Chapter <b>101 </b>


    ATASHA’S POV


    55 vouchers


    Cassian said he would think about it. For now, he allowed them to rest, recover, and remain in the outpost while he decided what to do with them. What I didn’t understand was why I was still in his study with him.


    I could have used the time to go outside and tend to the wounded. That would have made sense. But then the truth settled in. My ability wasn’t mine to use freely. Cassian controlled it. It was his decision who I would heal and who I would not.


    I swallowed and nced at Mendez, who was seated across from me. Neither he nor Cassian had spoken for some time, and the silence made me wonder if they had some way ofmunicating without words.


    “My Lady, is there something you wish to ask?” Mendez said, almost as though he had read my thoughts.


    “I-” My eyes shifted to Cassian. He was still staring at the untouched cup of coffee in front of him, giving me no sign. I drew a breath and continued. “The Fae. What do you know about them?”


    “Fae’s….” Mendez nced at Cassian too. “Undeniably, I know more about them than the rest of the soldiers but that is only because I used to work in the Royal hospital.”


    I nodded. Yes, Mendez indeed worked with the previous King in the past.


    “Contrary to what normal people know, Fae’s have more simrities to us than most think…” Mendez paused, choosing his words. “They have royals, courts, andws. They live in kingdoms under a crown. And like our packs, they’re divided into tribes.”


    “Tribes?<b>” </b>I asked.


    He nodded. “Each tribe owes tribute to the King, the one strong enough to keep them in line and protect them from what lives in the North. The tribute can be stones,bor, warriors, or knowledge. In return, the King keeps the roads clear, settles disputes, and answers when something worse than beasts starts, hunting. He protects them from the dangers of the North.”


    “Dangers of the North?” I pressed.


    “Yes, mydy. The weather is only one part of it. There are older creatures in the wastes, and enemies that don’t rush at walls. Some hide behind bargains. Some use lures. Witches are counted among the Fae’s enemies.” He hesitated, then added, “Witches take children when they can. They drain blood for power. Any supernatural blood can feed their work, but Fae blood carries more force, likely because of their tie to living things and stone.”


    My jaw tightened. “Then why do Agape and the rest look… normal?” I left the rest of the thought hanging.


    Mendez gave a short chuckle. “Most people picture Fae with polished features, long hair, pointed ears, and eyes that shine. Some do look like that. But they can hide it. mour, banding, bindings, call it what you want. Ears can be ttened, color dulled, marks covered. If they’re on the run, they won’t advertise what they are.<b>” </b>


    “You’re saying they’re hiding their actual appearance?”


    55 vouchers


    “Yes. At least the parts that give them away. If you saw them at a Fae court, you’d notice the differences. Here, they’ll pass until they choose not to.”


    I thought of Kae’s posture and Agape’s formal bow. “Do you know anything about this Fae King, the one changing the Frozen North?”


    “Unfortunately, no,” Mendez said. He nced at Cassian and then back to me. “Fae’s avoid other supernaturals. Outside of trade, they share little. They keep their maps, theirws, and their bloodlines to themselves. But…” His eyes shifted to the door. “We can use Agape and the others to learn how their kingdom is structured. Which tribes pay what, who sits on which council, and how their oaths work. It would help us n.”


    I nodded. “Then we should start soon.”


    Across from us, Cassian lifted his hand. Mendez stood at once.


    “That will be all,” Cassian said.


    Mendez dipped his head to him, then to me. “Mydy.” He turned and left, pulling the door closed behind him.


    I rose as well, but Cassian’s fingers wrapped around my wrist. Heat pulsed where his hand touched my skin. I met his eyes and gave a brief nod.


    Inwardly, I was still trying to find my ce in all of this. I could be out there with the healers, stopping bleeding, setting bones, doing something useful.


    Instead I was here, in his study, staring at the same walls and the same cup of coffee he hadn’t touched. If he wanted me at his side, fine, but what did he expect me to do other than sit and wait?


    I stayed quiet, waiting for him to speak first. When nothing came, I turned my head. Cassian’s crimson eyes were already on me.


    “Is… is there something?” I asked.


    Mendez didn’t look shocked to see Cassian return. What unsettled him more was me, sitting here beside Cassian, alive and unharmed. Maybe he had expected me to be gone by now, or assumed Cassian would have ended me himself.


    If Mendez was surprised, then he might know more about Cassian’s state than I did. And I intended to use this chance to ask.


    Before I could say anything else, Cassian’s hand tightened around my wrist and, with no warning, he pulled me forward. I let out a sharp gasp as I stumbled andnded on hisp.


    “Cassian-“The name barely escaped before his arm came around me.


    He hugged me from behind, his chest solid against my back, his hand firm across my waist. His head lowered until his forehead rested against the back of mine. I froze, every muscle stiff, my pulse hammering far too


    fast.


    7:44 Thu, Sep 18


    :


    “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, his voice low near my ear.


    I blinked, struggling to steady myself. “P–pardon?”


    “Put yourself in danger,” he rified. “Just to save me.”


    <b>93 </b>


    55 vouchers


    Save him? I did not have a choice! My mouth opened before I could stop myself. “It was you who took me to that cave.” The words slipped out, unguarded, and I silently scolded myself the moment they left my lips.


    And why the hell was he talking about this and not about… the Fae’s? There are more pressing matters than what happened out there! Still, I tried to recover. “Only you can take me back,” I added awkwardly, the words sounding far too clumsy once spoken aloud.


    That seemed to catch his attention. His chest rumbled against my back as he gave a short chuckle.


    I froze again, heat rushing up my neck. What was this man doing? Why was he holding me like this,ughing, of all things, as if any of this was normal?


    Then, just as I was about to say something, a knock interrupted us. “My Lord, My Lady, Miss Reina Morrow is here with Council Member Halden Morrow. They wish to speak with you.”