Bah! Old Sailor once again blew out a breath. - A sorceress who is protected by wolves... These are ancient legends. No sorceress for years has shown an affinity for wolves to be able to control or master shapeshifting. Mestizos! are just legends
-Have mercy.- Richard declared himself defeated. -Isn't one lich enough? You managed to talk about Ichichos and now you're going to daydream about half-breeds. That's just not possible. It's not natural.
His head was exploding. The damn visions… A chill washed over him. Cassie... Was there something wrong with her?
And? What matters? She preferred money and not staying at my side. She sold herself like any other metretrix and...
-Dark magic works with dangerous and negative forces.- The old sailor's voice interrupted Rick's hurt thoughts.-You saw one before your eyes. You can see Duke's Revenge rise again from the depths of Ravlen .You've seen nature's fury in protest. Hear my words. Only a pact summons such a creature. A sorcerer. Wartime is approaching, believe it or not. The girl you found in the forest...
Richard burned with rage.
-I don't want to talk about that bitch. As far as I'm concerned... she IS a little thief like so many others. An opportunist. She tried to get along and she did really well. She took a small fortune from us. A girl without the slightest class. She's not even that pretty...
Even in disbelief, Richard thought of Cassie... The girl... he shook his head, remembering again that he didn't even believe those vision stories. It was his wounded pride. She had left without even giving an explanation. It's because?
Of course, there was a good explanation. He reflected this as he left the lively conversation of the crew and returned to his cabin.
She had found the perfect sucker to take the hit and make easy money. Still… It didn't seem like her at all. The treacherous mind tried to find explanations for her behavior.
An angry parent?
A family that disapproved of what he had done?
The cabin was silent, lit by the clear night, and the sky showed a starry vault after the storm had passed. Richard looked wistfully at the ship's damage. His cabin was in no better shape. A few men were still busy playing in the forecastle and he sighed. The violin emitted a lively, upbeat song. Repairs would be a small fortune...
And all he could think about was that traitor. For when he found her... She would be sorry. He would show that she didn't make a decent man of a fool in front of the entire clan. Never before had he taken advantage of a woman like that.
He was careful to close the door looking at the bed.
All well. It was just too much sun before the storm. No visions...
Faith curled up under the covers appeared to be sleeping and her sleep was restless.
The feeling of unease returned. The certainty that she knew exactly what was going to happen next...
Richard swore under his breath, leaving the wet clothes on what was once a chair. The night air was chilly, and maybe the dawn was cold. It was late autumn. At least half of the glass window was broken when he used it clumsily to block out the cold with the boards. The low noise made Faith start even more restlessly, and he noticed her babbling and incoherent words as she slept.
Just like Cassie in the vision and she...
"Faith, my dear..." Richard called softly, touching her arm.
-No! Get out... get away from me. No! Leave Cassie alone. My sister...
Sister? Oh really? Isn't the game over? More surprises?
Richard sighed admiring the strained face. She was still so young... Cassie... Was Will's daughter? Wasn't he the right man for her?
Does anyone want to explain to me what the fuck is going on around here that I still don't know?
-My beautiful...- he became calling, caressing her face.
Faith reacted on sheer instinct, opening her glittering silver eyes, widening and looking around breathlessly. An incomprehensible chill washed over her after Vengeance was gone. That voice... Every time she closed the eyes
-ME;... The ritual... The Tribute Harvest ritual will begin... The Pieces of 4 stolen...
The Pieces of 4 Stolen...The Goddess Keys...?
"You told me you were fine." Richard raised an eyebrow, holding back his own anger. Idiot.She had made a fool of himself in front of everyone.
The girl was probably Will's daughter. Maybe a bastard... Well, that would explain why Will hides the girl from everyone...
I should have known a girl would be scared. I shouldn't have left her alone in the woods. It was just to see what had happened. Someone released the horse's reins...
He still didn't allow himself to think about it. It hadn't at all lingered that long or gone away.
Faith… Her lips were blue. The girl might not master magic, but she reacted like any sorceress when she felt threatened.
Was she also a telepath?
Cassie had the gift too?
Suddenly other unpleasant thoughts came to her mind. A half-breed…. It was obvious that Will would hide a half-breed daughter from everyone for fear of the Council and their damned intolerance…
-It was... it was a nightmare. - Faith spoke slowly and taking a deep breath with relief.
Richard shook his head, unconvinced. His eyes then landed on the skin of her hand as the girl brushed her hair back from her face.
And he saw more of what was there in that cabin.
It was Cassie. Her haggard, tired appearance... Her pulse... He noticed the mark on her pale skin irritatedly and jealously...
