Chapter 38


    Chapter 38 Believe the ones you trust


    CA SSANDRA


    “Mommy, look! Erika taught me how to make a paper crane!”


    When I entered our bedroom, Finnick came charging toward me, his little arms extended out in front of


    him. His normally serious gray eyes were wide with excitement and his lips were curled into a happy


    grin.


    He presented me with the little crane and I held out my hand to ept it. He set it there gently and then


    looked up at me with glee.


    “Wow, baby!” I eximed with genuine excitement. “This is incredible. You did such a great job!”


    “Thanks, Mommy!” he replied, and then I turned to Erika.


    “Thank you,” I mouthed, and the maid winked back at me. Her warm eyes were friendly as she smiled


    and for a moment, I remembered what it was like to know her as a child. She’d taught me the same


    thing when I was young and the tiny crane in my hands reminded me of happier times.


    A week had passed since the viper had attacked Asher in the garden. These days, I returned to my


    quarters earlier than I did before. The Alpha King/repeatedly dismissed me sooner than expected due


    to Pack business he was reportedly busy with, but I had the sense that there was more to it than that.


    There was definitely some awkwardness between us after what had happened. that night. Neither of us


    had acknowledged it, but I didn’t mind. I was relieved to not address/our actions or face his questions


    at all.


    Besides, getting dismissed from the Alpha King’s study early meant I got to spend more time with


    Finnick and Erika before she finished her hours for the day.


    Requesting Erika’s care had been risky, but at the end of the day, I didn’t regret


    it at all. Finnick adored the maid more than anyone here in the pce, and it was nice to have her


    around, even if she didn’t know my true identity.


    “Would you care for some tea, Ca ssandra?” Erika asked me as I closed the door. behind me, and she


    gestured at me with a teapot. “I’ve just brewed some. It’s nice


    and hot.”


    “That would be wonderful,” I said with a smile, and then I joined her and Finnick over at the small table


    in the corner of the room. Erika was always so kind and attentive to everyone and their happiness.


    She poured me a hot cup of tea, and when the jasmine-scented air filled my nose, I let out a contented


    sigh.


    “Someone I knew long ago loved jasmine tea too,” Erika remarked with a small


    smile.


    My stomach suddenly turned and a lump formed in my throat. But I managed to stay calm.


    “Oh?” I tried to say in a casual manner.


    Erika nodded. “Yes. It was her favorite tea. I prepared it for her nearly every day. I miss her dearly.”


    “Who… who was she?” I wondered though I knew the answer.


    The maid got a strange look on her face, almost as if she was going to cry. “A young woman, not much


    older than yourself. She was like a daughter to me. But her name is unspeakable here in Merliscire. In


    all of Anemond, in fact.”


    “What happened to her?” I asked quietly.


    Erika’s lower lip trembled and her warm eyes grew apologetic, like she was embarrassed to be sharing


    something so personal. I leaned forward and ced my hand on her arm.


    “You don’t have to tell me-” I started to say, but Erika shook her head.


    “It’s okay, Ca ssandra,” she assured me. “I don’t mind. It’s just sad, that’s all. The poor girl got caught


    up in some trouble and then… well… she perished in that horrible fire.”


    The sight of my old nanny tearing up tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to reveal myself right away,


    but I knew it wasn’t safe. Yet I couldn’t help but ask more questions.


    “Are you referring to Cora Felix?” I whispered and Erika blinked at me with surprise.


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    “Yes,” she said, and then she frowned in confusion. “How do you know about her? Aren’t you from the


    Wild Crawler Pack? The one that’s at the very edge of the Wega border? I’m surprised you’d know


    her name-”


    “I heard it from others,” I spoke before she could continue questioning me. “Back when it happened, I


    mean. It was all anyone could talk about those days.”


    “Yes, it was,” Erika agreed quietly, and then she dropped her head in sorrow. “They didn’t ever find her


    body. Did you know that?”


    “I didn’t,” I replied. The sight of the maid so upset was nearly enough to bring me to tears but I held


    them back. Beside me, Finnick seemed confused, but he didn’t ask any questions. He simply sipped at


    his tea like a polite gentleman and yed with his crane.


    “Can I ask you a question?” I asked her, and when she nodded, I continued. “You seem sad about her


    passing, but from the way others spoke about her… wasn’t she a terrible person? I heard awful things


    about her wanting to use the king to save her guilty family.”


    Erika shook her head and her gray-streaked blonde hair red around her. “No, those were just terrible


    rumors. The Felix family, they were never evil, and neither was Cora. Her family never wouldmit a


    crime and she would never try to manipte the king for her own gain. Besides, sweet Cora loved the


    king too much. to ever use him for her own gain. No matter what they say, I don’t believe the rumors for


    a second.”


    This time, I had to turn away to keep Erika from seeing the tears that started to spill down my cheeks.


    My tough exterior was cracking. I wanted to tell Erika everything. I wanted to scream out that I was


    Cora Felix and that I loved her just as much now as I did back then. I wanted the woman to hug me as


    she’d done in the old days.


    But I couldn’t.


    So, I took a deep breath and turned back around. My nails dug into my palms at my sides until I


    decided to try the tea. Perhaps the jasmine flowers would help calm my nerves.


    “Mommy, why are you sad?” Finnick asked quietly, and he gently tugged on my


    sleeve.


    I searched my mind quickly for an excuse.


    “I… I’m just moved, sweetheart,” I exined after I took a sip of tea. “Cora Felix’s story… it’s rather


    sad. I’m not sure that I believe she was guilty either.”


    “Really?” Erika whispered, and when I nodded, she finally smiled again.


    “Really,” I confirmed, and then I turned to Finnick. “What about you, Finnick? What do you think?”


    Finnick considered the idea. I could practically see the gears within his mind turning as he searched his


    brain for an answer. He set his crane down on the table and then faced me directly.


    “I would believe her,” he said thoughtfully.


    “You would?” I asked.


    Finnick nodded. “Dominic told me once that it’s important to believe the people you trust and cherish no


    matter what.”


    “That’s wise advice,” I agreed, and then I leaned over and kissed Finnick’s head. “You’re such a kind


    soul, Finnick.”


    “Both of you are,” Erika remarked, and then she smiled warmly at us. We didn’t say anything more after


    that, but something in my soul felt better than it had in


    years.