Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

ATASHA’S POV

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“Why do you think there’s miasma in this area?” I whispered as we moved cautiously through the fog–covered path.

The air was thick and heavy with the stench of decay. It clung to everything, clothes, skin, even the inside of my mouth. But while it made my stomach churn, it didn’t harm me. I was immune to poison. Whatever was swirling through the air, this toxin, this miasma, it didn’t affect me the way it would others.

Cassian, however, wasn’t immune.

But he was prepared.

He had a cloth covering his nose and mouth, soaked in something bitter and sharp–smelling, but even that wouldn’t be enough to block out all the toxins in the air.

That’s why he had me.

We walked side by side, fingers intertwined, our hands locked tightly together. Every time the poison began to creep into his system, subtle, but fast, I felt it. I could sense the shift in his body, the faint pull on my ability.

And I responded.

Silently, constantly, I channeled my healing into him. Just enough to flush the poison from his blood, to keep his breath steady and his steps strong. Neither of us spoke about it. We didn’t need to.

We just kept walking, hand in hand, through the poisoned mist.

“Your father knew that someone stole the map, naturally, he had to add some… precautions.”

I said nothing in response. Yes. That was indeed the type of person my father was. “Do you think he knew about William and my mother?” I already reported this matter when I handed Cassian the map. At that time, he didn’t look interested at all.

“I wouldn’t know that,” he said.

I immediately shut my mouth. Was I being too talkative? I had never been someone that talked much, especially after I failed to awaken. The… was I nervous? Yes. That was it. Then again, this would be the first time that I would do something like this.

“This poison could harm even my strongest Lieutenants,” Cassian suddenly said. “It’s meant to

11:08 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 29

kill the strong.”

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I nodded. However, how could my father have access to something like this?

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“Poisons like this can only be found in the West,” he said. That made me frown. The wWestis considered the land of savages. Both witches and other supernatural beings occupy that area. I didn’t have the time to say another word as he stopped walking. “We’re here.”

Before us stood a massive boulder, half–covered in moss and slick from the rain. It looked solid, ancient–impossible to move. But Cassian didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, retrieved the map from inside his cloak, and unfolded it under the light of a glowing stone he pulled from his pouch. He held it close to the rock’s surface, his eyes scanning quickly for alignment.

A few seconds passed. Then he pressed his hand against a specific groove etched into the boulder.

There was a low rumble.

I took a cautious step back as the center of the stone began to shift, smoothly, silently. A section of the boulder twisted inward like a gear, revealing narrow steps carved from the inside.

Cassian folded the map again. “Come on,” he said.

We descended quickly. The moment both our feet touched the last step, the boulder slid shut behind us with a deep click. I turned back and stared at the seamless wall. No cracks. No handles. Nothing to suggest the opening was ever there.

We were inside a cave.

It wasn’t wide, just enough for two, maybe three, people to walk side by side. The air inside was cooler, stale but breathable. The stone walls had no carvings or torches, but the dim blue glow from Cassian’s lightstone gave us just enough to see by. Luckily, the miasma was only outside.

Cassian raised two fingers to his lips and signaled me to stay quiet.

I pressed my lips together and nodded.

Oddly enough, I found it amusing. Cassian telling me to shut up, when I barely spoke as it was. He gave a faint smirk, then kept moving forward.

We walked in silence, our footsteps muffled by the worn stone path. It was clear Cassian knew where he was going. He didn’t pause to check the map again. He moved like he had already memorized every turn.

I followed close behind, eyes darting to every curve of the tunnel, ears straining for sounds.

11:09 Wed, Sep 10

We continued deeper.

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