Enslaved To The Alphas-Chapter 173: Old Faith

"I missed you as much as I would miss having a silver stake through my heart," Emira said with a gentle smile. Somehow, every look at this man made her feel more repulsed. And he had not even done anything to earn that... yet. She just didn’t know why she didn’t like him.

To ’anyone’ watching from afar, his question and her smiling answer would look like a flirtatious exchange since the ’anyone’ in question was far enough that he would not be able to hear the words, only see her expression. She was about to lean to the side to see his reaction when, rather unexpectedly, the Alpha Cassian actually laughed loudly at that, as if she had just praised him instead of insulting him.

"So," he said, tilting his head slightly, "you think of your heart when you think of me?"

Emira blinked at him, taken aback. That’s what he got from that? she thought. It was almost impressive how thick-headed and thick-skinned this man was.

For a second, she was tempted to correct him and throw another jab and make her meaning clearer. But it wasn’t worth the effort. Wasting words on someone like him would only encourage him further.

Instead, her gaze shifted to Prince Kael. He was standing some distance away, his arm still around Ramona. He wasn’t looking at her. Not even once. The flicker of hope that had sparked when Ryn had mentioned him keeping an eye on her last night dies.. Of course, he wouldn’t look. Why would he? His highness had eyes only for his mate. Ryn had been wrong. And she was being foolish in her thoughts again, expecting she didn’t know what.

She shook her head and then almost stepped back, realising too late that Alpha Cassian had made use of her distraction to step close to her. Too close as he asked , "So, since we are here now and you seem to have the time, should we go for a stroll? Did you know that on the other side of this lake lies the Redwood Territory? You can show me this side of the shore, and later, when you come there, I promise to show you around the other side. And then you can tell me which side is better."

Emira gave him a thin smile, not bothering to pretend this time and said," I am quite pleased with this side and have no interest in going to the other side..."

"For now," he finished smoothly for her

"Ever," she snapped. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Alpha Cassian laughed again even as she stiffened, "Never say never," he said, his eyes gleaming as if he already excited about arguing with her.

"I didn’t say never," Emira pointed out immediately.

He ignored her words entirely, stepping even closer so that his shoulder almost brushed against her side. He cupped her elbow gently, guiding her along the lake’s edge. "Come on. Don’t be like that. Show me around. We’ll discuss a few interesting things. Like that Jade pendant..."

Emira stiffened at the mention. She hesitated, then moved with him. Even though she didn’t think this thing was important to her search, she had no problem listening to information he was volunteering. But she was not going to let him have a hold on her. "I don’t know what makes you think I would be interested in your Jade," letting her voice carry a faint bite of irritation and she started to walk a bit faster.

Cassian smiled, unbothered by her tone. Instead of answering directly, he walked along her, keeping pace and said, "Because I think you might know someone who also holds a similar pendant."

She frowned, pulling back slightly, though she kept walking alongside him. Her steps slowed, her mind trying to keep up with his confidence. This man is sure of himself... far too sure. But why? He didn’t look old enough to know her mother.

"I don’t know anyone who has such a pendant," she said quietly, trying to keep her irritation contained.

He didn’t break his smile. "Liar," he said simply, as if stating a fact rather than accusing her. Then, his tone shifted, smoother now, almost teasing. "But I’ll tell you what... do you know of the Old Faith?"

Emira blinked in confusion. What was with the sudden topic shift? "Old Faith? Never heard of that," she admitted.

He smiled again, tilting his head slightly, a hint of challenge in his expression. "Are you really interested?"

She stopped for a moment, studying his face. There was something about his smile that made her uneasy. She narrowed her eyes. "Interested in what exactly?"

"Old Faith," he repeated smoothly. "The ways, the beliefs, the secrets." He let the words linger. "Some say it’s forgotten now. Some say only a few remember the truths of it and might gain something. Perhaps you are one of the few who might be blessed?"

Emira shook her head slowly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "I don’t think so."

He smiled then and said," Hmm. The old faith is almost extinct now. The last person to be converted to it was actually a White witch. I remember her so well, even now. She was so beautiful... Her name was Ember... She was a disciple of The Grand Witch."

"Later, she fell in love with someone from the Old Faith. Her mistress was against it of course so Ember ran away. She came to stay with us for a while, after all the Grand witch lives closest to here. But that old woman was so angry... she refused to see her disciple. After some time, Ember grew closer to the Old faith and planned to convert... She was given a jade pendant like this one to welcome her..."

"But she had barely received the pendant when the Grand Witch heard of her conversion. She was so angry, she killed Ember’s lover, forcing Ember to flee while she was pregnant. We never heard from Ember again...I was quite young when that happened but somehow, seeing you reminded me of her..."