Chapter 13: Unexpected Curious Prying

When Vanya went outside, she was eager to get started on her duties for the day. The air inside the manor was suffocating, especially in the hall where Alpha Callum and Lord Alaric had been, and she had stepped outside the garden, hoping for a breath of fresh air before heading to the training field. But as she stepped onto the stone walk path that led to the garden, she heard two distinct voices as. She paused, not wanting to expose herself.
“I was beginning to suspect you were upset with me.”
Vanya's entire body stiffened at the sound. That cloyingly sweet yet enticing tone addressed at Cassian suddenly made her on edge. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned against the trelis, unsure whether to dare interrupt the knight and her sister's private chat in order to proceed to the garden as she had initially planned.
Technically, she could just as easily pad her way back and head directly to the training field, but she despised changing her plans merely to avoid them. With that in mind, she girded herself by taking a couple of steps, lifting her chin, and throwing her shoulders back. Cassian's voice, though, stopped her in her tracks before she could even take a step.
"You know it'd be absurd to be mad at you, Selene."
"I thought so too. I mean, after everything…"
*Everything? What exactly does that mean? What exactly is she talking about?* Vanya could almost sense her sister's body draping itself over Cassian like the warm, dripping sweetness of her voice.
She clenched her teeth, trying not to growl.
It wasn't like she and Cassian had a thing going, but she couldn't deny the connection—whatever it was—between them, and he had made it quite clear to her that there was something between them. And now, this? What was he on about now?
"I apologize if I haven't been paying close attention to you, Selene. But you are fully aware that I am here to investigate the rogue who assaulted your sister."
*Assaulted? Killian didn’t assault me.*
"I'm not sure what's going on there, but I'm quite confident there's something going on between her and the filthy rotter."
Vanya jerked back, her heart thumping. She didn't want to appear to be eavesdropping, which she was, of course, but with Selene throwing her under the bus, she couldn't just walk away now. So she took a deep breath and concentrated on concealing her scent and presence from the two.
“You are aware that colluding with the rogues is considered treason to the Royal Coven.”
“I understand. That's why I'm telling you now: I suspect there's something fishy going on between Vanya and the rotter.”
“She’s your sister.”
“She’s adopted. And I never really thought of her as one of us.”
Vanya snorted contemptuously and thought, “Bitch.”
“Is that why you’ve never mentioned her before?”
Vanya could almost feel Selene squirming as she hesitated for a second. She took a deep, cautious breath and peered through the trelis to see them sitting on the ornate iron bench together.
“Not really. I just don't want to talk about her. She’s my father’s charity case. There's nothing interesting about her.”
"Two-faced wench," Vanya grumbled to herself, scowling fiercely.
Cassian pulled himself from Selene's grasping arms, and she smirked briefly as he did so.. Cassian seemed not to be a cuddling type of guy. Rolling her eyes at herself, she wondered why she suddenly felt pleased when he slightly pulled away from her sister.
"What do you know about her past life?" the knight asked.
“Why are you suddenly so interested about her?”
“So that I would have answers when the King asked me.”
“The King? Are you saying he knows about Killian?”
“Killian? Is that the name of the rogue?”
Selene nodded. “I'd have no idea if Vanya hadn't mentioned his name. I was even surprised she knew who he was.”
Cassian nodded. “And Vanya? Her past?”
She let out a sigh. “To be honest, I don't know much. All I know is that she's human, that she got lost in the river, and that Lachlan found her. My father claims she had a head injury and hence has no recollection of her past. Even her given name. My father essentially adopted her and given her her name. Alpha Callum and Luna Beatrice were first opposed, but for some reason, they let her stay and granted my father permission to turn her.”
“Oh, I see. And what's the deal with her and Ares?”
“Ares and Vanya?” Selene asked, moving away from him with a dubious expression. “If you're referring to the small spectacle they created at the ball, well, I heard she got a foot injury or something. Vanya is obsessed with him, and Ares is too sweet to drive her away. He did what he did solely because he was present. He was expected to assist the needy. And, you know, he's a true gentleman.”
“How do you know?” he asked eagerly, then pretended to be unconcerned.
