The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.-Chapter 327: Cassidy’s offer

Ramsey

I turned to Lyla, already shaking my head. "Absolutely not. It's a trap."

To my surprise, Lyla agreed. "I think I'm done hearing whatever the Dark One has to say. Let's fight already and get this over and done with. I'm tired of this back and forth."

"We should hear what she has to say," Lenny said suddenly, "from a safe distance, with guards."

"She tried to kill Lyla," I reminded him unnecessarily. "Did you forget that? Nathan attacked me while Cassidy attacked Lyla. Don't tell me you've forgotten so quickly."

"Of course, I did not forget," Lenny sighed, returning to the couch. "I'm curious to know why she's here, offering herself as the middleman for the Dark One. That is so unlike Cassidy. You know she would never do anything that doesn't benefit her. Besides, if she wanted to attack, why announce her presence? Why not just attack?"

Lyla nodded slowly. "Lenny has a point. This is unusual behaviour for someone committed to my death, and I believe if Xander had everything he wanted to start the war, he would not be using middlemen. There's something missing, and maybe we have it."

I didn't like it, but I could see the logic. "Fine, but we set the terms. She comes alone, unarmed, to neutral ground. We'll have archers positioned to take her down at the first sign of treachery."

Caius left to arrange the meeting while Lenny went to coordinate our forces. I turned to Lyla, taking her hands in mine.

"I don't trust this," I said bluntly. "Cassidy is the Dark One's ally. She has met with him several times, and you know this. Whatever information she's offering is likely designed to harm you – us."

"I know," Lyla agreed. "But we can't ignore potential intelligence, even from dubious sources. Let's hear this message from Xander and see if it would serve as more motivation to end this. Besides," she added with a dangerous smile, "I'd like to look her in the eye after what she did."

I recognised that expression—the same one she'd worn the last time we had parted ways after I had rejected her. Lyla might look delicate, but she had a core of steel that continually surprised me.

"Just promise me you'll stay behind our lines," I requested. "If this goes badly—"

"I can handle myself," she reminded me. "But yes, I'll be careful."

As we prepared to leave, the uncomfortable awareness of our morning argument returned. She'd clearly set it aside for now, focused on the immediate threat, but her words still hung between us. I don't want to marry you.

"Lyla," I began hesitantly. "About this morning—"

"Not now," she cut me off, her expression softening slightly. "We have more urgent matters. We'll talk after we deal with Cassidy."

I nodded, accepting the temporary reprieve. She was right—Cassidy's unexpected appearance took priority over our personal issues. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Together, we headed to the eastern border where my former fiancée, now enemy, waited with her strange entourage of Ferals.

. Whatever game Cassidy was playing, whatever information she claimed to have, I wouldn't let her anywhere near Lyla if I could help it.

One attempted assassination was enough. There wouldn't be a second chance.

When we arrived at the eastern border, everything was already set. Caius had arranged a meeting ground—a clearing one hundred yards outside the gates of the White Mountain Region, surrounded by our best archers hidden in trees and tall grass.

Lenny coordinated our visible security forces, positioning fifty warriors in the nearby forest, ready to intervene at my signal.

Lyla walked beside me, her face betraying none of the anxiety I knew she must feel. The last time she'd encountered Cassidy, she'd ended up with a knife in her back.

"There she is," Lyla murmured, nodding toward the tree line across the clearing.

Cassidy came out alone, as instructed. She wore simple travelling clothes rather than battle gear, her dark hair pulled back in a practical braid. She carried no visible weapons, though I wouldn't put it past her to have some concealed.

As she approached us, I scanned the forest behind her. Contrary to what Caius had reported, there were no Ferals in sight.

"That's far enough," I called when Cassidy reached the centre of the clearing. She stopped, and her gaze shifted to Lyla, focusing all her attention on her.

"You survived," she stated with a neutral tone. "I wasn't sure you would."

"Disappointed?" Lyla asked coolly.

"Relieved, actually," Cassidy replied, surprising me. "If you'd died, everything would be lost."

