18. Raven

EIGHTEEN

RAVEN

One thing I love about my magic is the ability to set the water in the shower to the perfect temperature. Back in Shadowmoor, you were crossing your fingers in hopes of it being tepid, and you were showering as fast as possible before the cold stream returned.

It was a luxury showing up here, to have water that ran at a hot temperature consistently, but to have it so perfect it feels like a gift that will warm my fucking bones until the end of time.

I have to find some positives about being here, other than the Bishops and my magic, of course, and water temperature seems to be one of them. The negatives keep stacking up against me, firmly led by Erikel at this stage, and last night’s revelations at the Nightmares Guild meeting only confirm it.

Who the fuck created the Poten’s Ruby? Surely, it wasn’t just naturally found like that, harvesting such abilities when power-hungry fools like Erikel exist. It’s ridiculous. Of course there’s something this powerful out there that we now have to contend with. I understand why it wouldn’t be common knowledge, but it’s clear Burton knew this was of importance to Erikel and he chose to keep it to himself until it was impossible not to.

He swears the location of the ruby has changed over the past few days, confirming that Monarch Dutton won’t know its whereabouts, but that only leaves me worrying over his well being. The pain of the other thirty-five dead people from Pinebrook hurts, and adding another feels like I’m going to pass out.

My magic doesn’t like it.

It’s as if it has its own conscience living inside of me. Selfishly, I want to fight to protect myself and the others while my magic wants to save everyone. I think it’s to save them, anyway. I’ve heard folklore about necromancers before me and their need to heal everyone to create an army of the dead. That’s what I read about in the books at Shadowmoor, but that doesn’t feel like this… I don’t think.

Running my hands over my drenched hair, I tilt my face up to the downpour, trying to calm my racing thoughts, until a soft, cool breeze dances over my skin. My eyes startle open to find Eldon closing the bathroom door behind him.

The grin on his lips as he grazes his eyes over me from head to toe makes me shiver. With a flick of his hand, his clothes are gone and he’s prowling toward me.

Fuck.

“Good morning, Little Bird,” he says huskily, stepping into the shower beside me, and all I can do is gape at him for a moment as I try to remember how to fucking speak.

“Morning,” I manage to breathe, and his grin widens. He’s so aware of the effect he has on me. It should be embarrassing.

“I missed my little spectator while I worked out,” he states, explaining the sweat beading at his temples.

“I’m disappointed I missed the visual.”

He grabs my waist, turning me to face him as he towers above me. He doesn’t bat an eyelid at the water now pouring over him, which somehow makes him look hotter.

Skimming my hands over his chest, I settle them on his shoulders as I eliminate the remaining distance between our lips, but if I had any hopes of claiming him, I’m mistaken.

He’s in control.

My back is plastered against the cool tiles behind the shower head a moment later, my back arching as he sinks his teeth into my bottom lip, and I groan.

Good morning to me.

I rake my fingers through his hair, clinging to him as tingles ripple through my body.

“I want to taste you.”

I nod eagerly at his words as he trails his lips down my chin, over my neck, and across my collarbone.

“Fuck. Please,” I moan, desperate to feel him between my thighs.

His lips curve up into a devilish smile against my skin before he runs his tongue down the valley between my breasts. His heated gaze as he looks up at me makes my core burn with need. A need that grows fiercer when his knees hit the floor and his breath ghosts over the apex of my thighs.

“Say it again, Little Bird.”

I frown, unsure what he’s talking about, but the quirk of his brow tells me he’s not going to give me a hint. Recalling what I last said, I rub my lips together as understanding washes over me.

“Please, Eldon. Taste me.”

The last word has barely passed my lips when he drags his tongue through my folds, turning my plea into a garbled moan as my palms slap against the tiles behind me.

Fuck.

He hoists my left thigh over his shoulder, offering him better access to my pussy as he draws circles around my clit with the tip of his tongue.

“Use your magic to hold you steady against the wall,” he orders, but I shake my head.

“No. I like the way it feels when my muscles clench, holding on for dear life,” I mutter, looking down at him through hooded eyes, and his own darken with desire at my words.

“Have it your way.”

My lips part, but the words don’t come when he thrusts two fingers deep into my core at the same time as he nips at my clit.

Holy shit.

A deep moan rumbles from my mouth, burning my tongue as my eyelids fall closed and my head knocks back against the tiles. He knows how to play my body perfectly. Every flick of his tongue, every sweep of his fingers at my pussy, every graze of his teeth, it’s perfection.

“Eyes on me, Little Bird. I want to watch you when you come,” he orders before sucking my clit into his mouth, teetering on the line between pain and pleasure.

