Fated

Chapter XVIII

Adira

Adira gasped golden light covered Cassie's eyes, slowly spreading until it temporarily encased and blinded the room. Her mark pulsed. Every inch of her called to Adrian. she turned blindly, seeking him, trying to look through the golden -

Until suddenly he was there and Adira was home. Wrapped up in an embrace, neither of them noticed the normalcy return until Sebastian cleared his throat pointedly. Jumping away from Adrian like a bullet, Adira blushed fiercely till the roots of her hair. Eden coughed loudly to disguise his laughter.

Ignoring them, Kaifa spoke, her crystal voice ringing, "This is my brother, Drystan." Smiling brightly at Cassie, she continued, "he has waited a long time for you, child." Kaifa turned to partake in a quiet conversation with the other Elders. Urgently she motioned towards Liam and Cerise, who looked unsure. Finally, with a resigned expression, they waved goodbye before running out of the room on what Adira assumed was Circle business. 

After a moment, Cerise returned looking apologetically at Kaifa. She handed a flask to Adira. 

"It's wolfsbane. For your arms." Cerise whispered, "Take care of them." She nodded towards the wolves before flashing a small smile. Turning away, she ran after her mate. 

Adira beamed as she applied the liquid and then pocketed the half empty flask. Cassie's mating was a cause to be celebrated. She wondered if a party would be too much. Smiling, she turned to ask Adrian, but her smile dropped when she saw what he was looking at. Cassie was trembling with silent tears, having fallen to the ground near the tomb. Amor was hugging her quietly. Adira hesitated, wondering if she would be welcome in this embrace, but then Cassie's eyes looked up and into hers and Adira shot across the room with a speed that surprised even her. The other three followed more cautiously not wanting to draw the attention of the Lycans.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Adira whispered urgently, mindful of her own injury. 

Cassie trembled. She didn't speak but simply shook in Amor's arms. Tears ran down her pale skin. 

Amor asked, "Cassie, hun, you gotta talk. What is wrong?" 

"Is this palace not fancy enough for your royal dreams?" Seb chimed in, trying to make Cassie laugh. Eden looked on, poking Cassie on the shoulder. 

But, Cassie seemed incapable of speech. She trembled harder, crying louder. Adira's heart thumped with fear. What was happening? Why won't she talk? Adira jerked Cassie's shoulder in an attempt to break her out of her trance. 

Somehow surprising Adira, it was Adrian who got through to her. Gently taking Cassie from Amor's arms, he hugged her tightly, letting her cry on his chest. After a moment, he pulled away, pulling her chin up to look her in the eye. "It's okay. We understand. There's no need to talk. Just nod your head and tell us what you want, okay?" Cassie continued trembling but managed to nod her head. He continued, "Do you want to leave, Cass?" 

Cassie trembled harder until she was rocking on the floor before nodding forcefully. Immediately, Adira, Amor, and Adrian stood up in sync, drawing the attention of the Elders with a cough. Positioning themselves so that they shielded Cassie from view, they smiled politely at the Lycans. 

Adrian spoke, "We sincerely appreciate your hospitality, your majesty. However, we need to attend to an urgent matter in the pack. A pack member is in dire straits. May we attend another meeting at your convenience?"

Kaifa looked supremely annoyed. Her warm eyes seemed to freeze into ice cold. She pricked upa more rigid stance as she looked at them with scorn. Fear clawed at Adira's heart.  But then, Amricus placed a hand on Kaifa's shoulder, and she immediately thawed. "Of course. Wolves must be helped first and foremost. A pack is a pack. Amricus, my love, please take the five of them home."