#sjmxreaderweekd3

🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍

Cassian was distracted - all because of you. He still had yet to learn your name, but just watching you dance, eat, talk with others had him hooked.

You were a shining light amongst the dreariness of the Hewn City, a smile always on your face.

And a ring on your finger.

Cassian watched you closely, looking to see what males you lingered near, hoping to find which male you were engaged to. For innocent reasons, of course, like beating the living hell out of him until he relinquished his claim on you, leaving you free for Cassian to woo.

Or perhaps he would simply claim you, and let Rhys figure out the details…

No, Cassian scolded himself. He would do this the right way, or not at all.

Unless it took too long to have you properly.

❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️

You grimaced into your wine, hoping that the expression was hidden by the goblet it was in. Earl Morrisse was… Not your favorite person to be around.

And yet still, you were engaged to him.

Your father had insisted upon the match, knowing that it was the only way to free himself from his debts. And, it would bring more power to him, though why he needed more power over a happy daughter, you would never understand. After countless fights ending in the same outcome, you had resigned yourself to your fate. There was nothing you could do to change your father’s mind. After all, the match had been made when you were born, and in the twenty-one years since, he hadn’t budged one bit.

You downed the rest of your drink before excusing yourself to exchange your glass for a fresh one, enjoying the thirty or so seconds you had to be free of your betrothed. Thankfully he was on his best behavior tonight due to the High Lord and his inner circle’s presence, keeping his grubby paws to himself. It disgusted you to the core that he would be your only lover for your entire life.

Perhaps you could avoid it for the rest of time once you got through your wedding night…

You swapped your glass, thanking the servant and allowing yourself to take a deep sip before you were to turn back. Just as you went to turn around, your upper arm was caught in a firm grip. When you saw it was Cassian, the High Lord’s general, your face went white.

What had you done wrong?

“Hello, there,” Cassian said, releasing his grip on you once he saw your startled face. “My name is Cassian, and you are…?”

Your eyes flicked past him to look at your High Lord, whose eyes were elsewhere. A breath of relief left you before you replied, “Y/N Winmore. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord.” You curtsied lowly, hoping that whatever he wanted, it would be over quickly.

“Winmore, as in Duke Riohr Winmore?” Cassian asked with a cocked head, eyes locked on the table behind you, where Earl Morrisse sat. You nodded your head. “How a pretty thing such as you is related to him, I can’t understand.”

Your cheeks turned pink at his flattery. “Thank you, my lord, but I really should be getting back…”

“Do you want to?”

“What?” You blinked at him. “Of course I do, the Earl is my betrothed.”

“Betrothed, yes, but you looked like you would rather be anywhere else than sitting by him,” Cassian said, grinning when you didn’t protest. “Come, sit with me for a while. You can say I intimidated you, if he gives you any trouble later.”

You bit your lip, looking back at the Earl who was staring at you with his beady eyes, ire already shining in them. “I suppose I can, for a moment.” You let Cassian lead you closer to the High Lord which had your nerves rising, then sat you at the first table to the left of his throne. A servant immediately came by and placed two fresh glasses of wine down, plus an assortment of hors d’oeuvres plated on a silver platter.

“Try this wine instead,” Cassian suggested, swiping your current glass from your hand and draining it in a few quick sips. You didn’t miss the way that his tongue darted out to lick his lips, the sight sending your heart fluttering. He was rather handsome, even if he still terrified you with his height and looming wings, plus all the dreadful stories you had been told about him by your family. “Try it,” Cassian said, nudging one of the new glasses towards you with a finger.

You gave him a tight smile before lifting the glass to your lips, delighting at the fizzy brightness of the wine. It was far better than what was passed around to the main crowd, though you supposed that you shouldn’t be surprised by the increased quality for a member of the inner circle. “It’s lovely,” you said softly when he looked at you expectantly.

“I’m glad that you like it, sweetheart. Now, tell me how a pretty young thing like you comes to be engaged to an ugly old bastard like Morrisse.”

“Well…” You thought about sparing him the ugly truth of it, that it was due to a terrible gambling debt that your father had with Morrisse, over a century before you were born. “Being my father’s first born. He owed the Earl, and he chose his first born as equal payment.”

“Surely that can’t be the only reason,” Cassian prodded, eyes widening slightly when you shook your head.

“It is. My father said that there’s no way around the deal, and I must go through with the marriage in order for the debt to be settled finally. I’ve tried to change his mind…”

“But your father is a Duke, surely he can repay the Earl now,” Cassian said thoughtfully. “Unless it was a bargain.”

You flashed him the tattoo on your wedding finger, a solid band of black ink standing in place of an engagement ring. “I bear the mark, and have since I was a child.”

Fury entered Cassian’s hazel eyes and you snatched your hand away from his view, burying it in your skirts. “I’m sure the High Lord could think of a way out of the bargain for you,” Cassian suggested. “I can think of one way already.” You raised a brow at him. “I could kill him for you,” he said seriously, laughing when your eyes went wide. “I’m joking, Y/N. No need to look so scandalized.”

You nodded your head, still spooked by his words. While you didn’t care for the Earl, you definitely didn’t wish for him to die. “Alright. I do think I should be getting back now.”

“At least try a few of these,” Cassian said, pointing at the food still before you.

“Only a few, and then I’m leaving,” you said.

❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️

Cassian escorted you back to your betrothed, a disgusting looking male that he now knew to be Earl Morrisse. How vile, for a male to claim an unborn child as payment for a simple gambling debt. And what an awful father you had, for him to agree. After hearing that information, Cassian had needed to force himself to stay seated, to not rush over to the bastard and smash his face in for you.

But you… You had seem comfortable enough with your fate, as if you had accepted that you would be married to that male.

Cassian would change that. It would be easy enough to ask Azriel to take care of the Earl for you, but Cassian wanted to do it himself. After seeing your eyes lingering on his lips, he knew it would only take a little push to have you in his arms. And with the Earl out of the way, he suspected you would have no issue with becoming his betrothed.

Which was perfect, as his patience was wearing thing. Only a week of observing you, and Cassian was ready to claim you in front of the entire revel, your sensibilities be damned.

❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️

A week passed, and Cassian was in attendance of each revel, and his eyes burned into you every second you were in the room. He didn’t approach you again, but the weight of his attention was something you couldn’t ignore. When you met his gaze, you felt dizzy with need, and it led to you dressing in your most lovely dresses each night, hoping to entice him into asking you for a dance.

You were engaged, after all, not married. You could dance with whoever you liked until your wedding night, and Cassian seemed like he would be a thrilling partner. Toeing the line of impropriety would be the perfect end to your freedom.

Still, he didn’t ask you to dance. It was somewhat disappointing, but perhaps he was a male that valued the sanctity of bargains. Either way, you kept a smile on your face, hoping to convince the Earl to be kind to you in marriage. You weren’t sure how that was going, seeing as his eyes still raked over you at every opportunity, leaving behind an oily feeling that set you on edge.

You were brushing your hair one afternoon when the news came.

The Earl was dead.

Your maid said that he had been found slashed to pieces in his room earlier in the morning, the news spreading life wildfire. You hardly believed the news, but when you looked at the fingers of your left hand, the ugly black band was gone.

You were free.

You sobbed in relief, setting down your hairbrush and burying your head in your hands. Your entire life, you had been promised to someone that you didn’t love. Love hadn’t ever been an option, but now it was. You could choose who to marry, find someone that would actually care for you. You felt like the luckiest girl in the world at the moment.

That night you dressed in a black gown, out of respect for your passed fiancé. The low cut, however, was to attract eligible males - Cassian specifically. You could ruin yourself with him and put a stop to any possible arranged marriages that your father might try to make.

From the moment you walked into the throne room, you felt Cassian’s fiery stare heating your skin, hazel eyes molten when you met them. He approached you immediately, taking your glove covered hand and kissing the back of it.

“I’m sorry to hear about your betrothed,” he said gently, though by the way he was looking appreciatively at your chest, he didn’t mind about the Earl’s unexpected passing.

“Thank you, my lord. It’s quite a shame,” you said with a coy smile.

“Would you care for a dance? In honor of the male who can no longer dance with you, of course,” Cassian said, a grin on his lips. You nodded and allowed him to lead you to the dance floor, and were immediately swept into a waltz.

He was a fantastic dancer, and his wings blocked out enough of the room that you felt like you were the only two in the world, your eyes locked onto his. He led you through the dance without missing a single step, a far cry from the Earl’s lackluster dancing skills. When the dance ended, Cassian led you back to the table you’d sat at with him before, pushing your chair in for you. Once he had settled into the chair next to you, he spoke.

“I know this might be sudden, but I would like for you to marry me.” You blinked at him in surprise, opening your mouth to respond, but he cut you off. “I’ve been watching you closely, and I believe that we would be a perfect match. You’re far too good for this place,” he said, gesturing to the revel. “And by marrying me, you would become a citizen of Velaris. I will afford you any liberties that you want, expect for indulging in the pleasure of others.”

Cassian watched you closely as you struggled to find the words you wanted to say. “It’s a very… kind offer, my lord-”

“Cassian. Call me Cassian.” His grin sent your heart fluttering, and you nodded.

“It’s a kind offer, Cassian, but I am just now free of an engagement for the first time in my life, and, well… I’m not quite ready to make that commitment.”

“Oh? So why have I overheard every eligible male in this room talking about securing your hand in marriage next?”

Really? The thought sent a chill through you. Your father would pounce on any opportunity to gain power in the city, including marrying you off to the highest bidder. “I- I hadn’t realized,” you said quietly.

“I promise to never hurt you, Y/N. I will be a devoted husband for the rest of our days, if you choose to trust me now.”

You bit your lip, considering your options. Either agree to marry Cassian and have some sort of freedom and control over your life, or wait for your father to trap you in another betrothal to a possibly despicable male. “I suppose… I agree, so long as we have a month long courting. I’d like to know the male that I am tying myself to for the rest of my life.”

Cassian beamed at you, happiness shining in those hazel eyes. “I accept your conditions, sweetheart. Now, give me your hand,” he said. He held your offered hand with such gentleness, and slid a diamond engagement ring onto your marriage finger. “This courting business you speak of… Can it include me taking me to your rooms and ravishing you?”

Heat rushed to your face at his question. “I suppose it could… Though I’d like to dance a bit more first.”

“I would be honored to dance with you again, sweetheart,” Cassian said with a grin, already standing and tugging you along with him. “Anything to earn your love.”

❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️