Chapter Thirty-Three
CASSIA
IT TAKES TWO days to recover enough to venture outside of my tent. Healers check in on me every few hours, and one of the soldiers I worked with in the kitchens brings me meals. He doesn’t linger, which I appreciate.
I’ve yet to see Rexton.
It’s giving me anxiety.
What was I thinking when I placed my teeth on him? I threatened to mark him. Who does that? My panicked thoughts swirl and mount in his absence. He must be furious. I’d be if I were in his position. Maybe he’s decided to leave, to finally tell Raum and Aziel he’s done being my dark cloud.
The assignment is beneath him. We’re preparing for war, and instead of helping Aziel and the other generals with high-level strategy, he’s following me around Raum’s war camp. I’m willing to bet he got sick of it, and my threatening to bite him was the last straw.
The thought makes me strangely upset. Rexton compliments me, and he’s not as horrible as I initially feared. He complains too much, but he’s a steady and comfortable person. I like having him around.
I wince as I tug a shirt over my head, my freshly healed skin stretching. The skin is sensitive, but it’s better than a gaping hole. My ribs will take longer to heal, but the bruising has gone away. From the outside, I look fine.
My insides feel like shit, though.
There’s no mirror in my tent, which is for the best. I can only imagine how I look this morning. I’m exhausted, and I’m sure it shows. Still, I can’t hide in here forever. I don’t want to.
I was speared, but I’m not out of commission. I’ve been listening to the passing conversations outside my tent, and Prince Nolic’s army is rapidly nearing the border. They’ll be here soon, and I fully intend to fight when they do.
Soldiers look over as I exit my tent, their gazes almost always darting to my chest. Several people saw my injury, and I’m sure the ones who didn’t have heard the story.
It doesn’t help that Aziel took it upon himself to visit camp after learning I was wounded, and I hope he didn’t make too much of a fuss.
He probably did.
Maybe he’s the reason why Rexton left. Rexton snapped at my father, which isn’t something to be taken lightly. Aziel bows to no one, his mates excluded. Maybe he fired Rexton, removed him from camp and possibly even from Wrath.
Where would Rexton go? Lust? He’s handsome and powerful, so I’m sure David would welcome him with open arms.
My lips twist at the thought of David and Rexton, and my hands ball into fists as I search for food. I’m starving, and the dining tent is near the center of the camp. I’m hoping there’s not too long a line. Breakfast began a little over twenty minutes ago, and the initial rush should be dying down.
There’s loud chatter in the area, but only a few people are waiting to collect food. Today’s menu consists of flavorless scrambled eggs, over-salted meat, and toast. It’s not my favorite, but it’s not the worst.
My ears pick up the occasional whisper of my name. People are taking notice of me, and they’re talking. I knew this would happen.
I scan the dining tables, searching for a spot to sit.
Rexton.
He’s at a small table by himself, resting his cheek in his palm as he stares at his food. He’s still here? I march up to him, my heart pounding. He looks up as I near, his eyes narrowing as he takes notice of my annoyed expression.
“Where have you been?” I hiss. “I thought you left.”
Rexton sets down his fork. “Would that upset you?”
“Yes.” I shake my head. “No. It doesn’t matter. Where have you been?”
He takes a second to answer. “I thought I’d give you space.” I hate how nonchalant he sounds. “I figured you’d want it after almost marking me.”
I run my tongue along the inside of my teeth, remembering how his skin felt between them. I could practically feel his blood pumping through his veins. It was taunting me to bite down, to claim ownership of him.
“Are you upset with me?” I ask.
Rexton raises a brow. “Would you care to sit?”
I sink into the seat opposite him. It’s a folding chair, easy to haul between camps, but it appears to be on its last legs. The wood groans as it takes my weight, and the legs are no longer steady.
Rexton wordlessly slides his plate of food in my direction. I eye it, debating, before grabbing his fork and helping myself.
“Are you upset with me?” I repeat.
I don’t want him to be, but I suspect he is. Should I apologize? That’s probably the socially appropriate thing to do, but it would be a lie. I’m not sorry, not really.
“No, Cassia,” Rexton starts. “I’m not upset.”
I still, my lips pursing. Does he truly mean that? Is he lying? Why would he lie about that? Maybe he’s trying to play some sort of mind game with me. Perhaps he’s trying to trick me into feeling something other than hate for him. He wants to make me emotionally vulnerable.
It would explain his recent compliments. He’s been watching me, probably just as intently as I’ve been watching him. He’s figured out my motives. He knows my dreams and ambitions, and he knows I’ve been struggling to reach them. He’s going to use that against me.
Letting me put my teeth on him is just another way to earn my trust and make me complacent.
I maintain eye contact as I bring his food to my lips, silently letting him know I’m on to him. Whatever he’s planning, I’m not falling for it.
