Cayden was going to fill me in when he got back. My mate felt the Hunters were involved with the drug ring that had started to appear. Uncle Bjourn agreed to his plan to have someone on the inside. I’d wanted to, but that was adamantly shut down.
It worked in their favor that the Hunters needed a techy person, which made Micah the most obvious choice. For now, I guess we were playing nice and getting eyes inside. I wanted to rip them to shreds for every daring to think my family’s name, but I knew we couldn’t do that just yet.
Cayden felt that if we just took this sect of Hunters down, the bigger group would figure out we were onto them. I knew why Cayden was crusading this mission so hard. It was because of me and my family. I loved him for it, but wished I could help more.
I popped to the castle. My Grandpa Titus spoke from behind me, “If it isn’t my beautiful, loving, granddaughter.” I turned greeting, “Hi, Grandpa!” I hugged him. He smiled, “Your grammy and I were just about to sit down for breakfast. Would you care to join us?” I smiled, “Sure.” He led me into the dining room.
A plate was brought out and set for me. My grammy stood, smiled and hugged me. She commented, “Well this is a pleasant surprise.” I explained, “I just didn’t want to sit at home alone anymore. I’m starting to worry Cayden will miss my tournament.”
Cayden had taken over as the Commander of the Hackura Army six months ago. My tournament as his mate was coming up. It was actually in two days. Tory and Gia were ready to come here and watch me kick ass. Everyone was, I just worried Cayden would miss it.
My grandpa laughed, “He won’t miss it. Bjourn is ready to send someone to get him if necessary. I don’t think he will have to, though. Cayden will just order someone to take his place if it comes down to it. He’ll be here for your big day.”
My grammy commented, “It’s one of our larger tournaments. More women than in the previous years signed up to fight you.” I snorted, “A lot of women who want what’s mine. There’s this thought that if they can beat me Cayden will choose them. There are so many bitches on that list.” Grammy Veronica winked at me.
Grandpa Titus yelled, “EXCUSE ME?!” He looked between both of us saying, “Want him? Sure. But to think Cayden would choose them over you? I don’t think so.” Grammy laughed, “You know Cassie won’t lose, Titus. Even if she did, Cayden loves her. All of us know that. He would not choose someone else.”
My grandpa frowned, “I don’t think she will lose, but if you do Cayden will not leave you. That man loves you fiercely. Like he should.” I laughed, “I’m not worried about it. I’m actually looking forward to putting some people in their places.”
Rain snarled, “Cora. That bitch is going down SO HARD. We’ve bided our time and been patient. Even when I almost bit her head off a time or five thousand in the past few years.” It had been rough several times. She did refused to leave me alone, and she definitely didn’t want to leave Cayden alone.
I had talked to Aunt Astrid when Cayden took over and we had a plan to make sure Cora was in the tournament. My concern that she wouldn’t sign up was unfounded. She had been first in line. She was my last fight of the day and I’d take her down hard. She would know to stay away from what was mine once and for all. That thought took me back to the day I met her.
Flashback
Cassie and Cayden stepped through a portal after finishing up their mission. We’d actually ended up taking two together instead of just one. Cayden had wanted to take the second mission, but knew we’d have been cutting it close for Alexander, EJ, and my birthday. I told him we should do it. He wouldn’t have taken it if we weren’t together, but we were. I confided to him that I liked our little bubble of just us.
We’d ended up missing the party my parents threw for me and my twin brothers, but Cayden and I celebrated alone. I’d also conjured my brother’s presents to them on our actual birthday. Cayden squeezed my hand saying, “There’s no reason for you to be nervous, My Duchess.” I replied, “It’s the first time I’ll be seeing the Hackura as not just their Duchess but the future Commander’s mate.”
Cayden kissed me, “They will love you because they already do.” We walked around the corner staring into each other’s eyes. Cayden glanced sharply in front of us sensing someone there. I smiled at my mate’s best friend.
Hendrix smiled greeting, “Welcome home, man.” He pulled Cayden into a hug then greeted me, “Duchess Cassie, it is a pleasure to see you again.” I smiled saying, “It’s just Cassie to you, Hendrix. You are Cayden’s best friend.”
