<b>Chapter </b>97
ATASHA’S POV
<b>39 </b>
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“I-“I cursed myself inside. What was I doing, stopping him? “I mean… he didn’t mean to do that.” I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the others tightening their grips on their weapons, spreading out as if preparing to strike. My body tensed, ready for the sh.
But Cassian’s voice cut through the tension. “Do you think you can stop me?”
For a second, I thought those words were aimed at me. Then I realized his eyes weren’t on me at all. He was looking at them.
A smirk spread across his face. “Think again.”
He moved before anyone could blink. Agape was wrenched upward as though he weighed nothing, Cassian lifting him clean off the ground with one arm. He shoved the old man forward, using his body as a shield, dagger pressed so close to his neck that a thin line of blood already trickled down.
The others froze at the sight, though Kae shouted and charged anyway. Cassian didn’t even flinch. His bootshed out, catching Kae squarely in the chest. The younger man was thrown back,nding hard in the snow.
The rest rushed toward him, helping him up. From the way they moved around him, shielding him on both sides, it was obvious now, Kae wasn’t just a hot–headed youth. They were his guards.
Lani took a step forward, her weapon raised, but Agape’s voice rang out sharply. “Wait! Do not move!”
She hesitated, her de still raised, but the rest stopped.
Cassian pressed the dagger harder against Agape’s throat. “If I wanted him dead, none of you could stop me. Not even if you all came at once.”
Agape winced as the steel cut deeper, blood dripping into his cor. “He- He is telling the truth. None of us would be his match.”
“The Lord of the North knows we areing,” Kae spat out. Clearly, the man was trying his best to intimidate Cassian. “If we do not arrive on time, he will hunt you down himself. In thisnd, the Lord of the North is as good as a king. He rules everything here.”
I blinked, confused by his arrogance. Slowly, I looked at Cassian. His face gave nothing away.
<b>10:40 </b>Wed, <b>Sep </b>17
Cassian gave a short snort. “What did you do?”
<b>39 </b>
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Agape’s eyes widened. He struggled in Cassian’s grip, blood flowing faster down his neck. “W- what does my lord mean?”
Cassian’s gaze sharpened. “Why did you hurt my wife?”
Agape stammered. “I didn’t-”
The de pressed tighter. “Try again.”
Agape grimaced, his words spilling out fast. “I truly didn’t harm the Lady. However… that sudden jolt she felt, it only happens when a fae stone reacts to someone who can harness its ability.”
Cassian frowned. “Harness its ability?”
Agape nodded quickly, wincing as the de stayed firm against his throat. “Yes. It seems the Lady can use fae stones.”
Cassian’s face darkened. “She’s not fae.”
“I know,” Agape answered. “But there are those with special constitutions who can channel fae stones. You don’t have to be born a fae to do it.”
Cassian said nothing. His eyes stayed locked on the old man.
Agape rushed to continue. “I am not lying. Ask the Lady to pick up the stone again. If she does, nothing will happen this time. What she felt earlier was a normal reaction to an active fae stone when it first connects to someone who can use it.”
My brows drew together. Active fae stone?
I remembered what Grace once told me. Active fae stones were different. They held multiple uses depending on the stone. The red one, for example, could heal small wounds and prevent scars, but only three times or sometimes more before losing its power. That was why they were rare and expensive.
By contrast, passive fae stones were simple. They did only one thing. The light fae stone gave off illumination when the sun was gone. A warmth stone kept heat steady during winter nights. A rity stone sharpened vision, but only for reading or seeing in dim light. They were useful, yes, but predictable and limited.
Active fae stones could be far more dangerous. Grace had warned me that some were tied to fire, others to water, even air and earth. She had once mentioned a storm stone that could summon lightning once before burning out, and another that could drain poison from the body at a terrible cost to the user’s strength.
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She said these were really rare and a fae would pay an enormous price to get one of them.
That was why they were valued more than gold. They were weapons and tools, their worth beyond measure.
I nced at the red stone lying in the snow between us.
“He’s right,” I said. “I wasn’t hurt.” I lifted my hand to show Cassian.
My body always reacted on its own whenever something harmful entered it. A small cut or poison would be dealt with immediately. That was why poisons never worked on me. Cassian knew this. He knew I was immune, so even if Agape had tried to harm me, it wouldn’t have done anything.
So why was he acting this way?
Cassian wasn’t in his feral state anymore. That meant he had a reason for what he was doing, even if I couldn’t see it yet.
The others stared at me as I lowered myself and picked up the stone. “See?” I met Cassian’s crimson eyes. “I’m fine.”
In response, Cassian narrowed his eyes.
“The Lady… she is fine,” Agape said, his voice carrying a clear note of relief.
“I am,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed on Cassian. “Please, let him go.”
Cassian’s gaze sharpened. He studied me closely, his expression tightening as though he was trying to decide if I was telling the truth.
But Cassian didn’t move. His dagger stayed against Agape’s throat, the blood still dripping. The others stood frozen, weapons half–raised, waiting to see what he would do.
And I… I kept my gaze on him, refusing to look away. “Please. Let him go.”
For a long moment, nothing happened. Then Cassian finally released his grip. Agape dropped forward, coughing, his hand clutching the cut at his throat.
The others rushed toward him, but none dared take another step closer to Cassian.
Then Cassian slid the dagger back into its sheath but didn’t rx. His eyes swept across the group, thennded on me again, as if he wasn’t satisfied with what he saw.
Agape raised a hand, stopping the others from saying anything. “Your Excellency… we meant no offense.” His voice was hoarse, strained.
:
Cassian gave no reply. Instead, he turned away, his expression unreadable.
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My fingers tightened around the red stone in my palm as I thought about what Agape had said. Special constitutions. People who could use fae stones without being fae. Was that really what I was?
Before I could think further, a sound tore through the stillness.
A low, guttural growl carried on the wind.