Chapter 93

Cassie

It took everything I had not to run away the second my husband spoke. But I did it.

"I'm here Julian." Stepping from behind Ian's back I felt my muscles lock up because I was shaking and trembling so hard.

His eyes snapped to my face and even though he was half a long hallway away I saw his full lips part in a sigh. The sound of it echoed around me. He sounded like a sigh of content.

"Cassie."  Julian took a step forward and again Ian jumped half in front of me. Like he wanted to protect me. I got that, I could understand it. I wanted him to protect me from the unreadable look on Julian's face.

"Stop." Ian threw up a hand. "Don't come any closer."

Julian ignored him totally. "You would keep me away from my wife?" The tone of his voice was almost mocking. Strangely it was full of laughter.

"There isn't a force on this earth that could keep me from her now." A dozen feet away Julian stopped. "Not even you Ian."

Ian sighed. "Just let her go Julian. You're argument is with me." He sounded resigned and I hated that because I knew what he was going to do and it was a death sentence.

How would I ever look Yana in the face if I got her mate killed? Would I even get to see her and the other panther again? If Ian died fighting Julian I would be kept prisoner here for the rest of my days. I may even be executed and my babies with me. I would never see any of them again.

I would never see my mother again. She would be completely unprotected.

"No." Julian said stiffly with a shake of his head. "I can never-"

"Stop." I stalked between them. My hands on my hips. "Stop it right now." I snapped at Ian as he pulled his lips back from his teeth and snarled out a warning.

"Cassie." Julian moaned my name and I whirled back towards him only to find his eyes glued to my stomach and his mouth swinging open in shock. "I can't believe -"

One eyebrow arched up. "You didn't know I was pregnant?"

He seemed to shake himself. "I was told but being told and seeing you with my own eyes is-" He took another step forward , his hand outstretched like he wanted to touch my bump. I scooted away and his face fell.

"You don't want me to touch you?"

I shook my head. Truth was I wanted that more than anything else in the world. I was fighting against a need so strong in me that it felt like my soul was being burned alive. Every second I stood in front of him and didn't fall into his arms was agony.

"Your touch has never been gentle."

His face fell even more. "I know but -" again his eyes scanned my protruding stomach. "That was before I saw the truth."

I couldn't help the hope that lit up my heart. "The truth?"

"That you're mine," he said simply. "That you have been my mate since we were the children. That those babies are mine."

"Supposedly anyway." I muttered and behind me Ian grumbled . "That isn't helping Cassie. He's willing to listen. Don't ruin this."

I turned back to my husband. Giving him all of my imagination. "Are you willing to listen?"

"Yes."

He said it too quickly. Instantly I went on edge.

Seeing the look on my face Julian forced himself to smile. "I just want to talk Cassie. I've been searching for you for the last six months. Ian is entirely too good at his job."

I giggled before I could stop myself. That was something we could agree on.

"And then we are free to go?"

The moment I said it, his face closed down. A darkness entered his eyes and he didn't look away quick enough to hide it.

"No." He said finally. "I can't let you go. Not now I have you back Cassie. My family."

I wanted to scream at him. That this was all his fault anyway. If he was without a family it was because of his own actions.

"You would-"

"Why did you come here Cassie?"

"To try and help the king."

"And?" Hope made his voice higher than it usually was. "Can you help him?"

"I don't know." I didn't want to make him angry and flat out tell him no, there was no hope for the king now. He might linger on for weeks but the disease in his body would one day win. It would be a day sooner than anyone wanted.

"Can you try? Stay and try and we can talk and make sure -" again his eyes scattered before landing on my stomach.

"Make sure our stories are straight?" I cocked my head to the side. "Do I have a choice?"

He didn't say a word.

"I'll stay." I said and behind me Ian let out a growl. "I'll stay for as long as you need me to but-"

Julian's eyes narrowed.

"Ian gets to leave. Right this second." I demanded,

"Hell no." Ian gripped me by the shoulder and span me around. "I won't let you do this. I'll get us out."

"Just promise me you will look after my mum and the others. Protect them." I smiled and he opened his mouth to bluster.

Ignoring him I crossed the space between me and my husband until I had to crane my neck up to look at him. This close up he still looked handsome but there were now fine lines around his eyes. He looked tired.

"Ian gets to leave. If that's what it takes to keep you." He smiled. Reaching for my cheek he pushed a dark strand of hair behind my ear and I shivered at his touch.

"Julian, baby?" Megan's unmissable voice wafted up the stairs.

"We need to get you both out of sight." He mumbled and took my hand. "Ian, you know where to go?"

For a second Ian stared at him and then he nodded. "I know where to go."