Gulping, I try to focus on him. His blue eyes hold me captive as he feasts on me, finger-fucking me into oblivion. Seeing the enjoyment on his face, the pleased glint in his eyes, is all too much and the orgasm that crashes over me is chaotic in the sweetest way possible.

I scream, my lungs vibrating with the power behind it, my hips jerking against him as I ride out my climax to the very end. Sagging against the tiles, he slowly lowers my foot to the floor, making me groan when his fingers retreat from my core.

I’m spent and I don’t want the feeling to end.

Eldon stands, stroking his thumb over my cheek as he grins down at me, and I push up off the wall and start to sink to my knees, eager for my turn, but he stops me before my knees can touch the ground.

“There’s no time for me,” he breathes, crowding my space once again as he peppers soft kisses over my lips.

“But—”

He places his finger over my lips, shaking his head.

“It was never about me, Raven. This was for you. I get the pleasure of your taste on my tongue for the rest of the day.”

Well, fuck.

I want to argue back and demand we take another day off from classes so I can taste him too, but the bang of the bathroom door opening interrupts the moment and we both turn to find Zane in the doorway.

“Oh, you motherfucker,” he grunts, wagging a finger at Eldon, who laughs into my neck.

“What’s going on?” I ask, nudging my shoulder so I can see Eldon’s face as I glance between them.

“He knows what he did,” Zane growls, but there’s no true anger there. Jealousy, maybe, but nothing more.

“What did you do?” I ask, confused as fuck as I come down from my waves of pleasure.

“I finished my last set and said I’m going to go and find my Dove.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, making it clear what he had in mind. “But this asshole created a ring of fire around me so I couldn’t move and he could have you all to himself.”

“You’ve got to be quicker, man. It’s not my fault you announced it to the group. Maybe you just need to be a little stealthier. That’s all I’m saying,” Eldon says with a chuckle, and I smush my lips together as I try to hide my grin, but Zane sees right through me.

“You’re an encouraging menace, Dove,” he says, aiming his finger in my direction this time, and I beam.

“One of my four favorite people in the world made me come before class. I’m not complaining. If that makes me a menace, I’ll take it,” I remark, and Zane grins at me as Eldon kisses my shoulder.

“If it puts my Dove in a good mood, maybe morning orgasms need adding to the handbook.”

Maybe they do.

Zane wrapshis arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground with a squeal as we step out of the house. He’s been handsy the entire time I was getting ready. Apparently, post-orgasm Raven is even hotter than regular Raven, and in his words, that’s a hard feat.

Either way, if he carries on like this, I may just self-combust before we get to our first class.

He continues to carry me to the end of our pathway, my back to his chest as he presses sloppy kisses against my neck with every step.

“Wait up,” Brax hollers, likely wanting his usual spot of leading us all, and Zane takes the moment to stop and lower me to the ground.

“You’re fucking beautiful, Dove,” he whispers against my ear, squeezing my sides and making my body clench.

“If you’re hinting at getting me back in the house, I’m in,” I reply, turning to face him, and he smirks at me.

“Don’t even think about it,” Creed interjects. “We’re supposed to be starting phase one of our plan today. That means no fucking until later.”

I roll my eyes dramatically at him as he approaches us. A retort is ready on my tongue when a blast from behind me forcibly pushes me into Zane and we tumble to the ground.

Zane grunts but bands his arms around my body and rolls us over so he’s protecting me from whatever the fuck that was. My heart races in my chest, my pulse rings in my ears, and my body falters as I scramble to get over the hit I just took.

“What the fuck, Genie?” Eldon snaps, a glimmer of something orange in his hand as he storms past me, but I can’t see everything that’s happening with Zane on top of me.

Attempting to take a deep breath, I manage to ease the pain in my chest enough to speak. “Let me up.”

Thankfully, he does, pushing up to his feet before offering me his hand. Turning to look for Genie, I find her standing in front of Eldon and Brax, hovering an inch off the ground as she glares at the pair of them.

Creed appears at my side, trying to take my hand, but I shake him off as I approach the crazy bitch that keeps appearing in my life when I’m trying to have a good time.

Her eyes meet mine as I step to the side of Eldon. “You!” she bellows, her hair standing on end as energy seems to swarm around her.

“What did I do now, Genie?” I ask, bored at this stage.

“You fucked up everything,” she snaps back, and I cock an eyebrow at her.

“Please, enlighten me,” I push, folding my arms over my chest.

I haven’t seen her in days. I was hoping she had fucked off for good, but unfortunately, I don’t seem to be that blessed.

“I’ve been kicked out of the Guild.” She bares her teeth as her feet touch the ground, her hands fisting at her sides.

“And that’s my fault because…”

“Because you got Sebastian kicked out, and now, apparently, I’m a liability because I love him and I can’t be trusted.” She goes to take a step toward me, but Eldon lifts his hand, and I notice it’s a ball of fire in his palm that must have been the flash of orange from earlier. The warning is clear. Take another step toward me, and she’s going up in flames.

