Chapter 13

Cassia

Cassia settled into the cafeteria and Astra sat across from her. But the moment she sat down, her eyes slid to Hunter and she froze when he smiled at her. And this time, he waved and she was paralyzed. His friends shot her looks of disgust, but she was too focused on Hunter to react. She blushed as she waved back.

Cassia pulled her eyes away and stiffened when Astra shot her a bemused look. Astra's green eyes were full of amusement and Cassia blushed harder.

"Well, Hunter and you get along nowadays," Astra said. "Are you two dating?"

Cassia's eyes flew wide with horror. She gaped at Astra who wore a serious expression.

"No!" Cassia exclaimed. A few people shot her looks and she blushed furiously. "Hunter and I are just... acquaintances. We aren't dating."

"I've never seen you blush so much."

Cassia blushed harder and cursed herself. She could feel her cheeks heating up - the blush overtaking her entire face and she cursed Hunter for it. Because when it came to him, her cheeks were incessantly red.

"Back in the castle you would date many boys. I swear you were with a new boy every month," Astra said. Cassia shot Astra a dark look and she laughed. "Which is why, I'm fascinated with how you are with Hunter - I can tell he's special. He's just not one of your temporary distractions."

Cassia continued to glare at Astra, who seemed unbothered by Cassia's anger. She hated talking about this.

"Well, he is different because I'm not attracted to him whatsoever," Cassia said. "Trust me. Hunter is merely someone I'm acquainted with. He's not my type at all."

"Oh really?" Astra smirked. "So why are you always admiring him?"

Cassia glowered and Astra laughed. Astra seemed elated by Cassia's embarrassment.

"Look Cassia, I say this because I want you to be happy," Astra said. "You and Hunter may butt heads sometimes, but he is good to you. He cares for you and I want you to find someone like him. Okay?"

Cassia faltered, surprised to hear that. "You care whether I'm happy or not?"

"Of course. You're like a little sister to me. I will do whatever I can to make you happy."

Cassia's eyes flew wide and her heart grew warm. She never thought Astra cared for her. And the thought made her feel warm inside - a feeling she'd never felt before.

"I need to tell you something," Astra continued. "It's about the kingdom... Something is brewing within it and your father told me to warn you."

"What's going on?" Cassia asked. "Is it related to what you told me last time?"

"There are rumours of an attack arising. We don't know when, but the commoners are plotting and we need to be ready. Which means, you need to always be on your guard. Understood?"

Cassia frowned. In her eighteen years of life, no one attacked the kingdom. No one dared to cross her father and to hear commoners were plotting was concerning.

"Is my father okay?" Cassia asked. "He isn't as young as he used to be. Are there guards protecting him?"

"Of course," Astra said. "We have doubled up on security in the castle. You father will be safe."

Cassia nodded. Worry was twisting her gut into unfavourable positions.

"It could possibly be just rumours," Astra added. "But, deep down I fear what is coming. The kingdom has lived in peace and prosperity for too long and now... it's time for things to fall apart."

Cassia's heart sunk. She wasn't ready. Far away from her father and focused on her competitions, the last thing she wanted was for trouble to arise. So she prayed this was merely a rumour.

*****

Cassia strolled through the field, heading back to her cabin after the class she attended. Classes were optional and they were littered across random days, and Cassia decided to take a self-defense class. After what Astra told her, she had to prepare.

"Cassia."

Cassia slowed down her pace as Hunter appeared at her side. The sun was setting and the sky was lit with orange and red hues, and the colours brought out the tan in Hunter's skin. He was glowing and she faltered at the look of him.

"Where you heading to?" Hunter asked.

"My cabin."

Cassia's eyebrows furrowed. It was rare for Hunter to pop up to talk to her. Unless there was a contest, they usually stayed out of each other's way.

"What do you want?" Cassia asked.

"To walk you back," Hunter said, glancing at the sky. "It's getting late."

Cassia's heart stirred. As he smiled, his eyes lighting up, her heart stuttered and she hated it. She hated how she was starting to feel around Hunter.

"Where are you coming from?" Hunter asked.

"Self-defense class."

"How was it?"

"Good." She narrowed her eyes at him. "It'll be useful in case you want to manhandle me again."

She was merely joking, but Hunter's entire face turned crimson. He looked away quickly as if to conceal his expression, but she could still see the warmth in his ears.

"I'm sorry," Hunter said. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"You didn't," Cassia blurted out. Now she blushed as his eyes drifted back to hers - tender now. "I mean, it was fine. We won."