I stepped slightly in front of Lyla. "You said you have information from the Dark One. Speak quickly or leave."

"I didn't come with any information from The Dark One," she said quietly, "I came with information that would help you defeat him. I am not his messenger; he didn't send me."

"Yet, you're with Ferals. What are you now? A Moonsinger?"

Cassidy's gaze shifted to me. "I heard you've arrested my father. What did he do again?" She said, changing the topic.

I wanted to follow up on her real intent, but I decided to let it go for now, at least.

"He brought an army to our gates, claiming that the Whittie Moon Throne belongs to him. Isn't that the highest level of foolishness?" I replied. "What did you expect?"

"I expected exactly that," she said. "It was necessary."

"Necessary?" Lyla moved forward. "Like stabbing me was necessary?"

Cassidy winced, looking genuinely remorseful.

"I had to make it look convincing. The Dark One was watching, and he asked me to do everything I did that day, from the words I said until when I stabbed you."

There was silence for a few seconds before Lyla scoffed. "You're making it sound like you're a prisoner, too, and you've been forced to do this."

"What do you think?" Cassidy said quietly. "That I would purposely align with the Dark One? Is that how little you think of me?"

"But you've been aligning with him, Cassidy. This is not the first time. You've been running his little errands, like sneaking him into the White Moon during the Harvest Moon Festival, and meeting him at the Café. Don't act like you're the victim, you're beginning to piss me off."

"I am the victim," she said quietly. "I owe him, Lyla. I couldn't keep my end of our agreement; this is my punishment until I've paid back in full."

"Let me get this straight," Lyla tossed her brown curls behind her shoulders, her eyes narrowing at Cassidy. "Are you insinuating that Xander knows you're meeting with us right now?"

She nodded. "He knows that and asked me to explain everything to you, too."

"And you expect us to believe you're not working with him?" I scoffed. "You must really think we're stupid, Cassidy Thorne."

"I never said that," she smiled thinly. "I've been the Dark One's ally for months – gathering information, earning his trust, learning his plans."

"And he asked you to tell us?" Lyla asked again.

The entire situation was too good to believe, although I wouldn't put it past Xander if it were actually true. What is better than weakening your enemy? Making them know everything about your plans, creating fear in their hearts and still attacking anyway."

"Why?" Lyla asked.

"Because someone had to," Cassidy sighed. "The Dark One said someone had to get close enough to learn who he really is and what he wants."

Despite how bizarre the entire situation was beginning to look, her words caught my attention. "And who is he?"

"Not who. What." Cassidy glanced over her shoulder nervously. The Dark One isn't a person, or rather, he was a person until he gave himself over to evil. He's not been using Nathan, contrary to what everyone thinks. He says he has no business with Nathan except for the fact that he's slowly turning into something else."

This information confirmed what I'd read about Corvus. "A Shadowblade cursed by the Moon Goddess," I suggested.

Surprise flickered across Cassidy's face. "You know more than I expected. Yes, Corvus the Betrayer, bound to eternal suffering for his crimes against the Aureans."

"Why should we believe anything you say?" Lyla demanded. "You've been working against us from the beginning."

"I stabbed you where I knew you'd survive," Cassidy countered. "I aimed for your shoulder, not your heart. If I'd truly wanted you dead, you would be."

"That's not as reassuring as you seem to think," I remarked dryly.

Cassidy ignored my comment. "The Dark One wants the Luna Stone. With it, he can access the full power of the White Moon Throne and break the curse that binds him."

My jaw tightened. This matched what Elder Thorne had said about the stone. "And you know this how?"

"Because the Dark One told me," Cassidy's voice softened.

I found it hard to believe that the Dark One would send Cassidy to tell us this.

"What does the Dark One want with Lyla?" I asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

"Her corporation to finish the ritual they started years ago at the abandoned warehouse in the human world," she paused and turned to Lyla. He says he needs you to break the external chains. He believes you can free him completely if you both perform the ritual."

Lyla's expression remained impassive, but I felt her stiffen beside me.

"Why are you telling us this?" she asked. "Why do you think he asked you to tell us this?"