“I’m sorry to break it to you, but this all seems like a you problem, Genie.” I force a smile to my lips, but it doesn’t seem to have the desired effect I was going for. If anything, it makes her angrier.

“Listen here, you little bitch,” she snarls, swinging her arms around, and Eldon completely fills the space between us so she can’t get to me, but too little too late, I realize she wasn’t trying anyway.

A knock to the head, the wind taken from my sails once more, and I’m flat out on the ground.

Fuck.

Disoriented, I can hear the Bishops going insane as I lazily blink up at the dull sky. For a split second, I consider getting the Poten’s Ruby for myself so I can be done with this bitch’s magic attacking me, but I quickly shut it down.

She needs to be put in her place, but I would rather use my powers and do it myself than rely on a tool. She’s not worthy of an artifact. She’s not worthy of my effort either, but I’m so done with her fucking presence.

I just need a second to nap first because it hurts everywhere.

“Raven? Dove?” Squinting, I focus on Zane as he hovers above me, concern etched into his features as I try to focus. “I’m here. It’s okay. Can you sit up for me?” he asks, delicately cupping my cheek, and I nod even though I know for certain that I definitely can’t. His fingers intertwine with mine, poised and ready to help me, but when I make no attempt to move after a few moments, he lowers them back down. “Take your time.”

Inhaling, I try to hold it in for a second before I exhale. I repeat the motion a few more times before I feel a little more stable. “What hit me?” I rasp, my head still pounding from the impact.

Zane glances over his shoulder briefly before turning back to me, but the wince drawing his eyebrows together tells me he’s not sure what to say. Tilting my head, I try to follow his line of sight to see a fucking full-sized tree lying across the pathway.

“That bitch threw a tree at me?” I clarify with a gasp, and he nods, swiping a hand down his face.

“Roots and all,” he adds, a soft smile on his face as he tries to make light of the situation. It feels too surreal to actually be my life.

“I’m going to knock her the fuck out,” I grunt, tightening my hold on his hands and lifting up to a sitting position.

“I’m sure you will, Dove. But unfortunately for you, someone beat you to it,” he explains, nodding to where I was standing a few minutes ago.

Frowning, I glance at the backs of Brax and Eldon. Did one of them beat me to it? I’m not about men hitting women in general, but I’m quite sure this is an acceptable circumstance. When I find Creed crouched down over Genie’s unconscious body, I quickly realize it was none of my men.

Blonde hair floats in the light breeze as icicles hang from Genie’s nose.

Leila.

Her eyes find mine as if sensing her name in my mind and her chin quickly dips, her cheeks heating as she tucks a loose tendril of hair behind her ear.

Zane helps me to my feet and stays by my side as I make my way toward her.

“I’m sorry, she just… I just…” Leila stares at me, completely lost for words as she shakes her head.

“She fucking deserved it. Besides, it’s better coming from another girl and not one of us, but I was ready for it if necessary,” Eldon states, pulling me into his side as he glances over me to make sure I’m okay.

Leila nods, rubbing her lips together nervously as she looks at me. Suddenly, her eyes widen and she digs into the backpack at her feet. “Sorry, I was hoping to catch you guys before you got near the main building so I could show you this. I just got a bit distracted with…” Her words trail off as she looks down at Genie.

She holds a dusty and tattered leather binder out and Brax takes it from her.

“What’s this?” he asks as I step out from beside Eldon to take a look at it too. Creed and Zane inch closer, Genie’s body left on the pathway for someone else to deal with.

“I’ve been researching the stone they were talking about yesterday.”

“When?” Creed asks, brows furrowing.

“I’ve been up since four and at the library since shortly after.”

“You’ve been awake, researching, since before the sun came up?” Brax clarifies, a mixture of uncertainty and disbelief in his eyes.

“Yes,” Leila replies with a nod, rocking back on her heels as Brax flicks through the pages.

“The look on your face says you found something good…”

“Well, I found that,” she states, pointing at the binder as a whole. “It’s a compendium of magical artifacts, and it includes the Poten’s Ruby.”

“There’s a whole fucking book on this shit?” I blurt, and Zane grins at me.

“Do we need to know anything more about it other than it’s coveted as fuck?” Eldon adds with a huff, trying to get a better look at the binder.

“The ruby is only part of the equation,” Leila reassures. “Did you not hear the fact that there are others listed and detailed in there?”

“Is there anything of use?” Brax asks, quirking a brow at her, and she shrugs.

“I can do some more research, Brax. I can’t make decisions for us.” She turns to face me head on, nodding as she exhales slowly. “I trust that to be your role.”