The rewritten tales

Chapter 9: Where to hurt

There were three things I had learned since waking up inside this ridiculous book.

First, Cassian Blackthorne was far more attractive in person than any author had a right to describe.

Second, Mira was absolutely incapable of behaving normally around Adrian.

And third—

Seraphina Laurent was dangerous.

Not because she was powerful.

Not because she was particularly intelligent.

And certainly not because she was some sort of mastermind.

She was dangerous because she knew them.

She knew Cassian's childhood.

His fears.

His weaknesses.

The things that made him angry.

The things that made him feel guilty.

She knew Adrian just as well.

And when you knew someone that deeply, you didn't need a weapon to hurt them.

You only needed the right words.

I watched Seraphina across the ballroom.

She was smiling.

Perfectly.

As if Cassian hadn't just rejected her in front of half the room.

As if she hadn't spent years believing she had a permanent place in his life.

That smile bothered me.

"She's going to do something," I whispered.

Mira glanced at me.

"Definitely."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been watching her."

She paused.

"Also because she keeps looking at you like she wants to set your dress on fire."

I looked down at my gown.

"Honestly, I like this dress too much to die in it."

Mira snorted.

"Priorities."

"Always."

A shadow fell over us.

"Are you two discussing my wife?"

I looked up.

Cassian stood behind me.

I smiled.

"Maybe."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Should I be concerned?"

"No."

Mira immediately said, "Yes."

I turned toward her.

"Mira."

"What? I'm honest."

Adrian appeared beside Cassian, laughing.

"I like her."

"You would."

"I already do."

Mira's cheeks turned pink.

I grinned.

Adrian noticed.

His smile widened.

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm warm."

"It's winter."

"Perhaps I'm naturally warm."

Adrian leaned closer.

"Want me to find out?"

Mira's mouth fell open.

I covered my laugh with my hand.

"Please," Cassian muttered, "don't encourage him."

"Why?"

"Because he never stops."

Adrian looked offended.

"I have restraint."

Cassian looked at him.

"No, you don't."

Mira giggled.

For a few moments, everything felt normal.

Almost painfully normal.

Four people standing together.

Two brothers.

Two wives.

Laughing.

Teasing.

Enjoying one another.

It was the kind of scene that never existed in the original book.

And maybe that was why I treasured it so much.

Because somewhere in another version of this story, Aria was already dead.

Mira was dead.

Cassian was broken.

Adrian was broken.

And Seraphina was standing exactly where I was standing now.

Only she had won.

I wasn't going to let that happen.

---

The banquet ended late.

By the time we returned to the estate, the corridors were quiet.

Mira disappeared toward her room with Adrian following close behind.

I didn't need to ask why.

I smiled to myself.

Then I turned toward my own bedroom.

I had barely taken three steps when I heard footsteps behind me.

I knew who it was.

I didn't turn.

"Are you following me?"

"Yes."

I smiled.

"Why?"

"Because you're walking away."

"That's generally what people do when they leave a ballroom."

"Not when they look at me like that."

I stopped.

Then slowly turned.

Cassian stood only a few feet away.

His jacket was open, his tie slightly loosened.

He looked tired.

Beautiful.

Dangerous.

"Like what?"

His eyes moved over my face.

"Like you want me to follow you."

My heart skipped.

"Maybe I do."

He took one step closer.

Then another.

Until there was barely any space between us.

His hand came up, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my cheek.

"You've changed."

"I know."

"Why?"

I looked at him.

Because I had died.

Because I'd woken up in a book.

Because you were supposed to kill me.

Because I was terrified of loving you.

Instead, I whispered,

"Maybe I finally realized what I had."

His expression changed.

Something vulnerable flickered behind his eyes.

Then his thumb brushed my cheek.

"Aria."

The way he said my name made my chest ache.

"What?"

"I don't know what happened to you."

I held my breath.

"But I don't want it undone."

My heart stopped.

Cassian lowered his forehead against mine.

"I don't want you to become the woman you were before."

I stared at him.

"You didn't like her?"

"I didn't know her."

His voice was quiet.

"Not really."

I swallowed.

"And now?"

"Now..."

His hand slid to my waist.

"Now I can't seem to get enough of you."

My pulse raced.

I smiled.

"That's a dangerous confession."

"I know."

"You might regret it."

"I won't."

He leaned closer.

His lips brushed mine.

Once.

Softly.

Then he pulled back.

I blinked.

"That's it?"

