The numbers on the documents blurred in front of me, my mind refusing to focus. I tried to make sense of the reports I was supposed to be compiling for Leora, but my thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened earlier with Nathaniel and Ciara.
My heart was still pounding, not with fear but with… confusion, maybe? Anger?
I didn't even know.
Why hadn't I asked Ciara if it was true? Had she really flirted with Cassandra, or was Cassandra just trying to get under my skin? She seemed like the type who enjoyed causing a bit of chaos, who thrived on watching people squirm.
But Ciara… I knew she had a reputation for being a flirt, for playing with hearts. Was I just another one of her games?
Leora glanced over at me from across her desk, her dark brows furrowed in concentration as she scribbled notes in her own decisive, bold handwriting.
The tension in my shoulders was beginning to turn into a dull ache, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to push the thoughts away.
Just focus, Aeliana.
The door swung open, and my heart sank when I saw Cassandra stride in with that confident, almost arrogant, smile on her face. She moved with an ease that I found both enviable and irritating, her eyes sparkling with some hidden amusement.
She held a report in her hand, but her gaze flicked to me the moment she entered the room. "Lady Leora," she began, her tone annoyingly pleasant. "I have the mission report you requested."
Leora nodded without looking up, motioning for her to leave it on the desk. I tried to ignore the prickle of annoyance that Cassandra's presence brought. Tried, and failed.
Cassandra's smile grew wider, and I could feel her eyes on me, almost like she was enjoying a private joke. "Oh, Aeliana," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, "you look a bit flustered today. Everything alright?"
I didn't bother to respond, keeping my eyes fixed on the paper in front of me, but I could feel my cheeks heating. Damn her.
Leora finally looked up, sensing the strange tension in the room. "Cassandra," she said briskly, "thank you for the report. Now, it's time to head to the kitchen. I promised the staff a cooking lesson, and I always keep my promises."
Relieved to be escaping the current situation, I began to rise, but then Cassandra's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Oh, a cooking lesson? How fun," she drawled, her smirk never fading. "Mind if I join? I could use a little break from all this work."
Leora shrugged indifferently. "If you wish."
Great. Just what I needed. An entire cooking lesson with Cassandra and her incessant teasing. I bit back a sigh, knowing that if I let her see how much she was bothering me, she'd only enjoy it more.
As we moved toward the kitchen, I could already feel the awkwardness settling in, like a heavy fog. Leora walked ahead, her steps purposeful and quick, while Cassandra trailed just behind, a small hum in her throat that grated on my nerves.
The kitchen was bustling when we arrived. Pots clattered, and the scent of fresh herbs and spices filled the air. Leora greeted the head cook, who was all too eager to hand over his space for the lesson.
The staff cleared a small area, setting up a long wooden table with bowls of vegetables, meats, and various ingredients scattered across it.
"Alright," Leora clapped her hands together, turning to face us, "we're going to start with something simple today roasted fowl with a side of seasoned root vegetables. Cassandra, you can peel the potatoes."
Cassandra gave an exaggerated sigh but picked up a knife. I found myself next to her, chopping carrots and trying to ignore her proximity.
"So, Aeliana," Cassandra started, leaning in a little too close, "have you spoken to Ciara since… you know, the incident?"
I clenched my jaw, focusing on the carrots. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
She let out a soft laugh. "Oh, I suppose it's not. But I do wonder… do you always let her fight your battles for you?"
My hand stilled for a moment, the knife resting on the cutting board. I shot her a sideways glance. "I handle my own battles just fine, thank you."
Cassandra's grin widened. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, it seems like you're always caught in the crossfire."
I felt a flare of anger in my chest but forced myself to remain calm. "I'm not in anyone's crossfire," I said, my voice steady, even if my hands weren't.
Leora, sensing the rising tension, interjected, "Cassandra, less talk, more peeling. And Aeliana, let's make sure those carrots are thinly sliced, not turned into paste."
"Yes, of course," I muttered, resuming my work.
But Cassandra wasn't done. She leaned in again, her voice lower this time, almost conspiratorial. "You know, she did flirt with me quite a bit on the mission. Very touchy, very… playful. But you know how Ciara is, right?"
I felt my grip tighten on the knife, my heartbeat quickening. I wanted to scream at her, to tell her to shut up, but I knew that would only give her more satisfaction.
Instead, I kept my voice level. "She's free to do what she wants."
Cassandra chuckled, the sound light and mocking. "Oh, I'm sure she does what she wants. But you might want to ask yourself why she wants to keep things so… ambiguous."
"Why are you even here?" I snapped, louder than I intended.
The room seemed to grow quiet, and Leora raised an eyebrow at me, her expression amused but curious. "Is there something wrong, Aeliana?"
I forced a smile. "Nothing, Lady Leora. Just a bit distracted, I suppose."
Leora nodded, clearly unconvinced, and returned to her instructions, demonstrating how to properly season the bird. I tried to focus, but Cassandra's words kept circling in my head like a vulture. What if she was right? What if Ciara was just playing with me?
The rest of the lesson felt like an eternity. Every time I moved, Cassandra seemed to find a way to brush up against me, her laughter too loud, her comments too sharp.
"Careful, Aeliana," she whispered at one point, her hand grazing mine as I reached for a spice jar. "You don't want to overdo it. It might leave a bad taste."
I pulled my hand back, swallowing the retort that burned on my tongue. "I know what I'm doing," I muttered, trying to concentrate on the task at hand. But it was impossible with Cassandra's presence looming over me, her constant needling a relentless assault on my nerves.
Finally, after what felt like ages, Leora clapped her hands once more. "Alright, I think that's enough for today. Thank you, everyone, for your participation. We'll continue next week."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, relieved that this torturous lesson was finally over. But Cassandra's smirk was still firmly in place, and I knew that this wouldn't be the end of her games.
As we cleaned up, I caught Cassandra's gaze again. She winked at me, her expression triumphant, as if she had won some unspoken contest between us.
I had to get out of here. I had to clear my head. Because if I stayed another moment, I might just lose whatever composure I had left.
The cooking lesson was over, but I had a feeling that whatever game Cassandra was playing had only just begun.
I needed air. The kitchen felt suffocating, Cassandra's words still stinging in my mind like a swarm of bees. I excused myself and slipped outside, the cool night air a sharp contrast to the heat that still burned on my cheeks.
The stars were already out, the sky a deep indigo blanket dotted with tiny pinpricks of light. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my head.
My breath formed little clouds in the chill, and I shivered, rubbing my arms as I made my way toward the parking lot.
I reached my car and fumbled for my keys. The thought of being alone, if only for a few minutes, brought a small measure of relief. As I settled into the driver's seat, I noticed the clock on the dashboard how had it gotten so late?
Before I could start the engine, a shadow moved in the corner of my vision. I looked up and saw Nathaniel approaching, his steps unsteady.
I groaned internally. Of all the people I didn't want to see right now, Nathaniel topped the list. I wasn't in the mood for any more questions, any more doubts.
But as he stepped into the glow of the nearby streetlight, I saw the cuts on his face, the bruises already forming around his eyes. He looked like he'd been in a fight… and lost.
"What the…?" I muttered under my breath, my annoyance momentarily replaced by concern. My fingers gripped the steering wheel as I watched him, waiting for him to speak.
But all Nathaniel did was stand there, his breath coming out in ragged gasps, a mixture of pain and something else flickering in his eyes.