Chapter 15

Cassia

Cassia was in her washroom. It was a small washroom with merely a shower and a toilet, and a mirror above a sink. Everything was stained with rust and the colour of dulled out white; signs of the camps aging.

Cassia ignored the smell of bitter lemon soap and fastened her eyes on the mirror in front of her. A light above her blinked and Cassia twisted around, wondering if the dress she wore brought out her features. It was a sky blue dress that hugged her curves, emphasizing how small her waist was and how much bigger her hips were. Their next contest was in half an hour and Hunter would be there.

She flushed. She hated having such thoughts. She hated the way she started caring about her appearance. And she hated how she was hoping that Hunter would notice the way she curled her hair.

These thoughts had been creeping into her mind day after day and after their last contest, where Hunter had smiled and said he couldn't have expected a better rival, the chain to Cassia's heart disintegrated. It was as if Hunter had jammed a key into her heart and unlocked it, and everything she didn't want to feel was gushing out, making Hunter the main focus of her whirlwind of thoughts.

And she hated it. She hated caring for someone because she learned the hard way that the people you cared for never really loved you back.

"Cassia."

Cassia turned to face Astra who stood in the doorway. Her eyes were gentle on Cassia.

"You look beautiful," Astra said. "Blue is your colour."

Cassia flushed. She clasped her hands together and wrung them, feeling nervous.

"Let's go." Astra waved her over. "We must go to the next contest."

Cassia nodded and together they left their cabin.

*****

They were in the forest beside the river. Canoes lay along the shore and trees above them shielded them from the burning sun. Everyone was gathered there as Dawson pushed canoes around to set them in place. Cassia stood with Astra and she hugged herself as the roar of the river brought a chill to the air.

"Are you okay?"

Cassia jolted as Hunter appeared to smile at her, his eyes amiable. He almost seemed shy as his eyes fastened on hers and she went still at the way he leaned closer, his hazel eyes sparkling.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Cassia asked.

"Do you want my coat? You're shivering."

Cassia blushed as Hunter pulled off the coat he wore and handed it to her, his eyes still locked on hers. She shivered, but not because it was cold.

"No, it's fine," Cassia said. Her eyes narrowed at him. "I don't need a man to swoop in and save me."

Hunter put his hands up. "I wasn't implying you needed help. Just in that dress of yours, you're going to be cold when we're out canoeing."

Hunter's eyes were gentle. There was no teasing - no banter. Just genuine worry and her heart began to pound. She could feel her cheeks heating up and she hated it. She hated it so much.

Her eyes then flew wide as Hunter tugged her towards him. He did it swiftly - confidently and he tucked her into his coat. His hands were nimble and his eyes were still on hers. It was as if she was the sunset he couldn't look away from.

"There we go," Hunter said. "Better."

Cassia's heart continued to pound. It felt like it would explode as Hunter stood merely a few inches away from her, his eyes peering down at her; shielded by long eyelashes.

"Why are you helping me?" she whispered.

He paused. His eyes searched her face and Cassia noticed the way his muscles flexed under the shirt he wore. He was toned; his body proof of years of training, and her heart continued to pound so hard she could hear the drumming in her ears.

"Because I've realized something," Hunter said. He paused, his eyes lowering. "I've known from the moment I saw you that I wanted to help you. I want to be gentle with you, if you'd allow me."

Her eyes flew wide. She had no idea where this confession came from, but his voice dripped with a sincerity that froze her in place.

"You're trying to throw me off my game," Cassia accused, narrowing her eyes at him. "I'll have you know, Hunter, you can't throw pretty words at me and expect me to swoon. I'm not that kind of girl."

"I know you aren't. I'm not playing tricks on you. I just..."

He drifted off. He laughed a soft laugh and ran his fingers through his brown hair, messing it up and Cassia's eyebrows furrowed. She didn't know what had overtaken him.

"Sorry, I'm being weird, aren't I," Hunter said. He pulled away, stepping farther and farther away. "Good luck with this contest, Cassia."

He returned to his friends and Cassia's eyes lingered on him. Her heart continued to hammer against her chest; a reminder of the effect Hunter had on her. Liana shot her a deathly glare, but she ignored it. She ignored it as Hunter once again became the main focus of her thoughts. Her mind was consumed with images of him: with the way he smiled at her, with the way his body moved whenever he closed off the distance between them.

She forced her eyes away and sighed as her heart continued to pound.

"Well everyone, this contest is a canoe race," Dawson said, waving towards the canoes. "Once again, five of you will go at a time. So Hunter, Cassia, Freya, Liana and Mason, please come up."

They all stepped forward. Without Astra this time, Cassia was aware of the empty spot next to her, but she tried to focus on the task at hand. Liana shot her a dirty look and Hunter kept his eyes on the river.

