Fake Mate of the Enemy Shifter (Red Oak Shifters #2)

11. Grey

Chapter eleven

Grey

O ver the past few days, I’ve finally learned something very valuable.

The Moonveil Coven isn’t as uniform and strong as they make themselves out to be.

A faint smile crosses my face as I peer through the bars of my cell, watching two Moonveil guards bicker among themselves in hushed, sharp whispers. I wasted so much time getting swept up in my guilt and anxiety instead of actually paying attention to what was going on around me.

Cassia’s visit the other night opened my mind up, though. Her frustration and insistence that this wasn’t personal for her and that I didn’t know her true involvement, spoke to me. Not that I think her heart is pure, but do all warriors agree with the battle they’re thrust into?

More and more, I’ve picked up on bristling attitudes and moments of unease among Moonveil’s witches. Morgana and Lucian painted a picture of a strict, obedient following, and maybe they were right in a way.

But they didn’t make it apparent that quite a few of their own followers don’t fully support their plans. That may seem like a tiny cut in their woven fabric of control, but if I play my cards right, I can turn that small slice into a lethal gash.

“Hey!” I call out at the two guards, making them pause in the middle of their argument. “I’m ready to give my answer. I’ll talk to your leaders.”

“Finally,” the dark-haired witch mutters as he strides toward the cell, flashing an aggravated look at the redhead witch he was arguing with. “I’m ready for babysitting duty to be done with.”

“Me too. So, I don’t have to hear you complain every single shift,” the redhead replies as she watches the other witch unlock the cell.

As they bicker, I glance over my shoulder at my parents, giving them a subtle smile. In case anyone could overhear us, I didn’t tell them my full plan, but I assured them that I was going to get us all out of this mess. It would take patience, though.

Lots and lots of patience.

Worry gleams in my mother’s eyes as she hugs my father’s arm, but my father gives me a small nod. They believe in me, but they understand that I’m taking a risk as well.

“Come on,” the dark-haired witch tells me as he grabs the chain connecting the cuffs on my wrists, yanking me forward out of the cell.

I don’t protest or fight, my mouth sealing shut as I follow them out of the dungeon. Hopefully, if my plan works, we’ll all be out of here soon.

As soon as I step into the hallway, my eyes spot a pool of sunlight streaming in from a nearby window. The intensity of its glow nearly stings my eyes, but as soon as I step into the beam, its warmth caresses my skin.

No one truly appreciates little things like this until it’s taken away. There’s no way I can sentence us to even more time in the dungeon.

I must succeed.

As they lead me toward what I can only guess is the study, my heartbeat races more and more, my stomach twists. So much is resting on my shoulders right now, and I can imagine how restless and nervous my parents must feel while they wait to see if I fail or succeed.

“In here,” the redhead tells me as she pushes the door open to my parents’ study.

I walk inside, my jaw immediately tensing at the sight of Morgana and Lucian lounging around the study’s old oak desk. The same one my great-grandfather built. The one I used to hide underneath when playing hide and seek as a young boy with my parents.

They’ve already taken over, writing over my memories with their immoral rule.

Morgana perches on the corner of the desk as Lucian reclines back in the leather chair with a backdrop of book-filled shelves covering the walls. She crosses her legs and raises an eyebrow at me. “Do you finally have an answer for us? Are you going to gift your kingdom a new, fulfilling life, or do I need to arrange a patrol to run you out of the region?”

I quietly take a deep breath through my nose, steadying myself for what’s to come. I can’t chance any missteps from here on out. “We don’t want to leave the region. This is our home.”

“So, you surrender? Fully?” Lucian questions me as he sits up straighter in the chair, his shadow looming over the desk from the candles burning on the wall sconces behind him.

I lift my chin, standing as confident and tall as I can while cuffed and powerless. “I want us to strike an agreement with one another.”

A laugh bursts from Morgana as she shakes her head at me. “An agreement? We’ve already given you a choice as to what happens next. You’re not in a position to make demands.”

“I’m in a position to give you even more of what you want. And what you need,” I state as I hold her sharp gaze, ignoring the tinge of unease burning within me.

“What we need?” Lucian asks me as he slowly rises to his feet.

