33. Cassian

THIRTY-THREE

Islice my knife effortlessly through the steak on my plate while keeping my head down, avoiding any onlookers hoping to start a conversation. This is all Brody's fault. The mention of one of Jake's steaks has me crawling back. Thankfully, Janie hasn't uttered a word, she just ushered me to the most discreet booth possible with a knowing smirk on her lips that tells me I haven't seen the end of her tonight.

A few betas have spotted me from their table by the window. I can feel their eyes on me as they whisper among themselves like I can't fucking hear them, but I choose to let it go over my head. I'm avoiding any kind of drama tonight. Which is exactly why I called ahead to check if Leticia was working or not. She isn't, but I can't stay longer than necessary because fuck knows someone will tell her, and I really can't handle her right now.

I love being a wolf. My origin makes up a huge part of who I am, but fuck me, some of the shit it comes with drives me insane. Duels, for one. Needy women for another. The idea of finding a true mate that fills my thoughts instead of someone who takes, demands, and offers nothing to the partnership, feels impossible. I'm not holding out hope anyway.

Slipping another piece of steak in my mouth, I swallow it down as someone slides over the leather seat across from me. She gave me longer than expected, at least.

"It's good to see you, Cass, but not when you're like this."

I look up at Janie, her concerned smile in place as she tucks a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. She's the closest thing to a sister that I've got. Her enjoyment at bossing me around stems back as far as I can remember, and I can't deny that it feels weird…this new barrier between us. Since I walked out on the Kenner pack, I didn't just turn my back on my father; I turned my back on everyone. Friends and loved ones included.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I grunt, making her scoff.

"Of course you don't. You don't show your face forever, no matter how many times I plead with you, then, when you do show that ruggedly handsome face of yours, it's to protect some fae girl. A fae girl who wins a fucking duel against Leticia, to be precise, and now you're back again looking all…you."

Her assessment seems accurate and my shoulders sag with relief when I realize that she's not snapping the words in anger like I half expected. She's just as concerned as she always is, but she's not mad at me. Never mad at me.

"Life is full of surprises at the moment," I admit, earning a snicker this time as she places her hand over mine. I look down at her touch as she squeezes in comfort before retreating so I can carry on eating. Not that I do. My focus is on her.

"When isn't life just a spoonful of madness? You're a Kenner, pack or not. It has a habit of following you around." She leans back in her seat, folding her arms over her chest as her eyes settle on mine. "Besides, you're attending an academy to find the new heir to reign over the future of our kingdom. You're asking for drama right there."

"Maybe," I grumble with a shrug.

"There's no maybe about it. But you're not alone, Cass. I know you have Kryll, Brody, and Raiden, but I'm here for you as well. Jake, too. You know that."

She's right. I do. But she shouldn't have to deal with the burdens I bring because I wanted out; I wanted a chance for a better future. My vision of a new kingdom doesn't have to be hers as well.

Smiling at her, I place my cutlery on my plate. "I know that, Janie. We promised, didn't we?" I cock a brow at her, making her smile soften as she takes a trip down memory lane with me.

"We always do."

She curls her little finger, inching it toward me, making me glare at her for a split second before I copy the motion and lock in the pinky swear with her. I'm certain she had me doing this when I was just a newborn baby and she was the bossy six year old that always told me what to do.

My cell phone vibrates on the table beside my arm, breaking our stare-off as I glance down at the offending interruption. Brody's name flashes across the lock screen with an incoming text. I consider ignoring it, but something in my gut has me reaching for it anyway.

Brody: We need you.

Fuck.

Cassian: Where?

"I have to go."My finger slips from hers as I rise from my seat, tucking my cell phone into my pocket.

"Don't be a stranger," she warns with a familiar challenge in her eyes as she opens her arms, wrapping me in her warm embrace a moment later.

"I won't." Another promise. I'm always too damn soft with her.

"Good, and bring that girl of yours back around," she adds as I step out of her hold, frowning down at her as she moves in time with me toward the door.

Girl of mine? That girl belongs to no one, no matter how hard I seem to be trying. Even if it is an illusion. My reasoning seems to be fucking with my head more than anyone else's, and I'm in no position to deep dive into it all. I can't think about that right now, though. It seems my friends need me.

As we step out into the evening air, Janie grabs hold of my arm, the pointed look on her face rooting me to the spot as I shake my head. "I'm not promising that shit. It's more complicated than that."

"Like that wasn't obvious when you were here, and don't think anything that happens at the academy doesn't reach my ears. I like her. I like the challenge she brings you. I think we could be besties."

I snicker in disbelief. "Right, sure." My cell phone vibrates in my pocket, another message from Brody with his location pinpointed. "I really do have to?—"

"Go, I know. Be safe, Cass." She rubs my arm, rising on her tiptoes to press a warm kiss to my cheek before she heads back inside.

