Chapter 33

Cassia

Cassia had never felt more lost. As she replayed what happened with Hunter again and again in her mind - as she thought about Liana, who she thought she hated, but now pitied, Cassia felt like she didn't know who she was or what she'd do anymore. Because she was supposed to destroy her enemies. But what happened when her enemies became people she understood?

Cassia strolled down the hallways of her castle, her legs striding across the dim hallway until she reached her father's bedroom. She didn't know what led her there, but she had to say something.

Cassia threw open her father's bedroom door and her father jumped, sitting up on his bed. It was growing late and her father looked like he was about to fall asleep.

"Cassia?" her father said, eyes wide. "What in the world? Why have you stormed in here."

"You may have given the kingdom free healthcare, but you still failed the poor."

The words had flown out of Cassia - tumbling out as if they'd been settled there, ready to leap for ages now. Her father looked horrified, but Cassia stood her ground.

"Excuse me?" her father said, moving to stand. "Where is this coming from?"

Her father strolled over, dressed in nothing but his night clothes. Cassia kept her eyes on him, thinking about the people he'd hurt. He may not be anywhere close to Kain, but her father had still been capable of cruelty. And as a result, people like Liana, Chase and Hunter came to be - people who were broken from the lives they never deserved.

"For free healthcare you had to tax your citizens more heavily," Cassia said. "Sure, you have helped the ill, but you have left the poor to struggle more. So many people live with barely enough to feed themselves and you never thought to help them. I admire you for some of the things you've done, but it isn't enough."

Cassia's father's eyes searched her face, seeming conflicted. He looked utterly lost and Cassia knew this came out of nowhere. But, her realization had only dawned on her when she realized that Liana, Chase and Hunter were products of her kingdom failing them and their family.

"I wish I could help everyone, but I can't Cassia," her father whispered, his voice struggling to find words. "You don't understand how hard it is to please everyone."

"I do know how hard it is to please others," Cassia said. "I spent my entire life trying to please you, so I know."

Her father opened his mouth, but it fell shut.

"I don't think you're the bad guy in this tale, but we need a new hero," Cassia said. "I know I will do more to help everyone and one day I will be a better ruler."

Her father's eyebrows shot up, but he still didn't say anything. A part of Cassia wished he would tell her she was foolish - that she would never be a good ruler like she believed for so many years, but he said nothing. He just stared at her, his dark brown eyes seeping it all in.

Better. That was what Cassia would be.

*****

Cassia snuck through the window, her feel landing onto the wooden floor as she crouched there for a moment. It was nearly midnight and Cassia had traversed the nearly pitch black forest. Even in the room she moved to stand in, it was dark, other than the lamp that stood on the nightstand next to the bed.

And on that bed lay Hunter, his eyes shut and his body rising and falling soothingly as he slept. Cassia's heart lurched forward at the sight of him, but she strode forward, knowing she had to do this.

Cassia crawled onto the bed and over Hunter - her body hovering above his. She pulled out her dagger from her sheath and guided it to his throat, and she rested it there. Her other hand flew to his mouth and she pressed it against there, her heart pounding as Hunter stirred.

"Wake up," she hissed. "Now, Hunter."

Hunter's breathing grew ragged and he groaned. She pushed her dagger firmer against his throat and Hunter's eyes flew open. Horror clouded his face as he realized who was above him. Who was holding a dagger against his throat in his most vulnerable state.

"Cassia," he mumbled against her hand.

She pulled her hand away and Hunter focused on her. His body rose and fell with shaky breaths now.

"What are you doing here?" Hunter asked.

"Came here to talk," Cassia whispered, smirking. "Tell me your plans. Now."

Hunter sighed. Disappointment passed through his expression as he stared at her, looking as if he couldn't believe her. And to Cassia's surpsrie, her heart fluttered at his reaction.

"And why should I tell you the plan?" Hunter asked.

"Or else I'll kill you," Cassia spat. "So speak now."

"Just kill me then. Get it over with."

Cassia paled. Her hand shook and the dagger wobbled against his throat. He wore a serious expression - his eyes bored and Cassia fell into silence.

"I'm kidding," Hunter said, smiling then. But, the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I don't know much about my father's plan. He doesn't trust me anymore, so he's vague with what he plans to do."

Cassia nodded numbly, still in shock from Hunter's demand to end his life. She wanted nothing more than to scream at him. To tell him to never say something so foolish.