"And you liked it."

He smiled now, his eyes gleaming with mischief and she narrowed her eyes. Even after she stopped hating him, he still got under her skin.

"Keep dreaming," Cassia said. They neared her cabin and she turned to face him, her hands flying to her hips. "I've been touched in better ways before."

Hunter's eyebrows shot up with surprise. He slid to a stop in front of her - only a few inches away. His eyes darkened with a look she'd never see him wear before and she froze as he leaned closer.

"But, none of them could make you scream like I could," Hunter said.

Cassia's heart leapt to her throat at Hunter's words. He stared at her so intensely, with no hint of a smile that she was frozen in the trance of his words. No one had ever spoken to her like that before and a shiver ran through her.

"You're revolting," Cassia said. She tried to scowl, but she couldn't manage to. "Well, I'll let you live within your fantasies because you'll never see that become reality."

Hunter laughed. No longer did he wear that look that made her knees weak. Instead he was shaking his head and chuckling, which made Cassia relax.

"Darn it," Hunter said. He stepped away, creating a distance between them. "Well, I'll see you later. Have a good evening, Cassia."

Cassia smiled. Hunter was smiling as he waved and she waved back, feeling her heart stir. It still hadn't stopped pounding and even when she was in bed, her heart continued to race.

*****

Astra was out running some errands and Cassia laid in bed by herself. It was late and she should be asleep, but she couldn't sleep because of Hunter. Because he was consuming her mind, making it hard for her to unwind. She could still visualize the way he looked at her - at the way he offered to make her scream his name.

She shivered. She'd never been spoken to like that before. And it surprised her that she didn't hate it.

Cassia jumped when someone knocked on the door. She frowned and sat up, straightening her white nightgown out before she headed to the door. And when she opened it, she stiffened when Liana appeared before her, glaring at her with a look of hatred.

"Liana?" Cassia said. She frowned. "What are you doing here?

Usually Cassia would have snapped at Liana, but she was genuinely confused by why Liana was there.

"I came here to pass you a message," Liana said.

Her eyes were dark as she stood at Cassia's doorway. It was nighttime and behind her was a sea of darkness. Cassia could see the forest miles away and it loomed over Liana as if she came out of a slasher film.

"Back off from Hunter," Liana said, her voice low and menacing. "Or else."

Cassia blinked. She was both surprised and unsurprised to hear that.

"First of all, I'm not scared of you," Cassia said. "And second of all, it's your friend who keeps chasing me."

Liana sneered. "Hunter is blinded by you. Because of you, he's not thinking straight. He's always staring at you, always thinking about you. He's different because of you."

Cassia's eyes widened. Hunter thought of her? She had no idea.

"Well, you told me to back off or else," Cassia said. "What does this or else entail?"

"You don't want to know."

"Why? Because there is no or else." Cassia smirked. She stepped closer to glare into Liana's eyes. Unlike Hunter and even Chase, there was something about Liana that infuriated her. "You're jealous because Hunter is more into staring at me than listening to you. I'm sorry the boy you're clearly in love with likes me more - and I've only known him for a month now."

Liana glowered. Her eyes were consumed with hatred and Cassia smiled smugly. Pride rushed through her as she replayed Liana's words over and over again.

Hunter thought of her. He always stared at her.

"Shut up," Liana said. "I was his first, so don't think you're special now."

First? Cassia's faltered, but she quickly composed herself, wondering why she cared.

"But you won't be his last," Cassia shot back. "Just leave, Liana. Threatening me won't stop me, so don't waste your time."

Liana scoffed. "You're an idiot of a princess, you know. You know nothing. You're digging yourself a grave."

Cassia's eyebrows furrowed as she pondered over what Liana meant by that.

"I've told you my stance and now do with it what you want," Liana said, stepping back. "But don't say I didn't warn you, Princess. Because I have."

"Go ahead," Cassia shot back. Fury rose up within her, shooting up like lava preparing to leak out of a volcano. "I dare you to try."

Liana snickered, shaking her head as she stepped onto the field. She gave Cassia one last look. Her eyes were dark and under the moonlight, they shone with delirious delight.

"You have no idea what you're in for," Liana growled.

She whirled around and stalked off, and Cassia stared after her, wondering what she meant by that. She wasn't scared. Cassia was never scared. But yet, her mind was consumed by what Liana meant about her knowing nothing.