Beauty and Betrayal

Chapter 7 Walking the Edge

Juliette stepped back from Rowan and opened the door with a smile. "Hey, J, come on in. Rowan was just leaving," she said, looking over her shoulder at Rowan.

Rowan's smirk didn't falter, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he met her gaze. "Was I?" he drawled, taking his time, as if daring her to challenge him.

Jude raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in the air, but she forced a casual smile as she stepped into the room. "Everything okay in here?"

Juliette held Rowan's stare, her heart still racing from their earlier exchange. "Perfect," she replied, her tone sharper than she intended. "Rowan was just saying goodnight."

Rowan's smile widened, dark and knowing. "Of course," he murmured, brushing past her, his fingers lightly grazing her arm as he left the room. "Goodnight, princess."

Juliette stood frozen for a moment, the weight of his words lingering in the air long after the door clicked shut. Her eyes lingered on the door before she turned to Jude. "I'm going to take a bath," she said, walking into the bathroom without waiting for Jude's response. She grabbed the pitchers of warm water and poured them into the bath, then got in, washing off the dirt and grime of the last week. But her thoughts lingered on Rowan's offer. "Become my queen," he had said. He wanted her to join him. She dove under the water, holding herself there a second longer than needed, then broke the surface, her hair damp as she made her decision.

Cassian

The door opened, and Rowan walked in like a sly cat. "You seem chipper, Rowan. What stupid thing have you inflicted now?"

Rowan raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he stepped further into the room, unbothered by Cassian's tension. "Stupid? Is that what you think I do, Cassian?" he replied with mock offense, brushing off invisible dust from his sleeve. "I'd call it more... calculated mischief."

Cassian's eyes narrowed. "You're playing a dangerous game. This isn't the time for your 'mischief.'"

Rowan's gaze turned sharp, his smirk never faltering. "Dangerous games are the only ones worth playing. You should know that by now, Cassian." His voice lowered, a hint of menace creeping in. "Besides, some things require a bit of chaos to make them fall into place."

"I don't know what game you're playing, but you better end it right here, Stormcleaver. It's not the time for this."

Rowan rolled his eyes, striding to the bed. "I'm almost insulted, but no, no, it's far too late to play this game with you, Hearthorn. You can have the seat."

The next morning, they are walking through the town

Jude

I walk arm in arm with my sister. I mean, that's what it has always been and always will be. Nothing will ever change that fact. I'm certain if I know her at all, she'd always choose us, our friendship.

Jude shakes the thought out of her head. "Look at that, Jules," she points to the food stand with fresh sweets laid out.

Juliette smiles, pulling out her wallet, but frowns. "We only have 85 silvers left for almost two months. We should save."

Rowan gives Juliette a sideways glance before disappearing into the crowd. A few minutes later, he reappears with two muffins in hand. "Ladies," he says, handing the sweet treat to them.

"Rowan, that's very kind, but we should be saving our gold, not spending. This must have been 15 gold," Jude says gently, holding the muffin.

"Oh, I know, but it's not expensive when it's free," he says with a grin, taking a bite of Juliette's muffin.

"I'm not sure what you mean, Rowan. No one in their right mind would give these out for free," Jude says, her brows furrowing.

"I mean it's free when you take it. Two little muffins aren't hurting anybody, especially when a beautiful lady wanted a muffin," he says, looking at Juliette as he speaks.

"I don't care that we wanted it. It's not right. A person worked hard to make this, and they might need the money for it. This isn't okay, Rowan. Go pay."

"Chill, J, it's two muffins. The old man won't even know," Juliette says, linking arms with Rowan as they walk further into the town square.

Jude looks at Cassian in almost disbelief. Cassian's jaw tightens as he catches Jude's disbelieving look. He can feel the frustration bubbling up inside him, but he keeps his voice calm and steady.

"Don't give me that look, Jude," he mutters, glancing between her and Rowan. "You know exactly what he's doing."

Jude shakes her head slightly, still holding the muffin as if it were a bomb about to go off. "It's not just about the muffins, Cassian. You see it, don't you? How far he's willing to go, how reckless he is."

Cassian exhales sharply, crossing his arms over his chest. "Of course I see it. Rowan's always been like this—pushing limits, thinking he can get away with anything. But this... this is different." His eyes flicker to where Juliette is laughing, arms linked with Rowan. "He's not just playing games anymore. He's pulling her deeper into his mess, and she's too caught up to notice."

Jude's expression softens, her voice lowering. "And you're just going to let it happen?"

Cassian shakes his head, his gaze darkening. "No. I'm not. But you and I both know confronting him directly only feeds into his arrogance. He's like a wildfire—you push too hard, and he burns everything down."

Jude takes a step closer, her voice filled with concern. "Then what do we do?"

Cassian sighs, looking after Rowan and Juliette as they disappear further into the town square. "We stay close. We watch. And when the time comes, we make sure she sees who Rowan really is. Before it's too late."

------------AUTHORS NOTE------------------

"THANK YOU AUGUST!!!" *we all say in unison*