ZARIA'S POV 
From my hidden spot on the dark balcony, I watched the Bloodmoon convoy completely fall apart.
Garrick stumbled backward, his boots slipping on the icy cobblestones. Without saying a single word to defend himself, Garrick scrambled back onto his massive black horse. He pulled the reins so hard the horse reared up in a panic. Then, he turned around in defeat.
The rest of his warriors followed his lead immediately. They looked absolutely terrified.
They rode out of the pavilion with their heads bowed, completely humiliated in front of the northern army. The heavy iron gates of the valley groaned loudly as they were pulled shut behind them. 
My guards quickly escorted me away from the freezing balcony. They didn't take me back to my bedroom. Instead, they led me straight to Cassian’s private study in the center of the estate. The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind me, leaving me entirely alone in the quiet room.
The study was beautiful and massive, filled from floor to ceiling with tall bookshelves and dark leather furniture. A huge fire was roaring in the stone hearth, casting a warm, golden light across the room. The whole place smelled exactly like him—a comforting mix of winter mint, dark woodsmoke, and old paper.
I walked slowly over to the fire, holding my bare hands out to the bright flames. I tried my best to soak up the heat, but the cold wasn't coming from the winter wind outside. It was coming from deep inside my bones.
My hands started to shake. At first, it was just a small tremble in my fingers. But then, it quickly spread to my arms, my shoulders, and my chest. Within minutes, I was shivering so violently that my teeth started to chatter together.
Seeing Garrick in person had ripped open old wounds I thought were finally starting to heal. His pale, desperate face flashed in my mind over and over again. I remembered the heavy weight of his hand, the cruel sound of his voice when he publicly rejected me, and the agonizing physical pain of the broken mate bond tearing my heart apart.
I hugged my arms tightly around my waist, trying to hold myself together. I felt small, broken, and completely overwhelmed by the lingering trauma of my past. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the dark memories away, but they were just too loud in the quiet room.
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors opened. I gasped, spinning around quickly to face the entrance.
Cassian walked into the study. He looked completely exhausted, rubbing the back of his neck with a large hand.
Then, his golden eyes landed on me.
He saw me standing by the fire, wrapped tightly in my own arms and shivering uncontrollably.
"Zaria," he said softly, his deep voice full of pure worry.
He crossed the large room in three long strides. He didn't hesitate for a second. He reached out and gently pulled my shaking hands away from my chest. His massive hands swallowed mine completely. His skin was so warm, radiating a steady, comforting heat that immediately started to fight back against my deep chill.
Cassian guided me over to the plush leather sofa near the fire. He sat down and gently pulled me down right next to him. He didn't let go of my hands.
"You're freezing," he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble that vibrated in the quiet room.
He shifted his broad body, blocking out the rest of the room and giving me all of his attention. He began to rub his thumbs in slow, steady circles over my cold knuckles. 
"I'm sorry," I whispered, staring down at our joined hands. "I thought I was fine. I thought I was over the fear. But seeing him down there... it just brought all the pain back."
Cassian shook his head. He reached up with one hand and gently tucked a stray piece of dark hair behind my ear. 
"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Zaria," he said firmly, locking his golden eyes onto mine. "You are the strongest woman I have ever known."
I looked up at him, my breath catching in my throat. His golden eyes were soft, filled with an open, raw honesty that made my heart race wildly against my ribs.
"He can't hurt you anymore," Cassian promised, his voice dropping to a quiet whisper. "I meant what I said out there in the courtyard. He will never touch you again. You are safe here with me."
As I stared into his eyes, a deep, confusing pull tugged at my chest. The shivering finally stopped, replaced by a warm, fluttering feeling in my stomach.
I realized, with a sudden wave of panic, that I was falling for him.
I was actually falling for the terrifying King of the North. He was the only person in my entire life who had ever made me feel truly safe. 
But the thought of loving someone again terrified me. The last time I opened my heart, it was completely destroyed. Garrick had taken my love and used it to break me into a million pieces. I didn't know if I had the strength to survive being broken a second time. I was terrified of being vulnerable, even with Cassian.
I pulled my hands back slightly, putting a small bit of physical distance between us on the sofa.
Cassian noticed the shift instantly. He didn't push. He didn't demand more than I was ready to give him. He just gave me a small, understanding smile and leaned back against the leather cushions, giving me the space I needed to breathe.
We sat by the fire for a long time in a comfortable, quiet peace, letting the warmth wash over us.
Eventually, the massive exhaustion of the night finally caught up with me. My eyes grew heavy, and Cassian noticed immediately.
He stood up and offered me his hand, walking me out of the study and down the quiet hallway to my bedroom door. 
"Get some sleep, Zaria," he said softly, standing at my doorway. 
"Thank you, Cassian," I whispered. "For everything."
He gave me a gentle nod, turning away as I closed my heavy bedroom door.
I leaned my back against the thick wood, listening to his heavy footsteps walk down the corridor. But before he could get very far, the footsteps stopped completely.
"Cassian," a quiet, tense voice called out from the shadows.
I held my breath, pressing my ear completely flat against the wood of my door to listen. It was Helen. Her voice sounded incredibly worried.
"What is it, Helen?" Cassian asked, his voice instantly returning to his usual, serious kingly tone. 
“I am worried Cassian.“
There was a short pause. I could hear the rustle of Helen's heavy skirts as she stepped closer to him in the hallway.
"Garrick is desperate, Cassian," Helen warned, her tone dropping into an urgent whisper. "He came all this way, and he left with nothing but complete humiliation. A desperate Alpha is a very dangerous thing. But worse than that... his desperation is going to send massive shockwaves through this very palace."
"Explain," Cassian commanded coldly.
"Cynthia," Helen said, speaking the name like it was a deadly curse. "She thrives on power and control. Knowing that Garrick came all the way up here for her sister is going to drive her completely mad with jealousy. Garrick's desperation is only going to make Cynthia much more reckless. She failed tonight, Cassian. But she won't wait long to try again."