Chapter 128 - Reward
Lilith continued her walk with Mary and Solomon, listening intently to the tales from Solomon’s time with Thalia.
Lilith pitied Solomon for what he had endured under her orders, so she sent him to rest in his new chamber and instructed Mary to bring him a hearty meal to enjoy.
Alexander now followed Lilith, guiding her back to her chamber.
"Do you know where my husband has wandered off to?" Lilith asked, her gaze drifting over to the scenery of the castle.
The crowd had calmed down now that Thalia and Athena weren’t in view.
"I do not," Alexander answered. "Would you like me to fetch a maid to send for him?"
"No. I am certain that once he hears I am alone, he will come to me. Inform the maids that I wish to have my dinner in our bedchamber tonight. I am not in the mood to speak to anyone," Lilith said, thinking of all the visitors.
"As you wish," Alexander replied.
Alexander fell back, keeping a respectful distance between himself and Lilith.
"I hated being confined to my chamber these last few days, but now I find comfort in its silence. I might not leave for the next few hours, so find a chair and make yourself comfortable. Tomorrow, we shall have a busy day," Lilith informed Alexander.
Lilith knew she had to begin her duties as queen before her position was questioned.
Upon arriving at the chamber, the soldiers opened the door for her to enter.
"You are here," Lilith said, greeting Cassian, who laid upon the bed. "I thought you were speaking to the soldiers. Are you upset because I sent you off?"
"No. I came here to rest for a moment before I return to speak with the soldiers and the visitors we have. The capture of Athena has brought many pledging their loyalty to us," Cassian shared.
"That is wonderful. I decided we should take a break from slaying the nobles. We have frightened them enough and rid ourselves of those who posed a true threat. We do not want a repeat of nobles despising my father," Lilith said, turning back to see that the door was closed.
"I wasn’t going to kill our visitors. Only see what they are offering us. You seem to be in a good mood," Cassian observed. He watched as Lilith quietly climbed onto the bed before straddling his waist. "Is it because of Solomon’s return?"
Lilith placed her hands upon Cassian’s chest, feeling the rise and fall. "The woman who ordered my mother’s death, and her daughter who tortured me, has been captured. That is reason enough to be in a good mood. And yes, I do enjoy that Solomon is back."
"When I said I would not take a lover, did you not believe me? When I see how you treat Solomon, it makes me think you doubt my word. I do not have the patience to entertain two men. You are the only one now," Lilith promised, ending any suspicion Cassian held.
"Now?"
"You know what I mean. While your jealousy entertains me, I hope you will not think every man who comes before me is a threat to you. No man has ever amused me as you have, and you possess something unique," Lilith said, slipping her right hand beneath his shirt.
Leaning forward, she whispered, "As I said before, if I believe your stories, you have managed to marry me twice. That makes you a very special man," she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"I am not jealous of you and Solomon."
"And the sky is not blue," Lilith retorted. "I can see in your face that you wish to keep me to yourself, but you cannot. I am close to Solomon, yet the relationship is nothing more than master and servant."
"I do not think he will become your lover. What unsettles me is that you do not run towards me as you do with him," Cassian confessed.
Lilith stared at him, confirming she had heard correctly. She looked away, laughter spilling from her lips. "That is what troubles you? Because I do not run towards you? Cassian, it is not as though you have left my side for days. You are always here, so why should I run to you?"
"Because I am your dear, special husband," Cassian said, twirling strands of her hair between his fingers. "It would be a pleasant greeting."
"I do not see you running towards me. Why must the lady be the one to run out of the blue? You think of the strangest things," Lilith said, her hand gliding gently up his abdomen. "But it does give me a good laugh, so I shall spare you."
"If you asked me to run to you, I would," Cassian replied honestly.
"You mustn’t make such an offer, for I would have you always run to me, and then the soldiers would truly think you had gone mad," Lilith said, her eyes bright with mischief. "Perhaps we should do it."
"No," Cassian shot down the idea. "We should dismiss all plans of running."
"If you were away from the castle for a long time, I would give you a pleasant greeting. I am not heartless, Cassian. This does not mean you should plot to leave the castle simply to see me run towards you," Lilith said, certain he was already entertaining the thought.
Lilith began to unbutton Cassian’s shirt. "How much time do you have left before you go to speak with the soldiers and visitors?"
"Enough time," Cassian replied, remaining still as she undressed him.
"Good. Then I shall give you your reward now, that is, if we remain uninterrupted," Lilith said, dragging her nail down his chest, watching as he shuddered beneath her touch. "Why worry about other men when you are like this? I have long concluded that no other man will amuse me as you do."
Lilith peered down at Cassian, unknowingly biting her lip. She thought of what Mary and Solomon had said about her closeness to him, and though she did not fully understand what bound her to Cassian, she was determined to savour it.