And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Chapter 193: Foolish Behavior

Cassie.

I wasn't quite sure what to make of what Balder had said, but the more and more I thought about it, I couldn't help but wonder if he was trying to tell me something secretly without exactly coming out and saying it, which seemed to be the usual kind of thing that happened around this place.

The moment the sparring games had finished for the day, I took my leave with Sansa and made my way down the stone steps toward the main courtyard door, eager to be able to check and see if Lucas was okay. It was clear he had taken a beating from Soren, and I felt incredibly bad that he had, especially since he was so eager to prove himself in front of everybody. And yet when he lost, it seemed like he was just ridiculed over it.

Afterward, men scattered around the area talking and hanging out after everything had finished. I followed Sansa down the corridors toward the main door and I couldn't help but stop next to the door that led to the shower areas. It must have been where Lucas had gone after everything was said and done. And as I halted there, Sansa looked over her shoulder at me with curiosity.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she stood staring at me with her brows furrowed together and a look of confusion on her face.

"I think I should go check and see if Lucas is okay."

Shaking her head from side to side, she frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea, Cassie. He is already dealing with a loss... having you go in there is only going to make things worse."

"What are you talking about?” I scoffed with annoyance, 'I'm just there checking on him."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I frowned at the way she was acting. How could she think that I would make things worse? I was, at one point in time, Lucas's mate, and he cared for me greatly. He would never get upset at me for checking on him.

After a moment of the stare down, a smile crossed her face as she gestured toward the door. “Okay, then. By all means, go check on him. Just don't come complaining to mewhen it backfires.“

Her words caused me to hesitate as I glanced toward the door and then back to her. Maybe she was right, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel the pull to check. The image of him bleeding was imprinted in my mind, and I just had to make sure that he was safe.

In frustration, I huffed out and moved toward the door causing Sansa to groan as she turned walking away and I entered the darkened pathway. The smell of rank body odor caused me to gag as I made my way toward the lockers and searched for the dark head of hair I had grown to love overtime.

"Whoa! What do we have here, men?!* The hoots and hollers of multiple men made me internally wish I had listened to Sansa. Their testosterone levels must have been through the roof because as I walked past them, they licked their lips and fucked me with their eyes.

"Get over yourselves," I snapped as I pushed past them in search of Lucas.

as I looked up into the eyes of none other than Soren. The man who had caused Lucas harm today. He stood in front of me completely naked with a smirk

here, Delicious? Did you decide to reward me early for

than most men I had met and

you think for one moment your trashy pick-up line was going to work, you're sadly mistaken. Plus," I replied, looking him up and down thoroughly, "It doesn’t seem like

left the mouths of the men in that locker room was enough for anyone outside of this building to hear it-and Soren wasn't pleased with what I said. His eyes narrowed at me as he sneered at my remark. "You have a lot to say for a woman who's being passed off as a

see me falter. It was men like him that made me wonder if I should just be single forever. He was nothing but a prick looking to get one off and

place. “You see, the winner won't win me. He will win the opportunity to please me however I see fit for the rest of his life. Granted you will have luxuries... but you will

question what I was saying. They had all come

"You're lying," he muttered.

my smile widened.

he didn't like it. It was the truth. I

to be, they were sadly mistaken. Moving through the lockers, I turned every

you," I muttered as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me. There were cuts and bruises all over his body and I knew

from me with a frown. "What are you doing

sure you were okay... aren’t you

seeing me but it quickly disappeared and was replaced by something else

to respond, but nothing came out. I had thought he would have been happy to see him considering it had been so long but

I stared at him in disbelief. "I came to check on

him as somewhere within the locker room laughter echoed, and I realized that there must have been people listening to our exchange which only made him even more upset that I was here. "I'm not a fucking two-year-old, Cassie. I don't need you to come check on me. You being here makes me look weak, and complicates everything

to understand what was so wrong with me being

do shit like this and your immature behavior is really starting to make

was still just as gorgeous as I remembered, and yet I couldn't understand why he seemed so cold toward me. I guess he had a point but at the same time, I hadn't meant to act immature. I was genuinely worried for him, and he was scolding

I lowered my voice to a whisper. "Tell me you're only acting like this to throw

before his brows knitted together and a heavy breath escaped him. "I'm being serious, Cassie. I know what you’re looking for, but I already told you where I stood with things. I am participating in this contest like everyone else, and if I don't

behind me. 'Here