Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

ATASHA’S POV

When the servant said Sister Veris was here to see me, she never mentioned anything about Violet, her niece.

“Please forgive us for coming without notice,” Sister Veris said as she entered the study. “But Violet and I wanted to thank you personally for everything.”

I stood from my chair, surprised by how different she looked. The last time I saw her, her hair had been streaked with gray and her face drawn from the winters spent at the abbey. Now, she looked younger somehow, her skin smoother, her movements steadier. Healing and good food seemed to have done her well.

“There’s no need for thanks, Sister,” I said, gesturing for them to sit.

“Still,” she insisted with a soft smile. “We couldn’t come empty–handed.” She set a small velvet box on the table between us and gently pushed it toward me. “Violet and I especially prepared this for you. It’s nothing grand, but it’s something my family has kept for years.”

“You didn’t have to,” I said, shaking my head.

“Please,” she said. “I insist.”

I nodded and reached for the box. The velvet was dark blue, soft under my fingers. When I opened it, a necklace lay inside, a simple silver chain holding a round, pale stone with faint streaks of light running through it.

“It’s called a Lunaris Tear,” Sister Veris said. “According to legend, the stone fell from the sky during the goddess’s mourning. It is said to carry her tears and her blessing. Whoever wears it will be protected from witchcraft.”

My brow lifted slightly. “From witches?”

“Yes,” she said. “It’s a charm against dark forces. It wards off ill–intent and curses.”

Before I could answer, Violet spoke for the first time. Her voice was soft but sincere. “It’s also said to make you immune to curses,” she added quickly. “Not that you’d ever need it, of course. I mean… you can heal yourself.”

Her awkwardness made me smile despite myself. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Violet. Thank you.”

The

young

woman’s cheeks flushed. “You saved my life,” she said quietly. “This is the least I could do.”

I closed the box carefully. “How are you feeling now?”

“I feel strong,” she said, sitting a little straighter. “Stronger than before.”

Sister Veris beamed. “She’s back to riding again,” she said proudly. “Violet used to be an excellent horse rider before that strange illness took hold. Now she’s back in the stables almost every morning. It’s a blessing.”

“That’s good to hear,” I said. “I’m glad you’ve recovered.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

For a brief moment, the room felt light. But then Violet hesitated, her fingers twisting around the edge of her cloak. She glanced at her aunt, then back at me.

“Would it be alright,” she began carefully. “If I spoke with you alone?”

Sister Veris didn’t seem surprised. She looked at her niece for a moment and then nodded, standing up. “Of

course.”

I looked between them, slightly puzzled. “Is there something you can’t say in front of Sister Veris?”

Violet shook her head. “No, Your Highness. But this is something that must be said only to you.”

That caught my attention. I nodded. “Very well.”

Sister Veris gave a small bow before turning toward the door. As she passed Grace, she murmured a few words, then left quietly. I gestured to Grace as well, signaling her to step outside and close the door behind

her.

My brows drew together. “What do you mean?”

She nodded, her voice lowering. “It’s hard to explain. It wasn’t a dream. It was like being in another room, dark, cold, and cut off from everything. I couldn’t move, but I knew something was there with me. Watching.”

A faint chill ran through me, though the room was warm. “And when I healed you?”

“That’s when I felt it change,” she said. “I remember the warmth, and then… a pull. Like I was being dragged away from that place. But something didn’t want to let go.”

I froze. “Something?”

Violet nodded again, her expression tightening. “It fought you. I could feel it. Whatever it was, it was holding me there, and you were pulling me back.”

The silence between us stretched.

Finally, she lifted her head. Her voice was calm now, too calm. “That’s why I came today. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. It made me wonder…”

My pulse kicked once, uneasy. “Wonder what?”

Then out of nowhere, her mouth curved into a small, unsettling smile.

“How were you able to heal me?” she asked softly. Then, as if savoring the words, she repeated them, slowly this time. “How are you… someone without a wolf… able to heal me?”

The question hung in the air like a weight.

Violet’s eyes met mine then, and for a heartbeat, they didn’t look like hers at all. Something cold flickered there, something that didn’t belong to her.

The air in the room seemed to thin.

I didn’t answer.

And she just kept smiling.