It's strange, the difference I feel from the other students on campus, even the other wolves. Janie's warmth, Jake's too, they've always been an extension of me. Glancing back over my shoulder at the closed door, I sigh.

Maybe I messed everything up. Maybe I am as selfish as my father says I am.

I'm not going to get answers tonight, though, so I can assess this more at another time.

Taking a deep breath, I rush from the dark and quiet corner of Kenner land and across the City of Harrows to the opposite end of the cobbled streets where the vampires run every inch of the ground they feed on.

I slow half a block from the street Brody sent. My speed returns to normal as my hearing takes over, and barely a beat later, I hear the grunts and thuds of a brawl unraveling.

Great.

I should have been expecting this shit.

Rounding the corner, I find Kryll repeatedly slamming his fists into the guy's face beneath him, blood splattering in every direction as he moves to the next target. Raiden's eyes flash red as he approaches another vampire from behind, wrapping his arms around his throat in a swift move as he effortlessly snaps his neck. The target clatters to the floor in a pile of limbs while Brody stands under a shadowed arch, hands in front of him as he chants, bringing the magic at his fingertips to life.

There are three of them, half a dozen men scattered across the street, and another five charging at them.

"Anytime, Cass. There are more on their way," Raiden grunts, pulling a small dagger from the waistband of his pants and aiming it at the nearest of the approaching vampires.

I'd love to send him an eye roll and give him a piece of my mind, but the two vampires inching toward Brody catch my attention and I take off.

Quickly considering my options, I shift midair, letting my wolf take over. It always startles the other origins, but vampires tend to react the most, especially new walkers like these. The pair of fuckers pause midstep, gaping in surprise as I land a few feet away from them. Their eyes burn red, raging brighter a few seconds later as they set their sights on me.

Perfect.

Charging toward the one on the left, my wolf consumes me, snarling as my teeth snap excitedly. I aim for his throat, the sweet satisfaction of his flesh piercing beneath my bite rippling through me as we fall to the ground. He doesn't stand a chance, his cries of pain wilting into the wind as I take his life before moving on to the next target, only to find Kryll beating me to it.

Literally.

His anger issues run way deeper than mine. The appreciation for blood splattering his knuckles is a level of sadism that holds no appeal for me.

Running my claws along the cobbled road beneath my paws, I hunt down the next closest vampire, ready to eliminate that threat. Once my wolf has had the taste of blood, it leaves him insatiable. I'm pretty sure I'm not blood-haze crazy like these guys, but the need is high.

Brody's magic holds one in place, their arms stiff at their sides, and it's almost too easy. Leaping through the air, my jaws open, a sense of calm washing over me as I connect with the target and knock him to the ground. But before I can sink my teeth into him, I'm knocked aside. Snarling, I stare down at the new vampire who thinks he has the upper hand.

I can hear the need for blood zapping through his veins as his eyes search me erratically. Raiden is behind him in the next instant. The telltale sound of his neck snapping fills my ears a moment later as Kryll attacks the guy on the ground.

Silence descends over us as dead vampires lay scattered across the road. The stores that line each side of the street are closed, leaving no one to watch on. Certain the danger is gone, I transition back to my human form.

"What the fuck happened?" I ask, wiping a hand down my face. My fur may be gone, but the blood that coated it moments ago still clings to my skin.

"Something that could have been avoided if you were here to begin with," Raiden snaps, finally earning the eye roll that takes over my face.

Of course, this is my fault.

Kryll scrubs at the back of his neck, his fiery auburn hair darkened with splashes of crimson blood. "They were feeding on the humans again."

Fuck.

"Is that why some of them were so…"

"Fresh? Yeah," Raiden grunts, taking a handkerchief from his pocket to clean off his hands.

"Why is The Council allowing this?" I ask, looking at each of them, but my gaze settles on Raiden, knowing he's the most likely to have the answer.

"Vampire numbers are a priority to them."

Of course they are.

"It's going to create an internal war throughout the fucking kingdom if this carries on," I grind out, irritated by the hierarchy of origins that seems to plague the kingdom. Especially the City of Harrows, but my concern is it's already bleeding into the academy too.

Raiden scoffs in that manic way that makes him look like a nut job. "If you're going to get pissy over this shit, then we won't call you for help next time."

"I'm just calling it how I see it," I retort, and he shakes his head in disbelief before settling his gaze on mine.

"How about you worry about the issues we have going on instead of a potential war? I really think it's the least of your problems."

He glances at Brody and I follow the movement.

"How so?"

"Not now, Raiden. Fuck me. He still has blood all over him," Brody grumbles, not looking at me.

"What the fuck am I missing?"

Raiden grins, and even Kryll peers at me from my peripheral vision as my eyes narrow on Brody.

"Brody fucked Addi," Raiden declares, clapping his hands as I freeze on the spot.

He did what now?