Cassandra feared where this was headed. She didn’t know how strong either brother was, but a fight in such a tight space, a dagger against a whip, did not leave her with a good feeling. She kept glancing at the Fourth Prince, but his expression spoke volumes. This fight would not be an easy win.
She glanced over her shoulder at the Emperor. He wasn’t dead yet, but his breathing was definitely slowing down, maybe a few hours or a few minutes, but it wouldn’t be getting any better. Cassandra had no idea how far out Kairen was, but she couldn’t afford to wait for him any longer.
“Don’t,” she suddenly interrupted.
Lephys looked at her, as if he was amused.
“What is it? You don’t want to see me kill my brother? Trust me, it will be over quickly.”
“Don’t fight,” she repeated. “I want to make a deal with you.”
This was obviously a desperate attempt on her part, but she was desperate. The brothers were about to fight and Cassandra could see very few ways that they might get out of there alive or unharmed, but she was determined to make it happen. While she felt cornered, she wanted to at least make sure Opheus and his father could make it out to somewhere safe. Anywhere out of the Fifth and Second’s Princes reach would be perfect, as the revelation of their alliance came at the worst possible time - Cassandra hadn’t seen it coming at all. But the Fourth Prince hadn’t asked to be involved in the first place, and if there was the tiniest chance that he could walk out unharmed, she at least owed him that. He had risked so much for her until now, though sometimes reluctantly, and she couldn’t allow him to get killed if it was avoidable. It would be entirely her fault.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised by her sudden proposal. He still had that annoying smirk on, something that reminded her of his other family members. She wasn’t particularly happy about making a deal with the man and, strangely, she wished Missandra was here. Her younger sister was much better at thinking on her feet in situations like this and would surely have been able to come up with a plan, but she wasn’t here and Cassandra would have to face this on her own.
“What kind of deal did you have in mind?” laughed the Fifth Prince. “Do you really think you have anything to offer that I don’t already have?”
“You can have me,” she said.
Glancing at Cassandra, Lephys and Opheus both looked confused. She took a deep breath, trying to think like Missandra would.
“I am not bargaining with you,” he hissed.
Cassandra wasn’t going to let it go so easily. She saw him twitch when she first suggested it.
“You don’t want to fight your brother,” she coerced. “It is a waste of precious time and unnecessary injuries. Regardless of who’d win, you have nothing to gain by battling each other. So, instead of... fighting him, I’ll follow you without resisting. You can have me, if you leave this place without fighting Prince Opheus.”
This time, Lephys pinched his lips, looking doubtful.
“Why would you do that?”
“I will let you take me without resisting, on the condition that you leave the Emperor and Opheus out of this. You leave them here, and I will follow you to your residence, or the cells, or wherever you want me to go.”
The Fifth Prince laughed, staring at her like she was crazy.
“Why would I want you? What kind of value do you have? You are nothing, just Kairen’s whore!”
“I am his favorite,” she retorted. “Unlike your concubines, I am the only one he cares deeply about. We both know he will come for me, no matter what trap you have set.”
This time, Lephys seemed to hesitate, staring at her suspiciously.
Cassandra wasn’t sure of anything, so she was making it up as she went along. The reality was, she wasn’t sure of when or how her Prince would get back here, but she had faith that he would come for her. Something in her heart told her that he was coming back for her. He would never leave the Imperial Palace, or her, in Vrehan’s hands. Maybe he was dealing with his brother elsewhere, but if Vrehan was still chasing after her and Missandra, they would both be coming here.
The fact that Kareen had already placed spies around her residence indicated that the Imperial Concubine was betting that the final battle would take place in the Capital, too. Even if he had been left behind by his brother, Lephys couldn’t ignore the fact that his brothers would end up back here sooner or later.
“So you’re offering yourself as a hostage?” he asked.
Cassandra nodded bravely. Next to her, Opheus was utterly shocked by her sudden change in attitude.
“Are you crazy, woman!?” he yelled.
“It’s alright,” she said.
“Nothing is alright! You can’t do this!”
Cassandra turned to him, though she made sure to keep the Fifth Prince in her field of vision as well. She took a deep breath, trying to convey her words in the best way possible for him to understand.
“I’m sorry, Prince Opheus. If there is anyone else in this Palace who can do something for the Emperor, I don’t think it’s me anymore. If I had the proper equipment to help, I would try anything, but I’m no longer in that position. It would only buy him a bit more time, perhaps. But, I can’t.”
