Chapter 25: The Twin Brother

Cassian sat at his desk, staring blankly at the map of the forest spread out in front of him. His mind was consumed with worry and determination as he tried to come up with a plan to find Vanya, his mate. The image of Killian, the rogue lycan, abducting her from the Black Hallows pack, haunted him. He couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness and anger that had been gnawing at him since Vanya's abduction.
He traced the contours of the forest with his finger, desperately searching for some sign of where she might be. His heart ached at the thought of her being in the hands of that monster, Killian. He knew that he couldn't rest until she was safe and back in his arms.
But as he sat there, trying to focus on the task at hand, his mind kept drifting back to his recent altercation with Ares. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as he thought of Ares and Vanya together. He knew, as a vampire, that a lycan-vampire bond was not a welcome sight, and he knew Ares would go to any length to keep Vanya for himself.
Adding to his confusion and frustration, Moira had recently revealed that Vanya had not one, but two other mates. He couldn't believe it. How could he have been so blind? He felt like a fool for not realizing the truth sooner. He knew that he had to put aside his own feelings and focus on finding Vanya and bringing her home.
As he sat there, lost in his thoughts and the weight of his own uncertainty, Cassian knew one thing for sure: he would stop at nothing to find Vanya and bring her home. He would not rest until she was safe and sound, and Killian was brought to justice.
Just as he was about to set off on his mission, there was a knock at the door. Cassian opened it to find a man who could pass as his mirror image, except for their eyes and hair color. Cassian's twin brother, stood before him with a look of concern on his face.
The brothers were identical in almost every aspect, both tall and well-built, with sharp jawlines and chiseled features. But upon closer inspection, their distinct differences became apparent. Cassian's twin brother's eyes were a piercing blue, like a winter sky, while his were a warm amber, like melted chocolate. Cassian's hair was jet black, styled in a short, no-nonsense cut, while his brother's was a rich chestnut brown, styled in a messy, carefree way.
Cassian had always been known for his stern and serious demeanor, with his eyes often furrowed in deep thought, while his brother had a softer and friendlier appearance, with his eyes often crinkling at the corners with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Cassian asked; he could sense the tension in Trystan's body language.
Trystan walked into the room. and as he spoke, his expression grew increasingly serious. "I heard about the attack on the Black Hallows pack," he said, his voice low and grave. "I heard that one of their hunters was taken. I wanted to come here as soon as possible, but The Council has been a real pain in the ass. They think the attack from the rogues was to send a message that the next attack will soon be on the Council."
Cassian let out a snort of frustration, but nodded in understanding. "They always want to make everything about themselves," he said, his tone bitter.
Trystan nodded in agreement. "You and I both know them well enough to know that they always try to make everything about them. They want more power and more control. They want to be the ones to take charge of everything and disguise it as some sort of protection."
Cassian let out a sigh, shaking his head. "They're not my priority right now," he said. "I have to find Vanya first."
Trystan could see the intensity in his brother's eyes and knew that this was no ordinary abduction. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you finally moved on and found yourself a lover? Is Vanya your lover?"
There was a hint of sincere happiness in his voice, but it was immediately replaced by Cassian's expression, which grew even more serious.
"No, she is not my lover," Cassian quickly said.
Trystan could sense the weight of Cassian's words and knew that there was more to the story than he was letting on. He could see the pain and determination etched on his brother's face, and knew that whoever this Vanya was, she meant a lot to him.
"Okay then. Look, I know this is a tough ask," Trystan said, trying to be understanding. "But you know as well as I do that our duty as knights is to serve and protect the king. And right now, that means ensuring Lord Alaric's safety."
He could see the conflict in Cassian's eyes as he struggled with his duty as a knight and his desire to find Vanya. Cassian looked at him with a mix of gratitude and determination in his eyes.
"I understand my duty," Cassian said, his voice heavy with frustration. "But Vanya..."
"No. Listen to me, you know this is what the king wants," Trystan said, his voice firm. "It's your duty as a knight to obey."
Cassian let out a sigh, his emotions boiling over. "My duty is to protect and serve the king.You are damn right about that, but Vanya could be in grave danger. I know something's not right. The attack on the pack, Vanya's abduction - something just doesn't add up."
"What do you mean?" Trystan asked, his own emotions starting to build.
"Someone could have helped the rogue. Someone within the pack."
"Are you sure?" Trystan said, his heart sinking at the thought of a traitor among the Black Hallows Pack.
"They somehow knew Vanya would be in her room. They knew about Lord Alaric's transport back. They knew the movements within the pack."
"Oh, shit," Trystan breathed out, his mind reeling at the implications of what his brother was saying.
He knew that this was a serious matter and that it could have severe consequences for the pack and even the Royal Council. But he couldn't help but also be amused at the thought of another drama among the lycans. As a vampire who had stayed mostly removed from the lycan society, like his brother Cassian, he found the drama within the lycans a little amusing and entertaining.
"That's why I just can't leave," Cassian said, determination etched into his features. "There's a traitor within the pack, and I have to find out who it is before it's too late." He paced back and forth, his mind racing.
"Between you and me, your instinct is superb," Trystan said with a hint of a smile on his face. "So I think you might really be on to something here. It's definitely a new twist in the story, that's for sure."
He knew that, while he found the situation amusing, he needed to take it seriously, just like his brother.He also knew that his brother was one of the best at his job, and if anyone could uncover the truth, it was Cassian.
"I need to find out who it is," Cassian said, his voice filled with a sense of purpose.
Trystan nodded in agreement. He knew that he and Cassian would do whatever it took to find out the truth. He also knew that this drama would not only be entertaining but also a defining moment for the pack and their world.
"Listen," he said, his voice full of assurance. "Why don't you accompany Lord Alaric and make sure he has a safe return to the Capitol? And I'll stay here and do some investigating?"
The room fell silent as Cassian considered his twin brother's offer. "You'll stay?" he asked, a hint of hope in his voice.
"Let's face it, brother," Trystan said with a small smile. "The king favors you more than me, and I doubt the Council would even notice my absence. So I'll stay."
Cassian looked conflicted, his claws clenched. "But Vanya..."
"Why do I sense that Vanya is something special to you, brother?" Trystan asked, his voice gentle.
"Because she is," Cassian answered, his voice low.
"Tell me how special," Trystan pressed.
Cassian's eyes flared with emotion. "She's my mate," he said, his voice heavy with intensity.
Trystan's face registered shock, and a moment of heavy silence fell between them. After a moment, he took a deep sigh and nodded thoughtfully. "Then... all the more reason for me to stay."
"Trystan..." Cassian growled, his frustration mounting.
"Cassian, if she's your mate, then that can only mean one thing." Trystan's voice was tight as he ground out the words, "She's my mate too."
The gravity of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks, and the humor was suddenly drained from it entirely.