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

19. Grey

Chapter nineteen

Grey

M uch to my dismay, Morgana and Lucian host yet another dinner for our clans to enjoy together. Now that more Everblade wolves and witches have been released, besides a few outspoken ones who are still labeled as threats, Moonveil leadership has pushed for more unity dinners and mixed patrols.

Truly, I believe they’re using dinners and patrols to keep a closer eye on my people. We can barely venture around our own castle without running into a Moonveil witch, and their eyes are always sharp and peeled, watching our every move.

That isn’t unity. We’re essentially still held prisoner without the cells, but I’ve told everyone to be on their best behavior. Their best behavior. No arguing. No denying orders from Moonveil witches.

Everyone must play their part if my plan is going to work, even if submitting to Moonveil day to day is frustrating. I’m heir to this kingdom, and I’ve taken orders from common Moonveil witches.

If I’m honest, I’ve encountered a new source of motivation.

As I enter the dining hall, my eyes fall upon Cassia as she sits near Morgana and Lucian at the end of the table. My heart rate automatically spikes at the sight of her, the memory of our shared moment on the hill breaking into my mind.

What is up with us when it comes to hills and vulnerable moments?

Cassia glances in my direction, shooting me a ghost of a smile that no one but me will be able to register. She turns back forward as Lucian speaks to her, her expression deadening. I’m sure she loathes any conversation she has to have with them.

The familiar sound of my parents’ voices comes from behind me, my sharp hearing able to detect it through the muffled murmur of other voices as several wolves and witches pour inside to fill the table.

“Mom, Dad,” I say as I turn to face them.

My mother smiles and kisses me on the cheek. They both look exhausted and stressed like all the others, but they remain strong for the rest of the kingdom. It’s what royals do.

“I need to talk to you about something,” I tell them as I step off to the side, coaxing them to follow me away from the door.

My father frowns, his eyes darting around to make sure no one is paying attention to us. “Are you sure that’s wise, son?”

“It’s not about that. It’s about something I saw,” I reply as I keep my voice low. “When I looked into Cassia’s eyes, a symbol glowed in my mind. Like a vision.”

My mother’s eyes widen. “Visions can be very powerful, Grey. They can be indications of the future or answers to questions you have.”

My father nods in agreement. “My father had a vision about your mother and me. What symbol did you see?”

I glance in Cassia’s direction, feeling a tinge of nervousness. I can’t stop thinking about that symbol, and I told her that I would try to figure it out. My parents are some of the most knowledgeable people I know, so it’s worth a shot to ask them.

“It was in the shape of fire. It was … powerful and a little frightening if I’m honest.”

My parents’ eyes snap to each other, horror seeping into their expressions.

“Fire? Are you sure?” my mother questions me as her hand touches my arm.

“Did it feel dark?” my father adds on.

I frown as they hammer me with questions, the air around us becoming tense. “I guess it did. It didn’t feel all that welcoming.”

My father whips around and storms toward Cassia and the Moonveil leaders.

My eyes widen as I trail him, the rapid thump of my heartbeat thundering in my head. What the hell is he doing? Why are they so freaked out?

“You dare bring a Cinderborne witch on my land?” my father bites out once he reaches them.

I freeze in place, all conversations coming to an abrupt stop. Tense silence fills the dining hall as everyone looks toward Cassia, who looks pale in the face as she stares up at my father.

“What are you mouthing off about?” Morgana questions my father as she stands from her seat.

My mother brushes past me to grab my father’s arm, attempting to pull him back. “Emeric, don’t.”

“She is a Cinderborne witch! Grey saw their symbol in her eyes!” my father shouts, a mixture of sharp and confused murmurs moving up and down the long dining table as hushed conversations pick back up.

Cassia looks over at me, her eyes shining with horror. “No … I can’t be. It can’t be possible!”

I’m still too stunned to even say anything, a confusing jumble of thoughts taking over my brain. We all knew she was born from bad witches, but the Cinderborne Coven was one of the evilest, most ruthless covens in the history of this region. The number of innocents they killed is immeasurable.

