Chapter Twenty-Seven
CASSIA
REXTON’S UPSET WITH me again. It felt like, for a minute there, he had fallen into my clutches. He seemed to be opening up, maybe even trusting me a tiny bit. Then he made me angry, and I lashed out.
He didn’t like my idea, he rejected it without proper consideration, so why should I defend him to the generals? I could tell he wanted me to, that he expected us to be in this together, but he made it abundantly clear that we aren’t partners. I don’t partner with people who don’t listen to me.
I refuse to feel bad about that.
My writing grows rough as my grip on my pencil tightens. I set it down before it breaks. It’ll be the third one today, and that’s too many for one day. My therapist insists that I stop and breathe when I begin breaking things. She called me destructive.
I don’t see it that way, but I still find myself listening to her advice. Everybody around me seems happier when I do.
If Rexton would just listen to me, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. I would’ve backed him up during the meeting, and the generals wouldn’t have dug so hard into him. But he made his bed, and now he must lie in it.
A knock on my office door draws my focus. It’s Jassy.
“Come in!”
The door cracks open, and Jassy’s smiling face peeks inside a moment later. She’s especially chipper this morning, and her smile widens as she brushes her dark hair out of her face and steps entirely into my office.
“Do you believe that I blow things out of proportion?” I ask.
I’ve been told I’m notorious for creating imaginary fights. I get an idea in my head, and the next thing I know, I have five new enemies and intentions to murder. Valeria once told me that my hatred is one-sided and that the conflict in my life is created entirely by me.
Jassy’s smile falls. “Why?”
“Just curious to hear your thoughts.”
Jassy scuffs her toe against the ground. “I think it’s best for our working relationship that we refrain from discussing your mental state.”
What kind of answer is that? She’s avoiding the question, and I lean back in my chair with a low huff. Jassy is many things, but she isn’t a pushover. If she doesn’t want to answer my question, she won’t. I both hate and admire that trait about her.
“Why are you so happy?” I ask instead.
Jassy is a relatively neutral person. She’s rarely upset, but it’s unusual for her to walk around with such a wide smile.
I hope it means she has good news to share.
I could stand to hear something positive.
This week has been stressful, and I suspect tomorrow will only be worse.
Rexton and the generals will be presenting their idea to Aziel.
I still haven’t been asked to participate. They’re running out of time to include me.
“Well?” I urge. “What’s the good news?”
“It’s nothing.” Jassy grimaces, running a hand through her hair. “I was asked on a date. I said no, but it was flattering.”
I raise a brow. I’ve never been asked on a date, but I imagine I’d be complimented if I were. Men don’t often approach me, probably because they feel intimidated by me. Wren was the last man to show any genuine interest, and that didn’t turn out well.
“Anyway,” Jassy continues. “I came to tell you that Rexton is postponing tomorrow’s meeting with Aziel. He said he needs more time to prepare.”
I hum, sucking my cheeks into my mouth. Aziel won’t be happy with that. It’s damn near impossible to get a meeting with the man, let alone for an entire hour. His assistants will throw a fit when he learns he has to reschedule, and the generals will be annoyed.
Rexton shouldn’t have pushed the meeting back. The thought makes me smile. He’s making mistakes. It’s about time.
I also like that he went to Jassy with the update instead of speaking directly to me. He doesn’t want to face me directly. He’s embarrassed. My pride grows, and I straighten up with a smug smirk. I’m winning, and he knows it.
Jassy turns, beginning to leave.
A wayward thought pops into my head, and every muscle in my body grows tense.
“Jassy?” She freezes as uckas do when shifters are closing in. “Who asked you on a date?”
Her silence speaks volumes.
“Jassy?” I repeat. “Who?”
Her answer is so quiet, I barely hear it. “Rexton.”
I’m out of my office in a heartbeat.
How fucking dare he.
Jassy is mine.
It took months to poach her from Aziel. I had to bribe her with practically everything under the sun, and Rexton can’t just saunter in here and steal her. I’ve heard the rumors of his time in Lust, and I should’ve known he’d try something like this.
Ugly fucking bastard. He’s good for nothing, and it’s about time people realize it.
I slam open Rexton’s office door, locking eyes with the three men sitting around his desk. They’re Wraths. I’ve never met them, and they’re weak. Unimportant.
“Out.”
They scamper from the room. One teleports, but the other two slink out through the doorway.
Rexton drops his head into his palms, looking thoroughly exhausted. He doesn’t know what exhaustion is, but he will by the time I’m done with him. I slam his door shut so hard, the wood rattles. I’m surprised it doesn’t splinter. I was hoping it would. The dramatics would have been pleasing.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I ask.
“Good afternoon, Cassia,” Rexton mumbles. “What brings you by?”
