I stare at her, because this isn't what Cass sent her to do, this isn't the weapon he wanted, and I understand that Cass made a mistake, that he sent a woman with more soul left in her than he realized, and that instead of a knife he's handed me something almost like an ally.
"Seraphine," I say carefully. "Do you know what he's actually planning? Cass. Do you know what the marriage is really for?"
Something shifts in her face. "I know it secures his power. I know that with the heir home and mated to my line, Cass holds the alliances he needs. I know I'm a piece on his board." She frowns. "Why. What aren't you telling me?"
And I make a decision, standing on the sea wall in the dark, a dangerous one, because trusting her could be walking into exactly the trap Cass designed, and not trusti
