Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

ATASHA’S POV

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“My lord, this poison …” Mendez said as he slowly placed the vial in front of Cassian. It looked almost innocent resting there, fragile and gleaming under the candlelight. This was the same Vial that Genevieve herself had given me. “It originates from the Western Plateaus. A very rare substance.”

Cassian didn’t respond, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, eyes cold and unreadable. Yet the smile on his face was unmistakable. He looked amused, entertained. I wondered if this was because of the substance or because the night had already ended. I heard that his men didn’t suffer any great losses and his lieutenants have all recovered.

That was something to celebrate, right?

Mendez continued, “It’s often used by those seeking a painless end. It has no scent, no taste, and once ingested, death comes swiftly, often in sleep, without pain or struggle.” He paused. “There is no known antidote. That’s what makes it so dangerous. Even a small dose is fatal.”

I didn’t move. I watched Cassian’s face, searching for a crack, a flicker of something human. But his expression remained infuriatingly unreadable. Like a stone.

What was he thinking?

Finally, he turned to me. “Has your family always been this ruthless?”

I said nothing.

He didn’t need an answer. He already knew.

Cassian’s mouth curled. “They won’t stop, will they?” he asked, almost conversationally. “Not until you’re dead. And once you are, they’ll dress it up as grief. A tragic accident. A noble sacrifice. They’ll cry their crocodile tears, deliver some practiced speeches about how much they loved you… and then they’ll move their little plan into the space you were meant to fill.”

Still, I stayed silent.

Because what could I say?

I didn’t know what the plan was either. I didn’t understand why they would risk so much. What were they really trying to do? They could kill me, and I would simply become Cassian’s fifth dead bride. The King would once again try to find a wife for his brother, and then the story would never end.

Cassian studied me for another long moment, then exhaled a short, humorless breath. “It

11:06 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 21

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doesn’t matter,” he said finally, gesturing for Mendez to leave. “Their plan will fail. As all weak- willed plots do.”

When Mendez was gone, the tent felt too quiet. Cassian didn’t go back to his chair. Instead, he crossed the room slowly, stopping just a few feet from where I stood. His shadow stretched long and dark across the floor, merging with mine.

“Do you want to retaliate?” he asked me softly.

I looked up, startled. “What…?”

“Do you want revenge?” he repeated, tone sharper now. “Your so–called family wants you dead. Do you want to make them bleed for it? Do you want to burn this place to the ground? Watch them choke on the ashes of their own lies?”

I swallowed. My throat felt tight, dry.

Revenge?

That word didn’t feel like mine. It wasn’t something I had ever used to define myself.

Since I failed to awaken, I had been overlooked, the piece no one cared to protect. I was never seen as valuable, just a placeholder, something that could be easily removed when no longer convenient. After all, I was just a wolfless omega, the lowest rank, someone burdened with a dangerous gift that could turn on me at any moment and end my life.

Retaliation… I’d never even considered it.

“I-“The word barely left my mouth before fading into silence. I didn’t know how to respond, not really. And yet, strangely, the fact that he already regarded me as one of them, brought a flicker of warmth to a place inside me that had long grown cold.

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