Chapter 14

Selena’s POV

“What?”

That single word exploded from my lips like a gunshot.

That was my exact reaction

No filter

No warning of any sort when Anna broke the news.

I didn’t even let her close the door properly before screaming like a banshee.

I placed a hand over my lips before gesturing at her to have a seat.

Most times I wondered if Cassian let any of the maids have a seat.

I could remember the first ever I had offered her a seat, her reaction was priceless.

“A treaty ball,” she repeated, trying to sound calm. I studied her body language

Maybe it was a prank of some sort.

“The invitation arrived an hour ago. With your name on it.”

“Really?”

“Well not technically,” she chuckled and I rolled my eyes

I might not be high and mighty, but it wasn’t cool to play with one’s blood pressure, was it?

“But the alpha,” she continued, piquing my interest again, “was asked to bring a plus one, whom I think is you my Luna.”

I stared at her like she’d told me I was being shipped to a war zone.

“They can’t be serious,” I shrugged.

Even though Anna and I had bonded over the past few days, I knew I couldn’t tell her that I wasn’t here based on the story we sold to the public.

So instead I had to act like a spoilt princess who has been isolated from the public for too long.

Anna gave a nervous laugh. “No… you’re actually on the guest list.”

I laughed, too. But mine wasn’t light. It was sharp, bitter and maybe worse than being nervous “That has to be a joke.”

But Anna didn’t laugh again.

And I could tell she got the hint already.

Whatever it was

My arms dropped to my sides. “Unbelievable.”

I stood up from the chair

I hadn’t intended to do that, but I did anyway. My hands were locked behind my back, my chest out and my chin up.

Sisi said it helped to look intimidating even though you felt like crying.

She said she had to do it as well.

Most times I wondered how a child could be so knowledgeable and yet so quiet.

“They could’ve at least told me,” I muttered. “All that tea-sipping and book-balancing wasn’t just for fun. Nooo, apparently I’ve been training to play doll for a room full of supernaturals with nothing better to do.”

Anna shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not just anyone who gets invited to a treaty ball, you know.”

She said it as though the words were meant to magically make me feel better.

“I’m being packaged,” I shot back. “Pretty wrapping on something no one asked for.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t argue.

Maybe I let out too much.

But she couldn’t say anything about it either.

“Thanks,” I said tightly, waving her off.

She paused. “I just thought you deserved a heads-up.”

Then she left.

As soon as the door clicked shut, I continued pacing.

My thoughts were everywhere and I meant it in every sense of the word.

Who was I going to vent to in the first place?

I hadn’t seen Cassian in like what? A week?

And Conrad didn’t keep his feet at a place.

And now this?

My feet carried me to the window before my mind caught up. I folded my arms across my chest so tight they hurt.

“Coward,” I muttered. “Can’t even face me.”

The door creaked open behind me.

“I made your chocolate tea, Sisi,” I called over my shoulder. “It’s still warm if you come now.”

No footsteps. No small giggle. No answer.

Instead—

“We need to talk.”

The sound of his voice froze me.

For one heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. Then I turned around slowly.

“You,” I whispered, my eyes narrowing.

Cassian stood just inside the doorway, quiet and composed. His eyes locked onto mine like he’d been standing there for hours.

“What are you doing here?” I managed, despite the drumming in my chest.

Why exactly was my heart beating?

And beating this fast.

Maybe it was because it was scared of hearing the news from Cassian himself.

L

I heard him clear his throat, “Last time I checked this is my room,”

“Last time I checked you abandoned this room,” I retorted , turning to face him.

Wait that didn’t come out right

I wanted to talk about something else instead of

Oh fuck it

“We need to talk,” he repeated.

“I didn’t ask you to come. I certainly didn’t make you tea.”

“Why are you so jumpy,” he inquired instead, cocking his head to the side.

I hated the funny look he was giving me.

Like I was a tantrum throwing child.

“What now?” I blurted, snapping my fingers in his face,

“You get to decide my reaction to things? Let’s see because I’m a pretty package for your plus one”

“You found out.”

