Chapter 158
Cassian's POV
The burn across my chest wouldn't stop. Red lightning left its mark—deep, searing, angry. I pushed myself up from the floor. My arms shook. Everything hurt.
But not as much as the emptiness where Elowen should be.
"Elowen..." Her name scraped out of my throat. Raw. Broken.
I stared at the space where the portal closed. Nothing there now. Just air. Cold air that smelled like sulfur and burnt flesh.
I reached for the mate bond. Pushed hard against that invisible thread connecting us.
Nothing.
My breath caught. I pushed harder.
Still nothing.
"Cassian." My father's voice cut through the silence. "What the hell just happened? Where's Elowen?"
I couldn't look at him. My ice-blue eyes stayed locked on that empty space.
"I don't know, Father." The words cost me everything. "I don't know."
Behind me, I heard movement. Ethan stood guard, face pale, watching us.
Father grabbed my shoulder. Hard. "Cassian. Look at me."
I forced my eyes to meet his. Amber burned into ice-blue.
"Tell me what happened," he said. Voice steady. Alpha voice. "Why is Elowen gone? Who was that man? Where did he take her?"
My jaw clenched. "I don't know where she is. I don't know who he really is. I don't know what he wants."
That was partly a lie. I knew it was Raven. I knew he was a demon. But the rest—Jessica not being Elowen's real mother, the royal bloodline, all those secrets Kade and Alaric told us—I couldn't say that. Not yet. Not here.
"I just know she's gone," I said. "And I couldn't stop it."
My voice cracked on those last words. I hated that. Hated showing weakness. But my mate was gone and I felt like someone ripped out half my soul.
Father's hand squeezed my shoulder. "We'll find her, son. I promise you. We'll bring her home."
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to.
But what if we were too late? What if that bastard hurt her?
What if I never saw her again?
"Leo..." I closed my eyes. Reached through the twin bond. "Casper... I need you."
The connection flared. Hot. Wild. Angry.
Too angry.
My father's grip tightened. "Careful, Cassian. Leo's unpredictable right now. After Elowen was taken, he might lose control completely."
"Leo's fine!" I snapped. "Casper can control him."
Alaric stepped forward. Dried blood on his temple. "That was before Elowen got taken. You saw this room. If Leo truly loses it—"
"You see him wrecking the room?" I cut him off. My voice came out sharp. Dangerous. "You see him losing control? Destroying all of you? No! Casper has control. I trust my brother. I trust Leo. I need them!"
My hands shook. From rage or fear, I didn't know anymore.
The door opened. Heavy footsteps. I felt him before I saw him.
Leo's massive red-brown wolf body filled the doorway. The floor creaked under his weight. Gold-amber eyes burned with pain. With self-hatred.
He walked to me. Slow. Sat down beside me. His shoulder pressed against my side. Warm. Solid. Real.
I put my hand on his shoulder. "She's somewhere... alone and scared. And we're powerless to save her."
Leo threw his head back. A howl tore from his throat. Long. Haunting. Full of grief and guilt.
The sound rattled the windows. Made my chest ache.
"Ronan's with her," Kade said quietly. "He won't let anything happen to her. That bastard will have to kill Ronan before he touches her."
I looked at Kade. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
He shrugged. "It's the truth."
I turned back to Leo. Spoke through the bond. "I need Casper back. Now. I promise when we have answers, I'll call you right away. We're gonna need you to rip that fucker apart."
Leo stared at me. Something passed between us. Understanding. Agreement.
He backed away. Slowly. His body started glowing. Shifting. Within seconds, Casper stood there. Naked from the waist up. Covered in sweat. His deep-gold amber eyes still held traces of Leo's glow.
I turned to face the room. Father stood near the wall. Kade and Alaric nearby. Ethan by the door, waiting for orders.
And Jessica. Still chained up. Blood dried on her shoulder.
"Why is Jessica in silver chains?" Father's voice made me flinch. "She's our Beta. This is too much."
I stepped between him and Jessica. "Don't go near her."
Leo's growl rumbled from deep in Casper's chest. Supporting my warning.
"She's a traitor, Austin," Alaric said flatly. "Jessica betrayed the pack. Betrayed Elowen."
Father took a step back. "What? Have you all lost your minds?"
"It's true," Kade confirmed. "We have proof."
Father's fist slammed into the wall. Plaster cracked. A picture frame fell. His amber eyes blazed with fury. "How dare you. How DARE you betray your own pack!"
Near the door, Ethan shifted. Muttered something about needing to leave. Find clues.
"No, Ethan." Casper's voice came out low. Hoarse. "Stay. This involves you too."
I looked at my twin. Really looked. He'd pulled on a black T-shirt from somewhere. His red-brown hair was a mess. Those deep amber eyes were full of pain and self-loathing.
"Casper?" I said.
He crossed the room. Wrapped his arms around me. Tight. I hugged him back. Hard.
"I'm sorry, Cassian." His voice shook against my ear. "I should've been faster. I should've protected Elowen better. I should've—"
"This isn't your fault, Casper." I pulled him closer. "We'll find her. Together. We won't give up."
We stood there. Holding each other. Finding comfort in the twin bond when everything else felt shattered.
Then Casper pulled back. His eyes met mine.
"It's my fault..." His voice barely made it past his lips. "I think... I might have given him permission to take her."
The words hit like bullets.
My ice-blue eyes went wide. "You said what?"
Father, Kade, Alaric, Ethan—everyone froze.
I grabbed Casper's shoulders. My voice came out low. Controlled. But fury simmered underneath. "Explain. Now."