Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 145

ATASHA’S POV

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I expected the stares. The whispers that clung to the corners of every room were nothing new. I had lived with them since the day I stepped into the North. Still, no matter how many times it happened, it was enough to make me forget how to breathe for a moment.

Part of me wanted to shrink back the way I always had before, to bow my head and let the moment pass. It was the same instinct that had followed me since I failed to awaken, the one that told me to stay small so others wouldn’t see me. But that part of me was slowly dying. Cassian had made sure of that.

I straightened in my seat. My fingers twitched once against my lap before I forced them still. I reminded myself of who I was now, not the wolfless daughter of the Blacks, not the girl people pitied or mocked. I was the Consort of the North. And these people, for all their power and polished words, had no right to decide what I was worth.

Slowly, my gaze drifted toward Cassian. He sat at the head of the table, posture relaxed, his hand resting against the armrest like he owned every inch of this hall, and he did.

His expression didn’t change, but I could feel him through the bond that connected us, the calm steadiness that grounded me even when my thoughts began to spiral. He wasn’t worried. And if he wasn’t worried, neither should I be.

Matron Yara sat near the far end of the table, hands folded neatly in front of her, the faint smile still carved onto her face. Her voice filled the hall.

“The King has been informed of the testing,” she began. “While this is not a common practice for a Consort, the situation we face is not common either.”

The words were formal, respectful even, but the way she looked at me, made my stomach turn. She was up to something. I knew in my gut that the woman was scheming something, but I couldn’t tell what. Still, I responded with a subtle nod.

“We cannot ignore the rumors spreading beyond these walls,” she continued, glancing toward the council members who nodded in unison. “Many of our people believe the Princess Consort’s survival was not by chance. Some fear she carries the mark of witchcraft, that her power comes not from the goddess, but from something darker. There are even rumors that she has bewitched the Lord himself.”

I stiffened at that, heat creeping into my face, though I kept my eyes on the table. Bewitched him. I knew this was going to be part of the play that the Matron is playing. It would be easier to convince everyone that I lived as Cassian’s fifth bride because… I bewitched him.

Yara raised her chin slightly. “It is fortunate that the consort herself has agreed to undergo the test. Her courage and cooperation reflect her loyalty to the North and to our people. However, the council believes that a private test will not silence these rumors. To restore faith in our Lord’s household, the ceremony must be witnessed by all. It must be grand, majestic, as is fitting for the Lady of the North. We must show them that no witch will ever enter these gates and live to wear that title.”

When she turned to me, her gaze was almost kind, almost reassuring, but I could see the calculation in her eyes. She wanted to see how far I would bend before I broke. Her smile was the same one I’d seen on women

20:19 Sat, Oct 18

Chapter 145

who offered blessings while praying for you downfall

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Then she looked at Cassian, and her expression shifted. It was still polite, still measured, but touched with that subtle air of challenge, as though she was reminding him that this rest wasn’t just about me. It was about his judgment, 100

Matresh Yarn’s smile widened, the kind that gave the illusion of warmth but never reached her eyes. “Of course,” she said, her tone bright, confident. “I have no doubt the Northern Consort will pass the test. This is nothing more than formality. We only want to show the people that their Lady is not a witch. When this is done, it will put all doubts to rest and bring peace to the North once more. Prosperity will follow.”

Her words flowed easily, smooth and rehearsed, the kind of speech meant to sound noble. Every sentence was designed to make her seem righteous, as if she were doing this for everyone’s sake.

“Sadly,” she went on. “There are only two ways to test for witchcraft.” She paused, letting the silence settle long enough for everyone in the hall to listen. “The first is the traditional method, sulfur and blood. But that test is unreliable. As you all know, every supernatural creature reacts to sulfur. It would prove nothing.”

1 felt my stomach tighten. The way she spoke, reminded me too much of a teacher explaining a rule she’d already decided to enforce.

Yara glanced toward the other council members, then back at him. “The council and I have used our accumulated merits to petition for the Stone Generations of service to the North, years of guarding its borders, defending it from the beasts, maintaining the barrier in the far reaches of the Frost Fields, have carned us the right to this request. And we have used it for this.”

Her gaze slid to me. “You may not know this, Princess Consort, but after the Red Moon, the King grants merits to those who have served the realm well. These merits can be converted into favors, anything one desires, so long as it does not endanger the Kingdom Some ask for wealth. Others for land or rare medicines. The worth of one merit depends on the deed that earned it. But it takes twenty to make a request to the

20:19 Sat, Oct 18

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