"You should leave," Hunter said, his voice gentle now. "My father will return soon. It isn't safe for you to be here."

Cassia's blood ran cold. Her dagger was still pressed against his throat - threatening to take his life, but there he was warning her - caring about her despite it all.

It shattered her.

"I hate you," Cassia spat. "I hate you so much."

Hunter said nothing. He just stared up at her, his hazel eyes glowing with the lamp light pooling into them.

"Say you hate me, too," Cassia demanded. "Say it."

"But that would be a lie," Hunter said. "Do you want me to lie to you?"

"How could that be a lie? My father took everything from you. You had to grow up poor and your father abused you because of my father and I. You should hate me. You should hate me more than I hate you, but you don't and it drives me mad."

Hunter stilled for a moment. His eyes scanned her face and he seemed to be contemplating over something, before he spoke.

"You're right. I should hate you. There was even a time where I thought I hated you," Hunter said. "When I came to the camp, I despised you and I wanted nothing more than to see you lose everything, but then I realized you're human, just like me and Chase and Liana. You're a child broken from the life you were given. Maybe our father's have made mistakes and done cruel things, but we are not our fathers, Cassia. And we shouldn't be punished for our parents mistakes."

Cassia teared up. She couldn't help it because all this time she thought she was a reflection of her father. She thought she was heartless - stone cold and willing to do whatever it took to succeed, but Hunter was right. They weren't their fathers and unlike their fathers, they couldn't hate each other.

"I know this isn't much, but I'm sorry for what my father did to you," Cassia said. The apology had been weighing down on her conscience for a while now and finally, she could say it. "I don't think Kain should be king and I still hate him, but I'm sorry you had to suffer. Someone like you doesn't deserve that."

Hunter smiled sadly. His hands slid to her hips then and Cassia let out a breath of shock as he led her to sit on his lap. Her heart stammered against her chest as Hunter stared at her for a moment, his eyes full of affection.

"Lay with me," Hunter said. "Let us pretend."

Cassia slid off his lap to lay next to him. Her head lay on his pillow and he turned to face her - merely a few inches away. Their eyes locked onto each others and still Hunter's hand lay on her hip. It held her gently - as if despite everything she'd done to him, he still wanted to be gentle with her.

"I hate you," Cassia whispered. "Because the truth is you're my weakness. You always have been and my whole life I was scared to love. I thought I was unloveable, but then I met you and you made me feel like someone could love me. You made me feel hope for the first time ever, but then you snatched that away and now I'm terrified of ever letting anyone in."

Hunter ashen. His hazel eyes grew wide with horror, but Cassia shook her head. This wasn't her punishing him. This was her being honest - pouring her heart out one last time before their fate was served.

"But even now, I'm torn between killing you or kissing you. And the desire to kiss you is the side that always overpowers," Cassia whispered. "Because despite it all, I never regretted loving you. Because even for a moment, I was happy. With you, I felt a joy I never felt before."

To her surprise, Hunter teared up. His eyes were too bright - too full of emotions that her heart ached. Because her heart was tied to Hunter - like her father's heart was tied to hers.

"I don't regret loving you either," Hunter said. "Even when you were threatening to kill me over and over again, I never once regretted loving you. So no matter what becomes of us, I will be happy knowing I had the chance to love you."

Cassia teared up and Hunter pulled her to him. She was now pressed against his chest and her head rested on the toned muscles of his body, and she registered every deep breath he took. Her eyes fluttered shut as she seeped in every word her spoke.

"My father is planning on attacking during the speech," Hunter said. Cassia's eyes flew wide and she peered up at him. "The plan is to ambush you guys. My father thinks he has followers amongst the townspeople, so he's sure with their help he can overtake your father and get the crown."

Cassia said nothing for a moment. Her father had a feeling, but to hear Hunter confirm it made her heart stammer. Because the speech was happening soon. Too soon for Cassia to figure out all her cluttered feelings.

"My father had a feeling," Cassia said. "Your father sucks at surprises."

Hunter shrugged. "So, are you going to warn him?"

"Maybe. But, either way he'll be preparing."

Hunter frowned. His eyebrows furrowed as he peered down at Cassia.

"What is your end goal?" Hunter asked. "What is your father's plan?"

"To see you and your father dead."

Hunter stilled. His heart skipped a beat from where her head lay.

"And I can't lie to you - I want your father dead. I want him gone from this world, but... I don't know about you. The thought of you being gone makes me sick."

