To Marry A Monster (by Brey Mitchell) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

ATASHA’S POV

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We were only halfway through the ride. Another two or three hours stood between us and the northernmost outpost when Cassian’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

This time, something was wrong.

“Mendez, hold him down,” I ordered quickly.

The moment his eyes opened, Cassian lunged at Mendez with sudden strength. The carriage rocked from the impact. I grabbed his arm and pushed my ability into him, trying to force his body to calm, to shut down the surge. But instead of weakening, he seemed to grow stronger under my touch.

Mendez struggled to restrain him, his arms locked around Cassian’s shoulders. “My Lady—” he choked, his breath cut off as Cassian shoved against him, “ugh… I can’t—”

“Mendez -” I didn’t finish. Cassian’s hand shot up and closed around Mendez’s throat. The carriage lurched as Mendez slammed back onto the bench, boots scraping for leverage. Cassian’s other hand locked on Mendez’s forearm and squeezed. The sudden movement

made the wood creaked.

“Cassian!” I grabbed his wrist with both hands and tried to pry him off. His skin was hot. The tendons under my fingers felt like cables. He didn’t look at me. Instead, he bared his teeth and tightened his grip. Mendez gagged, knees knocking against the trunk under the seat.

“Let go!” I shouted, bracing one foot against the bench and pulling as hard as I could. Cassian’s arm didn’t budge. Then, without even glancing my way, he swung and backhanded me. The blow landed on my shoulder and threw me sideways into the wall. My spine slammed against a support beam, sending a sharp jolt of pain up my back.

I grit my teeth, anger cutting through the ache. Pushing off the wall, I lunged back at him and drove my fist into his ribs. It was a clumsy punch, and the impact burned my knuckles more than it hurt him. He didn’t flinch. The only reaction I got was him turning his head toward

1. me.

He looked at me.

His eyes burned an unnatural red like blood spilling fresh. Then slowly, his mouth pulled into a crooked grin, showing teeth that promised nothing good. Then came the sound, a growl, deep in his chest, rough enough that the boards under our boots seemed to carry the

vibration.

“My Lord-” Mendez rasped, his voice strained as he tried to twist out of Cassian’s grip. He

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Chapter 78

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managed to grab Cassian’s wrist, but it was useless. Cassian let go only because he decided to, not because Mendez forced him.

He straightened to his full height, his shoulders nearly scraping the roof of the carriage. When he stepped toward me, the space shrank instantly. I backed up until the panel pressed against my legs. There was nowhere else to move.

Mendez made another attempt, lunging from the side to grab Cassian around the waist. Cassian

swung his arm back and caught him with a hard elbow. The hit knocked Mendez into the opposite bench, the impact strong enough to rattle the carriage frame.

Then he came for me.

I braced for teeth at my throat, but that wasn’t his aim. His arms locked around my waist, crushing the air from my lungs, and he drove forward with his full weight. The walls of the carriage didn’t stop him. Wood split apart with a sharp crack, the panel exploding into shards and splinters as he forced us through into the night.

The cold hit hard across my face, wind tearing at my hood. The carriage was still moving. He landed on the runner, crouched low to keep balance, then launched us forward again in one powerful jump. His boot struck the lead horse’s flank, the animal rearing in panic before he shoved us both into the saddle. One arm clamped tight across my ribs, holding me in place, while his other hand tore the reins from the driver’s grasp.

The horse screamed, foam at its mouth, and bolted into a dead run. The carriage behind rocked violently, voices shouting after us.

“Your Highness!” Soldiers‘ cries cut through the chaos. Hooves scrambled on frozen ground, and steel clashed as men tried to react.

“Do not follow!” I shouted over my shoulder, my voice raw against the wind. “Hold the line! Do not follow us!”

Dragging riders into this would be stupid. Out here, under the red moon, one wrong turn in the snow meant death before an enemy’s blade ever found them.

Cassian dug his heels into the horse’s sides, driving it into a harder run. Each stride jolted through my spine. Wind cut across my face until my skin stung, and the snow whipped into my eyes, blinding me in bursts. His arm never loosened around my ribs, pinning me against him. I kept waiting for him to shove me off, but he didn’t.

We tore through the dark pines, past broken fence posts buried in drifts, the sky pressing low and heavy above us. Time blurred into the pounding of hooves and the ragged sound of the horse forcing its way through the snow.

Then, without warning, Cassian jerked the reins. The horse skidded in the powder, hooves

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Chapter 78

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