The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 215: Her Face

Sebastian~

Jacob’s words echoed in the room like a cruel joke.

"You have to let her go."

I stared at him, stunned, like someone had just carved the sun out of the sky.

My fists clenched so hard my nails pierced through my gloves. Rage boiled in my chest, dark and thick, rising to my throat like bile. I took one step forward, then another. The air around me dropped in temperature, a subtle shiver crawling across the room. Alexander seemed to wake up at that very moment and peeked out from his father’s arms with wide, innocent eyes before Zane made him look away. Good. He shouldn’t see me like this.

"You want me to what?" I hissed, stepping into Jacob’s space, my voice trembling with rage. "Sever the bond? You think I’m just going to—what? Rip her out of my soul like she was a bad investment?"

Jacob, the infuriating wolf spirit with the forever-teenager smirk, didn’t flinch. Of course he didn’t.

"You’re out of your damn mind!" I barked, storming across the room. "Out. Of. Your. Mind. I should throw your ancient, annoying, smug face right out my window! I should—"

"Pretend," Jacob cut in, still smiling.

I stopped. Mid-rant. My mind stuttered like a broken record.

"What?"

"Pretend to sever the bond," he said, slow and smug, like he was explaining algebra to a toddler.

I blinked. "Pretend?"

"Yeah. You have to be an actor, Sebastian. You have to sell it."

My rage faltered, tripping over confusion. "Why would I... why would I pretend to sever my bond with her?"

Jacob stepped around the couch and gestured lazily toward the floor, like he was about to lay down some bedtime story.

"Because," he began, "your coven is split. Not officially—but enough to matter. Half of them still trust you. Worship you, even. But the other half?" He raised his brows. "They’re paranoid. Practical. Terrified. They think Cassandra’s presence means the end of the coven. They think you’re either bewitched, or planning to trade them in for some demon-fueled crazy story."

I scoffed. "That’s absurd."

"Is it?" Zane asked softly from across the room. His arms were folded, jaw tight. "You’ve barely been yourself since you met her. You’d raze kingdoms for her."

"Damn right I would," I growled.

Jacob raised a finger, his voice low and sharp. "That’s exactly why they’re afraid. Even the ones who worship you agreed—there’s going to be a trial. You’ll stand before them, explain why you were with Cassandra, and convince them you’re not a threat. If they sense you’re compromised, they’ll kill her without blinking to protect themselves and you. And if you fight them, they’ll kill you."

I shook my head, stumbling back like the room had shifted beneath me. "A trial? Are you kidding me? None of them is strong enough to kill me. I’m not playing games. Just tell me where she is, Jacob. I’ll go. I’ll tear the walls down if I have to. I’ll rip out every last one of them to get her back."

Jacob smirked. "Classic vampire—always so dramatic," he said, eyes glinting. "But save the theatrics. I know you care about those bloodsuckers just as much as they care about you, so spare me the speech. That trial? The one where you’re supposed to prove she hasn’t gotten into your head? Yeah... it’s already underway."

I froze.

"What?"

Jacob’s face turned grave. "Cassandra is standing before the council right as we speak. You’ll be summoned in less than ten minutes."

I stumbled back a step, my legs losing the strength they never usually lacked. My mouth moved, but no words came. Cassandra was already them?

"No. No, this—this is too fast. I need to go. Now." I reached for my coat, ready to disappear into the shadows when—

Rrring... Rrring...

My phone buzzed in my coat pocket. I fumbled for it, my fingers suddenly shaky, which had never happened before.

Zane stepped forward. "Who is it?"

I looked at the screen.

Luca.

My second-in-command. My shadow. My loyal dagger.

Jacob’s smirk deepened. "Go ahead. Pick it up."

I hesitated. Then, I pressed answer and put the phone to my ear.

"Luca?"

"Master Sebastian," came Luca’s sharp, urgent voice. "It’s the coven. There’s been... an emergency. Your presence is required immediately. Please. Come quickly." The call cut before I could even respond.

I lowered the phone slowly, my eyes wide, mouth opened.

Jacob raised his eyebrows. "Told you so."

Zane turned toward me, his voice fierce with the kind of loyalty that made you want to live just so you wouldn’t disappoint him.

"I’ll gather my men. My guards. We’ll storm the place, Sebastian. We’ll get her out. You’re not alone."

I stared at him, the loyalty in his words pressing down like armor. Still, my mind spun like a whirlwind. The thought of Cassandra alone, surrounded by those bloodsuckers, facing judgment while I stood here talking made my skin crawl.

"I don’t know if we’ll make it in time," I said quietly, mostly to myself. "Ten minutes... your men will never get there before they try something."

Zane’s hand gripped my shoulder. "We’ll try anyway."

I turned toward him, trying to pull a thread of hope from his resolve—but before I could say a word, Jacob cleared his throat.

"There is another way," he said casually, like he was offering a cookie.

I snapped my head toward him. "What are you talking about now?"

He gave me that wolfish grin that made you want to strangle him and laugh at the same time.

And then—

He shimmered.

It started at his fingertips, like stardust unwinding from his skin. His body flickered, blurred, twisted in on itself—and in the space of a heartbeat...

Jacob was gone.

Standing in his place... ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Was Cassandra.

My heart stopped.

Hair like midnight waves, eyes sharp enough to cut stone, lips stretched in a knowing smirk.

My mate.

"Cassandra," I whispered, stumbling forward. "What—how—?"

She raised a hand.

"No," she said in her voice, but with Jacob’s confidence. "It’s me, Sebastian. Not her. Not yet."

I blinked, confused beyond words.

"What the hell is happening right now?"

Zane let out a low whistle as he stepped in. "I always knew you were weird, Jacob—but this? This is next level. First Garrick, now this? I mean, you can switch genders too? At this point, I’m not even sure what your real face looks like."

The illusion of Cassandra—Jacob wearing her like a second skin—flashed a wicked grin.

"You’ll never know, Zane," he purred in her voice. "And for the record, shape-shifting isn’t some party trick. I’ve used it to slip into kingdoms, dodge more assassins than I can count, and once even talked a tyrant witch into marrying me."

Zane choked. "You what?"

Jacob-as-Cassandra waved it off. "Long story. Point is—I can change the tables of this situation in your favor, Sebastian."

I stared at him, speechless.

He stepped closer, still wearing her face. Her curves. Her voice. "Are you ready to listen, Seb?"