Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ATASHA'S POV ... : 81 55 vouchers " My lord , this poison ... " Mendez said as he slowly placed the vial in front of Cassian . It looked almost innocent resting there , fragile and gleaming under the candlelight . This was the same Vial that Genevieve herself had given me . " It originates from the Western Plateaus . A very rare substance . " Cassian didn't respond , his fingers steepled beneath his chin , eyes cold and unreadable . Yet the smile on his face was unmistakable . He looked amused , entertained . I wondered if this was because of the substance or because the night had already ended . I heard that his men didn't suffer any great losses and his lieutenants have all recovered . That was something to celebrate , right ? Mendez continued , " It's often used by those seeking a painless end . It has no scent , no taste , and once ingested , death comes swiftly , often in sleep , without pain or struggle . " He paused . " There is no known antidote . That's what makes it so dangerous . Even a small dose is fatal ." I didn't move . I watched Cassian's face , searching for a crack , a flicker of something human . But his expression remained infuriatingly unreadable . Like a stone . What was he thinking ? Finally , he turned to me . " Has your family always been this ruthless ? " I said nothing . He didn't need an answer . He already knew . Cassian's mouth curled . " They won't stop , will they ? " he asked , almost conversationally . " Not until you're dead . And once you are, they'll dress it up as grief . A tragic accident . A noble sacrifice . They'll cry their crocodile tears , deliver some practiced speeches about how much they loved you ... and then they'll move their little plan into the space you were meant to fill ." Still , I stayed silent . Because what could I say ? I didn't know what the plan was either . I didn't understand why they would risk so much . What were they really trying to do ? They could kill me , and I would simply become Cassian's fifth dead bride . The King would once again try to find a wife for his brother , and then the story would never end . Cassian studied me for another long moment , then exhaled a short , humorless breath . " It 11:06 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 21 : 81 55 vouchers doesn't matter , " he said finally , gesturing for Mendez to leave . " Their plan will fail . As all weak- willed plots do ." When Mendez was gone , the tent felt too quiet . Cassian didn't go back to his chair . Instead , he crossed the room slowly , stopping just a few feet from where I stood . His shadow stretched long and dark across the floor , merging with mine . " Do you want to retaliate ? " he asked me softly . I looked up , startled . " What ... ? " " Do you want revenge ? " he repeated , tone sharper now . " Your so - called family wants you dead . Do you want to make them bleed for it ? Do you want to burn this place to the ground ? Watch them choke on the ashes of their own lies ? " I swallowed . My throat felt tight , dry . Revenge ? That word didn't feel like mine . It wasn't something I had ever used to define myself . Since I failed to awaken , I had been overlooked , the piece no one cared to protect . I was never seen as valuable , just a placeholder , something that could be easily removed when no longer convenient . After all , I was just a wolfless omega , the lowest rank , someone burdened with a dangerous gift that could turn on me at any moment and end my life . Retaliation ... I'd never even considered it . Cassian's eyes darkened as he looked down at me . " So you truly are as passive as they believe . I thought you were different . I thought there was more to you than this quiet obedience . But you've disappointed me , Consort ." His words weren't loud , but they struck harder than any shout . He stepped closer , voice turning to ice . " Do you think your weakness is a virtue ? Do you think kindness will save you ? No , all it does is make you bleed slower . " " What- What can I do ? " I asked . Even if I want revenge , what can I do ? I don't have a wolf . I am nothing but a sacrifice . While it was true that I had shown him my ability and healed a few of his men , I am still as powerless as ever . I only did it to live , to survive . I waited for him to answer yet instead , he walked back to his chair and gestured for me to approach him . I complied without asking questions . " Your father is hiding something he didn't want the King to see ," he said . This was the second time that he mentioned this . " And I want you to find it out . " " But- " 11:06 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 21 " I am not done talking ," he said . I immediately closed my mouth . " I'm sorry . I didn't mean to- , " 81 55 vouchers " You are mine , Atasha , " he interrupted . " My wife , the consort of the north . You do not need to apologize from now on . " " P- Pardon ? " " I said , apologies are for the weak . And we , the North , are never weak ." " I- " The word barely left my mouth before fading into silence . I didn't know how to respond , not really . And yet , strangely , the fact that he already regarded me as one of them , brought a flicker of warmth to a place inside me that had long grown cold . " You are now someone of royal standing ... the wife of a prince , " he said , without missing a beat . " Once we arrive in the north , your position will be formally recognized . You'll be canonized in front of the court . After that , you won't just be my consort , you'll be the Princess of the North ." He paused , eyes narrowing ever so slightly . " Apologizing ," he said with quiet disdain . " Isn't something we royals make a habit of . It is beneath us . Do you understand that ? " I nodded slowly . " I do ." Yes , I understood . This was the life I'd signed up for , contract or not . And whether it was a cage or a crown , I was already wearing it . The least.I could do was to meet his expectations and follow through with what was asked of me . " Good ," he said . " Now , I need you to obtain something for me ." I looked up at him , uncertain . " What is it ? " " A map ," he said simply , as if it were no more difficult to retrieve than a scrap of parchment from a desk drawer . " A very specific one . And I believe it is in your father's study ." My brows furrowed in confusion . The thought of sneaking into my father's private quarters , into that room , made my stomach knot . How was someone like me supposed to steal something from an Alpha ? " Tonight ," Cassian added . " Another attack will happen . It will serve as the perfect distraction . Your father will be preoccupied , and the guards will be scattered . You will be inside the mansion . That's when you'll go into the study ... and take the map . " I swallowed hard . My father's study wasn't just some ordinary room . It was a fortress cloaked in the illusion of 11:06 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 21 55 vouchers civility . It was guarded not just by warriors , but by mechanisms that had been designed specifically to kill an Alpha foolish enough to trespass . The walls were said to have hidden triggers . There were hidden weapons , silent weapons that didn't offer second chances . I'd only been inside four times since my failure to awaken , and each visit had been brief , supervised , and tense . I had never dared to explore or even look too closely . The space was a mystery to me . It always felt cold , unwelcoming , and hostile in every sense . How could someone like me , someone with no wolf , no strength , no right to challenge an Alpha's authority , steal something from a room even my pack feared ? As if sensing my thoughts , he said . " I could ask my men to do it but ... only you can steal it without leaving any scent behind . " " What do you mean ? " " Isn't it a bit too obvious ? " he asked . " It is because you .. my dearest consort ... don't have one . You do not have a scent . " AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!