"I want you to race down the river towards the tree marked with a ribbon," Dawson said. "I will run there once we start and keep track of your times. Understood?"

They nodded. Dawson told them to get their canoes ready and they dragged them towards the river, setting them into the frigid water. Cassia settled into her canoe and grabbed the canoe next to hers along with a paddle, ensuring no one would get lost in the turbulent current that rammed against their canoes.

Liana was next to her and next to Liana was Hunter, and then the rest. They were all holding each other's canoe in place and Liana wouldn't stop glaring at Cassia, and Cassia shot her a look.

"Glaring at me won't help you win," Cassia said.

"And Hunter will never actually love you," Liana hissed. She said it so quietly that only they could hear her words. "I see the way you started looking at him. You think he cares for you, but he's only using you."

Cassia gritted her teeth and looked away.

Dawson waved at them. Her heart was pounding now. Focus, she told herself. Focus on the contest. Not on Liana. Not on Hunter.

"Begin!" Dawson exclaimed.

Everyone cheered as the five of them paddled wildly, trying their best to beat the others. Cassia's canoe rushed forward and passed Liana's, and Hunter was tied with her. He shot her a challenging smirk and Cassia narrowed her eyes as she dove the paddle into the river and heaved and pulled, pushing the canoe farther down the river; fighting against the current that pounded against them.

Liana was close behind her and she was cursing, and Cassia smirked as they soared down the path. Wind sailed passed them and bird chirped above them, as if to cheer them on, and glints of light would seep through the trees and shine down on them. And soon, Cassia grinned when Dawson appeared at the finish line.

She was almost there.

But then, something slammed against her canoe and she gasped as her boat rocked. Liana was at her side now and she was pushing Cassia's canoe with her paddle, shoving it off track.

"What are you doing?" Cassia snapped. "This is cheating."

Liana thwacked her canoe with her own; a wild expression on her face now. She laughed as Cassia gasped, her voice cackling over the river's roar. She then tucked her paddle under Cassia's canoe and tipped it over.

Cassia shrieked. She screamed as she fell under the canoe and into the river. Icy water jolted through her, leaving her gasping for breath. She swam and swam, pushing past her canoe, but the current pushed her downward - away from the rest of them who were still paddling.

And then, she was pulled under.

Water surrounded her, weighing her down as she sunk and sunk, her lungs screaming for air. Her arms and legs were sore from kicking and pushing to survive. Cassia wanted to scream. She wanted to cry out for someone to save her, but she was fighting against the current that pulled her closer and closer to hell.

But then, someone grabbed her. The person held her waist with strong arms and heaved her up, and she gasped, wheezing for breath. Her body shuddered as she gasped, still feeling the current pushing them down.

She looked to see who was holding her and froze. Hunter. His arms were around her waist, hauling her up as he fought against the current. He was gasping himself and swimming with all his might until eventually, he took ahold of a branch by the shore.

"Help!" Hunter shouted.

The current slammed into them and Chase ran to them. He grabbed Hunter's hand and lugged them up, and Hunter dragged Cassia onto the shore; crashing next to her.

Both of them were panting now. Cassia was wheezing - still trying to inhale more air to save her searing lungs, and Hunter was shivering as well. Chase was peering down at Hunter with a worried expression.

"Hunter! Cassia!" Dawson shouted, running up to them. "Are you two alright?"

Cassia shuddered. Panic was still ploughing into her, making her want to scream until she disappeared. She was petrified. And now, she was humiliated by how pitiful she felt. Tears flooded her eyes and Cassia trembled as she fought to stay composed.

"Liana!" Dawson roared, whirling on her. She had strolled over to them while they were catching their breaths. "You are disqualified from these contests! You could have killed Cassia."

Liana paled. "This is Cassia's fault. She's the one who can't keep her mouth shut."

Hunter bolted up. He stormed towards Liana and loomed over her, his entire body shuddering. Water dripped from his soaked clothes and his hair was slick against his forehead.

"You went too far!" Hunter roared. "I know you're jealous because I care for her, but this is too far!"

Liana recoiled, but she stood her ground. "When she hurts you, then you will understand why I'm acting this way. Love is an ugly, ugly thing. And guess who taught me that."

Hunter whirled around and stormed back to Cassia. And she gasped as he swept her into his arms and pulled her to his chest - as if he would protect her from everything bad in this world.

"I'm taking her back to her cabin," Hunter told Dawson. "She'll get sick."

Dawson nodded numbly and Hunter stormed through the forest until they burst into the field. Their clothes were soaked and heavy, and Cassia's eyes were wide as she gazed up at Hunter. She'd never seen him so mad. She'd never seen the muscles in his jaw working the way they did. The vein in his neck was throbbing and Cassia could do nothing, but stare.