And Cassia is one of them.

I yank myself out of those depressing thoughts, reminding myself that she can’t help who her parents are any more than I can. Just the guilt paling her face tells me that she is nothing like her parents and birth coven.

She was raised by Moonveil, who are inherently good witches until they became corrupted – As some of them certainly have.

“Why does it matter? She grew up as a Moonveil witch,” Lucian replies.

“It matters because she carries the blood and magic of our enemies!” my father grits out as he points a hateful finger at Cassia. “I’ve lost so many to the hands of Cinderborne witches. I refuse to have one in my castle!”

Morgana stalks closer to my father, making my mother force him a few steps back. “Your castle? Your land? Oh, no, no. Everything belongs to Moonveil, remember? We’re just kind enough to share with you.”

I rouse myself. Do something!

“We understand that. This is just a shock for my family.” I speak up as I step between Morgana and my father, trying to establish peace once more. “I’m sure you understand how much we’ve lost because of Cinderborne.”

Morgana eyes me before gesturing to Cassia. “You don’t have to fear the powers of this one, whether they’re dark or light. She’s certainly not one of our strongest.”

I frown as Cassia lowers her head, already looking beaten down by the truth dropped on her. I can’t even imagine her thoughts right now, and it doesn’t help that Morgana is intent on flexing her manipulation skills to kick Cassia while she’s down.

My father grits and grinds his teeth, doing everything in his power to maintain some level of control. I fear another outburst will push back the small amount of progress we’ve made so far. He gives Morgana a curt nod before walking toward the other end of the table.

I flash Cassia a sympathetic look before following my father with my mother close behind. I’ll have to talk to Cassia later. For now, I need to calm my father down. “Dad.”

My father drops down in a seat at the other end of the table, crossing his arms over his chest as anger sparks in his eyes. “I can’t believe this … I thought all of the Cinderborne witches were gone from the region.”

“Telling from her age, she’s probably one of the last that was born,” my mother replies as she sits next to him and places a comforting hand on his arm. She then sighs and lowers her eyes. “It’s hard to process, though. Cinderborne killed my sister. Your father. And so many others.”

I sit across from my parents, able to feel conflicting frustration and nervousness roll off them in waves. This is a ghost from the past that they never expected to encounter, but Cassia had nothing to do with the atrocities that Cinderborne committed.

“Cassia seems like the furthest thing from a Cinderborne witch,” I assure them, making their eyes dart up to me.

“Don’t defend her,” my father warns me under his breath. “She is the enemy through and through.”

I blink at him in shock. I’ve never seen my father act so aggressive. “Dad … that’s not fair. You can’t blame her for what her parents did just like I can’t take credit for what you and Mom did in the past. She can’t help it.”

“Her bad blood will corrupt her,” my father tells me through gritted teeth. “Her leaders’ influence will only fast-track that. She was doomed from the start.”

My jaw nearly drops. My parents are typically hopeful people, but all I hear in my father’s voice is disgust. He doesn’t see Cassia as her own person.

All he sees is the coven that killed his father.

“You don’t know that,” I insist as I shake my head. “She could be better than all of them. I’ve talked to her. She’s nice.”

My mother frowns, while my father waves his hand dismissively. “I’m not talking about this. Do not get close to that witch.”

A disappointed look forms on my face, but I don’t say anything else on the matter. It’s not a good idea to get into another argument over dinner, but my sharpened hearing catches yet another one that’s happening at the other end of the table. I turn and look in Cassia’s direction, my heartbeat picking up.

“You are more trouble than you’re worth,” Morgana hisses at Cassia before grabbing her arm and pulling her out of her chair. Her amplified voice echoes in my ears, sending a jolt of unease right to my racing heart.

Lucian rises from his seat and takes hold of Cassia’s other arm before they lead her out of the dining hall, abandoning dinner without a word of explanation.

My eyes widen as I watch them disappear, every fiber of my being telling me that something is wrong.

Terribly wrong.