Cassian seemed to have lost all reason, as if something had clouded his mind. His actions grew rougher, more relentless.
I tried to break free from his grip, but Davina's body was too frail, no match for a man of his size.
Cassian planted a knee on the couch, slipping between my legs, pressing against my most private place as if to provoke me.
Instinctively, I clamped my thighs shut, trapping his knee and stopping him from moving further.
"What now? Didn't you ask me to kiss you?" Cassian taunted before diving in again, not giving me the chance to respond.
That's true, but just a kiss. A brush of lips would've sufficed. Or did we have different definitions of what a kiss meant? I'll have to be more specific next time.
But first, I needed to get out of this situation.
There was no way this body could compete with a grown man. Left with no choice, I bit hard into Cassian's lip. He hissed in pain, and though the kiss broke, he didn't pull away immediately.
He chuckled low against my mouth, like a man possessed. I turned my head to escape him, glaring upward.
"Why… are you looking at me like that?" Cassian licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and smirked.
Don't tell me he's already gone twisted? I was sure that didn't happen until after he killed Davina.
"What look? I don't understand what you're saying."
I leaned away, trying to yank my arm back again, but he only pinned it down harder.
"The look that says… I'm something filthy." His twisted smile deepened, sending a chill down my spine. "You've never looked at me that way before."
He was comforting Aurora just minutes ago, and now he was tangled up with his so-called enemy. If that's not filth, what is?
Even so, I couldn't say it aloud.
Maybe the real Davina always looked at Cassian with desperate longing. And I, who harbored only disdain, had let that slip.
I closed my eyes, steadied my racing thoughts, and when I opened them again, all that remained was the love I'd fabricated, crafted to be exactly what he expected.
"You don't seem satisfied yet. Would you like to visit my chambers tonight?" I curved my lips into a smile, seductive in the way Davina used to be.
Like waking from a trance, the haze in Cassian's eyes vanished without a trace. He released me immediately, stepping back with a suspicious frown.
I took the chance to stand and retreat three steps, putting distance between us while still wearing that flirtatious half-smile, even as my breath stuttered from the deep kiss.
"What's wrong? Changed your mind?"
Cassian stared at me for a long moment, as if trying to peer through the mask I wore. But it was pointless, I'd lived a hundred lives before this. He'd never find what he was looking for.
"You're a strange one, Davina." He finally said, though his wary eyes remained fixed on me. "One moment you're looking at me like a dagger, and the next like you're begging for my love."
He ran a hand through his hair, a bitter smile touching his lips.
"I've done what you asked. I hope you'll keep quiet about that night with Aurora."
I narrowed my eyes, studying his face. He seemed back to his usual self, his gaze once again filled with hatred, as if the Cassian who kissed me moments ago was just a glitch in the game.
Above his head, the affection meter blinked.
[-35%]
The score had gone up. Mission complete. No need to linger here guessing what was going on inside his head.
"How disappointing." I feigned irritation at the mention of Aurora, lashing out to give myself a reason to leave. "Don't ever say that name in front of me again, or else…"
I let the words trail off into the air and turned on my heel, pretending to walk away calmly, though inside I was desperate to get out of there.
I didn't bother to look back to see how Cassian reacted. I just wanted to get away from that madman.
Why had he suddenly changed like that? Had his twisted side developed earlier than in the original storyline? Or had he discovered something?
Playing Davina was far from easy. Her rotten personality was the complete opposite of mine. But it wasn't like I had a choice, I'd have to play her better from now on.
I stepped out of the secluded house and looked around for Drake. Spotting his figure behind a tree, I headed toward him.
"Drake… it seems Cassian has betrayed me."
But a soft, broken voice stopped me in my tracks. Drake wasn't alone, Aurora was with him.
Of course. She'd just left her lover with his enemy, and now she was clinging to another man for protection. Clever girl.
"Aurora, it wouldn't look good if the princess saw you like this." Drake said. His tone was still distant, but no longer as frigid as before.
I hesitated, unsure whether to approach or retreat in this awkward situation.
"She took everything from me…" Aurora sobbed.
How offensive. You're the one who took all the men from Davina.
Forget it. This mission didn't involve Drake anyway. Better to slip away before his affection score dropped any further. He was a difficult one.
I turned away quietly, leaving them behind. Whether Drake defended me or spoke ill of me, it didn't matter. Knowing wouldn't change a thing.
I could only rely on the missions to raise their favorability. Outside of that… hopeless.
I returned to the study, burying myself in the towering stack of reports. I could only hope this time, I'd be left alone to focus on being a decent princess, without interruptions or ridiculous missions.
Corrupt officials. Alarming tax hikes. Underfed and undersupplied troops.
Every report felt like a hook hanging from my crown, waiting to drag me down. How had Davina let it get this bad?
Well, I was the one who'd suffer for it now, so I'd better start fixing it, one issue at a time.
The sun climbed higher, then sank below the horizon, and night descended upon the world.
Davina worked past time, eventually dozing off without realizing it.
A soft knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice like a cold breeze.
"It's late, Your Highness."
No response. Drake pushed the door open and entered.
Davina had fallen asleep at her desk, her black hair cascading down her slender shoulders like a silken stream, glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Drake paused by the desk, eyes skimming the half-finished reports. His face was unreadable.
He stepped forward and lifted Davina in his arms, this time in a bridal carry, so gentle it surprised even him. He checked to see if she'd woken.
Her head nestled against his shoulder, breathing steady in slumber. A faint mark on her neck glowed under the moonlight.
Drake's crimson eyes flashed, then dimmed like a falling star. He turned away, avoiding the mark. He knew who it belonged to, and he knew Davina had accepted it willingly.
He carried her through the silent halls, footsteps echoing alongside her soft breaths.
When he reached Davina's bedroom, he saw someone already waiting on her bed.
The sound of his steps drew Xavier's eyes upward, just in time to see his princess cradled in the arms of the knight.
Xavier's gaze hardened before softening into worry.
"What happened to Her Highness?"
He stepped forward, hands outstretched to take her from Drake. But Drake didn't spare him a glance, walking past to gently lay Davina on the bed.
"She's asleep." he said curtly, pulling the covers over her.
Xavier frowned at the knight's easy familiarity. Climbing onto the bed, he pulled Davina into his arms.
"She must be exhausted." His voice was tender and harmless, belying the icy sapphire beneath his blond hair. "I'll take care of her. You may go now, sir."
Drake stared at Xavier for a moment, his icy composure cracking slightly.
He didn't like this man.
Was it because he was a slave? Because of the false kindness in his eyes? Drake didn't know. He just knew he felt uncomfortable.
But the man was Davina's consort, and seemingly favored. So Drake took a step back. His eyes fell on Davina, now cuddled against Xavier's chest, and the discomfort in his gut twisted deeper.
He clenched his fist, then turned away, pretending not to see the smirk creeping onto Xavier's lips.
Above Drake's head, the numbers began to blink again.
[-25%]
As the door closed, the room returned to the peace Xavier considered paradise.
He traced the mark on Davina's neck with a slow, possessive touch. The blue in his eyes deepened like the sea's darkest trench.
He bent down, kissed her forehead softly, and whispered into the shadows.
"What am I going to do with you… princess?"
***