I hated how calm he sounded.

Why couldn't I imitate that?

“You think?” My voice pitched higher. “A little warning would’ve been considerate. But why bother when you’re busy dragging the puppet into some political masquerade?”

Ever since I came here, I had never seen a reaction from him.

And now, I was worried what the one on his face meant and if I had put Anna into trouble.

“Who told you?”

“Why does it matter so you can kill her?”

“You’re not helping things .”

I scoffed. “Sure. I’m just the warm body who’ll look good in your photographs.”

He ignored the jab. “You’re going.”

“Over my dead body.”

He took a step in. “A designer will arrive tomorrow for your custom measurements.”

I let out a laugh that could’ve cracked glass. “Oh, so this was all arranged? Every little detail?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, how thoughtful,” I hissed. “Will she pick a dress that matches the Luna’s crest too?”

“Possibly.”

“You bastard.”

“You’re going.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not!” I snapped. “Not unless Sisi comes with me.”

He stilled. “Children aren’t allowed.”

“Then change that,” I snapped. “You’re the Alpha, aren’t you? Roar, growl, swing your authority stick—do something!”

“You’re being irrational.”

“I’m being protective,” I corrected. “She’s the only person here who doesn’t treat me like I’m disposable.”

His jaw twitched, but he said nothing.

I folded my arms. “Say something. Or are you just here to play puppet master again?”

He exhaled slowly, the sound controlled, tight. “Do you trust me?”

My stomach dropped.

“You don’t get to ask me that,” I replied.

“I just did.”

I took a step closer. “You make decisions for me. You use people. You pretend like you’re doing them a favor.”

“I protect what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I hissed.

His eyes darkened. “Aren’t you?”

“No,” I said. Even though something warm and traitorous in my chest whispered: maybe.

He stared at me.

Then, without warning, he started unbuttoning his shirt.

I blinked. “What the hell are you—”

He didn’t answer.

Instead he walked towards the bed, removed the shirk and hung it over the reading chair.

“Cassian!”

Still no reply.

Then, to my horror, he crawled into the bed—my bed—shirtless and shameless, like this was just another Tuesday.

I backed away. “You—you seriously—what are you doing?”

“I’m tired.”

“Then go to your own room!”

“think again”

Right.

This wasn’t even my room in the first place.

But I thought…..

Maybe he finally saw that there was no sense in both of us staying in the same room.

And he decided to leave the room for me

Turns out I was wrong all along.

“You can go back to where you’ve been sleeping!”

“I’m not going to touch you, Selena.”

“That’s not the point!”

“Then what is?”

My mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. “You don’t just barge into the room, strip like it’s casual, and crawl into my bed like we’re…”

He laid back on the pillows, arms folded behind his head. “Like we’re what?”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Dare what?”

“Don’t act like this is normal,” I fumed. “Like you and I…”

“I’m not acting. I’m here.”

That shut me up for half a second.

“I swear if you don’t get out of this bed—”

“You’re shaking,” he said softly.

I looked down.

My hands.

Trembling.

I clenched them into fists. “Don’t pretend to care.”

“I’m not pretending.”

“You lie.”

“I haven’t lied to you since the start of this arrangement. If anything, I should be scared that you’re lying to me.”

I didn’t know what to say to him. So I just sat there, in the same bed as him, staring at his gorgeous back.

Thankfully his face wasn’t turned to me. It would have been way more awkward.

“You’re coming to the ball.” His voice was enough to snap me out of my thoughts.

I opened my mouth.

“And I’ll make sure Sisi is there.”

I spun to face him. “What?”

I wasn’t meant to be surprised, right?

Well that was because I was bluffing when I said I wanted sisi to come along.

I…I just wanted to test his patience.

“She deserves to be with you,” he continued, not bothering to loook at me. “That's your end of the deal anyway and you wanted this too.”

I stared at him, throat dry, heart pounding in all the wrong places.

I didn’t know if I wanted to cry, kick him, or crawl under the sheets and disappear.

But I didn’t leave.

Not yet.