Hunter continued to storm down the field until they were back in her cabin. She was still in his arms as he led her to her washroom and then he put her down. The anger drained out of him and now he looked miserable.

"I'm so sorry," Hunter said. "This is all my fault. Liana... Liana is mad at me and she's taking it out on you."

Cassia shrugged. She didn't know what to say. Because at the thought of what happened, her eyes teared up and her body shuddered as she fought against the urge to sob.

She hated being weak. She hated being vulnerable. She hated how she tried so hard to be strong, but deep down their was a chid screaming to come out and break down.

"You know, I try so hard to be indestructible. Nothing should get to me, but I hate this," Cassia confessed. Her voice cracked at the word hate and finally, she broke down. Her body rocked and she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "I just wish everyone would leave me alone! I know I made mistakes, but I'm tired of being treated like this. I'm tired of being hated!"

Hunter's eyes flew wide as Cassia weeped. Her clothes were soaked and heavy, and her hair stuck to her. She looked like an absolute mess and Cassia felt like one. As she cried for the first time in years, Cassia could feel herself falling apart.

"I hate that I'm crying," Cassia said, wiping her face with the palms of her hands. "I hate being vulnerable. People will use that against you and take advantage of you, and I never want to be in that position."

Hunter's eyes grew gentle and he pulled her to him and hugged her. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed, releasing everything she'd been holding in. It poured out of her and onto Hunter, humiliating her further. She couldn't believe Hunter was seeing her in her weakest state.

"You are the strongest person I know," Hunter whispered, stroking her hair now. "You may have said some nasty things once, but you have never been as cruel as Liana. You have never stooped to her level, even though people expect that of you. You are a princess worthy of your title."

Cassia cried harder. She didn't believe that and Hunter held her tighter.

"I know you feel as if you need to prove yourself to everyone, but you've already proved yourself to me," Hunter said, his voice a mere murmur. "You may be stubborn and arrogant, but you're also fun and kind when you want to be. I really like the person you are. You are enough, Cassia. As you are, you are enough."

Cassia's heart slammed against her chest. Her tears finally came to a stop and she pulled back to peer at Hunter's face. His eyes were full of adoration - as if she was one in a million, and Cassia stiffened. As his hands remained on the small of her back, her heart continued to pound.

"I will deal with Liana," Hunter said, brushing a strand of her hair back. "And I will never let anyone touch you again. I will burn down heaven and hell just for you."

Cassia shivered. Hunter's words had a way of making it feel as if he was caressing every nerve on her body.

"Go shower," Hunter said, leading her towards the shower. He turned it on and water pounded against the bathtub. "I'll check up on you later. Okay?"

Hunter pulled away and Cassia thought no. Stay.

Because without him, she was empty. She was cold and freezing and she desperately needed her fireplace back. Because to see him staring at her with those hazel eyes was enough to set her alight. And the further away Hunter walked, the more her heart screamed for him to come back.

Because she needed him. She wanted him with her, holding her in ways she couldn't describe.

So without thinking, she yanked off her coat and dress, and it fell to the ground. Hunter's eyes darted away as she stood there in almost nothing.

"Stay," Cassia blurted out. "Please stay with me."

Hunter stilled. His eyes were towards the doorway, but he stopped walking. Cassia slid towards him, noticing the way he was shivering - the way his body was tensing. His eyes wouldn't meet hers, so she grabbed his face and willed him look at her, and her heart leapt as his eyes grew dark with lust.

"Stay," she repeated.

She tugged off his clothes and pulled him to the shower. They were under the spray of the shower head and Hunter's eyes were locked on hers. It was as if she was the only thing to exist in his world. As if, she was all he could see. They stared at each other for a moment, bodies rising and falling before Cassia tangled her hands in his hair and pulled him to her.

And she kissed him. She kissed him in a way she wanted to for a while now. He sighed under the kiss and his hands flew to her hips as he pulled her towards him and got lost in the kiss, his body moving against hers in a way that made her gasp against his lips.

No one had ever kissed her like this before.

And as they kissed and kissed, Cassia could feel her armour being stripped away. Because ever since she met him, Hunter had been pealing it off of her, one by one, exposing parts of her that she'd never shown anyone before.

And now Cassia was bare in front of him. All her insecurities and all of her was exposed. And it terrified her. To be vulnerable like this with a boy she thought she hated was petrifying.

But, Hunter had thrown down her barriers and it was too late. So she kept kissing him, getting lost in him in hopes of pretending that maybe he could care for her in the way no one ever had. Because Cassia liked him. She cared for him in a way that terrified her.