Chapter 20

Hunter

Whenever Hunter envisaged Cassia, he would smile. His heart would grow feathery and it would float far, far away from him - as if he wished to connect his heart to Cassia's. It was a feeling he'd never felt before. No one in his life could hold his heart the way Cassia possessed it. And that was why he couldn't do it anymore. For the first time ever, he would disobey his father.

Hunter finished writing the note in his sketchbook and he tore the page out. Chase glanced at him from his bed and Hunter climbed out to give it to him.

"This is for my father," Hunter said. "It's a note to say I'm out."

Chase's eyes flew wide and he read the note quickly, his expression morphing to one of horror. Hunter stood there feeling as if it was hard to breathe.

"Why?" Chase asked. "Why don't you want to be part of our mission anymore?"

"Because of Cassia. I can't do this to her."

Chase stood up and faced Hunter. His amber eyes held a million emotions, but they all led to one thing - terror.

"Are you sure?" Chase asked. "You father won't be happy. You know how he is."

"I'm sure. I've never been more sure of anything."

Chase shook his head. He ran his fingers through his curls, looking agitated.

"I know I told you I want you to be happy and I insisted you to go for Cassia, but I was being an idiot," Chase said. "She is the enemy. She will always be the enemy and for you to choose her over the mission is blasphemy."

Hunter stilled. It hurt to see Chase take back his words.

"Liana told me to go after Cassia, too," Hunter said. "You both encouraged it, so don't take back your words now."

"Because we were both blinded by how lovesick you were! It was as if you infected us with the poison Cassia forced upon you. But now I'm telling you how it is - you will never be happy with her. Because of your father and his past, you can never be free when she is the reason we grew up caged."

Hunter's heart sunk. He opened his mouth to deny it - to inform Chase he was senseless, but he wasn't so sure. And he hated that. He loathed how he couldn't be sure when it came to Cassia.

"We only know my father's side of the story. Maybe this is all one big misunderstanding," Hunter whispered.

"I highly doubt that," Chase said. "Look at Cassia's father - he is a tyrant and I doubt he is better than your father."

Hunter was quiet. He didn't want to argue - not with Chase or Liana or even his father, which were the few people who'd been there for him when he had nothing. They knew him like no one else did - not even Cassia, and to throw them away was to throw away parts of himself.

"I love you, Hunter," Chase said, patting his shoulder then. "I think you just lost sight of the mission, but you will come back to us. I know it. And Liana knows it, too."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because if you don't come back to us you will lose us. And the few people who were there for you will never help you again, so choose wisely."

Hunter opened his mouth to dispute further, but Chase unlatched the cabin door and left, taking Hunter's note with him. Hunter fell back, his back hitting against the soft mattress.

He really didn't know what he was doing anymore.

*****

Hunter and Cassia were deep within the forest - in a clearing he discovered the other day. They were settled onto a picnic blanket he brought and in between them was a basket with food he cooked - brown bread and cheese, and they were nibbling on their food.

It was tranquil in the forest. They could hear squirrels scurrying around and the sound of water pounding into a river farther away, but for the most part it was nearly silent. Almost serene other than Hunter's volatile thoughts.

So much had happened. First with Cassia's father and now Chase, and he had to address it with Cassia.

"I overheard what your father said about me," Hunter said.

Cassia whipped her head to look at him, her eyes wide with horror. "You... did? I'm sorry. You shouldn't have heard that."

"It's fine, but is it true? He won't let us be together?"

Cassia paused. She set her bread down on the red and white blanket, and her eyes rose to meet his again.

"My father is just adamant on traditions, but he won't coerce me to break up with you. He's a lot of things, but he won't threaten me to do as he pleases," Cassia said. "And besides, it's not like I ever listened to him anyways. And he knows that."

Cassia shot him a small smile, but Hunter couldn't bring himself to smile back. With Chase, Liana and soon his father being enraged by him, Hunter didn't want to add Cassia's father to his list of people who hated him.

"Hunter, listen to me," Cassia said. She slid towards him and grabbed his hand, tugging him forward. They were so close Hunter could see the dark ring around her large irises. He could see the freckles smattered across her nose - so faint, no one but him could see them because Cassia never let anyone this close to her. "I want this to last. I want to be with you and I will fight for us, even if that means upsetting my father."

Hunter shivered. To hear Cassia so open with how she felt for him was something he wished to hear for the rest of his life.

"You know, I sought my father's approval my entire life. I desperately wanted it because he is my only family - he is the only person who is supposed to love me and he doesn't, and everyone I've ever known hates me." Cassia swallowed hard. "But now I'm realizing that begging for love isn't going to make me happy. Acting out, throwing tantrums - none of those have ever brought me joy, even if I thought catching my father's attention was worth it. So, I'm going to focus on what I have and right now I have you. You make me happy. I don't even have to beg for it, so I will fight for you Hunter. I promise I will."

Hunter smiled. He couldn't help it as Cassia poured her heart out to him.

"I've been realizing that lately as well," Hunter said. "All I wanted was to keep my father happy and I did whatever he said, but I'm starting to realize it isn't worth it. I rather just have a simple life and fighting and arguing and all that isn't worth it. I may have come from nothing, but maybe having everything I've been told to dream of isn't the life I really want."

"Maybe." Cassia smiled, her eyes tender. "You know, my father told me to go back to the castle because something is brewing in Oflaria. And maybe I should have listened, but I refused to go back. Because of you. Because I couldn't leave you behind, I decided to stay and risk it all."

