And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Chapter 183: Complications of the Heart

Cassie.

Fated mate?

The moment the dark hair, blue-eyed fae man with pointed ears stepped in front of me proclaiming I was his fated, I found myself completely in shock. Laughter immediately erupted from my lips, and I knew that wasn’t the first impression you wanted someone to have of you, but I couldn't fucking help it. "Oh, wow, man... that's a good one. I think I need a drink."

When I said I needed a drink, it wasn't a glass of water. Pushing past the man, I made my way straight towards the bar area where Odin had many alcoholic beverages on display and grabbed the nearest one that happened to be purple with a tart taste to follow.

At this point, I didn’t care what anyone had to say to me. The moment I downed one glass, I was reaching another until a firm grip on my wrist stopped me, and once again, I looked up into the Fae man's eyes which were narrowed in my direction. "I don’t think you should be drinking that so fast, little one."

Little one? Was he fucking kidding me right now. "Excuse me, I don't even know you.'

Taken aback by my response, he let go of my wrist and chuckled. "You are exactly how he painted you. Feisty, ill-mannered, and yet quite enjoyable."

"Ill-mannered?" I muttered, trying to process his words as I snatched the glass of whatever I was drinking from the table before he could stop me and downed it as well. "I'm not ill-mannered, for your information, and honestly, I don’t know how you approach women in your world, but I have been through too much shit lately to have some random fucking man I don't know come up to me claiming that I'm his fated... get the fuck out of here with that shit. I'm not a prize to be won."

Not bothering to listen to whatever this man had to say, I stormed past him, looking for a way to escape all the men who were longing to have a moment alone with me. I didn' t understand what they expected to happen by having a private conversation with me, but it sure as hell wasn't going to be me letting them sweep me off my feet or whatever the hell they imagined doing.

I was a strong independent woman... or so I kept telling myself.

'Cassie, where the hell are you going?" Stopping in my tracks, I turned to face Trixie, who stared at me with an edge of concern in her gaze. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I replied quickly, forcing a smile to my lips. "I just can't be in there anymore. It's been hours now, and all the faces and guys touching me is too much. None of them is the face I wanted to see, and I'm still coming to terms with that."

Nodding her head, she listened to everything I had to say about the various men I was forced to entertain in the ballroom, and at the end, she furrowed her brows with I told her about the Fae man with eyes the same color as mine.

"Uh, Cassie... did this man happen to be wearing a black suit with a blue and purple sash?-

"Blue and purple sash? I don't know, why that matter?" I asked with confusion.

shrugged. "Just humor me, okay... did

hard what exactly he looked like. The only problem was I couldn't get past

to just proclaim me his in the middle of the damn room with all those people looking at us. Groaning in disgust, I met Trixie's gaze again and saw the ashen look on her face adorned with wide eyes and parted lips. It was clear something about what I said was wrong, and for a minute, I started

"Trixie... what's wrong?"

took a deep breath. "Oh, Cassie... that was the fucking Prince of the Fae realm... and you just

she started to pace in the hallway, I realized it was worse than I thought. "So, on a scale of one to ten,

he could be really pissed and offended and

happen. You're out of your damn mind," I snapped

a good game of cat and mouse in which he would blow your mind by making you beg for him. He has been known to

a lot of people this evening, but the two people I wanted

deal with it tomorrow." I muttered with irritation. "I can't

let everyone know that

week? Odin said

knowing glance, "that's where people start using their intelligence to figure out how to

long enough to explain as I watched her swish her way back toward the ballroom, leaving me standing in the hallway alone. Defeated by everything, I sagged my shoulders and slowly turned, making my way through the various halls toward my room to only have the

to avoid this man at all costs tonight, but from the smirk on his face, he was expecting me. Which

a

wanted was to deal with him or his sister, and yet fate hated me so much it forced me right into his path. "Unfortunately, I'm not available tonight. Perhaps you can arrange something with me another

would ever allow that

that, but honesty..." he sighs, making his smile

eyes at him, I scoffed with disgust. "You're fucking insane. There is no way in hell I will ever marry you. Unfortunately, I’m not into

wall. Mani wasn't a small man by any means and dressed up right now in this three- piece suit, I had no doubt most women drooled over him. He

snapped

and sinister tone that made my heart race as he

a cry leaving my lips as his fingers dug into my arms, "you will pay for this shit. Wait until

stared at me. “Do you think he will care? It's not like you're a virgin.

situation wasn't going to end well. Mani was trying to make a point, and I was alone with him in the