Chapter 3

NIKOLAI

“She mind-linked me,” I blurt out.

A heavy murmur breaks out in the meeting room. Shock plasters across my commanders' faces.

“That is impossible,” Joel says, shaking his head.

“Only a true Tether can do that,” Trish says.

“Or it could be a trick by the Primordial King,” another commander mutters.

"She could be a hidden bloodline from the primordials," another speculate.

I raise my hand, and the murmuring dies down instantly.

“None of us know what she is or why she is a hybrid," I say, resting my head against my hand on the armrest. "But if she can mind-link, I know she can do much more than that. We all know our mission. “She will train here. She will breathe the same air as us. She will learn our ways until we understand exactly what she is capable of. But remember, we can not afford to let her power awaken before we are ready. Get ready to kill because the Obsidian Apex pack won’t back down without a fight.”

“Yes, sir,” they all bow curtly. They leave the room one by one until only Trish, Joel, and I are left. They are my closest and most loyal companions.

“That can’t be all, can it?” Joel’s worried voice echoes in the quiet room.

“I spoke back to her inside her head,” I look up at them. Their eyes widen in pure shock.

“Only a true Tether can do that,” Trish says, her voice full of confusion. I nod slowly.

“I want to try something. Gather the warriors on the practice field. I just hope her mind-link wasn't a one-time trick.” I sit up straight and put on the classic, confident smile they all know me for. “Check up on her, Joel. I want to be left alone now. Call the healer. My eyes are stinging.”

They stand up and leave. I lean back, rubbing my face. What did that girl pour on me from that small glass jar back in the woods? Is she really a tether? I hate that our enemies seem to know more about her than I do. I can only imagine how big the bounty is on her head. They sent Corin – is she of so much importance.

The door opens. Maeve walks into the room. She is the future High Priestess of the witches. Her face must always be covered by a veil; no one is allowed to see her beauty until she is married off. She is an incredibly powerful witch.

“Your Highness,” she bows before standing upright.

“Cassie threw some herbal powder on me, and it is burning my eyes. Can you help?” I ask.

She walks over to me. Maeve is not just a powerful witch but also an incredible healer, and she also happens to be my fiancée. To secure a vital war alliance with the Witches Council, a deal had to be made. My part of the deal was taking her hand in marriage.

She places a soft hand on my shoulder and gently lifts my chin. “News is spreading that the girl is a tether. Is that true, Your Highness?” she asks, inspecting my burning eyes.

“We are unsure. That is where you come in, Maeve. Find out exactly what she is.”

“And if she brings more harm than good to us?” Maeve questions. Her sharp eyes try to read my thoughts, looking deeper than just the burns in my eyes.

“Then we do what must be done,” I reply coldly.

She waves her hand in front of my face, whispering a fast spell under her breath. Instantly, the stinging pain from Cassie's powder vanishes.

“She knows her plants," Maeve notes, sitting on the arm of my chair. "That makes her dangerous. I don't have a good feeling about this girl.”

I wrap my hand around Maeve's waist, pulling her closer. “I have a feeling about this. We just need to understand what she is before our enemies do.”

“The Primordial’s won’t sit back and let that happen.” Maeve pauses, as if her next words will strike a painful nerve. “Your brother won’t allow it.”

“Malakai will survive,” I say quietly, resting my head against her shoulder.

I am lucky the Primordial King haven’t sent my brother after us yet. The female general, Valeria, whom we fought earlier in the woods, was small fry. We only need to truly worry when the real monsters—or worse, my own brother Malakai—come to the battlefield.

~♡♧~

“Your Highness. She has refused to leave her room until she sees you,” Joel tells me as we walk down the wide hallway toward Cassie’s room.

As we get closer, we hear a loud crash of glass and sharp screaming from inside. The guards see me and quickly open the door.

The room is a mess. Cassie is on her bed, holding a sharp piece of broken glass. Her hand is bleeding, and her face is twisted with fear and anger. She is shouting at the maids, Trish and Maeve, to stay back.

The moment her eyes meet mine, she runs off the bed. She rushes over and hides right behind my back, grabbing my shirt with shaking hands.

Trish and the maids look at me in total shock. But Maeve’s eyes look narrow and I can swear on my wolf’s form that I saw a look of jealousy register on her face before she quickly covers it up with questioning gaze.

