Chapter 83
(Rhaevan POV Contd.)
With a weary sigh, he pushed himself away from the wall and headed toward the guest rooms, stopping outside her door. He had faced battlefields with less hesitation.
A part of him suggested turning around and giving her space; another part reminded him that she was already miserable believing he was angry with her.
He raised his hand and knocked.
Silence.
"Go away," a muffled voice drifted through the door.
The corners of his mouth twitched. That sounded like Cassiane.
"It's me."
Silence.
Then came a long, theatrical groan, followed by some shuffling, a heavy thud, and a muttered, "...Ow."
Rhaevan closed his eyes for a brief moment. How was it possible for a woman to make even falling over sound endearing? He had no answer. He only knew that, somehow, Cassiane managed it.
The latch clicked, and the door opened.
Cassiane stood before him, her hair an absolute mess and her eyes slightly swollen. Despite her obvious attempt to look annoyed instead of miserable, he could tell she'd been thinking herself in circles.
She folded her arms.
"What?"
Direct. Blunt. Entirely deserved.
"I came to apologize." Rhaevan met her gaze.
For a heartbeat, every trace of irritation vanished from her face.
"...What?"
"I shouldn't have shouted at you."
She stared at him for a moment before looking away.
"You shouldn't have... I wanted to help!!"
"I know... and I'm sorry."
She shuffled her feet and looked around, suddenly seeming unsure of what to do with his apology. After a moment, she rubbed the back of her neck with a dramatic sigh.
"I.... I probably shouldn't have followed them by myself," she muttered.
"You probably shouldn't have."
She immediately shot him an unimpressed look.
"I just admitted I was wrong. And that's all I get?"
"It is a start."
She clicked her tongue.
"I liked you better when you weren't agreeing with me."
Despite himself, he felt some of the tension in his shoulders disappear.
Rhaevan looked at her, still standing in the doorway, one hand gripping the edge as though undecided whether to let him in or slam it shut.
"Will you accompany me to the missions?"
Cassiane blinked.
"...What?"
"I may need your assistance."
Her eyes widened.
"Wait. Really?"
"Really."
The change in her expression was immediate. Hope, disbelief, and a rush of excitement she didn't try to hide crossed her face, catching him completely off guard.
Unfortunately, he still had one more thing to say.
"But, I have to propose a condition."
Her smile froze.
"There it is."
"You remain with me at all times."
She blinked.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You aren't secretly planning to add another twelve conditions after I agree? No hidden clauses? No assigning me to another vegetable garden while everyone else goes on the actual adventure?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"No."
"No making me hide behind a rock while the important people do important things?"
"No."
She studied him for several long seconds, clearly searching for the trap, before offering a genuine, happy smile.
"I agree."
For reasons Rhaevan couldn't explain, his own chest felt unexpectedly lighter. That, more than anything, unsettled him.
Cassiane hesitated, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper.
"C-could you stop avoiding me?"
The words struck harder than he expected.
He had no easy answer for her, but he knew one thing now with painful certainty. He didn't want to keep doing it.
"I won't."
She blinked.
"You won't?"
"I won't avoid you anymore."
For a moment, she simply stared at him, as though she had expected another excuse and didn't quite know what to do with a straightforward answer.
Then she narrowed her eyes.
"So is it like a temporary thing, that you won't avoid me, or would you suddenly change your mind?"
A quiet chuckle escaped him at the question.
"Hmm, depends on if you would behave."
"Hey!" she snapped.
He looked at her, unable to stop the faint smile that had settled on his face.
Her eyes widened.
"...Did you just laugh at me?"
"No."
"You absolutely did."
"I didn't."
"You smiled."
"I may have."
"Aha!" She pointed an accusing finger at him. "I knew it."
He shook his head, unable to stop the smile lingering on his face. Seeing her argue over something so utterly insignificant after everything that had happened felt strangely reassuring, like things hadn't completely fallen apart.
For the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to remain there without searching for an excuse to leave.
Eventually, he stepped back from the doorway.
"You should get some sleep."
"You too."
For a brief moment, they simply looked at each other before Cassiane offered him a small, returned smile and quietly closed the door.
The door clicked shut. Warm light spilled from beneath it, stretching across the wooden floor, accompanied by the faint sound of footsteps and what sounded suspiciously like Cassiane tripping over something.
He closed his eyes.
Some things, at least, never changed.
The knot in his chest had loosened. Cassiane no longer believed he was angry with her, and more importantly, she knew he wasn't going to shut her out again. It was not a solution to everything waiting for them, but it was something.
He turned and began walking back down the silent hallway. Tomorrow came with no promises: another mission, another unknown, and another chance for everything to go terribly wrong.
His mind drifted, almost unwillingly, to Theo's final instruction: Protect her.
As though he needed to be told.
He reached the end of the corridor and paused by the window. His reflection stared back at him in the glass, tired and older than he remembered.
He wondered, briefly, what would happen once this was over, if they succeeded, if they found the Heartforge, if they survived.
Cassiane had already chosen her future. Perhaps she'd go to Viremont and settle peacefully. And perhaps Lucien would be there.
She deserved the right to choose her own future. She deserved a happy life, even if it was a future that didn't include him.
There were promises spoken aloud, and then there were the promises made in silence, the ones no one else would ever hear.
He made one now.
No matter what awaited them beyond tomorrow, no matter how dangerous the journey became, no matter what stood between Cassiane and the future she wanted, he would see her safely to it.
But there was one thing he would do differently.
He would not decide for her. He would not push her away because he was afraid. He would not hide behind coldness and call it protection.
And if she chose Viremont, if she chose Lucien, if she chose a life where Rhaevan had no place in it, he would accept that choice because it belonged to her.
Even if, when the time finally came, she chose to walk away, he would not stop her. He would watch until she disappeared beyond the horizon and respectfully accept that it was her choice to make.
Whatever he felt for her, whatever she had come to mean to him, would remain his alone.
With one last glance toward the quiet village, Rhaevan turned away.
Dawn would come too soon.