Chapter 167
Cassian's POV
The metal scent hit me first. Sharp. Cold. Like copper mixed with something older. Something wrong.
I couldn't move. Not an inch. My body was pinned against the stone wall like a butterfly in a display case. The pressure on my chest made breathing hard. Every muscle screamed to break free, but nothing responded.
Raven moved closer to Elowen. His footsteps echoed through the cathedral.
I tried to reach for my wolf. Zero. Where are you?
Nothing.
Panic clawed up my throat. The bond with my wolf felt... muffled. Like trying to hear through thick glass.
"Stay away from her," I forced out through gritted teeth.
Raven didn't even look at me. His hand reached toward Elowen's face.
Through the mate bond, I felt her spike of fear. It shot through me like lightning. My fingers twitched. That was all I could manage.
"Cassian." Casper's voice came through our twin link. Strained. Angry. "I can't... I can't fucking move."
"I know."
"If he touches her—"
"I know."
My ice-blue eyes tracked every movement. Raven's fingers stopped just short of Elowen's cheek. She didn't flinch. God, she was brave.
"In your mate's body is what I need," Raven's voice slid into my mind like oil. Uninvited. Unwanted. "Rubbing against your mate isn't so bad, is it? I'm handsome. Sexy. Powerful! She'd love it!"
My blood boiled. Every cell in my body screamed to tear him apart. My eyes started to shift—I could feel them warming, the cold blue heating to gold.
No. Stop.
I forced the rage down. Barely.
This is what he wants. He's trying to make me lose control.
Through the twin bond, I felt Casper's fury mirror my own. We were both fighting the same battle. Stay calm. Stay smart.
"Stop it!" Elowen's voice cut through the cathedral. "You're killing them!"
She shoved Raven. Hard. The bastard stumbled back half a step before catching himself.
He laughed. Actually laughed.
Then he lifted his hand. Casper and I rose higher on the wall. My feet dangled uselessly. The stone scraped against my back through my shirt.
Elowen jumped, trying to reach us. Her fingers missed Casper's boots by inches.
"Please," she begged. "Please stop."
The sound of her voice—broken, desperate—it was worse than any physical pain.
"I wish she was like her mother," Raven said in my head. Only I could hear him. "No offense, but you're not my type, Cassian."
What the hell did that mean?
Before I could process it, his voice filled the cathedral again. "She's strong. Beautiful. Brave." His hand moved to Elowen's hip. Possessive. Claiming.
"GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF HER!"
The roar ripped from my throat. My voice echoed off the vaulted ceiling. The stained glass windows shook.
Raven's smile widened. "Temper, temper."
"I'll kill you," Casper snarled from beside me. His deep red-brown hair was wild around his face. His amber eyes had gone full gold. "I'll rip you apart."
"You'll try." Raven patted Elowen's hip. Once. Twice.
My vision went red.
"Brother." Casper's thought hit me hard. "We need to stay calm."
"Calm? He's touching her!"
"I know. But we're useless like this. We need to think."
He was right. I hated it, but he was right.
Through the mate bond, I felt Elowen's fear. But also her strength. She was holding it together better than we were.
"This creature is delusional," Casper sent to me. "How can he think any alpha wolf would allow their daughter to mate a demon?"
"She won't mate him," I replied. "Our daughter never will."
The words felt hollow. Because right now, pinned to this wall like insects, we couldn't protect anyone.
"You don't have a say in this," Raven said to me directly. His red eyes gleamed. "The daughter isn't yours, Cassian. She's Casper's."
What?
My eyes snapped to Casper. His face had gone pale.
"Casper already agreed to my deal," Raven continued. "For something small."
No. No, that couldn't be right.
"Fuck off!" Casper's denial shook the stones. "I never—"
"Oh, but you did." Raven's finger wagged like he was scolding a child. "Remember? I said I'd help you with 'something small.' You agreed." He grinned. "Your daughter currently counts as something small."
"Did you?" I demanded through our link. "Did you make a deal with him?"
"I don't... I don't remember. Maybe? " Casper's thoughts spiraled into panic. "Oh god. Oh fuck. Cassian, I didn't know—"
"Breathe. Just breathe."
But inside, I was falling apart too.
All I'd ever wanted was a daughter. A little girl to protect and spoil. To teach her racing. To show her how to be strong but kind. Someone who'd look at me with trust instead of fear.
And now...
Now she belonged to this monster?
I'd imagined her so clearly. She'd have Elowen's amber eyes. Maybe Casper's warm coloring. Or my strategic mind. She'd be perfect.
And I'd never get to know her.
The jealousy hit me like a punch. Casper knew first. Casper got to be her father. Even if it meant a demon held her future, at least he had that connection.
"Cassian." Casper's voice was rough. "I can feel you. Stop it."
"Can't help it."
"We'll figure this out. Together."