Chapter 26: Chapter 26 - Plotting
Lilith lay alone in the chamber as guards were sent to alert Cassian that she was awake.
Lilith’s mind wandered to Solomon and his escape with Thalia. She imagined the news had caused quite a stir in the castle, and that many of her enemies would be rejoicing at the news that she had lost someone loyal to her.
The sound of the door being pushed open made Lilith tense, but she settled again almost immediately. It could only be Cassian, rushing to her side.
"Lilith," Cassian whispered her name, his chest still heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
Cassian had run all the way from the castle gardens, where he had been organising soldiers to search for Solomon and Thalia.
"Close the door," Lilith said, opening her eyes.
It disappointed Cassian that the door was her first concern, but he did as she asked without a word.
Cassian walked to the bed and sat down beside her. "I’ll have the finest doctors from all over the kingdom come to examine you."
"I’m fine. I’ve been poisoned before and recovered with rest and medicine. Our wedding is a day away-"
"That is what is on your mind right now, Lilith? You were poisoned, and Solomon surprised me by turning to your sister. He never betrayed you before," Cassian said, the surprise of it evident in his voice.
Cassian had been given a second chance, but it was proving to be anything but a simple one, with all the new dangers forming. Plots that didn’t happen the first time, all because he had changed the future.
"Leave Solomon be. We have more pressing matters to worry about," Lilith said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the gripping pain.
"Your most trusted guard helped the very sister who wanted you dead. I cannot leave him be. He is not the man you once trusted," Cassian said, his anger present in his tone.
Solomon didn’t deserve to have Lilith shielding him.
"Cassian," Lilith said, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them again. "Continue your search for Solomon, but let him leave the castle with Thalia."
Cassian stared at Lilith, trying to make sense of what she was suggesting. "You care for him that much? Enough to let him leave after he stabbed you in the back?"
"The queen remains in our path. She’ll plot to get the young prince on the throne. No matter how thoroughly we search, you won’t find her easily, but her daughter will lead us straight to her. She’ll make certain Thalia finds her," Lilith said, her plan unfolding in the quiet of the room.
Cassian rose from the bed, the realisation settling over him. Lilith had been plotting behind his back all along.
He placed his hands on his hips. The tight line of his jaw showed how much he didn’t want to believe it. But he should have known better. Lilith had always been willing to go to any extreme to see her plans through.
"You poisoned yourself," Cassian said, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "You plotted with Solomon to free Thalia."
"Thalia wasn’t going to follow Solomon willingly, and her mother won’t accept them unless we give her reason to believe he is on their side. Solomon wanted to be of more use to me," Lilith said, her voice calm, as though she were discussing a simple plan.
After Solomon had apologised for the way he had spoken to her, Lilith devised the plan to use him.
"I grew accustomed to my father placing spies around me so he could keep watch over me. As I grew older, it became easier to spot them. Solomon tried his best to hide it, but I saw straight through him. Eventually, he came over to my side," Lilith revealed, her gaze fixed on the wall.
Lilith had turned her father’s methods against him, using Solomon at times to repeat back what her father had told him.
The story Lilith told was the first Cassian had ever heard of it. Not once in their two years of marriage had she shared that Solomon had once been her father’s servant.
Cassian wondered quietly whether Lilith had kept it from him because she knew he would have sent Solomon away.
"You grew to trust a man sent by your father. Did you never once think he could turn on you?" Cassian asked, and at the same time, he tried to calm himself.
"I am not a fool. There was always a chance that anyone could turn on me, so I tried not to grow too attached. I don’t want to speak of Solomon with you when I know you dislike him. You should appreciate that I have shared my plan with you," Lilith said, believing it should be sufficient.
Cassian pressed his fingers into his palm, holding his anger.
An empty laugh escaped him. "Appreciate that you shared your plan?" he repeated, the sound of it carrying no warmth. "I will always admire your cunning side, Lilith, but not when it could have killed you. This plan could have killed you!" His voice rose, the restraint finally giving way.
"I am well aware of what my fate could have been. There is risk when it comes to-"
"The risk shouldn’t come at the cost of your life," Cassian cut in, his voice sharp. He startled Lilith, though he did not intend to. "Do not do this again. You could have died, and it troubles me deeply that you don’t seem to take that fact to heart."
Lilith stared at the wall, the shadows of the chamber faintly dancing on it. She knew very well what could have happened and did not need Cassian to tell her.
"If the queen remains hidden and builds an army, we die either way when war breaks out. I am not going to dwell on the fact that I could have died, as we have moved past that point. I poisoned myself. What is your excuse for being so weak?" Lilith asked, the words intending to hurt Cassian.
Cassian stared at her.
He should have been angrier. He had every right to be. But this was Lilith.
She had always been this way. She would always go to whatever lengths were necessary to see her plans succeed, even if the cost was herself.
"I want to be very angry with you, but I have to blame myself partly. I wasn’t watching over you closely enough to stop you from hurting yourself. That changes now," Cassian said, all patience spent. "You’ll be moving into my bedchamber so I can watch you."
