Chapter 231: The weight of the world on your shoulders
Thankfully, everyone was wrapping up the meal and the Head Priest was telling them that the ceremony wasn’t a big deal. It was just congratulatory. They wanted to celebrate how far they had come. Blah blah blah.
Just a bunch of bullshit fluffery coming from the old man’s mouth. He’d lost a considerable amount of Cass’ respect and the mark on his shoulder was fucking burning as everyone climbed into carriages and started to make their way towards the temple proper.
Lady Ava was travelling with him, while Fiona was with the Head Priest, Lord Ridgewood and Vespertine. That meant Lady Ava was with him, Lucian, and Sir Forsythe. Lady Ava sat next to Cass, trembling like a ghost.
"C-Cass? Can I ask a favour?" She whispered as the carriage began to move. Cass looked over at her, taking in how scared she looked and blinked. She met his gaze, her own brown ones watering. "Can you hold my hand? At least until we get there?" She asked and Cass stared at the girl.
Something was scaring her. Cass wondered if it had to do with her powers. She was the one who wanted to come here, after Cass had suggested it. Fiona wanted her to come here, and it wasn’t like Cass didn’t know the source of her fear. She was worried she was losing favour with the gods.
That was a big deal to someone like her. He didn’t really like her, but unlike Lucian and some of the other men, she had asked. So, Cass flipped over his hand, offering it to her and she reached for it, letting out a shaky breath as she squeezed his hand.
"Thank you." She whispered. "I didn’t tell him anything." She confirmed after that quietly. Lucian was staring at Cass like he had two heads, and so was Sir Forsythe, honestly. Cass ignored them. He gave her hand a squeeze.
"Good." Cass said. It was her obligation to not tell that man anything, not something she should get praise for. Lady Ava swallowed, nodded, and squeezed the hand that she was holding.
"What if...I don’t..." She trailed off. Cass knew where her thoughts were going, but could tell that the other two had no clue. They probably thought that she was threatening him from the way that they had both tensed but Cass let out a sigh. He placed his other hand on top of hers.
"That’s not going to happen, Ava. Why the hell would they turn their back on you? Hmm?" He asked her, meaning it and she let out a shuddering breath.
"I’ve been mean to you. That’s a good enough reason." She said solemnly and Cass blinked, before he felt a smile split his face.