In the border where swamp met forest. Rotten coloured trees and vibrant green trees clashed, the stench of eggs fought with the fresh air. Three carriages stopped on the road, snake-horses breathing hard after pulling the heavy weight of the vehicles.

Cassandra was looking outside from her window at the swamp. Her hand went to her mouth, the smell was awful and the scenery depressing. A phantom ache in her stomach appeared. Orias being forced to live here was a tragedy.

A crow landed on a branch before a lizard snatched it, making the bird screech and Cassandra flinch. This place was a nightmare.

She turned away from the window and sighed. The inside of the carriage was nice. A small bed, a table and chairs, all made of dark wood and decorated with gold.

Maybe she could leave this carriage here for Orias. Thinking about how the prince could be living sent a shiver down her spine. Probably in some mud hut, sleeping on the ground. Her poor Ori.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Naturally she knew who it was because the mountain of a man blocked the entire sun from outside the small window.

“Stamiss come in,” she said.

The general opened the door and squeezed himself inside, taking a chair and sitting across from her. His expression was cold as ever. A scary man with his muscles and height.

His snake tail swayed behind him. His grey eyes locked on hers but the more intimidating part of him was his thirty mana crystals. Fifteen on each arm, bulging in his muscles. It was disgusting to look at.

She didn’t flinch, she had lived in the king’s castle for a long time. Men who bordered on insanity were normal.

“Are we there yet, General?” She asked, leaning on the table between them, her cleavage showing from her low-cut dress.

Stamiss scoffed, his eyes not even glancing at her body.

“These pathetic excuse for horses need a break. We will continue in ten minutes.”

His gaze was harsh. He hated her and she knew why. Yet something else was on his mind and Cassandra was going to pull, yank, and drag it out of him. For fun.

“Is there anything on your mind General?” Her voice was sweet like honey.

He didn’t respond. He never responded to her provocations. How boring.

Sighing, she leaned back on her seat. Her tail coming out from her skirt and resting on her lap. She traced it with her fingers.

“Can you believe the rumors? Corvin being eaten by a wild fire salamander. What a way to go.” She mused, watching his reaction carefully.

The way his index clenched was so obvious. This man could never play poker. All brute strength and no subtlety.

His voice was a growl, like the snake he was.

“My son is not dead. He is a survivor and would never lose to a wild thing.” He snapped, his hand slamming on the table.

She giggled and covered her mouth with her hand. Another devious thought entered her head and she had to say it out loud. But there was a chance Stamiss might actually snap. Would she die today? The thrill made her smile.

“I agree. He probably just defected and joined the Ashfen prince. Who could resist a cute shapeshifter boy?” Her voice was mocking, her smile wicked.

The table broke in half under his fist and he lunged at her, his fist just an inch from her face.

She didn’t move. Her heart raced. This was fun.

His grey eyes burned with rage.

“A traitor born from your lineage? What a shame Stamiss.” Cassandra whispered, her snake tongue coming out to lick her lips.

His jaw tightened, the veins in his neck bulging.

Crossing lines was her specialty and this line was one of the few that could make him actually hit her. Her eyes fluttered, her gaze on his.

“I suppose if even you can’t control your spawn then how could the prince. Maybe Corvin was a good-for-nothing like his mother—”

A punch landed next to her head, the carriage wall cracking. He missed on purpose but he had a murderous aura.

“Shut up. Do not speak about my family again or I will rip your tongue out.” His voice was low, dangerous.

Then he stood up and left, leaving her with a wide grin on her face. That was better than sex. The tension in her body turned into sweet pleasure. The thrill of almost dying.

But she could hear a commotion outside, soldiers gathering outside. Naturally it caught her attention and she stepped out of the carriage.

Another caravan, a Grancraft one, was heading to the Ashfen from the opposite direction. Their emblem was on their flags. A sphinx. It was the Desert Province, the one with Prince Lucian.

The book lover if she remembered right.

She approached the group and a merchant greeted her with a smile. He bowed.

“Lady Cassandra, a lovely surprise to meet you here of all places.” He was short and chubby, with a moustache on his face.

The fool—a merchant of his low standing addressing a prince’s mistress without being spoken to first? Did that lion woman not teach them manners?

With a smile of her own, she let it pass and tilted her head.

“Why are you heading to the Ashfen, Merchant? I don’t recall Lucian having business with the Swamp Province.”

The man blinked and glanced at his caravan. He looked nervous. Normally speaking about trade details with another party was frowned upon but the boulder of a general behind her made the merchant cave.

“His highness agreed to sell a book on monster biology to Prince Orias. A rare find. He charged a hefty price for it too.”

Her eyes widened. A monster biology book? For what purpose? Her fondness for her favorite prince grew tenfold—something that shouldn’t be possible.

Before she could ask more questions, Stamiss interrupted them.

“Enough idle talk. We must keep moving before the night falls.” His eyes were on the swamp.

She nodded.

“Stamiss prepare while I have a small chat with our merchant friends. Go on, shoo.” She waved her hand.

With a huff he left.

After a moment with the merchant Cassandra returned to her carriage, but before entering she turned to the courier—the one with a messenger bird on his shoulder.

The man looked at her with raised brows. Grabbing a paper, she quickly wrote a letter and handed it to him.

“Prince Orias con Divina,” was all she said and the courier bowed. Then he whistled and the bird flew from his shoulder, grabbing the note with its talons and disappearing into the sky.