Chapter 202
Cassian's POV
I stared at the TV screen, but I wasn't watching the movie anymore. My mind kept circling back to Raven's suggestion. The plan he'd outlined. The lies we'd have to tell.
"I think Raven's proposal... it won't work," I said quietly.
Casper's head snapped toward me. His golden amber eyes sharpened. "What? Why?"
He grabbed the remote and paused the TV. The sudden silence felt heavy. Elowen shifted slightly in his arms but didn't wake. Her breathing stayed soft and even.
I glanced at her sleeping face. "She can't hear us. But we need to be careful."
Casper's jaw tightened. "Tell me."
"Elowen is too..." I searched for the right word. "Real. Too compassionate. She can't maintain that kind of cold, heartless act for long."
"But it's the easiest way!" Casper sounded like a kid who'd been told he couldn't have dessert.
I shook my head. "Easy doesn't mean possible. You know her personality. She'll give herself away."
Ronan, who'd been quiet in his chair, nodded slowly. "I agree with Cassian. Elowen's heart is too soft. She can't fake that kind of cruelty."
Casper's face twisted. He looked down at Elowen, his fingers absently stroking her hair. Through our bond, I felt his frustration spike.
"There has to be another way," he muttered.
"Caring?"
The word came from nowhere. A low, magnetic voice that perfectly finished my unspoken thought.
Ronan jumped out of his chair like he'd been electrocuted. He moved to the far side of the room in a blur. His emerald green eyes locked on the shadows in the corner, wary and alert.
I knew why. Ronan had told me about Raven's "special treatment" during his captivity. The demon had left scars that went deeper than skin.
From the darkened corner, Raven stepped forward slowly. Brown hair. Gray eyes. A playful smile curled his lips.
"You need to wear a bell," Ronan hissed, keeping his voice low. "Like a cat. Or a cow. You can't just appear like that. You'll give someone a heart attack."
He positioned himself near where Elowen slept, his body language protective.
Raven chuckled softly. "A bell? How delightfully creative. But I prefer this... dramatic entrance style."
His gray eyes scanned the room, landing on each of us in turn. When his gaze lingered on Elowen's sleeping form, something cold slithered down my spine.
"I didn't summon you," I said. My voice came out flat.
"Didn't you?" Raven's smile widened. "You were thinking about me. Quite intently, I might add."
"I was thinking I wanted to jerk off," I shot back. "Doesn't mean I'm going to pull out my dick and start stroking it."
Raven's laugh was genuine this time. "Fair point. Though if you did start masturbating with your sister sleeping five feet away, you should probably be registered as a sex offender."
Heat crept up my neck. Casper's embarrassment flooded through our bond like hot water.
Shut up, he sent through our connection. Just... shut up.
"Why are you here?" I demanded, ignoring the crude joke.
Raven's expression shifted. The playfulness dimmed slightly. "Because we're running out of time. The Moon Goddess isn't known for her patience."
I stood up carefully, making sure not to disturb Elowen. Zero stirred in my mind, alert and suspicious. The wolf didn't trust Raven. Neither did I.
"You think Selene might be watching right now?" I asked.
Raven nodded. He lifted his hand, and dark red energy rippled outward from his palm. It spread across the walls, creating an invisible barrier. The air pressure changed. My ears popped.
"Soundproofing spell," he explained. "It'll hold for a few minutes. Maybe less. We need to talk fast."
"About what?" Casper's voice was hard. He'd shifted Elowen slightly, angling his body between her and Raven.
Through our bond, I sent him a warning. Stay alert. Don't trust anything he says.
I know, Casper replied. His fingers traced gentle circles on Elowen's arm, as if reassuring himself she was still safe.
Raven's gray eyes flickered to me. "You were discussing my proposal. And you're right, Cassian. Elowen can't pull off the act I suggested."
"Then why suggest it?" I crossed my arms.
"Because I needed to see your reactions." Raven moved closer, his footsteps silent. "I needed to understand the dynamics between the three of you."
"Well, you've seen enough," Casper snapped. "Now leave."
"Not yet." Raven's gaze drifted to Elowen again. That same unsettling interest. "Your wolf is back, Casper. Interesting how quickly you recovered."
Casper's eyes flashed gold. "Touch her and I'll rip your throat out."
"So protective." Raven sounded amused. "You weren't always like this. Remember those nights at The Red Wolf? All those women—"
"That was before." Casper cut him off. His voice dropped to a growl. "Before Elowen."
I stepped forward, placing myself partially between Raven and my brother. "Get to the point. What do you really want?"
Raven's attention shifted to me. His gray eyes seemed to see through my skull, reading thoughts I didn't want to share.
"There's another way," he said finally. "A loophole in Selene's ultimatum. But it requires all three of you to cooperate."
"We're listening," I said cautiously.
"Is there a way to restore everyone's wolves?" Casper interrupted. "Not just ours. The whole pack lost their wolves because of Drake's spell."
Raven waved his hand dismissively. "Your wolf is back. What more do you want?"
"You helped Drake," Casper pressed. "You gave him his wolf back. Why?"
"Drake is a worthless little shit who deserves to be stepped on," Casper continued, his voice rising. "Why would you help him?"
Raven's eyes flashed red for a split second. "I have my reasons."
"Bullshit," Casper said. "You made a deal with him, didn't you? Some secret transaction."
The demon's expression tightened. He didn't like having his deals exposed. I filed that information away for later.
"What I do with Drake is my business," Raven said coldly.