#moonandtide

“Also you know you’re not allowed to run away to sea unless you take me with you, right?” She was only half-joking. More than once Cass had gotten a glimpse of just how real the temptation to flee all his responsibilities was. And if it ever came to that someone would have to keep Eric safe until he came to his senses. Besides, she’d miss Max. 

“You absolute idiot!” Cass waited to make sure Eric could stand on his own and then socked him just hard enough in the stomach to make her point. “If you ever do something that stupid again I’ll kill you myself.” Then she grabbed his shoulder and hauled his royal keister inside the palace and up to his private washroom. “The water’s hot. Get warm and get changed. I’ll make sure food’s ready when you’re done. Don’t leave your chambers or I’ll sic Grim on you. Or worse, Carlotta.” Then she turned on her heel and walked out. She still needed to hit something.

“You do. Because he controls a third of the kingdom’s farming fields,” Cass responded with her arms crossed as she read the letter over Eric’s shoulder. Fishing and trade were the land’s primary sources of income and sustenance, but farming was still an important part of both. “There has to be some way to mollify him enough he accepts Ariel as your betrothed.” After a beat she added. “Or I could kill him.” She was only half-joking.

“All right,” Cass allowed. “So where is it you plan on fleeing? We don’t have much time before the Court realizes we’ve escaped their plans for you.”

"Ohh..." Cass answered with a low chuckle. "Is that the game we're playing now? I was undercover. I never actually had a thing for that idiot. You on the other hand...well your past relationships include a much older man who is inaccessible more often than not and a certain sociopathic prince of the Southern Isles." She jabbed at Eric's chest, "And, while not male, lets also not forget the time you almost married an evil sea witch." Her expression had turned more than a little smug. "I don't think it's my taste that needs questioning here."

If we’re going by Royal Babysitter verse then Cass is 100% Eric’s best woman. Try and stop him. (Depending how close she and Ariel are at this point she may also be pulling double-duty as maid of honor but either way she’s still wearing pants. Grim’s eyebrow twitches a little whenever he makes eye contact with her during the ceremony, but he learns to cope.) She somehow keeps Louie from trying to murder Sebastian. Again. It helps that she’s armed. She also doesn’t drink at the reception. (Listen she saw Game of Thrones how the last wedding went. She’s not taking chances.) But she has fun anyway. And when the evening ends she stays far far away from the Royal Cabin. (Unless it’s one of those verses.)

Cassandra raised an eyebrow and let out a sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. “You were the one who wanted to spend all your time onboard ships. With sailors. That very famously heterosexual profession. I don’t feel sorry for you. Also,” she smirked. “You have a hickey. Tell Tom I said hi.”