EMBER POV
I swallowed and nodded again. "Yes, your majesty," I added, my voice barely came out.
"Yes. I mean it."
His eyes stayed on mine. I felt exposed under it, like he could see everything I didn't say out loud.
What Cassian tried to do… what Evander saw… none of it was spoken here. But it hung in the air between us.
At last, he gave a single nod.
"Then I will keep my word." His tone did not soften. "If you forgive him, he will be brought out of the dungeon."
"Thank you, your majesty." I bowed lower. Trying to avoid any eye contact.
Relief hit me so fast my knees almost gave out, but his voice cut through it.
"Understand this," he said. "I am releasing him because of your choice. Not his actions."
He turned to the guards.
"Bring Cassian up," he ordered. "He has been granted mercy."
I let out a slow breath. My hands were shaking, but at least Cassian would not be left down there. Not anymore. Evander had made his decision… and it was because of me.
The guards hauled Cassian out. He looked like a ghost. They carried him to the infirmary, and I followed along with His Majesty behind him. When we got there, the healer looked at us all stressed out.
"I'm out of herbs for this kind of fever," she said, looking like she wanted to cry.
"Then go get it," Julian yelled.
"It will take us three days to retrieve the root for this fever." The physician replied.
"I'll do it," I said.
"Can you do that?" Evander asked, looking at me surprised.
"Yes, I haven't tried on a werewolf before, Just birds," I said, fixing my gaze to the ground trying to avoid embarrassment.
"But my brother is no bird, why should we let you experiment on him." Julian fired at me.
"If you think , you can then go ahead." Evander said.
We went into the room where they laid Cassian down. His Majesty looked totally uneasy. He was pacing by the window, watching me like a hawk. I sat on the edge of the bed and started rubbing Cassian's feet, trying to get the healing energy to flow.
Even though he was half-dead, Cassian opened his eyes a crack. A nasty, lustful smirk pulled at his lips.
"I can't wait," he wheezed, his eyes trailing over me. "I can't wait for your hands to touch the rest of my body, little girl. Even like this, I'd take a piece of you."
I froze. The air in the room suddenly felt like it was about to explode. I heard a low, vibrating growl from the window. His Majesty was across the room in a blur, his fist pulled back, ready to cave Cassian's face in.