They were blue spots that clearly showed fang marks..her gaze radiated a fury that made Faith cringe. That damn? Had she dared to share blood with another wolf?
- I don't like lies or being deceived. His voice was dry and cold. Still, he began to examine Faith's hand irritably. Denying Cassie's image. damn
He was going to kill her if he caught her with another wolf...
-You told me you were fine. How did you get hurt? Did that thing hurt you?
Faith's eyes were more startling. The man was really upset.
Heavens!
That man was not going to explain that magic could be contained. He never regretted the decision to give up his gifts to protect his foster sister. Cassie… It took breath and courage.
-I think was... I don't know. I think that's when he held me. Rick, please. I know you're hurting and angry, but Cassie...
"Your sister?" Richard asked skeptically. - What else didn't they tell me? The money is probably gone and she expects to earn more?
God! If that was after your sister? Faith took a deep breath. And Rick didn't even know that Cassie was Kassuim, Star's cabin boy.
-She didn't demand money like they were talking about... she didn't even leave by her own decision. The advice...
-Enough, Faith.
Now that Richard was getting her attention, she noticed his hand was sore and sore. She didn't remember JackWill using that much force before escaping. In fact, all she could register were red eyes. The cold continued to bother her. To be honest, she froze.
-Cassie... Go find her. I know you will. If only could hear explanations... Cassie is in Chabone.
Faith held her breath as Rick's face was furious with fear.
How so in Chabone? there is just a contraband island. There's nothing but taverns and...
-How can you expect me to control the damn ship worried about your safety? - he exploded furiously. I couldn't even think about it.
Taverns!? She wouldn't have the gall to work in a tavern. Of course not. She was the type who liked everything easy. It was her duty to have noticed that.
- The ship was boarded by a... - he still wasn't going to say the name. hells. Also, the girl had been attacked. - I have every right to know if you...
That was after Cassie.
The certainty of that struck him.Faith didn't answer. The temperature had dropped. She was fully dressed and covered. How could you feel so cold? It couldn't be that cold! Richard never wore a shirt.
-Faith!
-Yes... just cold.
Rick sighed. It wasn't that cold. Was there a kind of bond between the sisters?
Cassie… Somehow he sensed the girl was in trouble.
Nonsense. She stole a small fortune from the wolves.
His gaze showed concern, irritation, and skepticism.
JackWill was practically like one of those creatures he commands. ICHICHOS absorbed energy from a sorcerer to feed. A sorcerer died when the magic was completely drained. He looked more closely at her pale, haggard face. The mages… It'd already had the opportunity to observe they couldn't tolerate the cold.
He looked up to the sky. The temperature drops. The way Cassie reacted in the woods....
God. She is not a sorceress. But of course she is not!!!
Too much magic consumed the life force. Once, he had seen one of them die in the cold. He carefully examined her hand, knowing what he would find. The scratches were barely perceptible marks of torn tissue. He let out a string of disgusting curses.
How could I be so stupid like that? She…she wasn't exactly what sorcerers called a freak. Maybe a half-breed? And hidden inside the castle?! Impossible!
-CCCccc.....-She wanted to make sure she was okay, but the words didn't get through her teeth.-Damn it!-...well. Faith protested.
It just so happened that Richard in front of her looked even angrier. I wasn't convinced at all. He made an expression of extreme displeasure. She gave up talking with the tremor that made her stutter.
Mestizo?! Cassie is a half-breed?! Have mercy!
- ICHICHOS feed on magic. I can't imagine how the Council never noticed that about you. -Her remark went sour. - I very much doubt that this thing has been trapped for so long or who knows where and didn't take advantage of a witch so close since it was free to...-
Rick didn't finish the sentence. He wasn't able to. What if that was really after his wife? The blood froze in her veins. Cassie...
-You will freeze like this. What the hell! - he complained.
She protested at the sight of him pulling the covers aside. God! How could you be so cold? It was going to stop, wasn't it? Was it Cassie? There was something terribly wrong with her sister. She could feel it.
- THE...
Another tremor shook her. Her teeth chattered against each other, snapping with cold. Richard unceremoniously settled down beside her, opening the shirt that covered her regardless of her protests before pulling her to him.
Faith looked at him indignantly. He treated her like a child. She hated it.
-It will heat up faster this way.- He assured her with a sigh.
And Cassie…
his head was spinning. Nothing made sense. A half-breed... Maybe on the run from the Council? Children like that were put to death as soon as they were born. It just wasn't natural. When they weren't born dead.
- Hell, Faith! You are frozen.
She didn't make any complaints. I felt the heat of his body. He was wonderfully hot. He could feel his strong arms opening comfortably to snuggle her against his bare chest. The heat was simply delicious and irresistible to anyone who felt frozen. Richard complained as his icy fingers touched him.
