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 while Cassidy attacked Lyla. Don't tell 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 soone committed to my death, and I believe if Xander had everything he wanted to start the war, he would not be using middlen. There's sothing missing, and maybe we have it."

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

Caius left to arrange the eting 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 t with him several tis, 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 ssage 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 sa one she'd worn the last ti we had parted ways after I had rejected her. Lyla might look delicate, but she had a core of steel that continually surprised .

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

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

As we prepared to leave, the uncomfortable awareness of our morning argunt returned. She'd clearly set it aside for now, focused on the imdiate 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 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.

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

. Whatever ga Cassidy was playing, whatever information she claid 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 eting 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 , her face betraying none of the anxiety I knew she must feel. The last ti 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 ca 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 so 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 . "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 co with any information from The Dark One," she said quietly, "I ca with information that would help you defeat him. I am not his ssenger; he didn't send ."

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

Cassidy's gaze shifted to . "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 was necessary?"

Cassidy winced, looking genuinely remorseful.

"I had to make it look convincing. The Dark One was watching, and he asked 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 ?"

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

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

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

She nodded. "He knows that and asked 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 soone had to," Cassidy sighed. "The Dark One said soone 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 sothing else."

This information confird 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 cris 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 aid 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 comnt. "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 ," 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 .

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