His mouth curved.

"You look disappointed."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back.

His laugh was low.

Then he kissed me.

This time there was nothing hesitant about it.

His hand settled against my waist while mine curled around his shoulders.

Warm.

Slow.

Possessive.

When we finally separated, both of us were breathing harder.

Cassian looked at me for several seconds.

Then he said quietly,

"Goodnight, wife."

And walked away.

I stood there staring after him.

"Unbelievable."

A voice came from behind me.

"I agree."

I nearly screamed.

Mira stood in her doorway.

I pressed a hand to my chest.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough."

"How long?"

"Long enough to know that you are hopeless."

I glared at her.

"You're one to talk."

She smiled.

"Adrian is worse."

"Did you—"

"No."

She laughed.

"Not yet."

I stared.

"Yet?"

She shrugged.

"We're taking our time."

I shook my head.

Then her smile faded.

"Aria."

"What?"

"Seraphina."

My amusement disappeared.

"What about her?"

"She wasn't at dinner."

I frowned.

"What?"

"She left early."

I looked down the corridor.

"Did you see where she went?"

"No."

Neither of us spoke.

Then I remembered something.

A scene.

A chapter.

A sentence.

My stomach tightened.

"Oh no."

"What?"

"The study."

Mira's face changed.

"What about it?"

"There's a scene in the book."

"What scene?"

"Seraphina finds Cassian alone in the study."

"And?"

"She tells him she's afraid."

Mira stared at me.

"Afraid of what?"

"That Aria will eventually leave him."

Silence.

"She tells him she doesn't trust me."

Mira's eyes widened.

"And does he believe her?"

"In the original story?"

I nodded.

"Eventually."

Mira cursed.

"Then we need to stop her."

We ran.

---

The study door was closed.

I reached it first.

Before I could touch the handle, voices came from inside.

Seraphina.

And Cassian.

My stomach dropped.

Mira reached me.

"What do we do?"

I held up a finger.

Listen.

"I didn't want to tell you," Seraphina was saying softly.

Cassian's voice was colder.

"Then why did you?"

"Because I'm worried about you."

"About me?"

"You're different."

My heart pounded.

There it was.

The beginning.

"You barely speak to me anymore."

Silence.

Then Seraphina continued.

"Ever since Aria changed."

I clenched my fists.

Mira looked at me.

I shook my head.

Don't interrupt yet.

Inside, Cassian sighed.

"Aria is my wife."

"I know."

"I care about her."

"I know."

Seraphina's voice trembled.

"But what if she doesn't care about you?"

My heart stopped.

Cassian didn't answer.

Seraphina continued.

"What if she's only acting differently because she wants something?"

Mira's eyes narrowed.

I felt anger rise through me.

There it was.

The first lie.

The same lie that had destroyed everything.

Except this time—

Cassian spoke.

"You've been spending too much time worrying about my marriage."

Seraphina went silent.

My eyes widened.

Cassian continued.

"And not enough time worrying about your own life."

I almost smiled.

Mira covered her mouth.

Inside the room, Seraphina sounded genuinely hurt.

"I only wanted to protect you."

"I know."

"Then why are you angry with me?"

"I'm not angry."

"Then—"

"But I don't need protecting from my wife."

Silence.

My heart nearly burst.

Cassian's voice softened.

"Aria hasn't given me a reason not to trust her."

Another silence.

Then Seraphina whispered,

"She will."

My smile disappeared.

Cassian didn't answer.

Seraphina continued.

"Everyone leaves eventually, Cassian."

Her voice cracked.

"Even the people you love."

That sentence.

That exact sentence.

I remembered it.

In the original story, it was the beginning of Cassian's paranoia.

Seraphina had planted the fear.

She had repeated it until he believed it.

Until he began watching Aria.

Questioning her.

Doubting her.

And eventually—

Killing her.

My hand reached for the door.

Mira grabbed my wrist.

I looked at her.

She whispered,

"Wait."

Inside, Cassian spoke.

"Seraphina."

"Yes?"

"If you're trying to tell me something..."

A pause.

"...say it."

My blood ran cold.

Seraphina had him exactly where she wanted him.

And then she said the words that made my stomach twist.

"I saw Aria with another man."

Mira's eyes widened.

I stopped breathing.

Cassian went completely silent.

And suddenly, I understood.

This wasn't the scene from the book anymore.

It was worse.

Because Seraphina had changed the script.

And this time, she had come prepared.