Chapter 177
Cassian's POV
I stepped forward. Put myself between Elowen and that demon bastard.
"Our daughter won't be staying here," I said. My voice came out flat. Cold.
My eyes locked on Raven's gray ones. I felt Zero stirring beneath my skin. The wolf wanted out. Wanted to tear into this creature who'd dared to threaten our mate. Our child.
But I held him back. Barely.
Raven's lips curved into that infuriating smile. "We have years to resolve this matter." His tone was casual. Like we were discussing the weather instead of my daughter's future.
Years. The word made my jaw clench.
"Don't even think about it," Casper said from beside me. His voice had that dangerous edge. The one that meant Leo was close to the surface.
I felt Elowen's hand slip into mine. Her fingers were trembling. Through our bond, I caught flashes of her fear. Her determination. Her love for this child she carried.
Our child. Mine and Casper's.
The thought still felt surreal.
"I've completed my part of the bargain," Raven announced. He waved his hand at the twisted shadows around us. The cathedral's broken walls seemed to pulse with dark energy.
I frowned. "What bargain?"
"Your injuries." Raven's gray eyes met mine. "Healed. Your friend Ronan—awake. Eventually." That last word dripped with something ugly. Something threatening.
"Eventually?" Casper's voice rose. "What the hell does that mean?"
Raven shrugged. One shoulder. Casual as anything. "When he returns to his own realm, he'll wake. Eventually."
My hands balled into fists. The bastard was playing games. Always playing games.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Elowen beat me to it.
"You said you completed your part," she said. Her voice was steady now. Stronger. "So what do you want in return?"
Smart girl. Always thinking. Always planning.
That's our mate, Zero purred in my mind. Sharp as a blade.
Raven's attention shifted fully to Elowen. I didn't like that. Didn't like how his eyes lingered on her face. Her neck. The marks Casper and I had left there.
"I want," Raven said slowly, "a truce."
"A truce." I repeated the word. Tasted it. Found it bitter.
"Yes." Raven's gaze swung back to me. "I agree not to harm your mate—physically, mentally, or magically." He paused. Let the words hang in the air. "Provided you extend the same courtesy to me."
The nerve of this bastard.
"You think we'd agree to that?" Casper snarled. "After what you've done?"
But I was already thinking. Already calculating.
He's afraid, Zero whispered. Otherwise he wouldn't negotiate.
My wolf was right. Raven wanted protection. Needed it, even.
Which meant we had leverage.
Elowen pulled away from me. Moved forward before I could stop her.
"Wait," I said. Reached for her.
Too late.
She stood directly in front of Raven now. Her small frame rigid with anger. With courage.
"That's not enough," she said.
Raven raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"No." Elowen's voice didn't waver. "Our family needs protection too. Not just us three. Luna Ella. Alpha Austin. Cindy. Ethan. The entire Thornwood Pack."
Pride swelled in my chest. She was thinking like a Luna already. Protecting the pack. Thinking beyond just herself.
She'll make a fierce Luna, Zero observed. When the time comes.
"And," Elowen continued, stepping even closer to Raven, "no tricks. No loopholes. No deception."
Raven's smile faded slightly.
"If you harm anyone I love," Elowen's voice dropped to something dangerous, "I'll cut off your dick and keep it as a trophy."
Casper choked on a laugh beside me. I felt my own lips twitch despite everything.
That's definitely our mate, Zero said. This time with clear amusement.
Raven stared at Elowen. For a long moment, nobody moved. Nobody spoke.
Then his laughter echoed through the cathedral. Sharp. Metallic. Wrong.
"Fierce little thing, aren't you?" He looked past her at me. "You've chosen well, Cassian."
I didn't respond. Just watched him. Waited.
"Very well," Raven said finally. "I accept your terms, little wolf. No harm to your precious pack members. No tricks." His red eyes flashed briefly through the gray. "For now."
For now, Zero repeated grimly. He'll find a way around it. They always do.
"There's more," I said. Moved to stand beside Elowen. Close enough that my shoulder brushed hers.
Raven's attention snapped to me. "Oh?"
"Stay out of our thoughts." I made it a command. Not a request. "You don't get access to our minds."
For the first time, Raven looked genuinely annoyed. His jaw tightened. His fingers flexed at his sides.
"Nope," he said. The word was clipped. Hard.
I almost smiled. "Unwilling to give up your little superpower?"
"It's not—" He stopped himself. Took a breath. "Fine. I won't actively harm you or Casper through mental invasion. But I'm not promising to stay out entirely."
"Not good enough," Casper said. He'd moved to Elowen's other side. The three of us formed a wall. United.
Good, Zero said. Show him we're a team. Show him he can't divide us.
Raven's eyes narrowed. I watched his jaw work. Saw the moment he realized he'd have to compromise.
"I promise not to harm you or Casper—physically, mentally, or magically." His voice was tight with frustration. "I won't strike first. But if you break our agreement..." He left the threat hanging.
Beside me, I felt Casper tense. Through our twin bond, I caught fragments of his thoughts.
Something's wrong. Something about his face. The way he—
"I have a condition too," Casper said suddenly.
Raven turned to him. And smiled. Like he'd been waiting for this.
That smile made my skin crawl.
"Let me guess," Raven said. "You want to verify my claims about your parents?"
How did he—
He's been in our heads, Zero snarled. Reading us. Playing us.
Casper's face had gone pale. "I want to speak with them. Directly. Verify everything you've said." His voice grew harder. "If I find out you've lied—even a little—I'll refuse this agreement."
"And?" Raven prompted.
"And I'll spend the rest of my life keeping you away from our daughter." Casper's hand found Elowen's. Squeezed. "Even if it costs me everything."
The cathedral went silent.
I felt Elowen's fear spike through our bond. Felt her love for Casper. For me. For the child growing inside her.
"Casper," she whispered. But she didn't argue. Didn't try to stop him.
Because she knows, Zero said quietly. She knows we'd both do the same.
Raven studied Casper for a long moment. Then he laughed. Soft and dark.
"Of course," he said. "I welcome the verification. Your parents will tell you everything themselves." He spread his hands. "I'm confident in my truth, Casper. Very confident."
Something about the way he said it made my stomach drop.
He knows something, Zero said. Something that will hurt them.
I looked at Casper. Saw the same realization dawning in his eyes.
Elowen spoke before either of us could. "Whatever we learn today," she said softly, "we face it together."
Her hand found mine. Squeezed tight.
I nodded. Couldn't speak around the lump in my throat.
Casper took a shaky breath. "Together," he agreed.
The three of us stood there. Facing Raven. Facing whatever truth was coming.
United.
Raven's smile widened. "Excellent." He looked genuinely pleased. "Then we have an agreement. A fragile alliance, forged in conflict."
Fragile is right, Zero muttered. This won't last.
But what choice did we have?
"One more thing," I said. Had to get this out. "What you said about me. About standing on your side."
Raven tilted his head. "Yes?"
"That's never going to happen." I kept my voice level. Cold. "You can threaten. You can manipulate. But I'll never willingly work with you."