Chapter 187


    Chapter 187: What''s Love Got To Do With It


    There is a point in life when you finally get tired of people telling you what you''re going to do, and there


    is also a moment in your life when you gain rity of how bullshit things are, and you can''t help but


    laugh. This was one of those moments, and as Ss'' words rolled over in my mind, I couldn''t help but


    laugh.


    "You''re fucking joking, right?"


    With a heavy sigh, he stared at me, "No, I''m not. Why would I joke about this?"


    "Oh, I don’t know. Because you find shit like this amusing," I spat, rolling my eyes. "It''s ridiculous for


    him to think he cane here and just marry me. It''s not going to happen."


    "Perhaps... I mean, he does have to go through the games just like everyone else. So there is no telling


    what could happen," Ss replied, causing my mouth to drop open slightly. Was Finnick participating in


    the games with everyone else?


    "He is royalty? Why the hell is he participating?"


    "Uh, because it’s the rules your grandfather set, Cassie. He has to abide by them like everyone else." It


    didn''t make sense this prince I had never met before would want me, and honestly, all it did was add to


    the list of problems I already had. Not that I couldn''t handle it. I would adjust to what I was already


    going to do to include Prince Finnick as well.


    "Fine," I gritted out under my breath. "Is there anything else?"


    Ss shook his head, sping his hands in front of him as if he wanted to say something but wasn''t


    exactly sure how. I hated moments like this. I missed the guy who wouldugh with me and spend time


    with me. Since I became what I was, Ss was all business, and I didn''t understand why. "No, you can


    go."


    Standing to my feet, I made my way to the door and stopped. "Shouldn''t I be the one telling you what to


    do?" I said calmly as I nced over my shoulder at him.


    Amusement crossed his features as he stared at me, smiling. ‘Do you want to boss me around?"


    The thought crossed my mind for a split second, but I preferred it if he was the one in control. "I''ll think


    about it... I have a lot on my mindtely."


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I can tell," he replied smoothly. "Don’t let it get you into trouble. I know you like getting into more than


    you can handle."


    I didn''t know whether to be slightly offended by what he said or turned on by what he said but deciding


    against addressing it, I quickly left his office and made my way down the hall until I finally came to an


    open exit, allowing the fresh air of outside to filter through.


    Stepping out into the cool morning air, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply with a smile on my face. It


    was nice to not care about things for once and when I let everything slip from my mind. I enjoyed the


    sound of the realm that floated into my ears. Birds chirping, the distant sounds of running water from a


    nearby pond, and even the mumbled sounds ofughter from somewhere nearby were refreshing.


    It made me forget I was where I was. For a moment, it took me back to my parent''s home and the fact I


    loved spending time in the woods near my home.


    A sense of longing slipped through me as I took in the fact I would never shift into my wolf again. That I


    would never feel my paws upon the earth and the wind in my fur as I went faster and faster. A part of


    me that was forever gone and would never return. It hurt, but even though it was gone physically, at


    least. I''d always have the memories to remind me that once upon a time, I was normal to some degree.


    "Enjoying yourself?" a voice called from my left, causing me to quickly open my eyes to find that


    Finnick was standing there staring at me.


    "I was... until you ruined it."


    "Oh." He chuckled. Are we all done with pleasantries now?"


    Rolling my eyes, I stepped forward, trying to pass him to head toward my room. I had told Ansley to let


    Sansa know to meet me around lunch, and I didn''t want to bete for that. I had to talk to her about


    what was going on, and I was hoping Trixie was still around. I wanted to know more about who Finnick


    really was.


    "Pleasantries went out the door when I found out why you were really here," I snorted, only to have him


    step in front of me. blocking the path I needed to take.


    "Are you saying that you don''t want to marry me? I figured that every woman would dream of being a


    queen one day."


    "Yeah, not me," I muttered, trying to pass him again, only to have him block me once more. "Will you


    please move?"


    The way he was staring at me, slightly brooding but with amusement twinkling in his gaze, made me


    feel slightly unsure of myself. Of course, he was incredibly gorgeous in that ''all about him'' kind of way,


    but there was no way I was going to let him know I found him attractive. I was not interested in


    whatever he had to offer. Even if it was being queen.


    "I think we got off to a wrong start," he finally mustered up with a small sigh as he reached up, rubbing


    the back of his neck. "I''m Finn."


    Finn. So we were on nickname basis, were we?


    "Finn." Saying his name sounded good on my tongue, and by the way his smile grew as I said it, I knew


    he liked to hear it as well. "I hope you enjoy your stay here... if you need anything. I’m sure the staff can


    help you."


    Distracted and slightly caught off guard by my response, I stepped around him and hastily made my


    way towards the door back inside. I didn''t want to give him a chance to be able to stop me again, and


    as soon as the door closed behind me, I nced over my shoulder to look at him once more through


    the ss.


