"Wait! What truth? You speak in riddles and expect me to understand," Cassy said. The wolf paused slightly. "There is much you do not know. Or understand. She chose you for more reasons than your death. Yes, it had been a fluke to be corrected. However, from the point upon which you were brought back from the woes of death, you were spoken for. Her Favored, she named you. This is bigger than you, or any sought revenge. She has given you the right to avenge that which was stolen, but there is more to it than that. And until all truths have been spoken, your understanding of all things will be limited." Cassy's confusion only grew. "Why don't you tell me the truth then? What is it that I do not know? What is being kept from me?" The wolf turned, its tail swishing left and right. "It is not my truth to tell. Only after it has been told will I come to you again. Do not fight any of it. It is her will. We would hate to have to find another vessel because of your stubbornness.

Cassy could not comprehend it. Any of it. She stared at Lino as she tried to understand what he'd said. He would lock her in. He would...he would lock her up, just to prove a point. She blinked back the burning sensation in her eyes and tried to fight against the constriction in her chest. She tried to breathe in, reel her anger back in, but she failed. Her breaths came out as harsh pants as she fought the surging memories of being stuck, alone, in an unending darkness. The darkness that was death. She didn't like to speak of those moments, or even think on them. Many would pay or kill to know what was after death. If indeed, they became one with the goddess after death. But Cassy had experienced only darkness. It had no beginning or no end. No depths or widths. It just was, and nothing else existed within it. Not her grief, not her pain, not her anger. It was a stifling void and it had suffocated her so much that she had wondered if she might die again in the

Jessica's cell was at the wall. The last cell in the dungeons. Cassy's heart bled when she saw the state Jessica was in. Her lips were cut and swollen, no doubt from the torture inflicted on her. Her eyes were swollen shut and her nose was purple and broken. Blood seeped from the gashes on her arms and chest, and she was leaned against the wall, panting. Cassy crouched in front of the cell, holding the bars and peeking through it. "Jessica," she called softly. The woman jerked, and then she winced. "L-lady Cassy," she stuttered, trying to rise to her feet, but her legs failed her and she fell back with a sharp cry that tore through Cassy. Cassy's eyes stung. This woman could not have poisoned her. Even now, in the face of pain and death, she still watched her fondly, like she had a month ago. No hatred. No bitterness. No anger. Jessica could not have done it. "You should not be in here," Cassy said and her eyes roamed Jessica's battered body. She was in

BFTA 27 Cassy woke up to a sore ache at the back of her head. Her hands rose to touch the nape of her neck but she couldn't reach it. Her hands couldn't reach it. She tried again and it wasn't until she felt the burn of something that her eyes snapped open. She realized she had been tied to Lino's bed post. She pulled at the bindings, snarling and cussing colorfully at it. He'd knocked her out. The bastard had knocked her out and locked her up. She didn't stop pulling the bindings until she had torn it from around her wrist, causing red angry lines grace her wrists and her pale skin. She scowled, tumbling off his king sized bed that scented like the man and atrocities put together. She soon reached the door and when she twisted the doorknob, she found the door to be locked. She tried again, pulling and pushing but the door wouldn't give. She growled and began kicking at the door and cussing. "Lady Cassy?" Kayden's voice floated to her through the door of im

BFTA 29 Cassy was beyond words. Lie after lie had been told, forged and she could do nothing to defend herself. It was true that she had flaunted power in the Grand Hall, before the members of the council, but it had been a strategy for her revenge plan. Someone wanted to get her in a tight spot, and she had a good idea who that was. Eleanor. The wench stood by Lino, watching the exchange while managing to fool everyone with silver-lined eyes and a sad face. But Jessica’s mate didn’t seem to be faking his grief. She needed to get through to him. To let him see the truth. That she knew Jessica didn’t act of her own free will. That he had been fed lies. “I did nothing of that sort. Jessica was—“ “You do not take her name! Leave! You are not welcome here!” The male howled and Cassy shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting to where Lino stood for help. She would appreciate any sort of help right now. She wanted to be here. She wanted to lay a hand on the head