Betrothed (NOT UPDATING ANYMORE)

Chapter Five

It was nearly evening by the time Mother and and Father came back. They were surprised to find Terrence and I waiting for them neither of us having any signs of injuries.

Mother and Louise gave me a once over and I somehow must've passed their expectations. Father and James both patted Terrence on the shoulder and Father came and gave me a hug.

Dinner was full of questions from Terrence and I about what our parents were doing. However, both couples didn't say a word about it. There was no way that Terrence and I would wonder about their trip together, so it was left alone for the time being.

Louise and James both had to leave that night as something came up at their palace in Hern and they had to attend almost immediately. This left Terrence alone with me and my parents.

Daisy spent the night in my room as I had trouble sleeping at night and I didn't want her to get hurt again. I had lit a reading candle and opened a book to read. My mind got lost in the book so I didn't hear anything until Daisy started barking like mad. I shut my book and blew out the candle. I grabbed the dog and hid in the closet. Daisy growled, but I shushed her before she gave us away.

I looked towards the window and there was a dark cloaked figure that had scaled the palace and was trying to break the window open. I heard the glass shatter and the figure curse as glass spread everywhere. I heard him curse again he looked towards my bed. I saw he was armed with a knife as it glinted in the moonlight.

How he got passed the guards I had no idea. It was pretty tight especially near my quarters and my parents quarters. He flipped his hood down and all I could see were big nasty scars running down his face and towards his neck. His head was shaved and on it was a tattoo that looked like-

There was a knock on the door. "Cass?" It was Terrence.

Quickly, the man looked for somewhere to hide. He went under the bed and the door opened. I released Daisy and she went mad barking at the bed. Terrence walked in and saw the glass everywhere and Daisy barking the bed.

He pulled out his sword quietly and spotted me near the door. I placed my finger over my lips hoping he would get the idea. I pointed to the bed and he nodded understanding me. Daisy was still barking and she looked at Terrence and whined.

Terrence grabbed Daisy and sighed. "I have no idea where Cassie is. Sorry girl." He closed the door behind him. He must've went to get guards. I held my hand over my nose and mouth so the man wouldn't hear me at all. I heard him shuffle from under the bed just as the door opened revealing my Father and the Captain of the guard, Chris.

I ran out of the closet and into my father's arms as the man was knocked out and dragged to the dungeons. "Cassie." My fear breathed. He held onto me and sighed in relief. "You did a smart thing in hiding." He looked at Chris. "Captain tell me how that man was able to get behind the guards and able to get through my daughters window."

Chris paled. "I honestly have no idea Your Majesty. I have doubled the guards ever since the Royal family from Hern came here." Just as he was done explaining, Terrence came running over.

"All of the guards below Cassandra's quarters have been slaughtered. Whoever this was, he wasn't alone."

I felt my heart sink and suddenly it was hard to breath. I backed away from my father and the group of people who were watching me. My breaths came out ragged and I ran my hand shakily through my hair. First the basilisk and then this man with the tattoo on his head. A tattoo of a basilisk.

Terrence took my hand and steadied me. "Cass, Cassie, it'll be okay. Just breath. Slow and steady."

"Take her to the rooms next to yours Terrence. She'd be safer over there right now." My father kissed my forehead. "Everything will be sorted out sweetheart okay?"

I nodded weakly and Terrence lifted me up carrying me to the rooms. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Terrence set me down on my feet. I didn't look at him. I grasped his shirt and rested my head on his chest. Tears fell down my cheeks silently.

"I'm scared."

Terrence's chest rumbled as he chuckled quietly. "Of course you are." He pushed me away from his chest and wiped my tears away. His eyes met mine. "We'll sort this out okay? You, me, your father, my father and that lousy Captain will sort this out together."

"Chris isn't a lousy captain. He's very good at his job." I sniffled. Terrence rolled his eyes.

"He's a lousy captain Cassie. All of his guards failed to protect you."

"You said they were slaughtered. Which meant that they didn't even have a chance to defend themselves." Terrence sighed.

"I'm not fighting you on this. You need to get to bed and get some sleep. It's late. Daisy's already in there waiting for you."

I knew he was right but some part of me was still frightened. "Terrence." I whispered. "That man, h-he had a tattoo on his head."

"Most people get tattoos in weird places Cass." He said impatiently.

I shook my head and looked at him, my body trembling. "He had a tattoo of a basilisk."

Terrence's eyes widened and he cursed. "Are you sure it was a basilisk?" I nodded. He ran his hands up and down his face. "That's why it came from the west." He looked at me, his eyes stern. "Whatever you do and where ever you go, always have a guard with you do you understand?"

I frowned and opened my mouth to protest but his eyes were pleading almost as if- "Terrence who was that man?"

"I'll tell you in the morning. As of right now, you aren't safe. You're sleeping in with me tonight."

I coughed and held a hand over my palpitating heart. "I beg your pardon?"

He rolled his eyes. "Not like that. I just need you to stay with me so I can keep my eyes on you."

I stepped back and let out a nervous laugh. "No way am I sharing a room with you. That's madness."

Terrence took my hand and pulled me towards him. "Please, I don't bite. Besides princess, a lot of women would kill to be in your position."

"Sure they would. Especially since I have someone who wants to kill me! I am NOT sharing a room with you."

He sighed. "Fine. It was a bad idea anyway."

I sighed in relief. "Thank you. Now goodni-Hey!" Terrence lifted me up and opened his door and plopped me on his bed. I glared at him my cheeks ablaze. His hair fell over his face as he smirked down at me.

"This isn't so bad Cassie."

I gritted my teeth and tried to avoid his gaze and not think about our position. Or the way he was over me his lips so reachable-No. I can't think about him like that. It's disgusting.

"Terrence get off of me." I glared into his frozen blue eyes. He rolled over off of me and onto the other side of the bed.

He smirked and looked at me once more before he fell asleep. "Someday you're going to have to get used to this."

I just narrowed my eyes and turned on my side before my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.