A woman came running up to us with her eyes stuck solely on my mate. Cayden sighed and I felt his annoyance in the bond. I raised an eyebrow and studied her. She smiled at him, not seeing me at all. She handed Cayden a cup of coffee. I raised an eyebrow knowing my mate didn’t like or drink coffee.
She all but cooed, “Hey, C.” Rain growled, “I hate her.” Yeah, I was getting there quickly myself. She continued, “I got you coffee, black, just how you like it.” Rain growled in my head. I commented, “He doesn’t like coffee.” She finally looked at me and frowned.
She greeted, “Duchess Cassie, I didn’t see you there.” I commented, “I noticed.” She asked, “What are you doing here?” She looked between Cayden and me with a confused look. Rain scoffed, “There is literally no possible way she doesn’t know he’s our mate.” My wolf had a point. I knew the whole realm would be talking about it by now.
Cayden frowned answering, “Cora, Cassie is my mate. Even if she wasn’t, she doesn’t need a reason to be here. She’s the Duchess of this realm.” Cora dropped her coffee, gasping as tears filled her eyes. My light was fighting me to shoot her with sunlight. Rain growled, “Or I could and RIP HER THROAT OUT!” I calmly said, “I’m not saying yes or no at the moment.” My wolf accepted the solid maybe I gave her.
Hendrix sighed, “Cora, we told you that last week when you came home Cayden was mated.” Cora shot him a look practically shrieking, “You hate me. Of course you’d say that in the hopes I’d give up on us!” Rain snarled, “US?!” Yeah, I didn’t like that word choice. I sent my confusion to Cayden, and he sent his back. So, he didn’t see this as an us situation.
I asked Cora, “Why would Hendrix hate you? I’ve met him on several occasions and found him to be a fair man.” Hendrix smiled at me. Cora glared at Hendrix and didn’t answer my question. Rain growled, “She’s disrespectful. She has to answer us, and she knows that.” I knew that because I was her Duchess.
I cleared my throat, “Cora, I’m asking you a question.” She turned and snarked, “Then I have to answer it, don’t I?” I cut in, “Yes, you do. By law and everything. I’d change your tone. Quickly if I were you.” She ground her teeth, “Cayden and I dated. He’s my ex-boyfriend and I’m his ONLY ex-girlfriend.” This was the girl that cheated on Cayden? Rain growled.
I questioned, “Do we have a problem here? Because Cayden is my mate. You two dated a long time ago. It’s not like he broke up with you when he found me either. Besides, we just got home. I want to go see my family and Cayden wants to see his. He also doesn’t drink coffee.” I took it from him and handed it back to her.
She smirked at me, “Not with you he doesn’t, it was our thing.” Hendrix coughed, “Fiery redhead.” Cayden put his hand on my back. He said, “Cora, I haven’t drank coffee in a long time.” Cora smiled as if she won something. I realized what she thought and Rain snarled in my mind.
I told Cora, “It’s because he cut out caffeine. He doesn’t want to be jittery. It’s not because it was ‘your thing.’ From what I heard from him and others after you broke up he wasn’t even that broken hearted when you cheated on him. On an on period. I actually heard you outed yourself chasing him into the street screaming at him. At the time I said that anyone who tried to publicly humiliate someone the way you did deserved to punished. Guess how much stronger I feel about that sentiment now that I know he’s mine?”
Rain snarled, “She did it on purpose! We’ve read some of mom’s textbooks. She was trying to hurt him and make everyone else think he was weak. Then he’d have no one but her. She’s a gaslighting narcissist.” I agreed with that assessment.
I took a step forward as she paled. I told her, “He doesn’t associate coffee with you like you seem to do with him. You need to leave because you’re REALLY beginning to piss me off, and that can be quite hazardous to one’s health. Cayden is MINE, not yours.” Her lip was actually trembling. She could not be serious with this right now.
I added, “In fact, he was never yours. Which you knew. You messed up and cheated. That’s on you. You don’t get to rewrite history here. Now, if you’ll excuse us. We have to go.” I grabbed Cayden’s hand. Cora whispered, “Cayden, wait.” I rolled my eyes.