The scent that arrived and stoked his instincts... It had to be sorcery. Red roses?.
The mind went back to the past with bitterness. Having found his mount that day, he had quickly returned to the cabin. Of course, Cassie's heavy sleep was strange. She hadn't even woken up when they got back to the castle. Neither claimed nor moved in her arms like the mount's fast gallop.
Did something happen while I was away, sir?
-Rick, please... Cassie is just a girl and...- she stuttered again.
- Try to calm down. Relax, Faith. - He meant it when another tremor hit her in a new sacrifice. - It will get hot quickly. Maybe we should try even faster with you fully undressed. -The suggestion was a provocation. The shivering slowly subsided and became bearable.-Are you feeling warmer? Richard asked with a resigned grunt.
Cassie… his inner wolf sniffed and protested. Cassie belonged to him.
Under the covers, it was warm and cozy and Richard radiated a warmth that slowly began to warm her. Almost childish and vindictive, Faith let her feet touch her leg as she tried to warm them. Richard was immediately surprised by a low curse, letting her head touch his numb face and she closed her eyes.
It was a woody, musky scent he gave off, so familiar and good that she slowly began to relax.
-Rick? she called sleepily.
She sighed. Only her eyelids drooped and heaved. Her breathing was slow and steady.
-You need to find Cassie...before...before...
-That's right, my beautiful. Go to sleep. -Richard whispered in her ear.
He watched the girl sigh contentedly, half asleep, trying not to think.
It was getting hard to admit to himself that ancient legends were just superstition and that they didn't exist. In the darkness of the night that had arrived, they looked terribly real and menacing. Much more than he would have liked.
Was that hunting Cassie?
Cassie stared into the darkness, denying the thoughts. Cassie... A jolt surged through her. Couldn't quite explain why... But he was pretty sure that thing was chasing the girl.
-Goddess! It's freezing.
Alone and in front of the fire, Cassie wrapped her arms around her body in an attempt to warm herself. Her fingers numb.. She froze under the intense cold. Her teeth chattered. In fact, her entire body was being shaken by uncontrollable tremors.
She began to doubt they would ever survive the cold. She froze. Temporary shelter in the cave guaranteed warm blankets for cold nights, as the simple dress didn't get hot. She'd have to get a room in the city. She also wondered how anyone managed without any reason to get into so much trouble. She would never lose control of magic again. Would control her instincts against any accidental magic.
Why then Chabone, goddess?
If I had to choose anywhere to be, it would be Unicorn with Jackie.
Monsieur Garro was exactly what Jackie had described. It was hard to ignore the curious looks he gave her.
Getting the job at the tavern… First of all, the chores were almost certainly overloaded after the frustrating conversation about men with the cook. Kassuim was starting to get nervous about it all, regretting the belongings she had lost. There was nothing else. This included clothes, shoes and warm clothes. The jewels and savings...all had been lost...
Damn Philip.
It was all Richard Morgan's fault.
There's another woman, Cassie.
The woman is his lover him, but after you spent almost months living among privateers on a ship ... And the lasta night ... Rick had no choice but to agree to the marriage at Will's demand. She was upset when she heard you had shown up and Richard needed to explain. She is the great love of his life from him.
Rick expected to have the marriage annulled after some time without you having given him any living heirs. After all, he's the alpha of the pack and maybe the future Duke of Scarlet...if I abdicate my right.
When they made the ambush... everyone believed him to be dead. As far as I know, she tried to kill herself. It's rumored. It was years ago.
She needed to control her temper and avoid complaining.
Why did everything have to be so difficult?
It couldn't get any worse, could it?
Magic never worked when needed or the way she wanted. Ah, she didn't know how to master the gift so easily. It was one thing to react out of necessity or defense. She had tried everything and nothing worked.
Why then Chabone? For someone who used to be always cautious, everything happened unpredictably.
She always wore faux-heeled boots, where she brought gold stashed away for situations like this. It was practically impossible to buy a pistol with the salary she got after discounts on a damn broken plate. Everything was a misery just because of a simple ball gown… she still couldn't believe it. It was just a taste of the dress Faith had given her for her birthday, and it all just disappeared as if by magic. A new outfit and...
More than the lost gold, she mourned the loss of some childhood objects.
Unhappy man!
He certainly had the gift of destroying a woman's life. To think that she for a moment complained about the crew of the Star. Not even Thalagar treated privateers that way. She was clinging too much to her pride not to ask Madame Lili for help. She didn't know how, but needed to find a way out of this miserable situation.
Cassie was by no means going to look for him after what Philip had said.