13. Raven

RAVEN

Ineed a fucking minute to process the fact that Creed just unalived Wyatt without batting an eyelid because he touched me before I even knew him, but instead, I’m standing face to face with Professor Burton in the flesh for a change.

That doesn’t bode well for us. It feels like this is going to become an issue. He’s dressed in his usual pristine suit, his piercing eyes assessing each of us. I falter under his intense stare, despite my irritation at the fact, but Brax doesn’t.

He takes two strides to place himself at my side. “This isn’t where I was heading.” He’s so matter-of-fact I almost laugh, but there’s no amusement on Burton’s face, that’s for sure.

“No, it wouldn’t be,” he says with a sigh, taking a step back to walk around the glass desk before slowly dropping down into his seat. He steeples his fingers together, eyes casting over each of us once more before he continues. “You triggered a barrier when you used your magic to leave, I redirected it for your return.”

Fuck.

That’s insane. We hadn’t even considered the professors or administration knowing we were going, never mind awaiting our return.

“How nice of you,” Brax grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. Anyone else would crumble under Brax’s looming form, but Burton only leans back in his chair.

“Maybe the five of you should take a seat,” he offers, waving to the high-backed velvet chairs behind us, but we don’t move a step, happy to stand where we are as the unknown fire of his wrath beckons.

“We’re good,” Eldon says with a sigh, planting his hands on his hips as Burton purses his lips. When it’s seemingly clear that we’re not going to sit, he knocks his fist on the desk.

“Okay, I’ll get right to it then. Do you realize how incredibly stupid you were today? Do you realize the unknown you were walking into? We have wards around the academy for this exact reason. I can’t block your magic entirely, but I can guide it where necessary. Do you require a binding on your gateways so you can’t leave the grounds, Mr. Carlsen?”

“Isn’t that against the Monarchy rulings?” Zane interjects, cocking a brow at Burton, who barely manages to bite back his sneer.

“Alternatives can be arranged, Mr. Denver. I’m sure if your father found out you took an unsupervised trip to Shadowmoor mere days after the outpost attack, I don’t think he would be too happy about it, do you?”

“I think he would want us to have more information after such an attack. I think he would want us to be better prepared, and I certainly think he would not take too kindly to your threat to restrain our magical abilities with such great danger lurking. Do you?” I almost want to high-five the fuck out of Zane for his mightier-than-thou response. It’s a huge difference from the mouthful he would have gotten from me, so I’m more than happy for Zane to lead.

“It’s also against academy rules to leave campus in the manner you did ”

“If you explained to us what the hell happened at the outpost, we wouldn’t have to,” Eldon counters, making Burton’s nostrils flare with agitation.

He sighs deeply, shaking his head as he grips the arms of his chair. “Nothing I’m saying is being heard, is it?”

“No,” Creed chirps in, making the professor sigh even heavier.

“I didn’t think so.” Burton’s gaze settles on Zane, his lips pursing as silence stretches between us to the point it’s almost uncomfortable before he continues. “Your father resisted me extending the offer earlier, but it seems now may be a good time.”

“For what?” Zane asks, his forehead crinkling as my eyebrows pinch in confusion.

Burton stands, bracing his hands on the glass desk for a second before he straightens, adjusting his tie as he circles around the desk. Only when he’s sure he has all of our attention does he speak.

“To join the Nightmares Guild.”

The what now?

“I’m sorry, you’re going to have to say that again,” Zane states, his head tilting as he assesses the professor.

“The Nightmares Guild, Mr. Denver. It’s a secret society within the academy. Its purpose is to face the greater terrors that lurk beyond these walls.”

I think I’m going to need that chair now. This just became very overwhelming really quickly. A secret society? Here? The confusion on each of the Bishops’ faces only confirms I’m not the only one just hearing about this.

“Who else is a part of it?” Eldon asks, and Burton shrugs.

“That’s the kind of information you would become privy to upon acceptance, not a moment sooner.” He crosses his legs at the ankle, seemingly waiting for an answer right now.

“We’ll have to think about it. Can we leave?” Creed replies, taking a step toward the door behind us with a blank expression on his face.

“You have five days.” I take that as our dismissal and march for the door, but before I can follow Creed through the opening, Burton hollers my name. I spin to look at him and the inquisitive look on his face makes my stomach clench before he even speaks. “Your father advised your abilities could make an appearance at any time since he ensured the magical barrier was lifted from you. Has there been any change in that?” I gulp, bile burning the back of my throat as I shake my head, unable to speak. I hadn’t considered my father telling Burton I was a Void, but I shouldn’t underestimate his reach and want for power. Does he know what my magic is? “Very well. Should that change, Miss Hendrix, I expect to be one of the first to know.”

One nod and I’m out of there, flying past Creed and racing down the hall until I burst through the doors at the end of the corridor, the fresh air filling my lungs.

“Are you okay?” The question comes from Zane as I slowly push up off my knees. I hadn’t even realized I’d crouched over to heave in every breath, and I quickly glance around to make sure no one else saw my dramatics. Thankfully, we’re alone.

