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

26. Cassia

Chapter twenty-six

Cassia

A t thirty minutes to midnight, combined Everblade and Moonveil forces sneak out of the castle and make their way to the front of the forest, guided by the light of the rising moon.

I crouch low as I cut through the field with my group, my crossbody bag bumping against my hip with the sapling tucked inside. Just in case the forest does burn tonight, I’ll at least have the last remaining sapling that I can flee with.

Once a plan was decided on, a back-up plan had to be made. What would happen if we lost the fight? Will we submit? Beg for our lives?

The general consensus is that we will flee from the region to preserve our lives as best as we can. If we do surrender, there is no guarantee that Morgana, Lucian, and their loyalists won’t just kill us right then and there. It’ll be safer to struggle without a home for a while and start over somewhere else.

“Cassia, slow down.”

I look over my shoulder to see Alastor quickening his pace to catch up to me. “What is it?”

“I just wanted to tell you that I’m glad I found you,” Alastor tells me, keeping his voice low as we join the line of witches and wolves that separate the forest from the castle. He pitches me a hopeful look. “I want to get to know you more. If that’s something you’re comfortable with.”

Things have been so hectic that I haven’t really gotten the chance to talk to him much, but from the conversations we’ve had, he seems like a genuine person. He clawed his way from the darkest depths of being a Cinderborne witch up to a life of peace. If he can put in all that effort to better himself, can’t I put in the effort to give him a chance and get to know him?

“It is,” I tell him as we stand side by side. I give him a small smile, wondering what all we’ll talk about after the battle. Will we have more in common than I think is possible? How close will we become?

Questions rattle around in my mind, but I don’t have long to ponder them before I see Grey striding along the line and checking on everyone as midnight gets closer. My heart skips at the sight of him, warmth blooming among the fear I feel about losing him and all the people around me who I’ve come to care about and respect. We’re all fighting for each other tonight, even if we don’t know much about each other.

“Stand strong. Don’t panic. Help each other,” Grey says as he walks tall and strong, his eyes sharpening with determination. He looks incredible tonight, and I can feel the power radiating off him. He’ll be ready to shift at a moment’s notice and take down anyone in his path, and I’ll be here to help however I can.

Even if that means dragging injured people into the forest where Gliselle and other healers are waiting to help those who need it.

Grey finally reaches me after talking to his parents, who are only a few people down from me. He takes my hands and kisses the top of both of them. “Hanging in?”

“I feel like throwing up and passing out at the same time.”

Grey chuckles, but I can hear the shudder in his breath. He’s nervous too, but he has a brave look on his face for everyone else. “Everything is going to be okay. I won’t be too far from you.”

I smile a little and nod, trying to quell the surge of nervousness that hits me in the chest. This is really happening. I might lose him tonight. I might lose everything.

Grey’s eyes search mine as he easily detects my fear. He leans forward and presses his lips against mine, forcing my racing mind to slow down to a near stop.

I focus on the comfort that flows from him to me. The firm grip of his hands. The soft caress of his lips. The love in my heart that is so strong that it hurts.

I can’t lose any of this. I refuse!

But I’m not going to be na?ve and miss the chance to tell him what he needs to hear.

“I love you,” I whisper against his lips as my eyes start to sting. “I love you, Grey.”

Grey’s breathing stops for a moment as his grip tightens on my hands. He then smiles and exhales in relief. “I love you too. You beat me to it, sweetheart.”

I let out a light laugh, pressing one more sweet kiss against his lips before we break apart to smile at each other. I don’t feel even a sliver of fear in that single moment. All I feel is happiness and relief that the person I love feels the same way.

“Look!”

My eyes dart forward as a large group of Moonveil witches emerges from the castle and heads toward us in battle formation. That isn’t entirely surprising, but what makes dread seep into my chest are the two lines of other Moonveil witches who approach us from either side, pinning us back against the forest.

“Where did they come from?” I gasp as my gaze sweeps around, keeping an eye on all three sides as every line advances toward us.

“What the hell is going on?” Emeric bites out as his teeth grit. He and the other wolves tense, preparing to shift. Flashes of magic burning at the tips of witches’ fingers spark on either side of me.

“They saw this coming. They knew …” Grey breathes out in shock, remaining frozen.

“Grey!” I grab his arm and give him a shake before pointing forward as Morgana and Lucian emerge from the group in front of us.

Grey snaps out of his shocked state and narrows his eyes. He moves forward about ten feet from the rest of the group, being followed by me and Emeric. “Stop right there!”

Morgana and Lucian stop around fifty feet away with amused expressions on their faces. Morgana gestures toward us. “Adorable effort! I’m so glad you showed up just as we knew you would.”

I share a confused look with Grey before glaring at Morgana. “What are you talking about?”

“We’re not here to destroy the forest,” Lucian speaks up. “We’re here to destroy all of you. Moonveil’s traitors.”

Grey curses beneath his breath, his shoulders tensing as the two side lines move a few feet closer. We’re really starting to get boxed in now. “You tricked us!”

Morgana waves her hand dismissively. “We merely planted a seed and spread a little rumor. You think we don’t know you’re listening in on us and watching us? You think we didn’t notice that something was going on between Everblade and some of our witches? We notice everything! We have eyes everywhere!”

Her wicked voice sends a chill through me, but I stand my ground and so does everyone else. It’s too late to back down now.

“Your arranged marriage offer was smart,” Lucian admits. “But we only let it fly to keep you busy. We had many things running in the background.”

My heart pounds heavily as Morgana and Lucian share a twisted look with each other. They know something we don’t. Something that we’re about to find out.

“When we had an inkling of suspicion that an alliance was forming under our noses, we decided to reach out and make some allies of our own,” Morgana tells us as the crowd behind her starts to split, allowing people I can’t make out to come forward.

“What do they say? History repeats itself?” Lucian comments as he steps to the side.

Right as he moves, a group of seven people step forward. I don’t recognize them, but they have the energy of wolves. Older wolves, though. Around Grey’s parents’ age.

“Who are they?” I whisper to Grey.

When I don’t get an answer, I turn to look at Grey, who isn’t even looking forward or at me. He’s looking at his dad, who has visibly paled. “Who are they?”

Emeric swallows hard as his eyes darken. “Shadowfang.”

Grey looks forward and tightens his jaw. “And Voren.”

My eyes snap forward as an older but still muscular man strides forward to stand between Morgana and Lucian. Scars litter his face and arms, and the cruelest smile I’ve ever seen creeps across his roughly stubbled face as he cracks his knuckles.

“Finally, I get to finish what I started all those years ago,” Voren says, excitement lacing his voice.

At Morgana’s nod, Moonveil and Shadowfang surge toward us. Fire in their eyes. Bloodlust in their hearts. Shadows on their heels.

This is a whole different battle than what we planned for, but there’s no time to worry about that now. This is now a fight for our lives, and the odds are not in our favor.