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

23. Grey

Chapter twenty-three

Grey

T wo weeks have passed since Cassia and I visited the Red Oak Forest. Instead of getting a clear answer, it felt like we were given an impossible riddle instead. I can’t count how many times we’ve tried to crack its meaning.

Eventually, we decided to focus on something else. Something that we have more control over.

Toward the back of the castle, there is a hidden room that can only be opened by a specific spell all Everblade witches are taught. Wolves are allowed inside too, but witches have to open the door.

I can’t believe I never thought about using it before, but it has become our main meeting spot with other Everblade wolves and witches so that we can discuss the plan in private without being overheard or caught by Moonveil witches. Now more than ever, we need a space to discuss next steps.

Things aren’t getting any better around the castle.

“I’ve been monitoring a handful of witches in Moonveil that may turn against Morgana and Lucian,” Cassia says as she gathers in a group with me, my parents, and a few other Everblade wolves and witches. We only have so many people in the room at a time for meetings just to be safe.

“How do you know they might turn against them?” my mother asks her, sounding genuinely curious instead of untrusting.

Even though weeks have passed since the news broke that Cassia is a Cinderborne witch, some Everblade members are still wary about being around her. Even a few Moonveil witches have eyed her more closely.

It makes my heart ache, but she keeps herself together for the most part. She knows what’s at stake if she falls apart and gives up.

“I recognize the look in their eyes. They’re … tired. Defeated,” Cassia explains as her eyes sweep over everyone. “It’s exactly how I feel, but I’m angry too. I see that in them when they’re wrongfully punished.”

“That’s awful,” Farik, one of the Everblade wolves, murmurs as he shakes his head.

Cassia nods, her expression becoming grave. “They get worse and worse as time goes on. They keep pushing the limits to see what they can get away with.”

“They have to be stopped,” I say as I cross my arms. “We need to rally and work on a plan of attack.”

“We need to know what we’re up against,” my father states as he holds up his hand to make me pause. “How many loyalists are there? And will the ones who disagree with your leaders be brave enough to fight them?”

Cassia’s eyes narrow slightly. “The prospect of being free from their torment will make them brave enough to fight. I wouldn’t worry about that.”

I frown as tension builds in the air around our small group. If we don’t fully unite with one another, we will lose the battle. We won’t escape the terrible reign we’ve been forced to submit to, and Everblade will truly be lost forever.

“Alright, let’s wrap up for today. I think we all need some rest,” I sigh as I rub my eyes, starting to feel tired anyway.

Everyone nods and splits apart, heading to the hidden door at different paces. Just to be safe, we all leave at different intervals instead of all at once.

“Grey.”

I turn and see my father motioning to me as he stands next to the door with my mother. A faint sigh drifts from me as I head that way, already having an idea of what he wants to talk about. “Yes?”

“Are you sure we can trust her?” my father questions me as his eyes dart over to Cassia, who talks to Farik across the empty, stone-walled room. Nearby torches cast an orange glow on her, making her eyes shine.

She has always had fire in her eyes but even more so now.

“Of course, we can,” I tell him in a firm voice. “She has been hurt by Morgana and Lucian more than most of the other Moonveil witches.”

“How much time are you spending with her?” my father asks as his eyes slightly narrow.

“Why does it matter?”

“You know why,” my father murmurs in a sharp voice. “You’re endangering yourself, son.”

I sigh and shake my head, wishing he would be more open-minded. I know he has suffered a lot in the past because of Cinderborne, and he has suffered a lot in the present because of Moonveil.

Cassia represents both to him, but he needs to see things from a different point of view. She has been nothing but loyal to our cause and supportive of our plans.

“I’m safe with her,” I assure him. “She has nothing to gain from Morgana and Lucian staying in power.”

My mother places a gentle hand on my arm. “We’re just worried about you. You’re balancing so much, and when you’re stretched thin like that, you can make bad decisions.”

Cassia actually helps me think clearer, but I don’t say that out loud. My parents are being overly cautious, and I understand why, but I’m sticking with my plan and listening to my gut.

I can’t follow every single order my parents give me. How am I going to be the next ruler if I can’t make my own decisions and stand by them?

“I’ll be careful. You two should get some rest,” I tell them as I nod to the door.

My parents frown a little. My father looks like he wants to argue some more, but my mother takes his arm and leads him out of the room once she unveils the hidden door with a wave of her hand.

Once everyone else leaves, I walk over to Cassia as she leans against the back wall with a frown on her face. “Are you okay?”

