Chapter 9: Chapter 9 - Captive
"Princess," Solomon said, his hand reaching for his sword.
"Don’t," Lilith said, noticing the soldier by the door.
Lilith lowered her hand. "Leave us and shut the door."
"But princess-"
"I said you are to leave," Lilith snapped, glaring at Solomon.
Lilith already had two men bothering her and didn’t need a third.
Solomon reluctantly left and closed the door.
"You may stop with your act now. You are squeezing the life out of me," Lilith said, bothered by the closeness.
Cassian didn’t listen and continued to embrace Lilith.
"I thought you were gone. I can’t bear the thought of losing you," Cassian whispered.
"I am not lost, but if you continue to hug me so tightly, I might just faint," Lilith said, standing still. "Can you let go of me? You’ve seen that I am alive, and the attacker is dead. There’s no need to hold onto me. I hate it."
Cassian held onto Lilith a little longer, using her warmth and voice as evidence that she was alive. That his efforts to return to her were not all in vain.
Cassian’s hold on Lilith started to loosen. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice tickling her skin.
"All of you are acting as though you were the ones targeted. I am not so concerned. This isn’t the first time I have been attacked in my sleep, and it won’t be the last. You truly are crying," Lilith said, puzzled by the sight.
Lilith hoped to be wrong.
Cassian held Lilith’s right hand and lifted it to rest his head against her hand.
Her touch was heavenly.
It gave him hope for the future.
"Why? Why cry? Surely you cannot be so obsessed with me," said Lilith.
"I’ve said that I care for you more than you know, Lilith. You must start believing me. My heart ached thinking that you were taken from me," Cassian said, still filled with fear.
"Well, I am alive," Lilith replied, pulling her hand out of Cassian’s hold. "And you are no longer needed here. My guard and I will take care of this."
"No, I will. You are moving to a better bedchamber. An intruder should never be able to climb the wall to where you rest, and by the looks of it, the locks in this chamber are broken," said Cassian.
Lilith noticed how Cassian didn’t take a look around, yet he knew about the locks.
Lilith stared at Cassian, the words of the soldiers coming back to her. "I might have your answer sooner if you reveal who has been sharing my secrets."
"No one. I simply know," Cassian replied.
Cassian placed his arms behind his back, restraining himself from touching Lilith, as it would only push her away.
"I am getting quite annoyed with your behaviour. This isn’t pleasant, and it certainly doesn’t amuse me. Someone close to me has been speaking to you, and considering you wish for me to marry you, lying won’t convince me," said Lilith.
"I have not lied to you, Lilith. No one has betrayed you," Cassian promised.
Cassian wished to reveal how he knew her secrets, but like the others, she would think he was crazy.
If not for what he experienced, Cassian wouldn’t believe it himself.
All that mattered was that Lilith stood before him, still alive.
"No one has betrayed me, yet you know all my secrets? I know there are rats all over the castle, but they wouldn’t know all my secrets. Someone has spoken to you, and eventually I will find out who," Lilith said with great certainty.
"If you want my hand in marriage and my trust, now would be a good time to reveal who the spy is. Show that I can have a little trust in you," said Lilith.
"I could point out someone, yet you would never trust me. There isn’t a spy, Lilith. I have been around your father for years. I learned a few secrets from it," Cassian said, deciding to lie.
Lilith wouldn’t believe his truth regardless.
"My father knew? If my father knew I had a lover, he would have exposed him to shame me or killed him to hurt me. You are not very good at lying. Thank goodness you have your title, which granted you an army. You wouldn’t have got very far on common sense alone," Lilith insulted Cassian.
Cassian chuckled.
"It was not to be taken as a joke. If I find out there is proof of someone betraying me, and they have been sharing my secrets with you, I will kill you and that person," Lilith threatened Cassian. "Even if I have to die along the way."
Lilith noticed the grim expression again at the mention of her dying.
"You must stop speaking of death so casually, Lilith. You are spoiling my day," said Cassian.
"It is night," Lilith replied, uninterested in his feelings. "You came, you saw the danger is no more, so now it is time for you to leave."
Cassian examined Lilith’s appearance. "You are not staying here. You will be moved to another bedchamber."
"Like hell I will. I am comfortable here," Lilith said, rejecting the offer.
"A man slipped into your bedchamber and tried to kill you." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"An effort which failed, just like the others," Lilith retorted.
Cassian clenched his jaw, trying to keep his patience. "Lilith-"
"I am tired. All I want to do is rest, but if you take me to another bedchamber, I will have to stay awake memorising every corner of it. I know my way around this chamber, so at least for tonight, I will stay here. I will move in the morning," Lilith decided.
"Very well," Cassian agreed. "I will make myself comfortable on the floor."
Lilith frowned, annoyed by Cassian’s plan. "I might be your captive, but I am still a princess. For you to sleep inside this bedchamber, even on the floor, would spread rumours I would like to avoid."
"My captive?" Cassian repeated, peering down at Lilith. "How long will it take you to recognise that I am your prisoner?"