"She's too sensitive to the environment right now. The shift would make her really sick," Dominick explained as my consciousness waivered further.
"Where are we gonna go?" Adonis inquired.
"Back home," Dominick declared.
"Isn't that too risky?" Otis questioned.
"Not with them still looking for Cass. We’ve got time, but not loads of it. The moment we arrive, we'll quickly ensure Cass is okay and then get the ball rolling. Tristan, get right along researching where they're taking Omarion and figure out what the prison reports are saying. Adonis, get a private jet on standby. Make sure there are NDAs and everything. It has to be a crew we can trust with our lives. Otis, you'll be with me."
"What are you scheming?" Otis questioned.
"I'm not scheming," Dominick replied, and I fought to hear the last bit of his words before my consciousness fell into the pit of darkness.
"I'm preparing for our confrontation with the person who wants Cassandra dead."
New Plans And Unexpected Visitor
"Drink up, Princess Cassandra! This special concoction of herbs will aid your nausea!"
"It smells like peppermint," I muttered, but sipped on the steamy liquid while I fought to keep my eyes open.
"Peppermint tea helps pregnant women with morning sickness."
My eyes slowly drifted over to Everett, watching as he packed the last bit of my "essentials" in the little suitcase for our morphing escape plan that Tristan was figuring out.
In other words, Everett was helping pack my favorite sets of lingerie because I wasn't going to enter another prison without comfortable undergarments. Fuck that.
"I'm not pregnant."
He smirked at my comment. "Not yet."
I groaned but didn't bother arguing with him. I was fighting to stay awake after the heavy spell of voodoo sleep-inducing magic Dominick placed on me prior to entering the portal that landed us back home in the cozy protective walls of Everett's place.
If I wasn't so groggy, I would have been on cloud nine after months of imprisonment in those mold-filled cells and sweaty prison uniforms, but I was struggling with this lingering spell.
Dominick was downstairs with Otis in the living room while Tristan was in the other room with Adonis trying to figure things out.
I wasn't following along with the apparent plan that was being formulated, but my new role was to get as much rest as I could because we'd be on the move to wherever our next destination was.
My immediate guess was Dubai, which personally didn't make sense to me. My memories of everything that occurred were still a rushed blur of adrenaline, survival, and potential death, but there was something about Dubai that was ringing so many bells in my head that it was going to give me a headache if I lingered on the topic for too long.
The guys had finished packing what they would need, but due to my weakened predicament, Everett was the only one to help out in the packing department.
It was clear with the relieved grin he wore on his face for a good hour and a half that he was pleased with my safe return. I was thankful to see him again, and I got rewarded with a bear hug after I'd woken up.
He was a little speechless with my new appearance, but he was proud that I was able to awaken my true self that was locked away by unforeseen means. He insisted he'd do what he could to aid us in whatever our new mission was, but just having his support was more than enough.
I finished as much tea as I could before I lowered the mug. "I think I'm good."
Marigold flew down to look at the half-drunk liquid.
"You still have half!"
"I'm not very thirsty, Marigold," I pleaded, my eyes giving away my struggle to keep awake.
"Princess Casandra is still drained from the awakening," Marigold emphasized.
All I could do was nod, close my eyes, and try to relax in my upright sitting position. The guys were worried that I'd vomit and choke in my sleep, thus forcing me into this position until I felt a tad better and we were on our way.
I doubt we'd be privileged with enough time to do much here without a check-in from Widow herself. It was far too difficult to try and predict what she'd been planning with my abrupt escape after she’d tried to get rid of me with her own venomous hands.
The mug in my hand was taken from my grasp, the movement not even bothering me as the blanket that covered the lower part of my legs was moved up to my waist.
I fought to open my eyes or to even say thank you, but it seemed impossible for me. I'd been so energized in the forest, but now I felt extremely weak and a tad vulnerable. An odd transition to deal with, but I understood in the back of my mind that recovery was mandatory after an extreme shift like I'd just gone through.
"Poor princess." Marigold's worried tone made me want to comfort her.
"Cassandra's a strong woman. She'll recover quickly," Everett replied.
"You're a bear shifter," Marigold noted.
"Is it obvious?"
"No, but bear shifters have green auras and big hearts."
"You can tell if someone has a big heart by staring at them?"
"No." Marigold was quiet for a bit. "I can tell Princess Cassandra respects you as a father figure and not just as an individual in her life. It was displayed in the look of love and relief in her eyes when she woke up with you nearby. It's love you'd see between a parent and a child. That's what it feels like to me."
"You're a rather perceptive fae pixie," Everett complimented. "From what Tristan gathered from you earlier, you should have been in Cassandra's life way before now."
"Yes!" I could envision Marigold putting her hands on her hips and puffing her cheeks in defiance. "Ages ago! I should have grown up with her, but instead, Widow put a spell on her! Blocked my magic and made it so Princess Cassandra would doubt herself until her magic withered and killed her!"
"Widow is a being of jealousy, sneaky tricks, and unfairness. I can believe she is one of the culprits in all of this, but that begs the question of why Cassandra was in the possession of the Thorns and later left for dead."
"Bigger plot," Marigold emphasized. "Don't know exactly what, though."
"We'll figure it out. Only a matter of time before Tristan and the others find something. Would you like to rest, Marigold?"
"But…" She paused. "I have to watch Princess Cassandra! That is my...duty!" She yawned last minute before accenting the final word.
Everett chuckled. "Get a few minute's sleep. I'll watch Cassandra while I finish folding what she'll need for whatever trip you decide on.
"Are you sure?" She did seem tired, just like myself as I struggled not to fall asleep without this conversation being over.
"Yes. You'll need it to protect Cassandra," he reasoned.
"True," she quietly admitted. "Poor princess. She has to discover so much now. She deserves lots of rest, but I'm not sure she'll have enough time."
"If there's not enough time, we'll make it," Everette replied. I could hear the kindness in his voice and could envision him smiling with positivity oozing off of his tall frame. "Allow us to figure things out while you and Cassandra rest. You have to remember you're not in this alone anymore."