Chapter 17

Cassia

Cassia had drowned three times in the past two days. Once when Liana had tried to drown her, second when Hunter and her had went all the way under the spray of her shower, and a third time when Cassia told Hunter it meant nothing. She was drowning and drowning and it was hard to breathe as Hunter drowned her in thoughts of him. His touch was like water sliding against her limbs and his kisses were like treats of air to allow her to breathe.

But now he was gone and they were back to the way they used to be. All because she locked up her heart again and told him they were merely rivals.

Cassia buried her face into her pillow and screamed. She screamed until her throat grew raw and even then, she kept screaming. Because Hunter had yanked off her armour and now she was exposed to the last person who was supposed to see her bare.

The door to her cabin flew open and Cassia stiffened. No longer did she scream, but she kept her face buried into the pillow as she wished to disappear.

"Princess?" Astra said. Footsteps closed in on her, but Cassia kept her face buried. "Are you okay?"

Cassia said nothing and the bed sunk next to her. Groaning, she pulled her face away from her pillow and turned to face Astra, who's eyebrows were furrowed.

"I don't want to talk about it," Cassia said.

"Did Hunter break your heart?"

Cassia froze. Astra observed her as if she wasn't surprised.

"No," Cassia blurted out. She hesitated, feeling her heart stir until it unlocked. Once again, the chains broke away and the truth was pouring out of her. "I'm the one breaking my own heart."

Astra frowned. She looked utterly confused and Cassia sighed. Astra was her occasional therapist and right now, Cassia desperately needed therapy.

"After the canoe event, Hunter and I went back to our cabin and one thing led to another and..."

Cassia drifted off - the silence was enough to fill in the blank. Her cheeks were enflamed as Astra broke out into a look of disbelief.

"Oh," Astra said. She flushed and Cassia's cheeks were set on fire. "Well Princes, how... scandalous."

"Astra! You're making me feel worse."

Astra giggled and Cassia huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest, face burning.

"It's so embarrassing. You should have seen the way I was saying his name!" Cassia whined. "When it comes to Hunter, it's like he's holding a knife to my throat to make me say and do things I would never do with anyone. I hate him so much."

"I'm glad I didn't hear you saying his name." Astra blinked and Cassia blushed again. "But you know what I've noticed about you. You throw the word hate at Hunter as if it'll protect you from him."

Cassia tensed. Astra was no longer giggling. Her expression turned into a pensive one.

"You like Hunter, don't you?" Astra said quietly. "You never dive into things like this with anyone - you've always been so cold and calculating, but you and Hunter went all the way. He is special."

Cassia's heart pounded against her chest. She opened her mouth to deny it, to tell Astra she hated him and that she would never feel anything for him, but her throat constricted. It restrained her lies and she teared up, feeling overwhelmed by everything.

"I'm scared, Astra," Cassia whispered, her bottom lip quivering. "I'm terrified of getting hurt."

Astra's eyes softened and she pulled Cassia in for a hug. Cassia stiffened at the swift movement and as Astra's thin arms wrapped around her, Cassia nuzzled her face into her shoulder and took deep breaths in. But no matter how hard she tried to calm herself, she couldn't. Because she was terrified of the way she felt.

*****

Cassia and Astra were sitting at the cafeteria. It was dinner time and the lights blinked down on them as they ate roast beef. Still shaken by what she'd realized earlier, Cassia tried to push it away. But it was hard to, especially when Hunter's eyes were on her - fixed on her as if she was something he feared he'd lose.

Usually Cassia would have looked back at him, but she couldn't bear to. Not when she felt so discomposed. Not when she wanted to shove him so far away she could hide what was left of her.

She hated how vulnerable she felt.

"I need to tell you something," Astra said. "I was supposed to tell you earlier, but... you were already so upset, so I decided to wait."

Cassia stiffened, surprised by Astra's serious tone. Astra was wearing a worried expression now.

"What is it?"

"You father sent a message," Astra said. "He fears it's not safe here anymore. He is asking you to go home."

Cassia tensed. With everything going on, she couldn't believe something bad was brewing within her kingdom.

"Is this a demand or offer?"

"Offer," Astra said. "Your father believes it's safer in the castle where guards are around and he can keep an eye on you, but... I think you have the choice to return or not. I am here to protect you, but he still hopes you will return home."

Cassia was quiet for a moment. She didn't know what to think.

A month ago, she would have jumped at the chance to leave Camp Trillion. She would have screamed with joy and ran back on her bare feet, but now, she wasn't so sure.

And it was Hunter's fault. All his.

"Can I have a few days to decide?" Cassia asked. "I need to think things through."

"Of course, take all the time you need."

Cassia sighed. Now on top of everything she worried about with Hunter, she also had to worry about her safety. Just great.

"Cassia."

Cassia jolted at Liana's voice. She was standing in front of their table, her icy blue eyes on Cassia. She was wearing a red dress and her red hair was blazing in it's usual waterfall of scarlet.

Cassia darkened. "Please never speak to me again. You're already disqualified. Dawson will kick you out of camp if you lay a finger on me again."

Liana scowled. Her hands curled into fists, but she just stood there glaring.

"I'm actually here to apologize, believe it or not," Liana said. "I'm sorry for tipping over your canoe. I didn't think you'd drown and I'm sorry you nearly did. That was not my intention."

Cassia glowered now. She didn't care for Liana's apology. In fact, she didn't care about Liana at all.

"Apology not accepted," Cassia sneered. "You can say what you want about me, but I would never hurt you. I may be rude, but I am not violent."

Liana glowered back. And to Cassia's surprise, she thought of how Liana was Hunter's first and faltered, feeling her heart sink at the thought. Because maybe, Hunter just slept with any girl who was around. Maybe, she was just there and the anger was sapped out of her at the realization.

"I'm only apologizing because of Hunter," Liana hissed. "Because he cares for you, I am apologizing so he can stop hating me. So don't act up because you're lucky I'm even apologizing."

"He has ever right to hate you. Because I wouldn't want a friend like you either."

Liana trembled. Cassia could feel her own blood boiling and it took everything in her to not launch herself at Liana and slap her silly because this was her fault. If it weren't for Liana, she wouldn't have went back to her cabin with Hunter. And thus, she would't be feeling what she felt now.

"You have no idea what you're in for," Liana said. "So good luck acting like this and thinking anyone will support you. You may be queen one day, but no one will treat you as one."

"Just stay away from Astra and I."

Liana sneered, hesitating before she whirled around and stalked back to her table she shared with Hunter and Chase. She spoke to them and Hunter nodded numbly, looking uncertain as he glanced at Cassia, who pulled her eyes away. Looking at him hurt.

"Me too?" Astra asked.

"Huh?"

"You said Astra and I. You care for me?"

Cassia's eyes flew wide. Of all the things Astra could have said, she didn't expect that and for a moment she was speechless. But then, she composed herself.

"Of course I care for you," Cassia said. She smiled shyly - she was never one to confess how she felt. "You're my friend and I will hurt anyone who tries to harm you."

Astra beamed. Cassia had never seen her smile like that - like sunshine after a rainy day. It made her heart warm.

And for the first time in days, Cassia smiled brightly, glad that even though everything else in her life was falling apart, she finally had someone she could call her friend.