Page 253 of Shifting Hearts 1
Cassandra lunged toward Morgan, cupping her face. “I promise you, none of this is true. I found you two miles from here, back torn open, blood everywhere. Your heartbeat wasfaint, almost gone. I nursed you. You were my star Nightling. I love you with everything I am.” She cooed, dripping fake affection.
Sonia snorted, laughter sharp and cruel.
Disgust churned in my gut. Some monsters never break. Cassandra was one of them.
“I used to be so scared of you, Cassandra,” Sonia said, voice cold, voice steady, saying all the things I felt. “But you’re just pathetic. Your lover should’ve made sure you were dead.”
My head snapped toward Sonia. She wasn’t holding back. She was leaving everything exposed.
Cassandra’s eyes narrowed, fury flickering across her face. The truth Morgan had whispered to me, her obsession with me, blazed in her glare. She stalked toward Sonia, fingers curling into her hair.
“I told you before,” Cassandra hissed, teeth clenched, “stop interfering in things you know nothing about.”
“I know one thing: he hated you. What did you do?” Sonia forced a mocking laugh, daring her.
Cassandra’s hand came down with brutal precision, striking Sonia’s face.
I watched Morgan, frozen, staring into nothing. Her paranoia was a cage, and it was closing.
“What is she talking about? Hated you? What did you do?” Morgan asked, voice trembling.
“Yes, yes,” I muttered, bitter amusement curling in my chest. “You’re asking the right questions.”
“All lies,” Cassandra snapped. “Just another wedge. She’s trying to make us hate each other.” She surged toward Morgan, touching her face, feigning tenderness.
I grunted, rage and helplessness coiling tight.
“Don’t let her do this to us, baby. I love you.”
Bibi and Babilon were preparing, syringes of Stravain in hand. Ready to tear Sonia apart.
“You want Bibi and Babs to do this? Just say the word, baby.” Cassandra’s voice was poison, velvet-wrapped.
“Morgan, please,” I begged, tears streaking my cheeks. This was my last thread of hope, hope for her, hope for us.
“No,” she snapped.
A tear ran down my cheek. It was over. She was right, I could never love a monster like her.
Cassandra prattled on theatrically. The words didn’t matter. I’d seen her perform this act countless times, dangling hope before snatching it away. I wanted to leave, to escape the cruelty.
Then came the cackle, pure venom.
“You should’ve killed yourself the moment that wolf kissed you.”
“Love comes in all forms, Natasha. She doesn’t love you,” Sonia pressed, still trying. “Remember why you’re doing this.”
“I had no reason!” Morgan yelled. A sliver of truth cut through her scream. This was meaningless now, empty.
Cassandra read the last message Sonia had sent Ricci, dragging her through every detail of his death. She punched a number into the phone, and I heard it dial.
“Darius.”
I closed my eyes. He knew her, knew what she looked like, knew she killed his daughter. Darius was relentless, cunning. A predator in every sense.
“Your daughter has something to confess,” Natasha’s voice cut through, calm, almost serene. Not a hint of the monster I knew.
I covered my ears, already knowing how this would end, and turned my back on Sonia.