“Unity. True unity,” I tell them as my eyes sweep back and forth between them. “Within your own coven. With us. If you truly want access to our numbers, castle, large territory, resources, and the remaining Red Oak trees, it would be wise to establish an agreement with us. A way for us to feel secure in joining your cause and keeping peace between our clans.”

Morgana narrows her eyes in thought.

“No one wants your kingdom as an enemy,” Lucian replies, his fingers dancing on the polished wood as he roams around the side of the desk. “Your kingdom would thrive under our rule. You would never have to worry about war or bloodshed ever again.”

“Telling us that we’ll be better off under your rule doesn’t inspire much confidence. We know nothing about you,” I point out. “But I know a way to unite our clans and inspire confidence within my kingdom to give up control over our land and resources.”

“Why should we hear you out? You’ve already lost control,” Morgana questions me.

“If you don’t hear us out, we will leave the region. You will lose our numbers, which will make it that much harder for you to maintain this territory and absorb other ones. If you don’t establish some sort of trust with us to make us feel safe in our own home, we will not become servants without a fight,” I warn her. “But we would be open to an official alliance.”

Lucian waves his hand at me, motioning for me to continue. “Such as?”

This is where my plan definitely takes a sudden curve, but I’m desperate. That calls for insane measures.

“Marriage,” I tell them.

Morgana scoffs and shakes her head as she gestures between me and her. “In your dreams, hybrid. I’m not interested in tainting my bloodline.”

I have to keep myself from sneering at her. As if I want to taint my bloodline. “An arranged marriage. Choose a witch of your own to marry me, and our clans will be united under one joined kingdom.”

Morgana narrows her eyes as she rises from the desk, slowly stalking her way toward me. “But we get most of the power. The final say.”

That’s a temporary sacrifice that I’ll have to make, but the end goal remains the same. Everblade will break free from Moonveil’s grasp and rule itself once more.

“Yes,” I say as I stand my ground, my chest tightening as I wait for them to either agree or shoot me down. If they won’t take the bait, I fear what will happen next.

“It would be wise to have a true ally,” Lucian points out to Morgana. “Our numbers keep growing. We need even more order.”

Morgana circles her finger, making a strand of hair twine around it. She tilts her head, inspecting me and attempting to poke holes in my plan. It may not be perfect or what they were expecting, but it still gives them their wants and needs.

“Don’t you want an army of wolves and witches at your disposal?” I ask them, my heartbeat quickening. I need an answer. What happens next depends on that.

“What’s in this for you?” Lucian questions me.

“We get to stay in our home. Raise our children and grandchildren here,” I say as I conjure up a hopeful look. “We’ll still have freedom to live our lives, even if we don’t call all the shots and things are different. It’s better than constantly fighting with you or being forced to leave.”

Morgana’s lips curl up in an eager smile. “The Everblade army at my fingertips… I like the sound of that.”

“I support his plan,” Lucian speaks up. “It’ll only help us.”

Morgana finally nods. “We’ll pick out a bride then. Wow, such an honor to marry Everblade’s famed hybrid.”

I can hear the slight sarcasm in her voice. My marriage to anyone would be a big deal given who I am and who my family is. I just wish this wasn’t happening under duress and that I was actually getting married to someone I loved. Not someone chosen for me.

But sacrifices have to be made in hard times, and this is my sacrifice to fix my mistakes.

Once married, all I have to do is wait, allowing myself and my kingdom to become integrated with Moonveil’s coven. We’ll learn every weak spot. Gain the trust of those who captured us. Plan an attack.

And we’ll take back what’s ours and drive them out of the region.

Morgana snaps her fingers, prompting the guards to walk back into the room. “Take him back to his cell.”

As badly as I don’t want to go back there, I know it’ll only be a matter of time before I’m released again with the others. It’s all a waiting game. “I look forward to our union. Moonveil can be greater than ever before with Everblade’s backing.”

Lucian nods before looking over at Morgana, who eyes me closely. “So do we.”

Morgana smiles, but there is never any warmth in her expression. Only calculation. “We’ll see you soon.”

I turn and let the guards lead me out of the study, a faint smile of my own curling up on my lips. Everything is in motion now. Before Moonveil even knows it, I’ll unravel every plan they had, fix the damage that has been done, and make them regret ever stepping foot on our land.

And it’ll all begin with a wedding.