Page 34 of The High Priestess

Ignoring her words, I turn around and walk to the restroom. I empty my bladder and wash my hands.

I’m only gone for a few minutes, but as I near Cassia’s room, I notice the door is open. I pick up my pace and when I step inside, it’s to see Jasmine shaking Cassia’s shoulder to wake her up.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I snap.

Jasmine’s head swivels to me, and her eyes go wide. “It’s time for her to eat.”

“Outside,” I order through clenched teeth. “Now.”

Jasmine hurries out into the hallway, and I shut the door behind me before I level her with a look of warning. “When this door is closed, you don’t go inside unless it’s an emergency. Do you understand?”

She nods but then says, “She hasn’t eaten all day, and it’s already two o’clock in the afternoon.”

“She had oats for breakfast. I’ll make sure she eats when she wakes up. She needs sleep more than food right now.”

From Jasmine’s pale face, I can tell I scared the living shit out of her.

I soften my tone a little as I say, “Just do as you’re told, and everything will be okay.”

She nods before briskly walking away from me.

I open the door and enter the room without making a sound. When I see Cassia is still asleep, I let out a breath of relief.

I sink down on the armchair, barely sparing the tray with a silver food cover a glance.

I prop my elbow on the armrest and rest my cheek against my palm. A good thing about being in the Navy, it made it easy for me to sleep anywhere.

Closing my eyes, I start to count from one to ten, repeating the process so my mind doesn’t drift off to the dark place.

Chapter 12

CASSIA

When I wake up, I feel groggy as hell, my body aching something fierce. Especially my lower back.

The urge to cry wells in my chest as I listlessly turn my head from side to side.

“What’s wrong?” Knight asks, drawing my attention to him.

“Pain.”

He gets up and stalks out the door, and less than a minute later, Jasmine comes rushing into the room as if hellhounds are chasing her.

“Hi,” she says with a tight smile around her lips. “Your guard says you’re in pain?”

I nod while trying to smile at her.

“I’ll give you something that will start working fast. It might make you drowsy.”

“Okay.”

I watch as she injects the medication into the IV. When she’s done, she asks, “Do you want to eat something while you’re up?”

I shake my head.

“Bring food, Jasmine,” Knight mutters. “I’ll make sure she eats.”

“I’m not hungry,” I argue.

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