“Leave us,” I command.

“But—” Trish starts.

“Now.” I use a firm voice, and they all walk out one by one. Maeve stays for an extra second, staring coldly at Cassie before she finally exits and closes the door.

Once they are gone, Cassie whispers, completely out of breath, “Who are they?”

I turn around to look at her. Her angry face softens, showing how truly scared she is underneath. Looking at the blood on her skin makes me feel a sudden pull to protect her. Gently but firmly, I take the sharp glass out of her fingers and drop it on the floor.

I take her arm to lead her to the bed so I can look at her cut, but she pushes my hand away. She takes a shaky step backward, looking lost.

I look at her bleeding hand, then down at the floor where the broken glass lies. Her chin is held high, but her small shoulders are shaking. She is trying so hard to be brave.

“Sit,” I say softly.

She doesn't move. She just glares at me, her lower lip trembling slightly.

“Cassie. Sit down before you pass out,” I repeat, making my voice gentle this time.

She lets out a tiny, defeated sigh and sinks back onto the edge of the mattress. Her tough shell is completely melting away. She looks so small in this massive bed.

I walk over to the washbasin in the corner of the room. I grab a clean, white cloth and wet it with warm water. When I walk back and sit beside her, she flinches, her big eyes tracking my every move like a scared puppy.

“Give me your hand,” I say, holding out my palm.

Slowly, with a little hesitation, she places her small, bloody hand in mine. Her skin is cold. I gently use the warm cloth to wipe away the crimson blood. As I carefully clean the cut, she looks down at our hands.

“I'm sorry about yesterday,” she whispers softly, her voice small and sincere. “For throwing that powder in your eyes.”

I look up, surprised by her softness. “Apology accepted, princess.”

She opens her mouth to ask a question but then stops herself, shaking her head and pushing the thought aside.

“Go ahead,” I urge her, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. “Speak.”

She takes a breath, a bit of her playful humor returning. “Well, I saw something totally crazy and mortifying yesterday. Like... you shifting into a giant wolf.” I don’t react or say anything. She laughs to try clear the awkward situation

I raise an eyebrow, keeping my hands gentle as I wrap the cloth. “Do you believe in werewolves, Cassie?”

“I’ve heard tales of such things before,” she says, rolling her eyes with a little giggle. “But honestly, I always thought it was total gibberish.”

Curiosity pricks at me. I stop wrapping for a second and look into her eyes. “Who told you those tales?”

She tilts her head, giving me a goofy, teasing smile. “I think I would love to be mysterious about that.”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head. “Mysterious, huh? Now I wonder what else was told to you.”

Her smile fades into a more serious tone, and she shakes her head quickly. “No, really, I don't believe in any of it. It's impossible.” She lets out a light, mocking laugh. “I mean, what's next? Are you going to tell me that witches exist, too?”

I freeze, remaining completely silent.

Cassie watches my face. She reads my expression instantly, her eyes widening. “No way. They aren't real. Tell me they aren't.”

I simply shrug my shoulders, a small smirk playing on my lips.

“Come on, speak!” she urges, nudging my knee with her uninjured hand. “Tell me the truth!”

“I will,” I reply, leaning in a little closer. “But only if you tell me what else you heard in those stories.”

Cassie goes completely quiet. The playfulness vanishes for a second as she looks away, staring at the wall. A tight grip of curiosity takes hold of me. Who taught a human girl about our world?

To break the heavy silence, Cassie clears her throat and looks back at me, trying to lighten the mood again. “So... what did I actually sign last night?”

I want to leave it for later. I don't want to overwhelm her. I grin, deciding to tease her. “Oh, you know. Just a contract to be forever bound to me.”

Instead of snapping back, she looks at me softly. Her eyes scan my face, full of deep, quiet trust. “Well, you look like a protector. And that is exactly what I need right now.”

I stare at her, my heart skipping a beat. I am happy someone finally understands my humor. A warm feeling blooming in my chest.

I tie the cloth into a neat knot around her palm. “There. All done, princess.”

“The girls spoke of training. Can I get some valuable of my mum first, then I don’t mind being bound to you for all eternity?”

Well, if you knew what I am capable of or who I am, you won’t effortlessly agree to that. I would love to know what else she knows and maybe been in her house would help.

“Sure thing, princess”