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

12. Cassia

Chapter twelve

Cassia

A low murmur fills the study as I step into the doorway of the room, my eyes falling upon Morgana, Lucian, Gliselle, and a few other high-ranked witches talking among each other.

From time to time, I’ll be called to meetings, but I’m wary about any sort of plan they may be scheming now that Everblade is in Moonveil’s clutches. I heard whispers throughout the castle that Grey gave Morgana and Lucian his answer, but I don’t know what that answer is.

Did he surrender or refuse Moonveil’s rule?

“As you know, Everblade’s precious prince requested a meeting with us yesterday,” Morgana says as she strides to the middle of the group, always having to be the center of attention. “He did not fully surrender or deny our rule. Instead, he suggested we strike up a little deal.”

“An arrangement,” Lucian clarifies as he remains standing on the outskirts next to Gliselle. “In particular, an arranged marriage that will unite the clans. We’ll still hold primary power, but they get to reside in their home and fight alongside us as we take over the rest of the region. We’ll get their numbers, resources, and remaining Red Oak trees.”

My eyes widen. What? Is he the one getting married?

My feelings get lost in a confusing tangle, shuttling me from emotion to emotion. Surprise. Sadness. Confusion. Frustration. How are things somehow getting even more complicated?

“Hold on. An arranged marriage? With the prince?” Gliselle questions her siblings. “Like two people being forced to marry each other?”

Morgana rolls her eyes. “Don’t get all moral, little sister. He suggested the plan, and if he wants to cuddle up to a witch of our choosing and act like he has a semblance of power, so be it. We’ll give him a bride, and we’ll take everything Everblade has to offer. The rest of his kingdom will have to follow his lead and obey us if their prince marries one of ours.”

Gliselle frowns and shakes her head as her eyes lower to the ground. “Your actions are spiraling more and more out of control. Where is the line for you two?”

My body tenses as annoyed looks form on Morgana’s and Lucian’s faces. Gliselle typically doesn’t oppose her siblings to their faces, but even she knows that things are getting crazier and crazier. It was insane taking over Everblade in the first place.

Now, we’re marrying them into our coven?

Morgana takes a threatening step toward Gliselle. “Well, if we don’t do this, then we’ll chase them out of the region or have them scrubbing floors – or being training practice dummies. Would either of those things make you happy?”

I push myself away from the doorway and hurry over to Gliselle’s side, stealing Morgana’s attention away from her before she really snaps. “When does this all happen? Are we freeing them from their cells?”

Morgana tightens her jaw in annoyance at my disruption. “In the next few minutes, a select group of them, including the prince, will be released from their cells. However, they will be closely watched. If they try anything sneaky, the marriage will be off, and I choose what happens to them.”

“Why let them out in the first place?” Boris, one of the high ranking witches, asks.

“To establish trust,” Lucian speaks up. “We don’t want Everblade retaliating against us, especially when we start spreading our forces thinner to take over other regions. We need them to be content with our new alliance.”

“That’ll take time,” I say.

“Of course, it will!” Morgana snaps at me as she steps closer to me, the air around her feeling cold. “Do you think we haven’t considered these things little pawn? We are calculating every move to plot our path to victory.”

“Pawn? Are you serious, Morgana?” Gliselle questions her as she steps in front of me, giving her sister a sharp look.

My jaw nearly drops, my hands flying to Gliselle’s arms to try and pull her back. “Don’t. Just forget it.”

Morgana smirks as she brushes her fingers through her hair. “Every witch and wolf in this castle is a pawn on a game board that Lucian and I control. Nothing of importance happens without us calling the shots.”

Something tells me that the Moonveil witches are also involved in her analogy, which doesn’t surprise me. She and her brother control all of us, telling us where to go, who to fight, and what to do that furthers their agenda.

Everblade will experience the same thing but even stricter until they’ve proven their loyalty like all the other clans we captured in the past.

“That’s cruel. You know that’s cruel,” Gliselle tells her as she shakes her head in disappointment.

Morgana laughs as she places her hands on her hips. “Oh, really? You think that’s cruel? How about this? I’ve chosen Moonveil’s princess.”

