Chapter 127 - Together again
"Cassian," Lilith said, glancing over her shoulder, amused by Cassian’s pout. "If you are going to walk with us, then walk beside us. No one is going to stop and make you look less pathetic. Either join or leave."
"You did not welcome me to join you," Cassian replied, keeping a slow pace.
Lilith rolled her eyes, but she wasn’t annoyed. "And I didn’t say that you couldn’t join us. Please don’t make this a habit where I am stuck in the middle of you."
Cassian came to Lilith’s side and clasped her arm with possessive ease. "You won’t be stuck in the middle since you are mine. Welcome back, Solomon."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Solomon replied, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you for sending men to help me."
"That was partly my idea," Lilith said, taking some of the credit with a smile. "I am going to clear your name from when I was poisoned. We cannot have that accusation hanging over your head. I will share that you left because you were following my orders."
"Thank you," Solomon said softly. "Were you well after the poison?"
"It was painful at first, but not as bad as what my family used to slip inside my food," Lilith answered, her chest burning just by the thought of it.
"I would prefer that no one supplies my wife with poison any longer. If they do, they will face me," Cassian warned, not wanting a repeat.
Lilith released Solomon’s hand and leaned closer to Cassian. "We have already agreed that I won’t send the servants for it any longer, and that I would expose the person they get it from. You are spoiling the reunion, Cassian."
"Why don’t you see that the crowd has calmed down and then return to us? There is much I have to say to Solomon," Lilith said, patting Cassian’s chest lightly as she moved away from him. "I need to tell Mary the truth as well. Just for a moment."
"Very well," Cassian agreed.
Before he left, Cassian leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss upon Lilith’s lips. "Do miss me while I am gone."
Lilith shook her head, watching him stride away. "Jealousy does suit him."
"There is no reason for your husband to be jealous," Solomon said, though inwardly he relished the thought that he made Cassian jealous.
"I have said it, but he doesn’t believe me. Let him think what he wants. In time, he will grow used to how close we are. We must find Mary first," Lilith said, leading the way. "She hates you at the moment because she thinks you abandoned me."
"I assume she wanted to kill me as well," Solomon remarked, his tone dry.
"She did. Once she learns the truth, she will be happy to have you back. I am happy to have you back. It is always good to have a familiar face at my side. Mary, we are here!" Lilith called, spotting Mary heading in the wrong direction.
Mary smiled at first, but when her gaze fell upon Solomon, her expression changed. Still, she approached Lilith to share the news she had gathered.
"Solomon," Mary greeted, her tone cold. "How wonderful to have you back."
"Solomon didn’t betray me, Mary. I ordered him to take Thalia out of the castle to help track her mother while I poisoned myself. I didn’t tell you because your reaction made it believable to others," Lilith explained, ending the feud.
Mary’s mouth fell open. "You two plotted behind my back again?"
"Well, at that time I didn’t want anyone on Cassian’s side to know that I was close to you, and too many people knowing the plan would have spoiled it. You mustn’t be cruel to Solomon since he hasn’t left our little group," Lilith said.
Mary pouted, making her jealousy evident. "I am disappointed to be left out, but I will try to be understanding. Then, it is good to have you back, Solomon."
"No hug?" Solomon asked, opening his arms with a hopeful grin.
"Since when do we hug? I am happy to see you, so let that be enough," Mary said, folding her arms. "Your Majesty, I heard that the marchioness was captured and she is now pleading for her freedom. She claims she was going to turn Athena over to the castle, but they were found before she could."
"I don’t believe that tale. She is only speaking it now because Athena has been captured and she wants to switch sides," Solomon said, sceptical.
"Then let her. As entertaining as it would be to kill all the nobles, killing more will turn the others against me. I don’t need more nobles plotting to rise against the castle. I will use the marchioness to show that I can be forgiving, but I will always watch her," Lilith decided, planning to end the tension.
"You are not afraid she will plot in secret?" Solomon asked.
"That is why I will be watching her. After keeping her in the dungeon for a day, she will think twice before trying to plot against me. I would like to dispose of her, but I must be careful. Enough about death," Lilith said, her voice softening as she sought to focus on the reunion. "The group is back together."
"I fear it won’t be long before your husband arrives and whisks you away. Solomon, you would not believe this, but she is quite close to her husband," Mary gossiped, informing Solomon of what he missed.
"I am standing right beside you, Mary. If you continue to bother me, I will be forced to have you face the wall. Then all your peers will walk by and think you have gone mad. Do not force me to make you face a wall," Lilith said, her patience thinning.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Mary said quickly, bowing her head.
Lilith pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear, having the two of you at my side is like raising children. I must get away from you soon."