40. Cassian

CASSIAN

"Where are you going?"

As far away from your nosey ass as possible.

"It's none of your business," I grumble instead, avoiding his gaze, but I can hear him tapping his finger on his chin as his eyes bore into the side of my head.

"Which means it has something to do with Adrianna," he declares, and I catch him pursing his lips out of the corner of my eyes.

Who knew the asshole vampire had a soft spot deep, deep down somewhere, and more than that, who knew it would make its appearance for a fae girl? Not just a girl, a princess. It's fitting for him, really.

"I said it's none of your business," I repeat, tugging on my leather jacket.

"Does it have something to do with her crying at the castle?" he asks, folding his arms over his chest. He caught that, huh? "Actually, what do you know about that?" he pushes, walking around me so I can no longer avoid his gaze.

"Nothing," I murmur, only partly lying as I sidestep him, gaze set on the door.

I reach for the handle, breath lodged in my throat, but before I can wrap my hand around it, he curls his fingers around my arm, forcing my attention to swing to him.

"You're not going to hurt her or put her in danger." It's not a question. It's a statement—no, a demand, one he wants me to follow.

"It's not currently my intention," I manage, giving him a pointed look that hopefully makes it clear that this conversation is done.

"Don't try me, Cassian. Just because we haven't officially claimed her doesn't mean I don't feel it in my veins," he grinds out through clenched teeth, and I shake my head at him.

"Whatever," I grunt, grabbing the handle and swinging the door open as his hold loosens.

"Cassian," he warns, but I'm already gone before I have to deal with another word. The wind whips around me as I rush to the fae building. I slow as I reach the front door, taking a moment to push Raiden to the back of my mind so I can focus on tonight.

It's easier said than done when he's such a constant headache.

Stepping inside, a few fae startle when they see me, but once they realize I'm heading straight for the stairs, they relax. Not completely, not while I'm still in their space, but enough. Taking the steps slowly, I remember what tonight is about.

The last thing I want to do is step foot on the Kenner compound, but after seeing the pain radiate from her today and the sudden bubble of horror that parted her lips when I took her to the spot where my father attacked her, I couldn't deny her.

There's not much I can offer her, but this? I can give her this.

I don't know what triggered her in her room, and I didn't want to push, but I get the feeling that it's what gave her the desire to see her mother. To understand? Maybe. I hope she doesn't have high hopes for a positive outcome. Nothing of the sort ever happens on the Kenner compound.

Reaching her floor, I'm standing in front of her door before I feel ready, but there's nothing I can do about it when she swings it open a split second later.

She looks just like she did when I walked into Janie's diner a few weeks ago. Her hair is pinned to her head and her face is void of makeup. She wears black combat pants and a white t-shirt held in place by a corset lined with daggers. Two more are clipped to her boots, and I am slightly impressed. Even with the black cloak that's draped over her shoulders.

There's no denying that danger could find us, and she's prepared, but it's my job to make sure that doesn't happen.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," she breathes, taking a deep breath as she nods, assuring herself as much as she is me.

She steps out into the hallway, rubbing her lips together nervously as her scent weaves around me.

Fuck.

Wiping a hand down my face, I turn for the stairs, needing a minute to fucking think before I slam her into the communal bathroom. Again.

Dammit.

That sounds more tempting than it should.

I don't wait for her as I race down the stairs. The fae in the lounge panic at my approach again, but I step out into crisp night air before they can get too twisted in knots over it.

Surprisingly, Addi is right behind me, body stiff as she comes to a stop before me. My hands fall to her waist on instinct, pulling her in tight as her hands lift to my chest, her fingers playing across my t-shirt as we stare at one another.

I hate that she can say so much without saying a single word, but more than that, I hate that my body reacts to her, no matter what. She could hold one of those silver daggers to my throat and my dick would still get hard.

"Are you going to start moving?" she asks, eyes dark as she looks up through her lashes at me. It's not my fault her scent is intoxicating at this close proximity.

"I was just giving you a second to prepare," I mumble, and she gives me a pointed stare.

"Right."

I start moving before she can say anything else, confirming things about me that I don't want to admit. Because she would. She's a no-holds-barred woman, and I know, if given the chance, she would make a damn example out of me.

Relishing in her body pinned to mine, I bring us to the outskirts of the compound more quickly than I expected. I release her from my grasp, despite the desire to pull her in closer.

She adjusts the cloak draped around her, lifting the hood over her head, shielding her features from view.

"Keep a step behind me at all times. Follow my directions and don't question a single thing I say. Understood?" She nods, not uttering a word. I consider pushing her for a verbal answer, but something tells me she's keeping her mouth shut so I don't get a blast of her razor-sharp tongue at my demands. "Come."

I stay in the shadows, and as agreed, she stays a step behind me. We have quite a walk on our hands, but I didn't want to risk drawing any attention by getting closer. She doesn't utter a word of complaint as we trudge through the deserted land on the Kenner compound. Trees, shrubs, and overgrown grass are all that surround us. It's my wolf's favorite place to be, even if it is the ugliest thing to look at.

The first house comes into view, and I make sure I walk the long way around it, careful not to set off any security features that I know of. Reaching out my hand, I wrap my fingers around her arm as I come to a stop, closing my eyes to listen to the noises around me.

Families are in their homes, some putting their children to bed, others bickering about inconsequential shit. All of it means nothing until a name is murmured.

Queenie.

It might be nothing, but it's the best lead I've got.