Hunter smiled. It was a heartbreaking smile, but one filled with hope.

"I spent my entire life thinking my father was always right and that he had every right to be cruel, given he lost everything. But I've realized my father is a monster. He may have suffered, but nothing justifies how cruel he's been." Hunter took a deep breath in, his body shuddering. "He kicked Chase out the other day because Chase loves a man. My father isn't fit to be king."

"Then why do you stay with him?" Cassia asked. "Why are you still at his side?"

"Because where else do I have to go? I have no money or power. Some of us don't have the luxury of choosing the lives we live." Hunter pulled away and Cassia stared at him, stunned. "And... I'm scared. I've always been scared of my father and I still am. I hate that about myself."

Cassia stared at him, feeling her heart crack for the boy who'd been through so much. But unlike his father, Hunter had never became a monster. He'd never chosen cruelty, even when Cassia had stooped to being merciless in her times of pain.

And that was something she envied about Hunter. His ability to love and be kind, even when the world hadn't been kind to him.

"Maybe I read too many stories about princesses and princes growing up, but you deserve a happily ever after," Cassia confessed. "You're like cinderella - thrown into a life you never deserved. So even if your happily ever after isn't with me, I hope you get one."

Hunter laughed softly. "You forget I'm a banished prince - not an actual prince, which means you deserve a happily ever after more than me."

"Who said princesses and princes were the only people deserving of happy endings." Cassia's eyebrows raised. "Being royalty doesn't mean they deserve better things."

Hunter shrugged. His eyes lowered to the space between them and Cassia's yearned to close it off - to lay on his chest and kiss him in the ways he'd kissed her back in her bedroom.

But for once, she resisted. Because she didn't want to punish Hunter. She didn't want him to mix pleasure with pain anymore.

"My whole life I thought becoming a prince would solve all my problems," Hunter said. "I thought I would finally be happy and have everything I ever wanted, but I've learnt that's not true from you. You're a princess, but you've been hurting for far too long."

Cassia's heart ached. He was right - she'd been hurting for far too long and only when she'd met him she realized how badly her life had harmed her.

"Yeah, being royalty isn't as glamorous as everyone makes it out to be." Cassia smiled sadly. "For the longest time, I actually envied you for being normal. Well, before I realized the horror story that is your life."

Hunter rolled his eyes, but he smiled. And this time, his smile finally lit up his eyes.

"Why are you really here?" Hunter asked. "You're risking a lot by laying here with me, so why."

Cassia bit her lip. She debated between running away then - hiding away from her feelings like she always did, but she stayed put. For once, she would face her fears of love.

"Why do you think I'm here?" Cassia whispered.

Hunter's eyes searched her face. Her heart slammed against her chest at the way he looked at her - as if she was all he ever wanted. As if she was his wish on a shooting star.

"I have an answer in mind," Hunter said. "But I'm not sure if I'm delusional or narcissistic for thinking it."

Cassia rolled her eyes, but she slid closer. They were now merely an inch away and Cassia could feel the heat radiating off Hunter's body.

"I want to say the truth - to scream it at you until we both realize what idiots we are for the amount of pain we caused each other," Cassia whispered, her eyes locked on his. "But, I know I can't right now. Not when we're about to be at war with each other. I am cruel, but not that cruel."

Hunter raised a shaky hand and brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear neatly. His expression held pain now - a crumbling pain where an avalanche of it seemed to be hurtling down on them.

"Enemies to lovers to enemies," Hunter said. "What a tragic love story."

Cassia teared up. She couldn't help it because it was tragic. To love someone so badly - to know they loved you back the same, but to not be allowed to be together. It was the worst kind of pain.

"You can punish me," Hunter whispered. "Kiss me until I am undone."

"No," Cassia said. "I don't want you thinking kissing me is punishment. I kiss you because I want to kiss you. Because I care for you and all I ever think of is you holding me."

Hunter's eyes widened before Cassia leaned in and kissed him. She did it gently this time - no fire or passion or lust involved. Cassia kissed him gently as if he'd been hers all her life - as if they were an old married couple close to their death beds.

Because Cassia felt like the end was near. Their love story was coming to and end and it terrified her.

So, she kissed him harder and Hunter kissed her back, returning every sweet and gentle kiss she pressed against him. And they did nothing but lay there for hours - holding each other and whispering about the future they could have had.

It was breaking and mending Cassia's heart all at once.