“What brings me by?” My voice is shrill.
Uncontrolled. “Don’t act like you don’t already know, you dirty, fucking whore.
Jassy is mine, and if you ever so much as ever look at her again…
” I stalk forward with every word, unable to stop myself.
“I will slit your fucking throat, Rexton. Don’t play with me. ”
His power is suffocating, and I find myself instinctively breathing through my mouth.
He’s not intentionally pushing it out, but he’s making no attempts to hold it back.
I can do that, too. Aziel taught me to always hold back a decent amount of what my body naturally emits.
It’s polite, and it makes me seem more approachable to the weaker demons.
I let it pour out now, though.
Let Rexton bask in it.
The door opens. Aziel peeks inside—how fucking convenient. His gaze darts between Rexton and me, concern written plainly across his features.
“What’s going on?” he asks. “I can hear you yelling from my office.”
I’m going to burst into flames.
I point a finger toward the door. “Out!”
Aziel blinks, now glancing between me and my finger, before retreating. It’s refreshing to see him make a wise decision for once, and I wait until the door is fully shut before returning my attention to Rexton.
He taps his fingers against his desk. “Cassia…”
“Don’t Cassia me.”
“I’m not. I just think—”
“You don’t think, Rexton,” I snap, interrupting. “And that’s the problem. You’re a conniving little nitwit, and—”
Rexton straightens up. “Don’t call me that.”
“What?” I cock my head to the side. “Nitwit?”
He presses his lips together.
I snort. “Nitwit. Nitwit. Nit—”
Rexton vanishes, appearing in front of me a split second later. My fist connects with his jaw before he fully materializes, and I take great satisfaction in the clink of his teeth as his head swings to the side.
Who knew punching Rexton would feel so damn good? It’s euphoric.
I go for another, but Rexton stops me before contact is made. His fingers close around my jaw, holding my head steady as he slams my body against the door. His other arm presses across my stomach, pinning my arms and torso to the door.
I’m stuck.
“That is enough,” he hisses. “I have gone out of my way to appease you, Cassia, but you’re taking it too far.
I’m sorry for whatever happened in your life that has made you so fucking angry, but you’re done taking it out on me.
I have done nothing wrong, and your failure to kill Mammon is not my fault. ”
He leans forward, his breath hitting my cheek.
“If you want the Wraths to respect you, then maybe you should stop being so fucking transparent. You’re insecure, jealous, and angry. Everybody sees it.”
My throat is dry. Rexton isn’t finished.
“I’m stronger than you, and I killed Mammon. Get over it.”
I shouldn’t say it. It’s too far.
My ego doesn’t listen.
“Stronger than me?” I laugh. “You were born a shadow. Your own parents couldn’t stand the sight of you. It’s no wonder they beat you. I bet they wish you’d have died.”
I regret the words the second they’re out of my mouth. It’s out of the scope of our argument, and it’s spiteful. It’s not a fair fight.
Rexton’s entire demeanor changes. Detaches. He releases me and teleports across the room.
I stumble away from the door, already regretful. I shouldn’t have said that. I clench and unclench my fists, my heart pounding and blood rushing through my ears. That was too far.
I gulp. “I’m sorry.”
“Get out.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have—”
“Get out.”
Rexton’s voice quivers. It’s slight, but it’s there. I suck in a sharp breath, shifting my weight from foot to foot.
“Rexton, I didn’t—”
“Get out, Cassia.”
He points to the door. I drag my hands through my hair, ripping out more than a few strands in the process. Fuck. I fucked up. I always take things too far.
That’s probably why I don’t have any friends.
My hands shake, and I wipe my sweaty palms against my pants before finally retreating. Aziel stands in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the far wall. He doesn’t speak, but his judgment is loud.
“I didn’t mean to,” I blurt out.
Aziel blinks. “I raised you better than this.”
He disappears. The open workroom at the end of the hallway is silent. A pin drop could be heard, and all eyes are on me. People are upset. It’s evident in the cold stares and deep frowns.
I duck my head, staring at my feet as I hurry back to my office. This will blow over by the end of the day. It’s Wrath, for fuck’s sake. There are several arguments to be overheard at any given moment, occasionally even physical fights. It’s nothing new. This will blow over.
The stares continue the entire way to my office. How does everybody already know? Who is spreading the news so fucking quickly? People need to mind their damned business. They need to leave me alone. What happens between Rexton and me should stay between Rexton and me.
People don’t eavesdrop on Aziel’s private conversations, and they sure don’t gossip about what they overhear. Why don’t I receive the same respect?
Even Jassy refuses to meet my eyes as I walk past her, and I slam my office door with more force than necessary before sinking into my chair. By tomorrow, all of this will have blown over. Things will return to normal, and it will be like this never happened. Rexton will be fine.