12. Raven

TWELVE

RAVEN

My limbs ache in the most delicious way as I stir, stretching my arms over my head as a yawn parts my lips. My eyes are heavy, my breathing still labored, and my temperature is high with the body heat coming from the guys I know are lying beside me. If they’re still beneath the sheets with me then it’s too early to be waking up.

My mind begs for me to settle back down again and drift back into an unmemorable dream, but my eyes have a different idea as they blink through the fog involuntarily, and the second I’m able to focus, I see why.

Shadows.

Everywhere.

Silhouettes dancing across the walls, along the bed sheets, and over my men as they sleep beside me none the wiser. My heart rate accelerates, but the fear doesn’t come like it usually does. Once again, I’m left speechless, watching them in their all-consuming ways, wondering what the fuck is actually going on.

I try to focus on just one, following it around the window, over the far wall, and down the bedroom door, but it quickly disappears among the others before I can track it any further. Pursing my lips, I consider rolling to my side, but it’s as if I’m held in a trance with my arms still above my head. However, the stretch is long forgotten.

My chest tightens as a tingle of apprehension creeps through me. What do they want from me? A sudden onslaught of memories perilously cascade over me as I fall victim to the reminder of yesterday and the days that came before it.

The memories we ignored, the despair we hid, the truth we clouded, all for a moment of tranquility. Fuck was it worth it. The ache between my thighs and the tightness of my jaw is a lasting recollection of our antics, but the dismay at all of the pain and anguish rushing through me once again hurts like a bitch.

Brax must have had Creed lift the magic when I fell asleep, which I’m grateful for because the way the thoughts run through my mind now, fast and unrelenting, I can’t help but wonder how I ever managed to fall asleep before. My chances of falling back asleep with these shadows dancing along my walls are extremely low, leaving me to wallow in thoughts of Erikel and Ari.

A bad situation always has the ability to get worse here, and it’s embarrassing that I sometimes think otherwise.

Groaning from my left distracts me, but all I can do is peer out of the corner of my eye, unable to turn my head as the sound becomes more panicked. By the third husky moan that melds into a snarl, the shadows disappear as if startled.

My body becomes my own once again and I scramble to see what’s going on. Rolling to my side, I prop my face on my palm as I stare at Eldon writhing beneath the sheets. His brows are furrowed, his jaw tense, and the muscles in his neck are bunched. Yet he’s asleep. His head thrashes from side to side, making the cord in his neck protrude with anger, and I tentatively place my palm against his cheek.

I have no idea if waking him is a good idea or not, but I can’t stand to leave him in distress like this. No matter the consequences.

“Eldon?” I whisper, unsure of what I’m actually doing, as I try not to alarm the others. “Eldon?” I stroke my thumb across his cheek and the thrashing stops, but the way his face continues to scrunch up tells me he’s still deep in his dream. His name is on the tip of my tongue, but before I can murmur it, his eyes ping open and his body stills.

He frowns up at me, disoriented, as he tilts his face. “Raven?”

“Hey, you were having a dream of some kind, I think,” I explain, avoiding the word nightmare for some reason, but he knows what I’m referring to.

“Come lay down. I’m sorry for disturbing you,” he breathes, pulling me against his chest and draping his arm around my shoulders.

I nestle into him, relieved he’s okay, as I melt against his body. “Is everything okay?” I ask, tipping my head up to meet his gaze as he swipes a hand down his face with a sigh.

“I’m not so sure it was a dream. I think it was more of a vision.”

“A vision?”

He nods, taking another deep breath before he turns to face me head on. “Yeah. I’m trying to think how to best explain it.” He looks up at the ceiling, his eyes scrunching closed every so often, and I try to give him the space he needs to think. “It’s dark, cave-like, and cold. So fucking cold.” A shiver seems to ripple through him as he speaks, making me tense a little. “There’s a platform in the distance, something shimmering gold, and my gut feels relieved to see it.”

“Can you make out what it is?”

“No.” The disappointment is clear in his tone as he tightens his hold on me in comfort, more for him than for me.

“It’s okay; I’m sure it will come to you. It always does.” My attempt to reassure him earns me a tired smile. “Maybe we should start a mood board for all of your visions so we can try to solve them and piece them together as a team,” I add, and his smile grows before he presses a kiss to my temple.

“That sounds like the perfect plan, Little Bird. Thank you. But for now, snuggle with me. You need the rest.”

His calmness and ease seems to seep into me. My earlier thoughts are nonexistent as I focus on him instead. Feeling his heartbeat beneath my palm, the world becomes dark once more.

Sleep may have claimedme again, but not for long enough. Out in the crisp morning air, I’m wishing I’d stayed beneath the sheets. The only thing keeping me out here is the joy of watching the Bishops workout.

It’s not something I usually get to see. I’m either hiding in bed or working out with them, whereas this morning, I get to enjoy the view.

So good. So, so good.

Brax’s muscles flex with every breath as he uses the weights, likely oblivious to my watchful gaze. I didn’t think I could be so attracted to a back, but here we are. Eldon works out beside him, but he’s facing me, his pecs bunching together every few moments, accompanied by a wink everytime he catches me looking. Creed is the closest to me, doing what I’m sure is his two-hundredth sit-up, with only the smallest beads of sweat gathering at his temple. Zane, however, has a thin layer of perspiration clinging to every inch of his skin as he runs short sprints back and forth across the lawn.

I never knew sweat could be so appealing. Watching all of the deliciousness is exhausting on it’s own, I can’t imagine how draining it is to simply exist and be that fucking hot.

With my legs crossed, I run my fingers through the blades of grass, and other than enjoying the view, I can’t stop thinking about my magic. Not the necromancy, but the magic that comes with it. As if sensing my thoughts brimming back to the surface, Creed sits up and shuffles closer to me so his legs frame either side of me.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind my ear as his onyx eyes pierce mine.

