And Then There Were Four novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Choices for the Future

Cassie.

The moment we arrived we were greeted by the guard, Odin, and Freya. My grandfather's eyes stared at me with surprise and curiosity I wasn't used to seeing. It was as if he was looking at me in a new light—like I wasn't the same girl who had left.

“Welcome home, Cassie." His deep and hearty voice made me smile as he opened his arms wide, and I embraced him into a hug. “I see that you brought someone back with you."

Pulling away from him, I glanced over my shoulder towards Damian. “Yes, I did. It was his time to come home to the garden and fate has deemed he is needed here."

Odin was quiet for a moment, and with his silence, I glanced back at him to see him staring at Damian with complete indifference. Part of me felt like there was a problem, but the other part of me knew deep down that this was meant to happen.

Moving past me, Odin made his way towards Damian without saying a word. The uncomfortable silence that seemed to pass between all of us. I looked towards Finn and Silas, slightly worried for a moment but before I could address anything, Damian spoke up.

“Odin, it's a pleasure to meet you again."

“Yes, it is," Odin replied before opening his arms and embracing Damian into a hug. A sigh of relief escaped me as a smile returned to my face. “Welcome to Asgard, Damian. Let's show you to your room and then tonight, we will dine and you can tell me all about how my family is doing on Earth."

Watching the two of them walk away towards the open doorway of the portal garden was a sight I would never get over. I had spent the last twelve hours worried sick about what was going to happen, about whether or not he would be accepted and it turned out that I had worried for no reason at all.

I was pleased he had been accepted here because the idea of having him around comforted me. “Let's go inside…" Silas said as he came to stand beside me.

“Okay." I reached out to wrap my fingers through his and was taken back when he moved away, not allowing me to seek the comfort of him that I had on Earth. It was as if he suddenly refused to show the affection he once had with me and that was more confusing than anything.

“It's okay," Finn said as he took the place Silas once had at my side. “He has a lot running through his mind right now, and none of it is because of you."

Turning to Finn, I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What are you talking about?"

Finn hesitated for a moment before he gestured his head towards the doorway. “Come on… I'll explain everything to you. First we need food and a drink."

****

Ten minutes later, I found myself sitting in Finn's room as I once had before, surrounded by the flowing colors of the fabrics he had hanging around his room. To imagine what it would be like in his realm was something I had done often lately. Thoughts of how beautiful it must have been, and what his people were like made me more curious by the minute.

However, looking at Finn, who took bites of fruit and cheese and drank from a silver goblet as if he had no cares in the world was another sight I wouldn't get used to. Finn was a prince of one of the oldest realms in the universe and for someone in his position, you would think him to be a man who was stressed and not easily able to converse.

Instead though, he was a man full of life. A man who didn't take anything for granted and cherished every moment that he made.

“I will say, Cassie… the Earth realm is quite remarkable. Your family definitely has done well for themselves there."

Small laughter escaped me as I lifted my own silver goblet to my lips. “Yeah, I guess."

His celestial eyes looked to me with intrigue as he made his way to where I was sitting. “What's wrong, Cassie? You were happy when we arrived, what changed?"

A heavy breath escaped me as I tried to find the words to express how I was feeling. Between having to leave my family again, Damian dying—even though he was with me—and of course Silas acting the way he was, I didn't know where to start.

“I suppose I'm just confused by the way Silas was acting."

“Ah." He smiled as he settled in closer to me. “Well, I can tell you a secret, Cassie, but you have to promise to keep it between us until it's absolutely necessary to use it."

“What do you mean?" I questioned, our faces only inches apart as he lifted his hand, running it down the side of my face. The deep celestial blue of his eyes were memorizing and though I found myself easily lost within them, I knew the conversation had to be finished before we lost each other in the flesh of our bodies.

“Silas isn't just a dragon. Nor is he just a guard," he started, causing my smile to fall slightly as I tried to understand what he meant. “He is far older than that and when he came here, he was running from a past that sought to destroy him."

“Who would want to destroy him?" I whispered, his lips getting closer to mine.

“The man who wanted to steal his rightful title, a creature that wanted to steal his throne."

The realization of what he was saying slowly began to settle in as his lips brushed against mine, setting my body on fire. Silas wasn't just a dragon who sought comfort in Asgard. He was royalty that sought asylum from those who wanted to kill him.

Which honestly just complicated things a hell of a lot more.

*****