Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 17

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Chapter 17

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“Lord Cassian please let me—” Genevieve’s voice faltered, her next words swallowed by the thick, metallic scent of blood that hit her the moment she stepped inside.

The sight froze her mid–step.

Atasha was lying not too far from the center of the tent, half–wrapped in a blanket that looked more like it belonged on a battlefield than a bed. Her eyes were closed, her skin pale, but her chest rose and fell steadily. Her blond hair was damp with sweat, clinging to her forehead, and a faint flicker of warmth from a nearby brazier danced over her features. Alive. She’s alive!?

Celeste gasped softly beside her. “She’s… here?”

Genevieve’s gaze darted from the bloodied towels in the basin to the faint traces of crimson staining the edge of the blanket near Atasha’s ribs. Something clenched in her stomach. Obviously, it was not grief, guilt or confusion. It was frustration. She should’ve been dead. She expected Atasha to die from that attack! How is she even here?

But before she could gather her next performance, a slow, unbothered voice cut through the tension. “You look disappointed, Luna,” Lord Cassian’s voice echoed.

“As you can see…“Lord Cassian didn’t rise. He was seated at a field table a few paces away, one leg crossed over the other, a porcelain teacup in his hand as though they were gathered for a leisurely evening chat rather than in a war tent soaked in blood and smoke.

“My wife is resting. She’s alive. And well enough.” His steel–gray eyes lifted to meet Genevieve’s directly, though his tone remained polite. “I trust that satisfies your curiosity,

Luna.”

For a moment, no one moved. Then, Alpha Collin took a small, stiff step forward. He placed a fist to his chest and gave a shallow bow.

“Thank you, my Lord,” he said. “For protecting her. Seeing her like this… is enough to satisfy my wife’s curiosity.”

Cassian placed the teacup down with a soft clink, folding his hands on the table. “It is this lord’s duty,” he replied coolly. “She is my consort. My responsibility.”

Then the tone shifted. “Although… what this lord does not understand,” he continued, voice still smooth but sharper now. “Is why the Luna would insist on barging into this tent when his lieutenant had already informed her that the consort was resting.

His eyes narrowed just slightly. “Does the Luna not trust this lord’s word?” he asked.“Or perhaps, she does not trust this lord’s men either?”

11:05 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 17

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Genevieve’s throat dried. Again, her gaze drifted towards the pale Atasha. She tried to understand how was she able to live after that attack! Then it hit her! Someone must be protecting Atasha!

When Cassian left, she instructed all guards to leave that part of the mansion as well. But what if someone, one of Cassian’s people, stayed? Yes, that must be it. That was the only explanation she could think of.

Cassian leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table. His next words dropped like stones into water. “And if the Luna does not trust this lord…”

Genevieve immediately looked at Cassian. She clenched her teeth and listened to Cassian’s next words. This man is twisting everything! He’s clearly using this incident to his advantage. It seems that she had underestimated him!

“Then what, precisely, is stopping this lord from riding out tonight and taking his soldiers with him?” Cassian said.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Genevieve opened her mouth to answer, but the moment she did, she felt it. A wave of pressure, cold, crushing, and violent, flooded the space like an invisible storm.

Killing intent.

It rolled off Cassian in thick, suffocating waves, so potent it made the flame in the lanterns stutter. The ground itself seemed to pulse beneath their feet. Genevieve took an involuntary step back, her hands trembling despite herself.

Celeste staggered, her knees nearly buckling as she gasped. Alpha Collin, sensing it first, acted on instinct.