“Your parents hate me, especially your dad,” Cassia sighs as she glances up at the nearby burning torch, watching the fire dance and sway.

“It’s just complicated. You know the history they have with Cinderborne and Shadowfang. Nyxara and Voren caused them a lot of pain,” I tell her as I take her hand, not wanting her to get too upset over something that’ll hopefully be temporary.

Cassia nods in understanding. “I get that. I just … I’m not them. I’m not Morgana or Lucian either. I’m trying to be my own person.”

I draw her closer and cup her face. “And I really like that person.”

Cassia finally smiles and rolls her eyes at me. “Are you trying to distract me from my sadness?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “I just want to remind you that you’re a good person. You’re going to save all of the good Moonveil witches, and everyone will know how brave you were to stand up to Morgana and Lucian.”

Cassia grips my wrists and nods, hope shining in her eyes. “I’m fighting for them. For myself. For you and your people. Even if some of them don’t like me.”

“Don’t like you yet . They’ll warm up to you once they get to know you better,” I assure her.

“Alright, Mr. Optimist.”

I grin and lean forward, pressing a gentle kiss against her lips. “They’ll see how amazing you are.”

Cassia wraps her arms around my neck, her body leaning against mine. “Just kiss me.”

We’ve gotten to spend a notable amount of time together, but we mostly see each other in these secret meetings and in passing around the castle. We don’t get many moments like these when it’s just us and all of our pent-up passion.

I don’t even know what we are, but the last thing I’m worried about right now is a title. I just want to focus on how I feel when I’m around her.

And it’s incredible.

As our kiss deepens, heat rushes through me, my heartbeat picking up. I turn us and press her up against the wall, our hands roaming all over each other’s bodies. I caress her perfect curves through her knee-length, light blue dress, my lips trailing along her jaw. “My gorgeous girl.”

Cassia sighs in bliss as she curls her fingers in my hair. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you,” I murmur as I tug on the bottom of her dress, drawing the material up around her waist. “Let me show you.”

Cassia nods eagerly, immediately moaning as my hand slips into her panties. She parts her thighs, her breath hitching as I push a finger inside of her. She tugs on the front of my pants to undo them, her skin already warming and flushing.

I work another finger inside of her, thrusting and curling them deep as she strokes my cock. There aren’t any other meetings today, so we shouldn’t have any unexpected visitors. The thrill of indulging in each other here only turns me on more, though.

Cassia and I share another heated kiss as we caress each other, working each other closer and closer to orgasm with every touch. It feels like we’ve been waiting an eternity to be together again because we’ve been so damn busy.

I don’t want to wait anymore.

I strip her panties off and grab the back of her thighs, lifting her and pressing her against the wall. I guide my cock inside of her with one smooth thrust, our sounds of bliss mingling and echoing throughout the room.

Cassia loops her arms around my neck, burying her fingers in my hair to hold on for dear life as I lift her and drop her down onto my cock. “Grey!”

“Yes … damn, it feels good,” I breathe out, my biceps flexing as I move her and thrust into her.

Cassia crashes her lips against mine, teeth and tongue grazing. She teasingly bites my bottom lip, making my cock throb inside of her. She gasps, her core fluttering around me.

The sensations nearly dizzy me, but I don’t dare stop. We’re already so close, so desperate to reach the peak of our pleasure. It has been torture behaving around her in front of everyone.

No touching. No kissing. No teasing.

We may mess up every now and then, but it probably looks like an act to everyone. An attempt to strengthen the importance of our arranged marriage.

Deep down, it’s so much more than that. More than what anyone can begin to imagine.

The back of her shoulders presses against the wall as I thrust harder into her. My pace quickens, my body heating up more and more by the second. “So close.”

Cassia nods fervently. “Grey, please.”

I grit my teeth and drive into her over and over, pushing her down on my cock to thrust into her deeper.

It’s her unraveling.

Cassia tosses her head back with a gasp, her thighs squeezing my waist as she comes hard.

I grip her tighter, spilling inside of her with a groan. The sounds of our tired breaths collide as I wrap my arms around her, holding her against me as we recover from the intensity.

Cassia strokes my hair as she smiles against my cheek. “We need to do this more.”

I lightly laugh and nod. There are a lot of things that I want to do with her more, especially as we continue planning and dreaming about a better, brighter future for both of our clans. When I think about the future, she’s always there in my visions.

The closer we get, the clearer things become. We’re bonded in more ways than one, and we didn’t need a spell to make that happen.

Our union may be unconventional, but I know it’s meant to be. Not only just for us but for the fates of everyone else too.