Athena's pov
He walked past me and shut the door. The lock clicked into place.
He didn't sit. Neither did I.
He spoke quietly, voice heavy. "I almost died once."
That froze me.
"It was a long time ago. Before you ever came to the Obsidian Throne. Before I became who I am now."
I stood still.
"My body was… failing," he said. "A curse. Old. Feral magic mixed with poison. No one knew how to stop it. The healers gave up. The pack elders said to prepare rites."
I couldn't imagine that. Not him. Not Cassius — who had always seemed so… unbreakable.
"I don't remember much of the final night," he said. "Only that it was cold. My limbs stopped listening. I couldn't breathe."
He turned slightly toward the fire and stared into it. "The King was the one who came."
I blinked. "The King?"
Cassius nodded once. "He sat by my bed. Didn't say anything at first. Just watched you in pain. Then he asked if I wanted to live."
My throat felt tight.