Hunter's eyes flew wide. He couldn't believe it and guilt tore at him.

"Cassia..." Hunter took a deep breath in, preparing himself for what he would have to say. "I have to tell you something."

Cassia's smile slid off her face. She shot him a confused look - her eyebrows furrowed and her body still, and it crushed him. To see the joy sucked out of her after her confession tore at him.

"Please don't tell me this is a prank," Cassia said. "Please don't tell me your friends dared you to date me."

"What?"

"I always thought there was no way you could fall for me - you're too good for me and I'm not the type of girl anyone could love. My own father doesn't love me, so how could someone like you ever?"

Hunter froze. He felt as if she was the one pranking him instead. But, as her bottom lip quivered and her entire body deflated, it was obvious what the truth was.

"Cassia, listen to me. I like you. I really do," Hunter said. "I'm sorry your father and others have made you think you are hard to love, but I promise I will teach you that all of you - your good and bad traits - are loveable despite what you think. So believe me when I say you are loveable the way you are."

Cassia teared up. It was terrifying to see her like this - so unguarded and vulnerable. He'd never seen this side of her and it was a sight that fractured his heart.

So, he drew her to him and hugged her. He held her tightly as if he could keep her together - as if he could be the barricade stopping everyone from hurting the girl who clearly lacked basic love. Because for Cassia, he would tear down everyone who made her think she was unloveable.

"Sorry, I'm being silly," Cassia said, pulling away. She was smiling now, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just kiss me. Enough of this nonsense."

Hunter opened his mouth to argue, but Cassia shut him up by kissing him. She kissed him sweetly, her lips melting onto his and he sighed against her lips. He kissed her back and they made out until they were lying side-by-side, merely kissing under the canopy of treetops above them.

One more day, Hunter told himself. He would give himself one more day before he told Cassia the truth.

*****

Hunter strolled back to his cabin with a smile on his face. After dropping Cassia back to her own, he was going back to his, feeling warm inside. Because whenever he was with Cassia, he forgot about everything he worried about.

Soon, he reached his cabin and unlocked it and went inside. But, the moment he stepped in his smile fell away.

Because both Liana and Chase were in the cabin. And with them, was his father, Kain Monroe.

His father was taller than him - broader, too. He had dark black hair and cold blue eyes that were relentlessly full of rage. His eyes were cold and his body was eternally stiff and Hunter could do nothing, but freeze at his father's glare.

"Father?" Hunter squeaked out.

The door fell shut behind him. His father stood in the centre of the cabin - in front of the nightstand and both Liana and Chase were sitting on Chase's bed. Their eyes were on Hunter as if this was some sort of intervention.

"Son, I have received your note," his father said, waving the paper Hunter had wrote on earlier. "And I fear you have lost sight of your purpose."

Hunter's blood ran cold. His father's eyes bore into him; his eyes a vortex of anger that made Hunter step back.

"Why don't you want to be a part of our mission anymore?" his father asked. "Tell me now."

Hunter's mouth opened, but words wouldn't come out. His mouth felt parch and his father stepped towards him, looming over him like he would back when he was a child, and Hunter wavered. He desperately wanted to fall into fetal position to protect himself, but he stood his ground.

"I-I don't know," Hunter stammered out. "I've had a lot on my mind."

"Like what? The princess?"

Hunter said nothing.

"She is the enemy. Remember that boy."

His father seized Hunter's neck and Hunter winced as his nails dug into his skin. Liana stirred and her hands clasped together, and even Chase lowered his eyes.

"Have you forgotten?" his father hissed.

"No."

Hunter's heart hammered against his chest - screaming to fly out and run away before his father crushed the last bit of joy he had. But with his father holding him, he was lodged in his grasps.

"Good, because we are acting soon," his father said, letting go of Hunter. Hunter touched his neck, feeling where his father's nails dug in. "So be ready."

His father caught a glimpse of Chase and Liana. They nodded, but their eyes struggled to remain on him.

"When are we acting?" Hunter asked.

"Tomorrow." His father shot him a look - his eyes blazing with the rage they always carried. "And I expect you to participate when we attack."

Hunter wanted to scream - to scream that they couldn't act and he wouldn't let them, but he was trembling at the mere sight of his father. How could he defy the very man he feared?

"Keep an eye out on my son," his father said, looking to Chase then. "And make sure he doesn't blotch our plan. Understood?"

Chase nodded, his brown eyes anywhere, but on Hunter or his father.

"I'll be around." His father shoved passed Hunter towards the door. "Close by - preparing for tomorrow's attack. So no acting up."

Hunter turned to face his father who was already facing him. His father's jaw was clenched - his hands curled into fists.

"I'm talking to you son," his father hissed. "Remember, your loyalty lies with me. I raised you. Fed you when I had nothing, so remember who was there for you when you were ostracized. The princess is not your friend."

Hunter's jaw clenched. He desperately wished to speak up - to stand up to his father, but he couldn't. Because of his fear. The fear that constantly haunted him, he was left to bite his tongue.

"Understood?" His father stepped towards him. "Say it."

His father raised his hand and Hunter blurted out, "Understood."

His father smirked, his eyes gleaming. He then shook his head and left the cabin, and Hunter watched him disappear into the darkness of the night.

This couldn't be happening.