“I’m thinking it might be a good idea for me to start working on my mirror magic,” I admit. “I don’t want to end the week with my whole head covered in black hair as I bring people back from the dead again and again, while ignoring the importance of the abilities that also come with it.”

“You don’t want to be defenseless, Raven. I understand that. We’ve got a bit of time now if you want to dive into it before we leave.”

I gape at him, speechless for a moment as I bask in the awe I feel for these men. I mention my thoughts, and not even a second passes before they’re willing to put everything on hold. For me.

It’s not because of my new-found magic either. They were like this before all of that. They were like this when I thought I was a Void. I scoff at the word that tainted my life before coming here.

Void.

It’s weird to look at me now. In such a short space of time, everything has changed.

“Raven?”

I blink, focusing on Creed again as I nod eagerly. “Please, that would be great.”

“Perfect.” He stands, offering me his hand to pull me to my feet, and my toes curl into the grass, keeping me grounded as I nervously glance around.

I don’t know what it is, but whenever I’m practicing my magic, I get this nervous butterfly feeling in my stomach and it never seems to wane.

“Want to start with me, Shadow?” Brax asks, discarding the weights as he turns and gives me his full attention.

“Uh, yeah?” I’m aware it comes out as more of a question than the confident answer I was going for, but a moment ago this was just a thought, and now we’re digging deep into it. I just want to magically have the hang of it without facing failure. I feel like I’m sinking in enough of that already.

His big hand engulfs mine, pulling me away from the others as the two of us stand closer to the cliff’s edge. The breeze picks up a little, ruffling the hem of my oversized tee as I nervously cling to him.

“Do you want to try mind magic again or do you want to see if you can go full gargoyle?” he offers, cocking a brow at me as I consider my options.

The mind magic was natural last time, I’m sure it would be easy enough again, but really, Creed was right. This is about feeling defenseless, and the thought of turning my fist to stone is exactly what I’m in need of.

“Gargoyle,” I breathe, and Brax’s grin spreads wide.

“Good answer, Shadow.” He releases my hand and takes a step back.

Without a word of warning, he turns to stone. Not just his arm; but head to toe. His shoulders somehow manage to widen, his fists clench at his sides, and he slowly cracks his neck from side to side. The last time I saw him in full gargoyle mode, a blade pierced his back at the hands of the Amayans. There was never a moment to appreciate his true beauty.

His eyes, one brown, one green, darken yet glitter under the morning light.

“Take your time, Raven. Focus on the magic,” he rasps, his stone lips moving and making me gape more.

Clearing my throat, I shake out my arms in hopes that it will help me focus on what I’m supposed to be doing instead of ogling him. I close my eyes as I take one final breath before settling my gaze on the wisps of magic dancing over his skin. It almost looks like electricity zapping around him since the magic is coming from every inch of him instead of just one single strand.

I take a tentative step toward him, my fingers extended in his direction, excitement dancing over my skin as I touch the strand of magic. My arms go heavy at my side, dropping me to my knees with a grunt as I hear the guys behind me call out my name, but I shake my head.

Fuck.

I just need a second.

My eyes squeeze shut as my fingers plead to release the tendrils of magic, but I’m not falling at the first hurdle. I refuse. Exhaling, my nostrils flare as I take another deep breath, working my way through each inhale as I slowly wiggle my fingers.

It’s strange. They’re thicker, heavier, slower… but stronger.

Blinking my eyes open, I glance up at Brax, who is standing patiently before me. There’s a softness in his eyes, a silent understanding, and it fills me with the strength I need to push on.

I nod, more in confirmation to myself than anything else, but he tilts his head at me in response, encouraging me on.

Curling my hands into fists, I press my stone knuckles into the ground and push up onto my feet before taking a big breath and standing tall. Everything begs me to slump back to the floor again, my head light and my vision slightly blurred with disorientation, but I breathe through it, gulp after gulp. Brax and the others remain silent, giving me the time I need to learn and adjust.

Slowly, oh-so-fucking-slowly, my shoulders relax and my arms sway slightly from side to side as I clench my fingers tighter around the strand of magic transforming me. Taking my time, the magic drifts over me, the initial weight that knocked me off balance slackens, and I can manage a little better.

“Just high-five me for today, Shadow,” Brax murmurs, lifting his stone hand for me.

Two minutes ago, I would have laughed in his face, but as the magic tingles up past my elbows, it doesn’t seem so unachievable. Wetting my bottom lip, I take what feels like my one-thousandth deep breath before I raise my right hand. It feels good until I get three-quarters of the way up to his and I start to falter, my body straining in the strangest way, but I grit my teeth and push through it until I feel his palm against mine.

It’s the briefest moment before I drop my hand back to my side, releasing the tendrils of magic in my grasp.

“Fuck, Dove. You smashed it,” Zane hollers as I hear someone clapping behind me too, but my gaze is fixed on Brax. I don’t know why I’m seeking his approval, but he is the gargoyle, after all.

“You did good, Shadow. I can’t deny that I’m impressed with the fact that you even managed a high-five too.” My body tingles at his approval on top of Zane’s. “But I think you might need to save any more mirror magic until later because classes start in thirty minutes.”

My eyes widen in surprise and I nod in agreement.

That clearly took me a lot longer than I realized.

Lips press against my temple as I’m pulled in against a firm chest and I look up straight into Eldon’s eyes.

“You are a badass, Little Bird. A. Bad. Ass,” he says with a smirk as he pulls me toward the patio door, and I shake my head at him.

I honestly don’t know what the fuck I am, but I’m starting to like it.