Chapter 133
Casper's POV
The cold hit me first.
Not the kind of cold that made you shiver. Not the kind you could warm up from. This was different. This cold wrapped around my bones and squeezed. It crawled under my skin and froze me from the inside out.
I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't even blink.
But I could see everything. Hear everything. Feel everything.
Elowen stood in front of Selene. Her shoulders were shaking. Her hands were pressed against her stomach. Tears ran down her face.
And I couldn't do a damn thing about it.
My chest burned. My wolf Leo clawed at the inside of my skull. He wanted out. He wanted to rip apart this magic holding us. He wanted to protect our mate.
But we were trapped.
"Cassian?"
I pushed the word through our twin bond. It felt like shouting through thick glass.
"I'm here!"
His voice came back sharp. Angry. Scared.
"What do we do?"
Silence. Then—
"I don't know."
That scared me more than anything else. Cassian always knew what to do. He always had a plan. Always had an answer.
Now he had nothing.
My eyes stayed locked on Elowen. She looked so small standing there. So fragile. The moonlight made her hair glow. Made her skin look pale.
She should be happy right now. Should be smiling. Should be celebrating.
Twins. She was carrying twins. Our twins.
One mine. One Cassian's.
The thought should have made me want to dance. Should have made me want to scream with joy. Should have made me want to kiss her until we both couldn't breathe.
Instead, all I felt was cold.
Because I knew what came next. I'd heard Selene's words. Heard the choice she was forcing on Elowen.
The mate bonds or the babies.
Leo roared inside my head.
"Moon Goddess! I don't care how hot you are! You don't get to make my mate cry like this!"
The ice around us shifted. Just a little. Just enough to let Leo's rage seep through.
Selene's golden eyes flicked to me. Just for a second. Her power wrapped tighter. Held us harder.
But I felt Leo pull back from the edge. Felt him stop trying to destroy himself fighting the magic.
She'd saved him. Saved us.
And I hated her for it.
"Keep calm, buddy!"
Cassian's voice cut through Leo's snarling.
My brother's ice-blue eyes found mine across the garden. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping. His hands were fists at his sides.
He was just as pissed as I was.
"How dare she?"
Cassian's thoughts hit me like a punch.
"How dare she threaten our happiness, our family, like we're just pieces in her cosmic game?"
I wanted to answer. Wanted to agree. Wanted to rage with him.
But then Elowen spoke.
"Please. Please unfreeze them. I need them."
Her voice cracked. Broke. Shattered.
Hope flickered in my chest.
The ice around me melted. Not slowly. Not gently. It was just gone.
My legs moved before my brain caught up.
"Little freckle."
I reached Elowen in three steps. My arms wrapped around her. My face buried in her hair. Her vanilla scent filled my nose. Her warmth pressed against my chest.
She was crying. Shaking. Her fingers grabbed my shirt and twisted. Held on like I might disappear.
I kissed her. Hard. Desperate. Tasted salt from her tears. Felt her lips tremble under mine.
Cassian was there too. His hand on Elowen's back. His forehead pressed to her temple. His breath coming fast.
We held her. Held each other. Tried to make her understand.
She was safe. The babies were safe. That was all that mattered.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!"
Elowen's words came out between sobs. Her whole body shook.
"You have nothing to apologize for!"
Cassian's voice was firm. Strong. But I heard the crack underneath.
"No!"
The word burst out of me. Loud. Angry.
I hated that she blamed herself. Hated that she thought any of this was her fault. Hated that she'd faced this choice alone even for a minute.
She shouldn't have to choose. Not between us and the babies. Not between anything.
My hands cupped her face. Made her look at me.
"You're not to blame."
I turned to Cassian. He was watching us. His eyes were wet. His chest was heaving.
"Neither of you are to blame!"
Elowen's hand slid down to her stomach. Her fingers spread wide. Protected.
"We'll find a way..."
Her voice was so quiet. So broken.
Cassian's eyes softened. His hand covered hers on her belly. His smile was small. Sad. Full of love.
My hand joined theirs. Three hands. One stomach. Two tiny lives growing inside.
This should have been different. Should have been happy. Should have been us laughing and planning and dreaming.
Instead, we stood in a magic garden facing an impossible choice.
My throat got tight. My eyes burned.
Could we give up Elowen to save the babies?
Could we let our children die to keep our mate?
The answer was the same for both.
No. Never. Not happening.
"Elowen."
Selene's voice made me flinch. Made my teeth grind together.
She stepped closer. The moonlight around her got brighter. Made her glow. Made her look beautiful and terrible at the same time.
"If I am to let your mates' father return to life, you know there must be a cost."
I wanted to hit her. Wanted to wipe that calm look off her face. Wanted to make her hurt like Elowen was hurting.
But I kept my arms around my mate instead.
The room went quiet. Just our breathing. Just the soft sound of Elowen's tears.
Selene raised her hand. Demanded attention.
"Elowen."
Her voice echoed. Wrapped around us. Pulled at something deep inside.
"You must choose. Sacrifice your mate bonds with Casper and Cassian. Or..."
She paused. Let the silence stretch. Let the fear build.
My spine went cold. My heart beat faster.
"Or sacrifice the twins growing inside you."
Elowen's breath caught. Her eyes flew between me and Cassian. Begged us to help her. Begged us to make this choice for her.
But we couldn't. This had to be her decision.
Except it didn't.
Cassian's eyes found mine. Held. Asked a silent question.
I looked at Elowen. At her tear-stained face. At her hand on her stomach. At the marks on her neck where we'd claimed her.
Then I nodded.
Cassian nodded back.
His hand gripped my shoulder. Squeezed. Promised.
We were in this together. All three of us. No matter what.
"We won't choose!"
Cassian's voice rang out. Clear. Strong. Final.
I felt the words in my chest. Felt them in my soul. Felt them through every bond connecting us.
He was right.
We wouldn't sacrifice our mate. Wouldn't sacrifice our children. Wouldn't sacrifice anything.
I looked at Selene. Met her golden eyes. Let her see my decision.
"We're done playing your games."
My voice came out rough. Angry. But steady.
Elowen's hand found mine. Squeezed. Her other hand held Cassian's.
We stood there. The three of us. Connected. United. Complete.
This was it. This was what mattered.