt an ache in her chest when Michael seemed to get the upper hand.
Once upon a time, Lilith would have rooted for Michael, but he had gotten too daring. He had forgotten his place.
Lilith was the princess, while Michael was the one trying to climb his way up the social ladder.
"Why doesn’t he just let his soldiers kill Michael?" Lilith muttered, annoyed that the fight was being dragged out.
"It looks to me like his grace is toying with Michael," Solomon said after getting a glimpse of Cassian’s expression.
That crazed expression was present on Cassian’s face again.
Lilith turned to Solomon to ask, "What do you mean?"
"It’s like a cat when it plays with its food. He’s angry, but he doesn’t want the fight to end so soon. Michael always had a habit of tiring too soon," said Solomon.
"It is an upsetting habit," Lilith said, thinking back to their intimate interactions. "Here I was concerned for Cassian for a moment, but he is having fun."
Solomon noticed the final blow coming before Michael saw it. He faced Lilith, ready to shield her eyes if it upset her, but Lilith watched as Cassian’s sword pierced Michael’s chest.
Lilith touched her chest, waiting to see if she would feel pity for Michael.
"That settles my troubles. I won’t need to invite Michael’s family to the wedding. After all, they’ll be mourning," Lilith said, watching closely as Michael fell to the ground.
Lilith was now back down to one man she needed to keep her eyes on.
Lilith’s gaze met Cassian’s. He seemed to be awaiting a compliment, but instead of giving him what he sought, Lilith turned around to continue with her planning.
"Enough with men. I have a wedding to plan," Lilith said, uninterested in entertaining Cassian next.
