Chapter 163
Casper's POV
Cassian? I reached through our twin bond. Brother, can you—
Static. Like someone put up a wall between us.
CASSIAN!
"They're all frozen just like you!" Raven's voice came closer. Footsteps echoed. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"
I felt him move. Heard him walk. But I couldn't turn. Couldn't see.
Then I felt it. A presence. Right behind my father.
No. Don't you fucking dare.
"Look at me, Casper." Raven's command pulled at something inside my chest. Some instinct I couldn't fight.
My eyes shifted. Just my eyes. Everything else stayed locked.
He stood there. Behind my father. Those fire-red eyes staring straight at me.
"Good boy." He smiled. Slow. Cruel. "See? You can follow orders when properly motivated."
I'll kill you. I'll rip your throat out. I'll—
"You'll do nothing." He tilted his head. "Because you can't. None of you can."
My muscles screamed. Begged to move. To protect. To fight.
Nothing happened.
"Cassian?" I tried the bond again. Desperate now.
This time, I felt something. A flicker. Like touching a live wire.
Brother, if he's here... where's Elowen?
"She's safe." Raven answered out loud. Like he heard my thoughts. "Well. Safe-ish. That dark-haired boy though..." He paused. Smiled wider. "Ronan. That's his name, right? So perfect. Too perfect. Unnatural. I need to... adjust him a bit."
My stomach dropped.
What did you do?
"Nothing permanent. Yet." Raven walked around my father. Slow. Circling. "But if anyone here keeps questioning that brave little Beta's daughter..." His eyes flashed brighter. "I won't fail a second time."
I wanted to scream. To move. To do something.
My body wouldn't listen.
Then pain exploded through the bond. Not mine. Someone else's.
Ethan.
I heard him. Through the frozen air. A scream. Raw. Agonized.
"Stop!" Someone shouted. My mother? I couldn't tell.
The scream came again. Louder this time.
What is he doing? What the fuck is he doing?
Then I heard Ethan's voice. Forced. Like someone pulled the words out of his throat.
"You should hurt Kade first! One less person I have to kill later!"
What?
The room stayed frozen. But I heard everything. Every word. Every breath.
"Interesting." Raven's voice came from near Ethan now. "The future ruler. Is that what you think you are?"
Another scream. This one cut off fast. Like someone choked it.
"You're not the heir anymore." Raven sounded almost bored. "That girl is. Then her cubs. Then their cubs. You're... what? Fifth in line now? Maybe sixth?"
What? What the hell is he talking about?
"You wanted to wipe out her whole bloodline." Raven continued. "Eliminate the competition. Very ambitious. Very stupid."
"Your mate is a jealous bitch, by the way." Raven laughed. "Cindy. Such a close friend. Such a loyal sister. And she's been feeding information to you both this whole time, hasn't she?"
No. Cindy wouldn't. She loves Elowen.
"Love." Raven spat the word. "She loves the idea of power more. Of being Luna. Of being first. But she's not. She never will be. Because that girl..." His voice dropped. Dangerous. "I cannot let anything happen to her. Do you understand?"
Silence. Heavy. Suffocating.
Then I felt it. Through the bond. Cassian's presence. Weak. But there.
I'm trapped. I sent the thought. Forced it through the connection.
Stay calm, Casper. His voice came back. Strained. We'll get through this. Together.
He's here. In the room. Behind Father.
I know. A pause. Just breathe. As much as you can. We'll figure this out.
As long as she's alive... I thought. As long as you're with me... I can face anything.
Same, brother. I felt warmth through the bond. Brief. But real. Always.
"Now." Raven's voice cut through everything. "I need to borrow the twins."
My heart stopped. Or would have, if it could still beat properly.
"Don't worry, Alpha Austin." Raven addressed my father directly. "I'll bring them back in one piece. Probably."
No. No, we can't leave. Not now. Not with Father frozen. Not with—
But I felt it. The longing. The desperate need.
Elowen.
If Raven was here, that meant she was somewhere else. Somewhere I needed to be.
Wherever you are, cutie, I thought. I'm coming. We both are.
Then something changed. The pressure eased. Just a fraction.
My fingers twitched.
"Leo says it's a trap!" The warning came through my mind. Sharp. Urgent.
I know. I answered. I don't care.
The air shimmered. Right in front of Raven. Like heat waves. But wrong. Red. Swirling.
A portal.
Fuck.
"You can walk through." Raven gestured. "Or I can throw you through. Either way works for me."
I felt Cassian beside me. Sensed his presence even before I saw him move.
"Release my family first." Cassian's voice. Cold. Controlled. "I can't leave them defenseless."
"Defenseless?" Raven laughed. "The biggest threat in this room is about to leave with me." He looked at me. Smiled. "You should feel proud, Casper. You're terrifying."
Damn right I am.
"Prove it then." I forced the words out. My jaw barely moved. But I got them out. "Let them go. We'll come willingly."
"Deal." Raven waved his hand.
The pressure released.
Everyone gasped. Stumbled. My father grabbed the table. My mother collapsed into a chair.
I looked at Cassian. He looked back.
Through our bond, I felt everything. His fear. His determination. His love for our mate.
Ready? I asked.
No. He admitted. But I'm going anyway.
I turned to my father. Met his eyes. "Stay strong, old man."
Then to my mother. She was crying. Silent tears streaming down her face.
"Don't cry..." I swallowed hard. "Remember what I said? About going to the ends of the earth to protect family? Like you did for us? I meant it."
Her hand covered her mouth. More tears fell.
I didn't look back. Couldn't. If I did, I'd lose my nerve.
The portal swirled. Red. Hot. Wrong.
For Elowen. I thought. For our mate. For our cubs.
I stepped forward.
The world dissolved into fire.