Chapter 23

Cassia

Cassia laid in bed. Her face was buried into her pillow and her throat was raw from screaming. She wished to scream some more, but her throat was in so much pain it felt like it was yelling at her to stop it. Stop it before she destroyed herself.

But, Cassia didn't care what happened to her. Not anymore. Because Astra was dead because of her. If only she left when her father asked. If only she never fell for Hunter, maybe Astra would still be alive. And she hated it. She hated how she had thrown down her guard for Hunter, who had been plotting against her from the start. She had been a fool. An idiot for ever thinking he could love her and now she would never throw down her guard again.

She would never love again.

Cassia tensed at the sound of rapping against her bedroom door. She sat up and hesitated, her eyes scanning her large bedroom. She sat on her queen sized bed, where pink silk bedsheets littered the mattress. Her windows leading to her balcony were blown open to allow fresh air to come in and her white mirror table lay against the light gray wall - giving her a view of the girl who's hair was tangled up and matted; her eyes darkened from lack of sleep. She looked dreadful and she didn't care.

"Yes?" Cassia said.

The door opened and her father appeared. He was wearing brown slacks and a white buttoned shirt - a casual outfit and Cassia just stared at him. She hadn't spoken to him since he found her at the doors the night before.

"Are you okay?" her father asked.

No. That was the obvious answer, but Cassia didn't want to tell him the truth. Because to be honest was to be vulnerable. And to be vulnerable meant to be miserable.

"Yes, what do you want?" Cassia asked.

Her father's eyebrows knitted together and he strode over to Cassia's bed. He sat on the edge of her bed - hesitant. His eyes were guarded, but she could see the pity fighting its way through his shield.

"Astra was buried earlier today," Cassia's father said. "I don't think you're okay."

She said nothing. She would never speak about Astra again.

"Tell me everything," Cassia said. "You told me you would tell me your past."

Her father froze momentarily before he sighed. The deep worry lines in his face stood out more and more with every day that passed.

"Very well, I will tell you my tale," Cassia's father said. "Of how I became king."

Cassia frowned. "I thought it's because your aunt and uncle were the former king and queen of Oflaria?"

"They weren't my aunt and uncle. That's why you never met them."

Cassia stilled. It was true, she never met the former king and queen of Oflaria, who had retired and left Oflaria altogether. But, her father had told her they were his uncle and aunt and how they never had a child, so they picked him because he'd been their favourite. Cassia had been thrilled to hear her father's luck.

"Everyone thinks the former rulers of Oflaria didn't have kids, but the truth is they had a son - Kain Monroe. Who, I now realize is the poor boy's father," her father said. "When I was ten, my parents were killed in an accident the former king caused. So to owe me, the king let me live in the castle. I wasn't his adopted child, but I was given the same education, food and life as Kain. We became friends in school actually and we grew closer with every year that passed.

"And on his twenty-fifth birthday, he was asked to become king - as is the tradition with Oflaria. I was envious of him. I lived in the castle for fifteen years and I knew I'd be the better ruler." Her father paused, his face clouded as he reminisced. "So at his private coronation, I challenged him to a duel to win the crown. I said it was for fun - to prove that he was the rightful king. He'd seen me stumble in class and I assured him I was horrible with a sword, so he agreed to impress his parents, and that was his gravest mistake."

Cassia stared at her father in horror. Not just because of the story, but because of the familiarity of it.

"And as you can see, I won the duel." Cassia's father smiled sadly, touching the crown that glimmered on his head. "Kain was furious. He couldn't believe I won and he tried to strike me down in front of his parents and the small audience, but I stopped him and knights restrained him. And as punishment for nearly killing the new king, he was banished from the castle. Forced to live without wealth or status and that is why he hates me now."

Cassia was speechless. Not just because of the tale, but because this story was of the banished prince. It was the story Locke told them weeks ago.

"So the tale of the banished prince is true," Cassia whispered. "How could no one know about Prince Kain? And why didn't you tell me?"

