Chapter 8

Selena’s POV

“Stupid lock,” I muttered under my breath, jiggling the key again. “You had one job.”

The metal refused to budge, same as it had the last three times I tried.

My hands were still trembling.

And I wasn’t sure.

I wasn’t sure if it was from exhaustion, I hadn’t eaten in two nights

Or anger from everything that happened in the palace.

Maybe both.

I couldn’t tell.

“Slaphappy bloody Cassian,” tye words left my lips befire I could control myself and try not to slam the the key out of frustration.

“Storm bastard. Who does he think he is, offering me a job like im some story pet?”

I threw my head as a groan escaped my lips.

I hated that the keys were proving him right about how I had no choice.

Click.

Finally.

The door finally gave way with a groan, swinging open like it had read my mind and felt sorry for me.

The room smelled like dust, cinnamons amd lemons.

Home.

Not that it really felt like one.

I pushed the door shut and dropped my back on it, sliding down till my bum met the floor.

Everything came rushing back at once—Sisi’s voice calling me mummy…

Cassian's eyes. His resemblance to zevran… the dungeon… everything that had happened.

I hated that it lingered.

That I could still hear his voice in my head.

I should be happy that I got home in one piece

I hadn’t even moved from the door when my phone behan to rang.

My eyes landed on it, ringing on the table I had left it on the day before.

i stared at it, my brain paused for a moment while my heart began to drum.

Only one person ever called me this late.

And for whatever it was… it certainly wasn’t good news.

I swallowed, dragging my legs up as I moved across the tiny room and picked it up.

Eleanor’s name flashed boldly, just abou be a wallpaper of both of us smiling in the sun, years ago.

I answered.

“Hey,” I tried to sound normal, because if there was someone who could pick up my moods real fast? Then it would be Eleanor.

But instead her voice cracked, “Lena..” she paused, sniffing repeatedly into the phone, “did you see it?”

I held the phone tighter, my mind flashing through a hundred and one possibilities.

Had Cassian begun his plan of ruining my life for walking out on him?

But it was barely 2 hours since then

“Lena?” Eleanor’s voice called me back to reality.

“Yes, yes,” I blinked, trying to steady my racing heartbeat, “see what?”

“The Silvercreek admission portal… They opened it today. The form deadline is… it’s tomorrow.”

I felt her words in my chest, heavy and hard to push out.

Silvercreek.

Of course.

How had I forgotten about it.

I swallowed. “How much?”

“Over a hundred thousand,” she managed between sniffs. “I thought it would be less but…” she paused, letting out a loud shriek.

“Lena, it’s a war college. They only admit nobles, or people with powerful backers. I don’t… I don’t think I can—”

“Don’t.” I interjected befire she would get the opportunity to finish her words.

I was about to cry.

I knew it

But one of us had to be strong and that person was me.

“Ellie, breathe.”

She sniffled through the speaker, and that sound broke me more than anything else. “I just—I wanted to try, you know? Maybe if I got in, things would be different. Maybe they’d finally look at us like—like we belonged.”

“You do belong.” I sat slowly on the edge of the creaky mattress, staring at nothing. “You always have.”

There was a long pause. Then she whispered, “We don’t have that kind of money.”

I let my eyes shut.

And it replayed in my head once more, Cassian and his daughter.

He’d offered me a deal.

And I’d spat it back in his face.

But now…

“I’ll get it,” I said quietly.

“What?”

“The money. The form. You’re going to apply. You’re going to get in. And you’ll have everything you ever dreamed of, Ellie.”

“Lena, how—?”

“Don’t ask,” I responded, maybe a little bit too forcefully than I had intended. “Just trust me, okay?” I tried to reassure her.

There was silence on the other end.

I could tell she didn’t believe me entirely.

But still in the silence, I could still feel it.

The faith she had in me, as her big sister.

I heard her cough, maybe to clear her throat, before she whispered into the phone, “I love you”

“I love you too.”

I ended the call and stared at the wall until my eyes burned. My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt.

It wasn’t just about the money.

It was about everything I had never gotten.

Because I was half human.

Because I was never good enough.

No one had let me apply to school.

I had tried begging… severally.

and the elders?

Well, they had laughed in my face, said I’d taint the records. Said there was no space for mongrels among legacies.

So I learned in secret. Herbs and roots. Making sure to carefully tuck my notebook where no one would see it.

I had studied like knowledge was the only thing I could ever own.

But I still dreamed of more.

A classroom. A diploma. A real chance.

Not for me—maybe not anymore.

But for Eleanor?

I’d burn the world down to make sure she had it.

**

The next morning came too quickly.

More technically I hadn’t slept.

I had spent the entire night practicing hiw I would approach Cassian.

And now, I was here.

I stood at the edge of the palace courtyard, my arms wrapped around myself as I watched the palace. It was the same way it was when I left yesterday. Cold.

Like it’s owner.

I didn’t know what I expected—maybe guards, maybe another cold welcome—but instead, I heard laughter.

Cassian’s.

High-pitched. Free.

Then I saw her.

Sisi.

She was in a little dark coat, her hair in two puffs, and her tiny legs stumbling fast across the stone as she ran toward me.

“Mummy!” she yelled, her voice so clear, so happy, I felt it crack something inside me.

I didn’t know what I was doing until I was already moving, arms out.

I scooped her up like she was made of glass, even though she ran into me forcefully that I almost tripped. Her face pressed to my neck, warm and soft and real.

She smelled like honey and earth.

I closed my eyes for just a second.

Then I looked up.

Cassian stood a few feet away, his long coat billowing slightly as he watched us. Unmoving. Like he’d expected this.

Of course he had.

His expression was unreadable—same as always—but his eyes were locked on me.

“Didn’t think I’d see you again,” he expressed casually.

I adjusted Sisi on my hip, her little fingers now tangled in my scarf. “You said you needed someone.”

He didn’t reply. Just studied me, the corners of his jaw tightening.

I walked toward him slowly, feet steady even though my chest twisted with every step.

“Is the offer still on the table?” I asked.