Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 13: Arrangement (1)

Cassandra was left to watch Selene and Lord Blackthorn. She did not understand why Gabriel had walked away, allowing Selene to do as she liked. The town speaking about this would ruin the announcement that they would get married and possibly dim the light about Gabriel being a hero.

"Lord Blackthorn, I did not get to speak to you since you left the banquet in such a rush. I am Cassandra Avery, the-" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"I know what you are," Xavier said, putting an end to unnecessary introductions.

"What? Isn’t it who?" Cassandra asked. Was he speaking about her being a human or in Selene’s eyes, a mistress? "It feels like you dislike me yet I have not done anything to you. If you would only give me the chance, you would see that your judgement of me is wrong."

Xavier lazily looked away from Selene gathering a few things that were not in the trunk and gave the little pest his attention. "Why does my opinion of you need to change? You mean nothing to me."

Cassandra saw his point but still, she wanted him to think highly of her. "Still, I don’t want a lord to think poorly of me."

"You will not have a lord thinking poorly of you," Xavier replied, his response confusing Cassandra and Selene who couldn’t avoid hearing it. "People with sense will think poorly about you. You shouldn’t be concerned about my opinion."

"I do not understand it. As a lord and a pureblood, you should know that it is not uncommon for vampires to have many lovers. I have seen it before how they tend to be in the arms of many lovers yet married but you shame Gabriel,’ said Cassandra.

"A human doesn’t have a place to tell me about my kind. Since he left, isn’t it about time that you run along?" Xavier asked, tired of her presence. "Is that all?" He asked Selene.

"It is,’ Selene nodded her head. She helped Agnes to lift the trunk but before she made it two steps toward the door, Xavier came to lift it with one hand. "Thank you."

"It is time to leave. Small homes bother me and this one is filled with pests," Xavier said, wanting to leave quickly before he brought something home with him.

Selene did not know what pest he spoke of but then her eyes met with Cassandra’s and it clicked. It seemed that Cassandra was also puzzled by what he meant and didn’t find the answer.

"Stay close," Selene said to Agnes as she started to follow Xavier out the door.

"It is a shame to see you go," Cassandra said as Selene came closer to the door. "I was looking forward to running this home beside you. I shall have a warm welcome when you return."

Selene walked by Cassandra without responding to her. Having to take care of this home and deal with Gabriel’s parents was going to slowly wear Cassandra down for now.

"Did you put the maid in a good spot?" Cassandra asked, trying another way to provoke Selene. "If only she had been a little bit more obedient, you wouldn’t have been so rash to leave last night. It has cost your home and husband. Oh, I had taken your husband before then."

Cassandra disliked that Selene left without saying something to her. Who would just leave quietly when the woman who took your spot was standing there? Was Selene so defeated already?

Cassandra smiled, enjoying her win over a pureblood but her smile fell when she looked ahead to find Xaviier staring at her. She was certain he had left quickly to take the trunk to the carriage and didn’t hear when he returned.

Cassandra took a step back, concerned about his look. He didn’t smile or show any displeasure. He just looked at her. She found some relief when he turned to Selene and there was a small smile.

’Why did he just leave?’ Cassandra thought, leaving the room she would turn to a storage room to find Gabriel.

She found Gabriel standing by the window in their bedroom, looking down at the carriage that would take Selene away from here. "Your hand has not healed."

"That is normal. I am not a pureblood for it to heal quickly. Did she take everything?" Gabriel asked.

"She took what she needed. Why are you letting her leave without a fight? She is your wife," said Cassandra.

"She is my wife so she will be back. The king will make her come back before Lord Blackthorn has his way with her. He is only using her," Gabriel said, watching the pair who finally returned to the carriage. "He throws everyone away."

Cassandra touched Gabriel’s arm. "I am sorry. It is because of me that it has come to this. I should have punished the maid some other way."

"It is not your fault. Selene took her anger meant for me out on you and sent her maid to do it. You were the victim in that. She is doing this so I will send you away but I will not. I am just puzzled by what she offered him to get him to come here," Gabriel said, failing to put together why Xavier was present.

"You were away for six months. It was enough time for her heart and body to go to someone else. It is wrong of her to judge you considering what she had done. I was hoping we could get along and take care of the home together but she has too much anger in her heart. I will be here for you. Always," Cassandra promised.

Gabriel looked away from the carriage to Cassandra. The way she comforted him was why he couldn’t send her away.

"I’m sure she will remember how good you were to her and return but if she does not, you should let her go. You do not need her," Cassandra said, palming the right side of his face. "What do you need her for? You are the kingdom’s hero. The king seeks to reward you for all you have done."

She continued, "You do not need to keep a pureblood at your side to mean something in this town. When Lord Blackthorn turns on her, you should take her in again but this time as your mistress. It would have her realise what she had before. I hate to see that she did not notice what a good man she had."

Gabriel embraced Cassandra. She provided him with a good plan to punish Selene. "I am thirsty," he said, tugging on her dress to make space for him to drink.

Cassandra frowned, wishing he would drink from someone else but this was better than having to be intimate with him.

Unfortunately, what Cassandra didn’t want was Gabriel’s plan to distract him from Selene leaving with another man. Gabriel wanted Cassandra undressed so he could have his way with her.

Cassandra was a kind woman but secretly, Gabriel couldn’t stop imagining Selene’s face in these moments when he was intimate with Cassandra.

"Gabriel," Cassandra patted his arm when he bit her for too long.

Hearing Cassandra’s voice, Gabriel remembered who he was with.

"I have somewhere to be," he said, unable to continue.

Cassandra covered the wound Gabriel made on her neck. Something needed to be done with how much he wanted to take from her.

She went to the window where Lord Blackthorn helped Selene to the carriage. It was a great shame she had not met Xavier first.