Chapter 99: Chapter 99 - Captured
Cassian followed Lilith towards the gardens. "Were you not the one eager to have my child?" Cassian asked deliberately to get on Lilith’s nerves. He loved seeing her get riled up.
"A plot I shall forever regret speaking of to you. I spoke of heirs only for my husband to want to send me to the doctor. Your only saving grace was our intimacy," Lilith replied, and even then, she regretted complimenting him.
Lilith’s gaze lingered on the servants who passed by.
"I care for your well-being more than I care for a child. Too many ladies seem to die from childbirth. I would rather you be healthy. Should it ever come to saving you or our child, I would save you," Cassian confessed,
Lilith turned to face him. "That doesn’t please me. If I am pregnant and only one life can be saved, save the child."
"Why?"
Lilith’s brows knitted, his question striking her unexpectedly. "Because it would be our child. Our flesh and blood."
"We can make another," Cassian said, dismissing her plea with a cold certainty. "But I can’t have another you. You’ve long looked forward to being queen. Would you let having a child take that away from you?"
"As much as I want to remain queen, I would not have my child die. Who wants to live with that kind of guilt? Any child I bear, I will love them, even if I never meet them. You misunderstand me," Lilith said, realising he seemed to think she cared for the throne above all else. "There are people I care for and would die for."
Lilith disliked the way he looked at her now. Fragile and desperate, though it was she who had spoken of dying.
"If you are ever faced with who to save, don’t save me. I will heal and hate you for putting me through that misery," Lilith whispered, pressing her hand against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "I will share a secret with you now."
Lilith tiptoed closer, her breath brushing his ear. "I adore children. I stayed away from them to protect them."
She settled back, her eyes searching for his reaction.
"I don’t want to lose you, Lilith," Cassian murmured, lifting his hand to cradle her face. "I’ve only just gotten you back."
Lilith’s heart jolted at his words. ’Again?’ she thought, startled by the implication. When had Cassian ever truly had her?
Yet his raw emotion was undeniable. He looked as though she were the light of his world, the one thing he could not bear to lose.
Surprising herself, Lilith placed her hand against his cheek, guiding his head into her palm. "Fortunately for you, I am a healthy woman. I poisoned myself and recovered swiftly. I endured my family’s plots and walked away. It would be cruel of the heavens to let my child be my end."
Cassian rested his head against her hand, relishing in her warmth.
"You are like a giant puppy," Lilith teased softly, keeping her hand steady to soothe him. "Had I known it would be so easy to have you in the palm of my hand, I would have approached you in the past to use you."
"That upsets me, Lilith. To know I could have had a chance earlier. I don’t say it to insult you, but let us take care of ourselves so we can live long enough to see our heirs grow," Cassian said, wanting Lilith to live far beyond two years.
"I would quite enjoy seeing my offspring take over this castle. You must rid yourself of the notion that I seek to die," Lilith replied.
"Says the woman who poisoned herself."
Lilith sighed, pulling back her hand. "A plan I regret telling you about, since you will not stop speaking of it. Would you have preferred that I poison you or someone else?"
"Yes," Cassian answered without hesitation.
"You are mad," Lilith muttered, shaking her head. "At times, I thought I was ill in the head, but you are proving there are far crazier people. To think I share a bed with you. It frightens me."
"You sleep with a knife under your pillow, and I found another beneath your side of the bed," Cassian revealed.
"It is wise to have more than one hidden weapon, in case I lose hold of the first," Lilith said, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"I see. Wouldn’t you prefer to learn how to wield a weapon properly? I can teach you how to use every blade forged in this castle," Cassian offered, watching the spark of delight flicker in her eyes.
"Would you? And what would you seek in return?" Lilith asked, suspicious of his kind offer.
"Nothing. Knowing you can protect yourself would bring me peace of mind. Should you ever need to defend yourself, you will truly know how to use the dagger. I will teach you when I have time," Cassian promised.
Lilith pressed her hand against his chest once more. "I look forward to it. I hope you don’t go back on your word. So the entire castle doesn’t know how trained I am, we should practise in our bedchamber. It seems far more fitting than the training grounds."
Cassian’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Are you planning to seduce me if you fail to beat me in a sparring match?"
Lilith slipped her hand beneath his shirt, her nails grazing his skin. "I just might, so I can climb on top of you and declare myself the victor. I don’t like to lose, and fortunately for me, you seem willing to lose for my sake."
Her nails dragged down his abdomen as she withdrew her hand, leaving his breath uneven.
Cassian leaned closer, his voice a husky whisper. "I think now is a good time to-"
"Your Majesty!" Eric’s voice shattered the moment.
Cassian cursed under his breath, his jaw tightening.
"They found him. They found where Virgil had been hiding!" Eric announced with breathless urgency.