Meeting Addi's gaze in the darkness, they somehow still manage to twinkle under the moonlight. I nod, hinting for her to follow me as I release my hold on her arm, and she falls in line once again.

Inching closer to the house in question, I pin my back against the wall and Addi follows suit.

Thankfully, it's quiet tonight, but that's why I offered it. My father has dealings on Tuesday nights on the other side of town. That means wolves will either be with him or patrolling the perimeters, leaving the interior a little more accessible for us.

I wet my dry lips and peer through the window to my right. Dalton, my father's right-hand man, comes into view, and he's not alone. Right there with him is the woman we're looking for.

Turning back to Addi, I nod toward the window and trade positions with her. She keeps herself pressed against the wall, and I can hear a shift in her heart rate as she takes a little peek through the window.

"Does my woman need a foot rub?"

"I'll never say no to one," Queen Reagan breathes a heavy sigh.

Addi's hand lifts, clamping over her mouth as she takes another step toward the window. I give her a moment. It's clear her mother isn't sad about being here. I don't know whether she hoped she would be or not, but those groans are of a satisfied woman as Dalton kneads his thumbs into the soles of her feet.

"I love you, Queenie."

"I love you too, D."

Addi's gasp rings in my ears, but it's quickly overshadowed by the snap of a twig beneath her feet. My body dives into high alert, pulling her back as I take off as fast as I can. There's no time to think, to consider, to wonder. There's only time to get the fuck away as fast as possible.

I run until the familiar lights of my favorite diner come into view, not stopping to catch my breath until I hear the chime ring out over the door, confirming my arrival. Eyes dart my way, but my focus is on the woozy fae in my grasp, who is turning greener with every passing second.

"Deep breaths, Addi," I murmur, stroking her arm in comfort, and she scoffs.

"It's embarrassing how many times you've said that today," she muses, eyes pinched shut. She silently lifts her hand to my throat while resting her other palm right above my heart. My throat clogs with undeniable feelings as she repeats the same motion I had her do earlier.

It must have worked for her then, and she's leaning into it now.

Fuck.

"Hey, is that my favorite asshole?" Janie's voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I peer over Addi's shoulder to find the woman in question. She frowns, clearly noting the state of me before she points over her shoulder. "Take a seat. I won't be a second."

I nod, focusing back on Addi, who seems a little more at ease now. Wordlessly, I take her hand, tugging her along with me as I move to my usual booth. Waving for her to take a seat, I drop down into the spot across from her with a heavy sigh.

"Are we safe here?" she asks, nipping at her bottom lip nervously as she looks around the room.

"We are. My father is on the other side of town tonight, but if you would prefer to keep your hood up as an extra layer of defense, then that's fine," I breathe, keeping my voice as low as possible, and she nods. "Are you okay?" I ask, hating the words as soon as they leave my mouth.

"Fuck knows," she admits, head tipped down to look at her lap.

I can't read her without seeing her since she's mostly hidden behind the cloak. I don't like it.

"Choose something to eat and drink, and then you can talk through it," I state, hoping she doesn't argue because I can't leave here without talking to her. I can't.

Janie appears a second later, a concerned look on her face, but I shake my head, unable to share whatever this is with her. Despite her eyebrows pinching, she relents, a soft smile gracing her lips. "What can I get you guys?"

Addi looks up at her with a smile of her own. "Can I have the steak, please?"

"You liked it last time, huh?" Janie says with a widening grin, and Addi's cheeks heat.

"It's about the only reason I'm not mad about being back here," she admits, making Janie snicker.

"That makes sense. And to drink?"

"Something strong," she mutters, causing Janie's eyebrows to rise to her hairline, but she doesn't say a word as she turns to me.

"Usual?"

"Always."

"I'll have it out to you as soon as possible."

Just as quickly as she came, she disappears. Addi clears her throat, eyes fixed on mine. "She's nice."

"Sometimes," I grumble, and Addi cocks a knowing brow at me, making me roll my eyes. "All of the time," I admit, and a victorious grin curls the corner of her mouth like she just convinced me to reveal my deepest, darkest truth. Clearing my throat, I tap my fingers on the table as my knee bounces. "So, do you feel better or worse?"

"I feel numb," she admits, avoiding my gaze as her lips twist. Her eyes glaze over like she's lost in thought before she shrugs, ridding the emotions from her limbs. "She clearly wants to be there. She's in no need of being saved."

"How does that make you feel?" I ask, focusing on my breathing while keeping my eyes trained on her.

She leans forward, bracing her elbows on the table as she rests her chin on her palm. "I had a memory of her today, one I had completely forgotten until I stepped into that room again. She was happy, caring… everything you could wish for. Yet she gave it all away for a foot rub."

Fuck. When she puts it like that…

"I'm sure there's more to it than that, though. More you're not aware of," I offer, and she sighs.

"I agree, but I don't think I care to know," she admits, a tinge of defeat creeping over her as she shakes her head.

"About that," I murmur, leaning back in my seat as I try to keep myself as relaxed as possible.

"About what?"

My tapping quickens, giving away my nerves, so I quickly pull my hands into my lap, but it doesn't stop my knee from bouncing incessantly. "Did you notice?"

"Notice what?" she asks, tilting her head at me as her eyebrows pinch in confusion.

I search her eyes, unable to find a single hint of a lie in her words, which means I'm going to have to spell it out. Clearing my throat, I lean forward, matching her posture with my elbows on the table, but instead of resting my chin on my palm, I lace my fingers together, bracing for impact.

"Your mother, Queen Reagan, her ears weren't pointed, and I didn't see any scars."