"His parents kept him from the world. They were overprotective of their only heir, so everyone thought they were childless." He smiled sadly. "I didn't know how to tell you this. I see I should have told you earlier, but... I apologize. We never had the relationship where we could be open with each other."

Cassia was silent. It was all too much to take in.

"That's why that boy hates you and I. His father must have taught his son hate and I understand. We are the reason why they have nothing when they were supposed to be royalty."

Cassia's throat began to constrict to fight back the tears that threatened to spill as she realized how foolish she'd been. From the very start, Hunter hated her. No matter how much he denied it or acted otherwise, it was all an act.

An act Cassia had fallen for.

"He was using me to get to you," Cassia whispered. "I am a fool. I should have listened to you when you told me to come back."

She teared up. She hated Hunter. She hated him so much and if she could, she would shove a dagger through his heart to show him how she felt now.

"I'm so sorry, Cassia," her father said. "This is all my fault."

Cassia sniffled. She bit her lip to fight back tears. She was empty. Numb. Cold. But yet, emotions were coursing through her body, making it hard to stay calm.

"You have no idea how worried I was for you," her father said, his voice gentle now. "When you came to the castle bloodied, I nearly had a heart attack. I'm so happy you're here. I'm happy I can protect you."

Cassia's heart jolted. She never thought she'd hear her feather say that about her and her eyes flew wide.

"You care?" Cassia asked.

"Of course." He frowned. "You are my daughter. I will tear this kingdom apart to keep you safe."

Cassia's heart stirred. It was as if her heart was mending slightly - repairing the parts Hunter had torn off. But then, it stopped. Because she shouldn't feel happy. She shouldn't feel love.

With Astra dead, her mother gone and Hunter out to kill her, Cassia realized she was cursed. No one could love her. No one should love her. Because love meant death, even if you were still able to talk and breath.

"Where is my mother?" Cassia asked. "Can I ask that before I return to mourning?"

Her father stilled, caught off guard by this question.

"I... I don't know," he said. "She's gone from Oflaria - maybe she's in a neighbouring kingdom. I had to send her away. I was told by my council to preserve my reputation."

Cassia's heart sunk. It was true. Whoever touched her was cursed.

"She doesn't matter because I'm here, Cassia," her father assured. He reached out and touched her hair, his callused hands gentle. Cassia's eyes flew wide - her father had never touched her affectionally before. "You and I are all we need. Because everyone else will use you for your status."

Cassia heart thumped. He was right, but she desperately wished he was wrong.

"Our priority right now is revenge. On Hunter and on his father, Kain," her father said, his eyes darkening as his hand fell away from her. "We need to kidnap that boy. He tried to keep you as prisoner, so we must show them a taste of their own medicine."

Cassia's eyes widened. She didn't think her father would resort to revenge - she thought they'd hide until their knights found Hunter and his friends themselves. But, she liked this plan. She liked revenge and she grinned, feeling adrenaline pumping through her at the thought of ruining Hunter's life. She wanted to show him how he made her feel.

"I would love to get revenge," Cassia said, her eyes gleaming now. "We need to show them the pain they caused us."

Cassia no longer felt miserable. No longer did a dark cloud loom over her, but instead a tornado that was preparing for destruction was what hovered above her. Because that was what she would be. Not a rainfall after a miserable day, but a storm that would destroy everything in its path.

"Good," her father said, smiling as well. "Because we will kill them for what they tried to do to us. None of them will ever touch us again."

Cassia smirked. Good. She didn't care to think about Hunter, who had once been kind to her. She didn't care for Liana or Chase who were once her fellow campers. And she definitely didn't care about Kain who lost everything to her father. No one deserved mercy for what they did to her.

"We will avenge Astra," Cassia said, hopping out of bed. Her hair tumbled around her and she swept it up into a bun. "We will kill them all."

Her father smiled, looking pleased with Cassia's anger. She shot him a wicked grin and he bowed towards her - looking pleased with her for the first time in his life.

And Cassia basked in that look. She relished in the future where Hunter would be at her mercy - not the other way around.

Because no longer would she be weak.