    Finn stood there, staring at the now closed door with an odd expression that made me wonder what it


    was going through his mind. Was he actually interested in getting to know me or was this man here for


    other motives?


    The moment he turned away and seemed to speak out to someone out of sight, I turned and made my


    way down the hallway towards my room. Sansa would be meeting me there, and I couldn''t wait to find


    out more about this man. As well as the other contestants. If I was going to get through this then I


    needed to know everything there was about Prince Finnick and the games that were about to change


    my life forever.


    ****


    Lucas.


    The morning startedte for me, and when I had entered the dining hall to see Cassie leaving after


    what looked like an entrancing conversation with the man in front of her. a twinge of jealousy filled me.


    Here I was trying to prove to everyone I wasn''t some cold-blooded killer and she was flirting with the


    opposition?


    I shouldn''t have been surprised with the amount of men who filled the room looking to win a ce next


    to her. The only thing I had going for me was that she wasn''t going to let them win a ce in her heart.


    Afterst night, I was fairly confident she felt the same about me as I did her. The only problem was I


    hoped my personal feelings toward this whole situation wouldn''t stand in the way. I was still a mess


    from the fallout, and I had tried so hard to stay away from her, but for some reason, fate kept pulling me


    back.


    I loved her, and I was foolish to think I could simply let her go.


    Nothing would stop me from winning that seat next to her. I didn''t want it for the title or fame. I wanted it


    because I wanted her, and I’d dly give everything up to prove I deserved that ce next to her.


    "Lucas, what are you doing here?"


    Freya walked towards me as I stood near the doorway, watching the others finish their breakfast and


    vacate the hall. Odin had been busy with some woman I hadn''t recognized, and when I turned to


    Freya, I could see the confusion in her eyes.


    She had been the only one of the gods who hadn''t judged me so harshly. "I came to join, but it seems I


    came tote."


    My eyes traveled up and down her body, taking in the more modern clothing she was wearing. A pair of


    jeans and a light blue button-up blouse with heels. It was normal for a woman like her to wear


    something like that where I hade from but to see her wearing it here, I couldn''t help but smirk with


    amusement.


    "What''s so funny?"


    "Nothing," I quickly replied, shaking my head. "Did Cassie rub off on you?"


    She frowned with confusion as she nced down at her attire, seeming to realize what I was talking


    about, and smiled. "Ah, yes. I took note of her style of dress, and I had to try it for myself. I have to


    admit that these clothing choices are ratherfortable. Not to mention, I have more free movement


    than I did in the dresses."


    "It looks nice." Thepliment made her smile widen before she cast her nce into the hall where I


    had turned my gaze once more.


    "So, I heard that you signed up for the events. Does this mean that you have changed your mind about


    your situation with Cassie, then?"


    Freya knew very well how I felt about Cassie and how adamant I had been to keep my distance from


    her. Yet, here I was going against everything I had sworn once upon a time.


    With a heavy sigh, I crossed my arms over my chest and nodded. "Yes."


    "Good," she said with confidence. ''I was wondering how long it would take you to change your mind. I''ll


    have to let Frigga know she owes me."


    "Owes you?" Turning my gaze to her, it was my turn to be confused and as she nced up at me she


    couldn''t help stifle the giggle that was trying to escape.


    "Yes, she owes me. We made a bet, you see... I told her you would cave before the games. She


    thought that you would interrupt the final results and confess your love."


    Great. Even the gods are making fun of my longing to be with my mate, even if she wasn''t technically


    my mate anymore. "That''s nice to know."


    "Oh, don''t take it so seriously. We have to have some kind of entertainment here."


    Rolling my eyes, I nced towards the strange elf walking towards our direction with a look of


    determination on his face. “What''s the deal with the elf?"


    Freya was silent for a moment as the elf passed us, disappearing down the hallway from which I had


    come. My eyes instinctively followed to see where it was he had went before falling back upon Freya


    again.


    "He wants Cassie just like the others do," she replied softly, "the difference is he has a higher im


    than the others. Besides you, of course."


    "Higher im? What the hell does that mean?" My beast perked up in attention to what she had said


    and as I looked down the empty hall once more I found that he was long gone.


    "It was foretold in a prophecy of his kind that his mate, or fated one as they call it, was here in Asgard.


    He believes that person is Cassie, as do many others.”


    There was no way I was going to let this prick try to win her over. Not when I had worked so hard to


    make her understandst night that I was the man who wanted her. Hesitation and uncertainty filled me


    as I thought over this elf trying to sweet talk Cassie into leaving with him.


    "No elf is going to get Cassie."


    Laughter escaped Freya as I nced at her one more time. "He isn''t an elf, Lucas. He is Fae, and from


    the interaction I have seen between the two of them only briefly this morning, it''s obvious there is


    something between them."