Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 76

ATASHA’S POV

:

78

E55 vouchers

I expected the sound of fighting outside to shake me, to freeze my breath and lock my body in fear. But it didn’t. Instead, I sat steady in the carriage, my fingers curled firmly around Cassian’s hand. “Everything will be alright,” I whispered, squeezing gently, as if he could hear me through his sleep.

Outside, the clash of steel against claws rang sharp, followed by guttural roars and the shouts of men. Through the slit in the carriage, I caught glimpses of chaos. Among them, I caught sight of Mendez, blade in hand, fighting with a soldier’s rigor despite being a physician. He moved with an economy of strikes, guarding flanks and covering weak spots, his coat streaked with blood and dirt.

Then, slowly, the noise subsided. Growls faded, the last beast hit the ground with a heavy thud, and for a moment, silence fell. Only the ragged breaths of men and the restless shifting of horses filled the air.

I leaned forward and peered through the slit again. Relief escaped me in a sharp exhale as I saw no fresh waves of beasts breaking from the treeline.

“Keep moving!” Mendez’s voice rang out, rough but firm. “We’ll treat the wounded while advancing. Don’t stay still. Blood draws more of them.”

That was my cue. I pushed the carriage door open and climbed down into the cold air. My boots struck the ground, and at once, eyes turned toward me. “Stay with him,” I told Mendez, nodding toward the carriage. “He needs you here.”

Mendez didn’t argue. He only gave a sharp nod, before stepping back inside with Cassian.

I crossed to the line of soldiers, swung myself onto a horse, and urged it forward. The men stiffened as I moved past, but I ignored their stares. If we stayed in one place, the stench of blood would betray us. We had to treat wounds on the move.

The first soldier I reached sat slumped in his saddle, his arm hanging uselessly at his side. A lash of a beast’s claw had torn through both armor and flesh. It wasn’t deep, but the edges were already blackening, rot creeping outward.

I pulled alongside him, and Grace rode up close behind. “Their claws carry poison,” she said quickly, her voice low enough for only me to hear. “Usually, it slows men down but doesn’t kill. But during the red moon, it multiplies inside the body. If untreated, it becomes fatal.”

The soldier lifted his head, his face pale and slick with sweat. His eyes flicked to me, then to Grace, uncertain. I reached for his wrist, but he jerked back.

11:23 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 76

“At ease,” Grace ordered sharply. “Her Highness is going to heal you.”

78

55 vouchers

The man’s eyes widened in shock. Around us, the other soldiers murmured, their grips tightening on reins and weapons.

He tried to pull away again, but Grace pressed him harder. “Think. If she were a witch, you’d smell it. Rotten air, sulfur on the wind. Do you smell that now?”

The men hesitated, sniffing the air, their faces tense.

“No,” Grace continued firmly. “She isn’t a witch. She is wolfless, yes, but still chose to ride with us, to heal us, when she could have stayed behind. You’ll accept her help, or you’ll die from that wound.”

The soldier swallowed hard. Slowly, he lowered his arm.

I didn’t waste another breath. I pressed my palm against the wound. Warmth spread from my hand, seeping into the blackened flesh. The rot resisted at first, like ice clinging to stone, but then it melted away under my power. Color flushed back into his skin, the torn edges of the wound knitting together until only a faint scar remained.

I stared at Arturo, caught off guard. I hadn’t expected this. “Rise,” I said quietly. “Save your vows for Lord Cassian. He is the one who leads you.”

11:23 Wed, Sep 10

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify