Chapter 214
Chapter 214: Choices for the Future
Cassie.
The moment we arrived we were greeted by the guard, Odin, and Freya. My grandfather''s eyes stared
at me with surprise and curiosity I wasn''t used to seeing. It was as if he was looking at me in a new
light—like I wasn''t the same girl who had left.
“Wee home, Cassie." His deep and hearty voice made me smile as he opened his arms wide, and
I embraced him into a hug. “I see that you brought someone back with you."
Pulling away from him, I nced over my shoulder towards Damian. “Yes, I did. It was his time toe
home to the garden and fate has deemed he is needed here."
Odin was quiet for a moment, and with his silence, I nced back at him to see him staring at Damian
withplete indifference. Part of me felt like there was a problem, but the other part of me knew deep
down that this was meant to happen.
Moving past me, Odin made his way towards Damian without saying a word. The ufortable
silence that seemed to pass between all of us. I looked towards Finn and Ss, slightly worried for a
moment but before I could address anything, Damian spoke up.
“Odin, it''s a pleasure to meet you again."
“Yes, it is," Odin replied before opening his arms and embracing Damian into a hug. A sigh of relief
escaped me as a smile returned to my face. “Wee to Asgard, Damian. Let''s show you to your
room and then tonight, we will dine and you can tell me all about how my family is doing on Earth."
Watching the two of them walk away towards the open doorway of the portal garden was a sight I
would never get over. I had spent thest twelve hours worried sick about what was going to happen,
about whether or not he would be epted and it turned out that I had worried for no reason at all.
I was pleased he had been epted here because the idea of having him aroundforted me. “Let''s
go inside…" Ss said as he came to stand beside me.
“Okay." I reached out to wrap my fingers through his and was taken back when he moved away, not
allowing me to seek thefort of him that I had on Earth. It was as if he suddenly refused to show the
affection he once had with me and that was more confusing than anything.
“It''s okay," Finn said as he took the ce Ss once had at my side. “He has a lot running through his
mind right now, and none of it is because of you."
Turning to Finn, I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What are you talking about?"
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Finn hesitated for a moment before he gestured his head towards the doorway. “Come on… I''ll exin
everything to you. First we need food and a drink."
****
Ten minutester, I found myself sitting in Finn''s room as I once had before, surrounded by the flowing
colors of the fabrics he had hanging around his room. To imagine what it would be like in his realm was
something I had done oftentely. Thoughts of how beautiful it must have been, and what his people
were like made me more curious by the minute.
However, looking at Finn, who took bites of fruit and cheese and drank from a silver goblet as if he had
no cares in the world was another sight I wouldn''t get used to. Finn was a prince of one of the oldest
realms in the universe and for someone in his position, you would think him to be a man who was
stressed and not easily able to converse.
Instead though, he was a man full of life. A man who didn''t take anything for granted and cherished
every moment that he made.
“I will say, Cassie… the Earth realm is quite remarkable. Your family definitely has done well for
themselves there."
Smallughter escaped me as I lifted my own silver goblet to my lips. “Yeah, I guess."
His celestial eyes looked to me with intrigue as he made his way to where I was sitting. “What''s wrong,
Cassie? You were happy when we arrived, what changed?"
A heavy breath escaped me as I tried to find the words to express how I was feeling. Between having
to leave my family again, Damian dying—even though he was with me—and of course Ss acting the
way he was, I didn''t know where to start.
“I suppose I''m just confused by the way Ss was acting."
“Ah." He smiled as he settled in closer to me. “Well, I can tell you a secret, Cassie, but you have to
promise to keep it between us until it''s absolutely necessary to use it."
“What do you mean?" I questioned, our faces only inches apart as he lifted his hand, running it down
the side of my face. The deep celestial blue of his eyes were memorizing and though I found myself
easily lost within them, I knew the conversation had to be finished before we lost each other in the flesh
of our bodies.
“Ss isn''t just a dragon. Nor is he just a guard," he started, causing my smile to fall slightly as I tried to
understand what he meant. “He is far older than that and when he came here, he was running from a
past that sought to destroy him."
“Who would want to destroy him?" I whispered, his lips getting closer to mine.
“The man who wanted to steal his rightful title, a creature that wanted to steal his throne."
The realization of what he was saying slowly began to settle in as his lips brushed against mine, setting
my body on fire. Ss wasn''t just a dragon who soughtfort in Asgard. He was royalty that sought
asylum from those who wanted to kill him.
Which honestly justplicated things a hell of a lot more.
*****
Ss.
Walking away from Cassie like I did killed me. I didn''t want to brush her off the way I did but now that
we were back in Asgard, my duties resumed and I was no longer able to be free with her like I wanted.
Odin had made his sentiments clear on that front, I was a guard and nothing more.
However, it didn''t stop the ache in my chest from the hurt leaving her created.
“Ss, how did things go?" Freya asked,ing to meet me in the hallway as I made my way towards
my room, needing a reprieve from everything going on.
“I don''t feel like talking right now, Freya."
My cold and brushed-off tone only made her smile more as she fell in step with me. A smile was upon
her face as if she knew exactly what happened and only had wanted me to rify it.
“Come on, don''t act like that. I can sense her all over you, Ss. She is your mate and your dragon has
imed her as his, hasn''t he?" she asked, causing me to stop in my tracks as I turned to face her with
a narrowed expression.
“It doesn''t matter," I snapped in a low tone. “Odin made it clear what my job was here. My dragon will
have to obey as I do, regardless of what it may im."
Just saying that made my beast w at the surface of my skin, angry I was rejecting the idea of being
with the woman fated for us. Dragons were known to be possessive creatures and never shared
anything. It already shocked me that he was quite fine with sharing Cassie with Finn, and possibly
Lucas.
If Lucas was even still in the picture.
“It doesn''t matter what Odin says, Ss," Freya replied, crossing her arms over her chest with a smug
expression. “The rules of the tournament apply no matter the ruler. Tomorrow, Finn, Lucas, and Mani
willpete against each other in thest stage of the tournament. The winner will get to decide what
happens to Cassie."
“Mani isn''t going to win," I gritted out, knowing exactly what it would mean if he did. The man would
submit Cassie to the gallows if he was allowed. He would ensure she stayed under lock and key and
would force himself upon her to create an heir and secure his im to the throne.
“You don''t know that, Ss. Time is running out, and more than ever right now, you three men need to
band together under some kind of agreement."
Scoffing, I shook my head in disgust. “Agreement? She isn''t a contract, Freya. She deserves so much
more than that, and I won''t be the one to force her into something she doesn''t want."
“And how do you know what she wants when you haven''t even discussed it with her."
Touche.
She had a point. I had avoided talking to Cassie about any of this and the discussions that Finn and I
had never really went anywhere. Other than we agreed she belonged to both of us.
“Look Ss, just think about it. Though, don''t think too long. In the morning, the three men willpete
to the end to im Cassie. Her future hangs in the hand of what choice you make. Guardian or
prince… that''s for you to decide."
Freya didn''t bother to let me address what she said before she was disappearing back down the
hallway from where she came. Over the years that I had known her, I had seen the woman get into
some crazy s**t, but never has she ever been so invested in something as she has been with Cassie.
Standing in the hallway, I ran my hand through my hair as irritation and anger built within me. My mind
raced over what Freya said, which caused me to turn and punch the wall with a roar escaping my
throat. “f**k!"
How could I have let myself fall so deep?
Turning, I made my way in the opposite direction from my room. I needed to see Finn about tomorrow
before it was toote. If we were going to make things work then he was going to have to step up to the
te and ensure that he won.
The closer and closer I got to his room, the more I sensed Cassie within. She was here with him
privately and with his guard standing by the door, I wasn''t sure I''d be weed. Just because things
were kosher between us on earth didn''t mean that he would feel the same way here.
“He isn''t taking visitors." His guard stated clearly with an indifferent expression. “He is resting for the
evening. You will have to wait until tomorrow."
“I don''t have time to wait," I snapped trying to calm myself. “I need him now. Step aside or go get him.
Either way, I will be speaking with him."
The man''s eyes narrowed as he stared at me. “I don''t think—"
“Calm down," the sound of Finn''s voice filled with amusement was a wee sound. Thest thing I
wanted to do was put his guard in his ce, but I would in order to speak with Finn about Cassie.
“Ss, Cassie just left only a moment ago… did you want to join us?"
“No," I sighed, though d Cassie wasn''t still here. “I need to talk to you about something important."
“Of course, Ss. Come in… my home is your home."
Unsure of how I felt about thatment, I followed Finn into his room, prepared to discuss with him
what needed to take ce at tomorrow''s event, and I was sure he wouldn''t be overly pleased with what
I was going to suggest.