Page 128 of Queens

I PACE THE length of the living room, waiting for Cassia to finish showering. Our bond has been left open, and I take this opportunity to peek. Cassia’s energy has been different lately. It’s subtle, but it’s there. There’s a contentedness radiating from her, and I know it’s because of me.

I make her happy.

It’s only been a few days, but we’ve settled into a comfortable rhythm. It’s atypical, but it works for us. Well, it works for Cassia. She’s struggling to adjust, and I suspect it will take a while for her to fully trust that I’m not secretly plotting to steal Wrath from underneath her.

Our solution has been to avoid one another during the workday. I manage my business, and she manages hers. There’s no overlap, no healthy co-working relationship. Cassia gets too defensive when reminded that I’m good at my job and the Wraths like me.

We have a standing meeting at the end of every day instead.

I update her on my work, ensuring she knows everything I’ve done. It was my suggestion, and while Cassia argues that it isn’tnecessary, she obviously appreciates it. She’s not blindsided by my decisions, and she’s the first to know about any changes.

It helps her paranoia.

And lessens her death threats.

Cassia has made it clear that she’s willing to kill me. I don’t know if she has it within her to kill her mate, but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I don’t think I could bring myself to hurt her, even if in self-defense.

The bedroom door cracks open, and Cassia strolls confidently across the room. She’s not wearing anything particularly revealing, but I still admire every dip and curve. We spend most of our free time in bed, but it’s not enough.

I crack a smile, gesturing to her arms. “You’re pink.”

I looked the same after my shower. We got carried away earlier, and neither of us is particularly eager to meet her parents reeking of sex. I scrubbed her scent off me the best I could, and she’s done the same. The redness should fade soon, probably within the next couple of minutes.

Cassia clears her throat. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to do this.”

I shrug. “I’m going with or without you.”

Charlie’s been a loyal and supportive friend for years. She forgave me for allowing her to think I was dead, for fuck’s sake. She deserves to hear from me directly. I owe that to her.

Cassia and I have taken a few days to settle into our bond, and it’s time to address it with her family. I’m not particularly excited to do so, but it’s the right thing. Aziel and I have been communicating on a professional level, but we’ve been avoiding addressing the topic of Cassia.

“Without me?” Cassia scoffs. “They’remyparents.”

I raise a brow. “I’ve known them longer than you’ve been alive.”

“Hardly.”

Cassia purses her lips, glaring at her feet. I won’t force her to come with me. She’s a grown woman. If she doesn’t want to talk to her parents, that’s her prerogative. I still feel I owe an explanation to Charlie, though.

I fear the human is going to murder me.

Cassia’s nerves filter down our bond. “I haven’t spoken to Gray and Silas in months.”

Months? It’s been that long? “Why? Because of me?”

I knew there was tension between her and her parents, but I didn’t realize they’d stopped speaking entirely. Who initiated it? I assume Cassia. I may not have been around for long when Cassia and her siblings were children, but the Wrath Trio adored their spawns. I don’t see a world where any of them, Gray especially, chooses to go silent with Cassia.

“No, it had nothing to do with you. They…” Cassia groans. “We were all so angry with one another after I snuck into Greed, and they thought it would be a good idea to give me this bracelet…”

Cassia trails off, absentmindedly rubbing her wrist.

I know the bracelet she’s referring to. It was a beautiful, dainty piece covered in tiny diamonds. It went missing during the ambush, and I’ve been considering hiring a jeweler to make a replica as a present.

Cassia frowns, continuing. “It was infused with magic. I’m not sure what kind.” She waves a hand through the air. “Silas had it done, and you know he has all those sneaky connections.”

I chuckle, knowing precisely what she’s talking about. Being a fate has its perks, and Silas has access to information so old and secretive that even our best historians don’t know of it. Demons are one of the oldest species, and there’s almost nothing we don’t have records of.

Silas has the means to do things most people consider impossible, like creating the necklaces he gave to Charlie somany years ago. He found a way to infuse his power into the stone, something I’ve never seen or heard of being done before. Charlie still wears one around her neck.