Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - His Queen
Cassian found amusement in Lilith’s stance.
While Lilith yearned to kill him, Cassian wanted her to live.
"You can have the castle," Cassian offered Lilith.
Lilith didn’t dare move the dagger. "What game are you trying to play? I will not have you toy with me."
"It is not a game. As a token of our budding friendship, I am offering the castle to you," said Cassian.
Lilith frowned, puzzled by Cassian’s decision.
Nothing Cassian did now made any sense.
"Why would you offer me the castle after going through all that trouble to claim it?" Lilith inquired, sensing an alternative motive.
"I know the throne is all you desire, and you won’t rest until you have it. I cleared the path for you to claim it. Shouldn’t I be thanked?" Cassian asked, leaning forward for the dagger to force more blood.
Lilith didn’t move her hand.
Cassian could bleed out for all she cared.
Lilith focused on Cassian’s crazed expression. She had never witnessed him like this before.
"I can send my soldiers out of the castle, but your people would be outnumbered, and your brother would sit on the throne. Why don’t you consider letting me become your husband? Careful," Cassian said, looking down at Lilith’s hand with the dagger.
"Had you arrived earlier, you would have heard that I chose death," Lilith said, letting the dagger bite further into his skin.
Cassian didn’t respond.
Rather, he showed an expression that Lilith couldn’t read at first.
For a small flicker of a moment, Lilith thought Cassius appeared angry that she chose death, but it vanished, replaced by a smile.
"I am not your enemy, Lilith. I am on your side, but I cannot be if you continue to make my flesh bleed. Can we speak without the dagger?" Cassian asked, tempted to hold Lilith.
Lilith kept her position. She would be a fool to lower the only protection she had.
"Speak," Lilith ordered Cassian. "Explain yourself. Why take the throne then give it away?"
"The throne is yours, so take it. It always belonged to you, and since your heart desired it, I helped you. You will need more protection than those few guards you gathered to overthrow your family," said Cassian.
Lilith kept a straight face, trying not to let her confusion show.
How did Cassian, a man who spent more time on the battlefield than inside the castle, know of her followers?
How did he know of her plans?
Lilith didn’t lower her guard. Cassian knowing her plans had changed nothing.
Cassian underestimated Lilith. She didn’t have a few guards as he said, but rather than correct him, she kept it a secret. It might prove to save her later on.
"You’re just like my father’s peers, thinking you can own me. Thinking you can have your way with me. You’ve claimed lands. You know why I would never trust you," said Lilith.
Cassian leaned forward, allowing the blade to cut deeper into his flesh.
Lilith held no pity for him and didn’t move her hand, keeping Cassian in pain.
Only one of them could leave this room, and Lilith intended for it to be her.
"All of you mistake me for some prize to be handed," Lilith said, her earlier frustrations returning.
"Would you prefer if I wanted to become your prize?" Cassian asked, his lips curling as a crazed smile formed.
Lilith stared at Cassian, feeling even more confused by him. "What?"
Has the great Duke Cassian Mortimer truly lost his mind?
Cassian used Lilith’s state of confusion to grab her arm, prying the dagger from her hand. "I am not your enemy. Your enemies are elsewhere in the castle, waiting to finish what your father started."
Lilith didn’t make any effort to take back her dagger. "I cannot trust you. You were loyal to my father, and look how well that went for him."
"You are not your father. I would be a loyal sword for you and kill your enemies. Marry me and become the queen. I will stand behind the throne while you sit on it," Cassian said, placing Lilith’s dagger in her hand.
Lilith held the dagger and lowered her hand so it couldn’t be snatched again.
Cassian was a fool to return her weapon.
Lilith still didn’t trust Cassian.
One day, Cassian was obeying her father’s every order, and on another day, Cassian killed him. Cassian wasn’t trustworthy.
Lilith wasn’t going to be trapped with a king who had clearly lost his mind. She had put up with her father long enough.
"You should put me with the other prisoners," Lilith said, rejecting the offer. "I will not become your queen this way."
Cassian ran his tongue against his teeth. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince Lilith, and he was willing to wait. Being near Lilith was enough for now, and eventually, her desire to have the throne would bring her right into his arms.
"Return to your guards. For now, you will be confined to your bedchamber. You won’t meet with your family until I allow it. Do return to me with an open mind, Lilith. The throne awaits you," Cassian said, taking Lilith’s hand into his hold to raise it to his lips, kissing the back.
Lilith tightened her hold on the dagger. She wanted nothing more than to pierce Cassian’s heart, but she couldn’t.
After some thought, Lilith was forced to keep Cassian alive.
Without Cassian, Arthur would become the next king, and he would kill her before she could create a new plan. Cassian’s presence would keep the castle in order until Lilith was ready to strike.
Lilith turned away from Cassian without offering a parting.
Cassian wiped the blood dripping from the wound on his neck and watched as Lilith walked out of the throne room. She was only going to her bedchamber, but having to part from Lilith upset Cassian.
"Patience," Cassian whispered, restraining himself from running after Lilith. "She belongs to you."
