Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 177

Brute 177 Summary

Atasha is informed by Grace that the Demon Fangs are attacking the western border again, but this time they have targeted the northern front, a first in recorded history. This news unsettles Atasha deeply, and as she tries to process the situation, Lady Kenneth arrives to congratulate her on passing a test and offers to deliver the results to the King. Atasha, feeling exhausted and fragile, declines to join Lady Kenneth’s company and expresses her need to rest.

Reflecting on recent events, Atasha recalls fainting in the mausoleum and waking up drained in a way that was neither illness nor poison. Cassian, who had been quietly by her side, reveals that her apparent vulnerability was part of a plan to gain public sympathy and shift loyalty away from Yara and Lady Kenneth. Cassian had taken on the pain meant for Atasha, using a fae stone given by Elder Agape to absorb the agony, allowing her to appear weak while protecting her true strength.

As Atasha is escorted away from the crowd by Grace and Sister Veris, she senses the mixed emotions of those around her—worry, relief, and anger over her condition during the test. Despite wanting to join Cassian at the western borders, she is told he has already left to confront the rebels and that Elder Agape is waiting for her at the mansion. Accepting this, she agrees to return to the mansion first but insists she must see Cassian afterward.

At the mansion, Atasha finds Elder Agape and Prince Kaelith waiting. She presents the Stone of the Goddess, acknowledging its power and the help it provided her. To her surprise, Prince Kaelith’s quiet comment to Elder Agape reveals that he believes Atasha is not one of their kind but rather aligned with an opposing group, hinting at deeper tensions and questions about her identity.

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Chapter 177

ATASHA’S POV

“My lady…” Grace’s voice was low as she leaned closer, her fingers tightening gently but firmly around my arm.

“Demon Fangs,” she whispered, her tone heavy with dread.

A cold wave swept through me, and for a moment, it felt as if the entire world had shifted off its axis. The bustling voices of the crowd blurred into silence, leaving only that ominous name ringing in my ears: Demon Fangs. They were attacking the western border—again. But why now? Why target the northern front this time?

I tried to make sense of it. This was the first recorded assault on the northern western border. Could it be mere coincidence, or was there something more sinister at play?

Grace steadied me gently as I began to sway. “They’re breaking through the outposts. Lady Kenneth is being informed as we speak.”

Before I could gather my thoughts or respond, Lady Kenneth appeared, her presence commanding yet composed.

“Your Highness,” she greeted formally. “Congratulations on passing the test. I will personally deliver the results to the King.”

I gave a small nod, my throat constricting with a strange tightness. “Thank you. I’m grateful you were here today. But I need to rest now. I won’t be joining your company after this.”

She inclined her head in a brief, respectful bow. “Of course. Your well-being must come first.”

I managed a faint smile and shifted my gaze back to the Stone of the Goddess resting nearby. From my vantage point, it looked perfectly smooth, almost innocuous. Yet beneath my palm, I could still feel the lingering memory of its touch, a subtle pulse only I could sense.

I exhaled slowly, memories flooding back. After fainting in the mausoleum, I had woken the next morning barely able to lift my head. My body felt utterly drained—emptied in a way I struggled to describe. It wasn’t illness, nor poison. It was something else, a hollow exhaustion that weighed on me.

Cassian had been sitting quietly beside my bed. At first, he said nothing, waiting patiently until I was alert enough to understand.

“This is your moment,” he told me softly. “Let them see you like this. Let them believe you’re vulnerable. They need to think you bleed, that you can break. They must believe you are not invincible.”

At the time, I hadn’t fully grasped what he meant. But now, everything fell into place—the way the crowd’s reaction shifted, how VI trembled as I walked, my unsteady steps, the gasps from onlookers as if I might collapse at any moment. It all made sense. Cassian wanted them to see a fragile side of me, someone who needed protection.

The entire plan had been his from the start. To win the people’s sympathy, to turn their resentment toward Yara, to sow doubt about Lady Kenneth and the crown. He had orchestrated their loyalty to shift even before the test began—and it had worked.

Not because of my acting skills, but because Cassian bore the pain meant for me.

Every bit of it.

The stone itself never truly harmed me. The moment I laid eyes on it, Cassian’s body absorbed the agony. He never explained exactly how, but I suspected it had something to do with the fae stone Elder Agape had given me before I left the mansion. He had told me it was a relic from the royals who had found their destined mates.

Now, all I wanted was to leave this place and be with him.

I turned to Grace, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “Let’s go.”

Grace nodded without hesitation. Sister Veris moved to my other side, her hand firm and reassuring on my back. Together, they guided me carefully down the steps as the crowd parted to make way.

Whispers trailed behind us, a murmur of mixed emotions. I didn’t need to strain to understand their meaning. I saw it clearly in their faces—some filled with worry, others relieved, and many burning with anger. Anger that I had been forced into this test while in such a fragile state. Every reaction lined up perfectly with Cassian’s design.

Soon, we reached the waiting carriage. Grace helped me climb the steps while Sister Veris stayed close, ready to catch me if my legs faltered.

It rested in my palm, no larger than my thumb, deceptively harmless in appearance. But I knew the weight it carried—the power it had lent me.

“Thank you,” I said softly to Elder Agape. “This helped me more than you realize.”

He nodded silently in response.

Then, turning to Prince Kaelith, I extended the stone toward him. “I believe this belongs to you—or your family.”

To my surprise, Prince Kaelith glanced toward the Elder and said quietly, “So… you were right. She is not one of us. She is one of them.”

Conclusion

The chapter closes on a note of quiet resilience and deepening resolve. Atasha’s physical fragility belies the strength of her spirit and the intricate strategy unfolding beneath the surface. Cassian’s silent sacrifice has shielded her, allowing her to present a vulnerable front that conceals a carefully woven plan to sway the people’s loyalties. Despite the exhaustion and turmoil, Atasha’s determination to fulfill her role and protect those she loves remains unwavering, underscored by the unspoken bond and trust between her and Cassian.

As she returns the stone to Elder Agape and Prince Kaelith, the weight of her journey becomes tangible, symbolizing both the power she has wielded and the shifting alliances at play. The revelation of her true identity hints at deeper complexities to come, yet in this moment, Atasha stands poised between duty and desire, ready to face the uncertain path ahead. The chapter captures the delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, sacrifice and hope, setting the stage for the challenges that lie beyond the mansion’s walls.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to deepen the intrigue surrounding Atasha’s fragile state and the true nature of the Stone of the Goddess. As tensions rise with the Demon Fangs’ unexpected assault on the northern border, Atasha’s resolve will be tested not only by external threats but by the shifting loyalties and secrets within the mansion. The presence of Prince Kaelith and Elder Agape hints at revelations that could challenge everything Atasha believes about herself and her place in this perilous world.

Emotional undercurrents will run high as Atasha grapples with the burden of her role and the sacrifices Cassian has made on her behalf. The delicate balance between vulnerability and strength will be put to the test, especially as the lines between friend and foe blur. Readers can expect a chapter filled with subtle power plays, whispered truths, and the mounting pressure of an impending conflict that may change the course of their fates forever.