“Stop giving me your crazy eyes.” Rexton gestures toward my face. “It’s unnerving.”
I don’t have crazy eyes.
Rexton continues. “I was expecting you to panic and push me away after I helped you, not threaten to mark me. You do lean toward the most explosive options, though.”
I shove the remainder of his toast into my mouth, carefully thinking through my response. Rexton thinks he knows me, that he’s got me all figured out. I’m nervous to admit that maybe he does.
I still don’t know anything about him, not anything valuable. He’s playing the game better than I am. He’s winning.
“What would you have done had I marked you?” I ask.
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“You’d be stuck with me for the rest of your life.”
“I’m aware.”
“So why didn’t you stop me?”
It makes no sense. Marks are sacred to demons, and putting your teeth on another is viewed as a wildly intimate action. It’s the human equivalent of an engagement, a promise of forever. Rexton shouldn’t have let me do that to him.
Rexton shrugs. “I didn’t think fighting with you was the right course of action. You needed to feel in control, so I let you.”
He let me. How generous of him. He didn’t let me do anything. I took control on my own, no thanks to him. He’s taking credit he doesn’t deserve.
“Calm your eyes.”
My head snaps up. “Stop saying that. I don’t have crazy eyes.”
I shove the last bite of his food into my mouth, then push back my chair and storm away. Every step hurts, but I ignore it. I’m making a point, one I hope Rexton has enough brains to understand. His words and observations aren’t appreciated.
His laughter echoes behind me, and I clench my hands into tight fists as I head toward the leadership tent. I was told yesterday afternoon that Raum wishes to speak with me once I’m up and moving, and I assume the leadership tent will be the place to find him.
It’s a five-minute walk there, and my energy is drained by the time I arrive.
The entrance is shut, which means not to enter. I’d typically respect that, but my chest is pulsating and I really fucking need to sit. Besides, I technically have the right to attend Raum’s meetings. I have higher clearance than him.
There’s no sound coming from within the tent, and I quickly realize why as I step inside. Only Raum and Aziel are present, the two glaring at one another from opposite ends of a table. Neither looks in my direction. What have I walked in on?
“Gray wouldn’t be pleased to hear about you glaring at another man,” I say, sinking into the nearest chair. “Neither would Silas, now that I think about it.”
Aziel’s lips flatten into a straight line. “Not now, Cassia.”
If not now, then when? Nobody appreciates my humor.
I clear my throat, shifting my attention to Raum. “I was told you wanted to speak with me.”
“Yes.” Raum finally drags his gaze away from Aziel. “Prince Nolic’s men are closing in on the border. I’d like you to lead First Unit.”
First Unit? My heart stutters. Did I hear him right? First Unit is made up of the strongest demons within Wrath’s army, and they’re almost always stationed at the front lines. They’re our first line of defense, and for good reason.
With them, we rarely need our second.
“First Unit?” I repeat. I need to make sure I heard Raum correctly.
He nods. “Yes.”
Aziel leans back in his chair, his every movement tense. He disapproves of Raum’s decision. I’m willing to bet he wants me to remain somewhere safe, somewhere far away from Prince Nolic and his army. That’s too fucking bad.
“I don’t have experience leading a unit,” I say.
As much as I appreciate the opportunity, it doesn’t change the simple fact that I have no experience. First Unit is vital to Wrath’s defense, and it should be led by somebody with experience. Wrath deserves that.
The corners of Raum’s lips twitch upward. “My lieutenant general will accompany you. He’s experienced and intelligent, and he’ll help you plan and offer guidance as needed.”
I hesitate. “But I’m in charge?”
“Yes.”
“What about Rexton?” The question erupts out of me, but I don’t regret it.
Aziel is the one who answers. “He’s leaving camp this evening. His skills are being wasted here, and he’ll continue to oversee our efforts from within Wrath’s capital.”
I’m not entirely surprised to hear this, but I’m not happy about it. I’ve known that Rexton doesn’t belong in camp. He’s valuable, and he should be leading alongside Aziel and the other generals. I should, too, but this experience is crucial to me.
I lick my lips and clasp my hands together, fidgeting. “I want Rexton to stay with me.”
Aziel and Raum glance at one another with wide eyes, the two wearing mirroring expressions of shock. They think I hate Rexton. I do most of the time, and I’m honestly not sure why I even want the stupid man with me. I don’t know Raum’s lieutenant general very well, and I trust Rexton.
He’s had several opportunities to hurt me, and he’s chosen not to. I trust his opinion more than that of some man I hardly know.
Raum clears his throat. “If that’s your preference, I don’t have any immediate concerns with Rexton joining you in First Unit.”
We both turn toward Aziel, waiting for his approval. He’s already staring at me, his eyes narrowed in a way that I know means trouble. He has thoughts, many of them, and he’s trying to decide which ones to go with.
After a long beat of silence, he nods. “Very well.”