My eyes widen. She can’t possibly force Gliselle into this! She has told me herself that she still isn’t ready to be with anyone since Silas died. She probably won’t ever be ready.

But Morgana’s gaze cuts to me as she pushes Gliselle out of the way. “You will be Moonveil’s princess. Grey’s bride.”

Panic seizes my chest, making my heart stop and my lungs become devoid of air. My head shakes before my mouth can even move. “What? No, I can’t do this. I can’t marry him!”

Morgana’s eyes darken as she curls the fingers of her right hand. “You can and you will. I’ve made my decision!”

I part my lips to protest more, but a tight, winding sensation curls around my throat, squeezing harder and harder until I can’t draw in another breath. My eyes grow wide as I struggle for air, my hands grabbing at my throat as her spell intensifies.

Gliselle takes hold of my shoulders, her worried eyes sweeping over me. “What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

Lucian and the other witches step back, knowing not to interfere when Morgana is toying with some poor soul, especially if it’s me.

Morgana smirks as she watches me drop onto my knees in front of her. “What’s wrong, Cassia? Can’t even do something as simple as breathing?”

Gliselle’s eyes snap to her older sister. “Stop the spell! You’ll kill her!”

“Maybe that’s for the best. Only those who obey have a spot in the Moonveil Coven,” Morgana states before glancing at the other witches. “Right?”

They all immediately nod, some of them looking amused as I resort to writhing on the floor.

Pain sears through my lungs as they refuse to take in any air, the burn going up my throat. My face starts to turn red, the lack of air beginning to make me feel dizzy. I can’t even plead with her if I wanted to, but I refuse to let my last words be begging her to stop hurting me.

I won’t let her have that satisfaction.

“Morgana, stop! Please!” Gliselle cries out as frightened tears glisten in her eyes.

“Morgana,” Lucian sighs.

Only then does Morgana uncurl her fingers, allowing air to flow into my lungs at last. She rolls her eyes at her brother. “You’re no fun.”

“How can we have a wedding if the bride is dead?” Lucian points out.

Morgana smiles in a cold manner. “Fine. Let’s roam the halls. The Everblade prisoners should be free by now.”

I remain curled up on the floor as Morgana, Lucian, and the other high ranking witches step out of the study, leaving Gliselle and me alone. A frightened shudder rattles me as I roll onto my back, resting my hand on my chest as it quickly rises and falls.

“Are you okay, honey?” Gliselle asks as she hovers over me, gazing down at me with teary eyes. She gently cups my face. “I’m so sorry she did that to you.”

“Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t your fault,” I tell her once I properly catch my breath. My chest still aches with each inhale, but at least I can breathe again.

Gliselle shakes her head as disappointment fills her face. She slides her hand under my shoulders and helps me sit up. “I should stand up to them more.”

“I understand your hesitation.” I gently rub my neck, grimacing at the soreness. If it was just Morgana and me alone, I fear that she would’ve kept going until I turned blue. Maybe even past that.

Gliselle brushes my hair from my face and puts her arm around my shoulders, sympathy gleaming in her eyes. “I’m so sorry this is happening.”

My new reality quickly swoops in and hits me, knocking the breath from my lungs once more. I’m getting married to Grey, and there is nothing that I can do to stop it. Not if I want to keep breathing.

“What do I do? How can I marry an enemy? Someone who hates me?” I ask her as anxiety pumps through me as heavy and thick as blood.

Grey hates me. What if he calls off the marriage because of me? Given his loyalty to his kingdom, that’s highly unlikely, but we’ll have an awful, hateful marriage that the mere thought of makes me sick to my stomach.

“I… I don’t know. I’m so sorry,” Gliselle murmurs.

I don’t know what to do either, but my path has been laid out for me. There is no way off of it, no matter how badly I don’t want to be Moonveil’s princess.

My head lowers in defeat as I lean against Gliselle, sinking into her embrace as my eyes start to sting. My own struggles are hard enough, but the weight of my clan’s dark, hazy future threatens to crush me. We will never know true peace while Morgana and Lucian are our leaders.

They know no limits. No boundaries. No rules but their own.

They’ll take things as far as they want to take them, and we’re all just stepping stones to help them get exactly what they want.