The Half-Class by Kayvion Lewis

Chapter Thirty-Four

All day, I’d been riding. Had the threat of sunset not pulled me back, I would have kept on. My legs ached, but I deserved the pain. It felt like perseverance, something I needed plenty of now. After over a week of restriction, the ban on half-classes leaving homes was finally lifted. Temporarily, at least. We were now allowed out from two hours after mid-meal until sunset. I spent the entire time at the impossible pond, thinking about the twins, Gilow and Jace, Auntie and Kat. Thinking about who would miss me if I disappeared into the waters. At the moment, the only person I knew with complete certainty would miss me…was Cass.

I tethered Butter behind the barn and left her with an extra helping of feed and water. Her day had been taxing, but she pushed through it all. Some part of me was grateful to Auntie for bringing the horses back from Saddy’s. I’d never have to go there again.

I circled around to the front door and stopped. A familiar carriage was parked not too far away at the edge of the street. With anxious curiosity, I slid the door open and slipped inside. We did indeed have a visitor. Auntie Jen lingered behind the bar, facing Kat, perched on one stool, and Cass on another.

“Cass?” I peeled off my riding gloves. “What are you doing here?”

He rose from his stool. “I’ve been here for a while, actually. Waiting for you.”

“For a couple hours now,” Kat said, her first words to me in over a week.

“You’ve been here for that long?” I asked.

Cass’s face flushed the lightest shade of red. “Your aunt was kind enough to keep me well-fed while I waited.”

My eyes scanned the counter, and I realized I’d caught them all in the middle of a meal. I hoped Albo didn’t make whatever that was.

“It’s nothing from a palace,” Auntie Jen said, “but it’s something.” I could see Cass’s company had forced her to lift her spirits. Or at least pretend to. But Kat, leaning into the counter, didn’t seem to share the same inclination to play along.

Cass glanced back at Auntie and Kat, the former of which immediately snapped her fingers right in front of Kat’s face. “I have work to do upstairs. Come help me.”

Kat scowled at me. I dropped my eyes to the floor as she meandered around the bar and out with Auntie Jen. The small door shut behind them.

“Sorry I kept you waiting,” I strode up to him. “I’ve been riding all day. It was nice to be outside again.”

“I can say the same. I suppose my father decided to lift the bans for everyone today.”

“I’m sorry you had to waste your first few hours of freedom lingering about here.”

“It’s fine, I didn’t mind. I wanted to speak to your aunt for a little while anyway.” Why did he want to talk to Auntie Jen, of all people?

“But.” He sat back down, and I took a seat beside him at the bar.“Upon further review, I don’t think your cousin likes me very much.”

“It’s not you,” I said. “We’re in the middle of a fight right now. You just walked into the middle of it.”

“Oh. Whatever it is, I’m sure she’ll get over it soon.”

“Maybe.”

The building creaked around us. Cass was breathing heavier than usual, and I watched the lift in his chest with each breath. He was so near to me. His beautiful green eyes were frozen on mine.

“Cass, is something wrong?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I hope not.”

I frowned. “What’s going on?”

He was acting so evasive and nervous. It was out of character. Did something happen with his father?

He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “My father wants us to return to Aurell sooner than expected.”

My heart sank. “Why?”

“It has to do with the military and other things, but that’s not important. The point is, we’re leaving. In ten days.”

His words froze time. He couldn’t go. I’d only barely pierced the inner circle and was just beginning to understand the complexities of Cass’s life. I was only just starting to understand how I felt about him.

“You’re not coming back?”

“Not in the foreseeable future.”

My throat felt dry and constricted. “So, this is what, the first of many heartfelt goodbyes?”

“No.” Cass leaned forward, taking my hands in his. “I don’t want it to be.” I forced myself to keep my eyes up, though they wanted nothing more than to drift to the floor. I thought I was done crying, but now I wasn’t so sure.

“Evie, I want you to come with me.”

My eyes widened as I instantly knew what he was asking.

“Are you asking me to be your mistress?”

He stumbled. “For lack of a better word.”

A shattered breath escaped my lips. “You don’t mean that.”

Cass smiled. A beautiful, brilliant smile. “Yes, I do. I meant what I said that morning.” He brought one of his hands up into my messy, wind-whipped hair. “Evie, I love you.”

I felt breathless. He really meant it. This was more than infatuation I’d inspired. This was a true, deep love. Perhaps the truest love I’d ever get. And he was offering me the best he could for it.

“I’m not leaving without you,” he said. “Please say yes, so I don’t have to call in the cavalry to steal you away.”

I chuckled. Another one of those moments that fate loved to dangle over me. I sure as hell couldn’t actually leave with Cass. As sincere as this moment was, it wasn’t real. None of it was. It was nothing more than an illusion. An illusion that would surely cause more than a few problems.

But for now, the charade had to go on.

“Yes.”

Cass let out a breath as the tension dropped from his body. He pressed his forehead to mine. I giggled like a little girl.

“I’ve been playing that out all day.”

“Now I feel really bad for making you wait.”

“Don’t be,” he breathed. “I’d wait a thousand years for you, Evie.”

“And eat a thousand more meals from my aunt? And a have a thousand more conversations with my cousin?”

“Let’s not get too carried away.”

I smiled wide and pulled my head back, then let him kiss me with all the warmth two people could hold. My hands slid up his chest as he cupped my face and clenched my waist. It was soft and short, but powerful.

We were both breathless as we pulled apart. I blushed as Cass stroked my cheek.

“I’ll come by tomorrow,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot to work out before we leave.”

I nodded. I certainly had a lot to work out.

He rose. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” He kissed my cheek. “Lovely.”

My heart fluttered at the word, and it stayed light as air as I saw him out, back through the barn door, then into his carriage.

I leaned back against the door once he was gone. A million different emotions wrapped around me, some pleasant, others less so, but all overshadowed by confusion. How was I supposed to feel about this?

I didn’t have enough time to process any of them. The door behind the bar flew open, and Auntie Jen stepped out.

“What happened?” She came to an abrupt stop at the counter. “He offered you a mistresship?”

I stood up straight and tucked my smaller curls behind my ears. “He did.”

Kat crossed her arms behind Auntie.

“Well, what’d you say?”

“You already know what she said,” Kat hissed. “She said yes. Why wouldn’t she.”

Auntie’s head flipped back to Kat, then back to me, her eyes wide while waiting for my confirmation.

I rubbed my wrist. “Kat’s right. I said yes.”

Kat pushed past Auntie and headed for the door behind me.

“Where are you going?” Auntie frowned.

“For a walk.”

I stepped aside as she pulled the door open. “Congratulations, Evelyn,” she said before slamming the door shut.

I sighed. “Should I—"

“Leave her be. She’ll be back when she’s back” Auntie took a step away from the bar. “Oh, and I’m reopening tomorrow night.”

With that, she retreated back into the hallway, leaving me to deal with my own thoughts. Would Kat ever understand? Did she even want to? If Auntie could forgive me, in her own way, then so should Kat. Even if it took some time.

But for now, as selfish as it was, I couldn’t worry about her. I had to think about Cass and my mission. I couldn’t go with him, but, if that was true, then what was going to happen in ten days? Gilow would know. I just had to find out what it was.