Selene pushed her hair behind her ears and grinned. “You know, we have flies on the walls of the manor. Vanya is desperate to be acknowledged as a full member of the pack. Ares is simply her entry point. What irritates me is that Vanya knows Ares is vulnerable right now because he hasn't met his mate yet, and she's taking advantage of it.”
*What?!* Vanya's brain screamed. Cassian couldn't possibly believe everything Selene told him, could he? Surely, he couldn't be that thick to miss the details she just made up.
“That is quite an assumption you have there. I heard you've been pining on Ares as well.”
"Aw! Is that jealousy I'm picking up on?" Selene asked, almost bouncing in her seat. "Don't get me wrong: Ares is a stunner. And I'm aware of how other packs pair their alpha's son with their beta's daughter, but I have the freedom to choose, and for the time being, I'm opting to keep my options open."
Personally, Vanya believed that Selene had a thing for people of status or with royal connections. And, as if slandering Vanya wasn't enough, she was now pushing for something non-existent to exist between her and their pack's yuong general.
How Vanya suddenly despised her right now.
“Is that right?”
Selene sighed ecstatically at his reaction, but Cassian withdrew and cast her a blank stare.
"Don’t worry, Cassian. If you stay nice, I might put all of my eggs in your basket. You would do everything for me to do just that, wouldn’t you? Think about it: you, a hybrid knight, and me, with my ability, would make an excellent team. We’d be formidable, don’t you think?”
“Hmmm….”
“What are you thinking?”
“I just don't see why your sister would conspire with the rogue.”
*I'm not conspiring with him, you piece of horseshit! I'm trying to capture him*, Vanya thought angrily.
“Oh, we’re still talking about Vanya? Really?”
“I've already told you…”
"Well, if it's for the sake of the *King*. . . ." Selene smirked as she ran her fingertips along Cassian's forearm. "I'd like it if you could also tell the king where you got your information.”
“Certainly.”
“OK, but see, I've already told you what I know about Vanya. There isn't much to say about her.” Selene bit her lower lip and grinned. “I can't wait to move to The Capitol. We'd see each other more often.”
Cassian furrowed his brow and yanked his arm free from her grasp. "Do you know anything about her mate?" he asked, sliding his arm around the back of the bench as he turned away from her. "Is she still looking for him?
*Why are you questioning her about me? Cassian, what the heck do you want from me?*
"What mate?" With a chuckle, Selene asked. “Vanya isn't a natural shapeshifter. It is well known that humans who have transformed into shifters are unable to have mates. Such revulsion will not be tolerated by the Moon Goddess.”
*I could strangle her. In her sleep. It wouldn't be hard...*
Cassian grunted and Vanya wanted to slap him across the face. “If you only knew,” she mumbled to herself, thinking quickly of Ares.
"That's what they'd say based on what we know about common law. But what did your shaman have to say about it?" Cassian prodded. Bowing his head to look her in the eye, he lowered his voice, and proceeded in a persuading tone. "Did your shaman confirm that Vanya doesn’t have a mate?"
*She did, but I'm sorry to burst your bubble since Moira lied.*
Selene smiled widely and leaned in close, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Of course, silly! And everyone here genuinely feels bad for her. She will die alone. Not unless she can find a decent human being who accepts her for who she is now. Or…unless she mates with Rowan.”
"What?" Cassian gasped, clearly shocked.
“It's truly my father's desperation. He doesn't want her sad adopted daughter to live and die alone,” Selene remarked, absently playing with Cassian's short hairs at the back of his neck. "So my mother's solution is to pair her up with Rowan."
Cassian cringed away from her teasing fingers and looked at her in disbelief. "Vanya and that twerp?"
"Yes. They’d make a great couple, don't you think?"
Oh, no!
Vanya wanted to moan. She could rip Selene's and her adoptive mother's hair out by the bloody root for what she just heard.
"Vanya probably thinks she's too perfect for him,” Selene speculated, leaning back against the bench.
Vanya turned away as Selene’s giggles tainted the air with a senseless vibrato, causing a distinct ringing in her ears. She was dizzy. Her stomach churned with resentment, and she fled back to the manor before she could kick her sister’s ass.