Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

ATASHA’S POV

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I stood up from the bed, pulling the quilt away and folding it neatly to the side. My hands reached for the inner lining of my gown, and I tugged it off, revealing the dark clothing underneath. It was thin, tight, and flexible. All black. Cassian had personally chosen it for me. He said it would help me blend into the shadows, and tonight, that was exactly what I needed.

The moment I had changed completely, I took my regular clothes and arranged them on the bed, stuffing the sleeves and shape with soft towels and spare cloths to create the illusion of a sleeping body. Then I covered it all with the blanket Genevieve had given me. At a quick glance, it would look like I was still lying there, resting just like they wanted.

I approached the window. My fingers worked quickly to unlock the latch, pushing it open just enough to squeeze through. The night air was cold against my skin. My heart was already pounding.

Outside the window was a narrow ledge, the stone overhang that ran along the perimeter of the mansion. It wasn’t meant to be walked on, not at this height, not barefoot and definitely not when it’s wet from the rain.

But it was my only way to reach the opposite wing without drawing attention. Below me was a two–story drop onto stone tiles, and I had no desire to find out how much pain that would

cause.

Carefully, I stepped onto the ledge, keeping one hand braced against the outer wall of the mansion. The surface beneath my feet was rough and uneven, not quite wide enough for comfort, but enough to move. Slowly, I edged sideways, keeping close to the wall. I didn’t look down. I couldn’t afford to.

The ledge curved at a corner, and I pressed my back tighter against the stone as I shuffled around it, breath held in my throat.

From this angle, I could see across the courtyard, the guards were shouting orders, distracted by the commotion. The Demon Fang had arrived, just like Cassian said. Fires flickered in the distance. Screams echoed faintly. The chaos was growing, and so was my window of opportunity.

After a few more careful steps, I reached the window to my father’s study. I crouched low, gripping the frame. It was locked. Of course it was.

I reached into the pocket Cassian had sewn into the side of the suit and pulled out a small flat piece of metal. A lockpick. He had made sure I practiced earlier, even if just on drawers. My hands trembled slightly as I worked it into the keyhole. I couldn’t hear the clicks, not over the shouting and drums, but I felt them.

11:07 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 23

One… two…

Then the softest shift.

It gave way.

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I eased the window open just enough to slide through, then pulled it shut behind me.

I was inside.

Now I had to find the map.

The room was dark except for the faint glow from the dying fire in the fireplace. I crouched low, listening for any movement. None.

I moved deeper into the room, careful not to make a sound. The fire in the hearth was low, just barely enough to warm the study. Cassian had warned me about it, told me that to keep the temperature stable, one of the omegas would come in every hour to feed the flames. That gave me a rough time limit, but not much comfort. If I got caught, no one would believe I was just lost.

My eyes adjusted to the dim glow as I began my search. Cassian told me the map wouldn’t look like a map. It would be hidden in plain sight, somewhere obvious, yet easy to overlook. “That’s the trick,” he had said. “Your father is paranoid. He doesn’t trust vaults or secret panels. He hides things where people won’t think to look twice.”

I turned to the shelves lining the back wall. If I were seated at his desk, these books would be behind me. Out of sight. Out of mind. That alone made me doubt they were worth checking but I had to be thorough.

I skimmed the spines with my fingers.

The History of Werewolves and Fairies.

The Pact Between Fang and Fang: Werewolves and Vampires.

Arecor: Founding of the Eastern Territories.

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