“I’m good,” I murmur, not truly feeling the words, and the gentle smile on his face tells me he knows it too.

He reaches for my hand without a word and pulls me toward the path to our house, the others falling in step with us.

“We have five days,” Creed mutters when we’re halfway home, and I nod in acknowledgment. “I think you’re going to need to speak to your father, Zane,” he adds, and Zane’s grip on my hand tightens.

“I will.” The determination in his voice is thick.

“None of this makes sense,” I breathe, still at a loss, and Eldon rakes his fingers through his hair.

“How the fuck has there been a secret society operating here without us knowing? I feel stupid as fuck,” he grunts. It seems clear to me that Zane’s father may have had a hand in keeping them from the Guild, until now at least. But that fact only raises the question of why. What is he trying to protect his son from? Why hide this?

Not wanting the conversation to get too heavy as we pass a few students wandering along the path, I nudge Zane with my elbow. “Maybe you aren’t as cool as you think you are.”

He instantly scoffs, pulling me closer to his side. “Oh, please. I’m hot, and you know it.”

I shrug, playing coy. “Maybe not everyone has my taste.”

“Yeah, right,” he says with a chuckle, and Brax, Creed, and Eldon join in, easing some of the tension that was building around us.

Turning down the path that leads to our house, I startle when I find Leila sitting cross-legged on the front doorstep. She perks up the second she sees us, with a wide smile spreading across her face.

“Oh, good. You’re here.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask, not really ready to deal with any issues she might have too. Everything is just getting more and more extreme with every breath I take.

“Everything is good. There’s a party tonight. You in?” The short-lived relief at the fact that she’s okay is quickly outweighed by the thought of having to act like everything is fine in front of a whole group of people I don’t really care for.

Shaking my head, I offer her an apologetic smile. “I’ve actually got—”

“She’s in… we’re all in,” Eldon interjects, stepping up to my other side so I’m sandwiched between him and Zane.

Leila claps her hands excitedly as I make a mental note to gut my favorite little firestarter later.

“Perfect. I’ll leave you guys be for now, but I’ll be back at eight. Wear something sexy,” she hollers as she takes off down the path.

Yeah. Perfect.

Just perfect.

* * *

“Please remindme why you think this is such a good idea again. I’m really not feeling it,” I say with a groan as I step into the lounge area to find all four Bishops ready and waiting. Usually, I would pride myself on not taking long to get ready, but this wasn’t my idea and now I’m stuck with the ramifications of Eldon’s decision.

“Because you look hot as fuck in that dress, Little Bird,” he replies with a wink while readjusting the outline of his cock beneath his jeans.

“Don’t try and flatter me with your hot mouth right now,” I retort, cocking a brow at him before double-checking the contents of my clutch.

Black clutch, black heels, black dress, and dark, smokey eye makeup. It’s the vibe I’m going with, matching my exterior to my interior mood. The dress barely covers my ass cheeks, which is what likely has Eldon’s attention, and I’ve piled my hair into a pink messy bun on top of my head.

“Don’t step out here looking so delectable, Little Bird, and I wouldn’t have to.” Eldon stands, prowling toward me with hooded eyes as my thighs press together.

Let’s stay home and do that instead. I know he won’t right now, though. They seem set on diving into the party tonight after the revelations of the Nightmares Guild.

He stops in front of me, hands clenching my waist as my eyes attempt to roll to the back of my head. “If you keep this up, I won’t be going anywhere.” My words are raspier than I expect and I hear Zane moan from his seat on the sofa.

“Fine, my Little Bird,” Eldon whispers into my ear before sinking his teeth into my earlobe and making me groan. The second the sound parts my lips, he takes a step back, putting far too much distance between us. “We’re going tonight so we can see the other students in a casual setting and attempt to feel out who might be a part of the Guild or not.”

Zane appears at his side, clapping him on the shoulder as his eyes rake over the length of me from head to toe. “Besides, you should really have some downtime with your friend. I’m more than happy to fuck the tension out of you, but this also works. So, fun now, fucking later, okay, Dove?”

I glare at him, which only makes his smile spread further.

Today, on top of everything else, has been a total mind fuck. No one is sleeping well. Eldon’s having visions that we thought might lead to Shadowmoor, but clearly don’t, so after our brief visit to the dark smog that is Shadowmoor, where Creed fucking killed Wyatt and Eldon burned his remains like it was nothing, we then got back to Silvercrest to be lambasted by Professor Burton and invited to join a secret society. The Nightmares Guild.

Maybe I do need some downtime and a drink or two, or ten.

A knock sounds from the door and I know it’s Leila. Right on time.

Eldon presses his lips to the corner of my mouth before waving for me to lead the way.

That settles it. They can investigate the students while I investigate the liquor. It’s the only way I’m going to survive the night. Besides, it might just help knock me out tonight, so I can actually get some sleep.

Spinning, I plaster the biggest smile on my face without it feeling forced, before I march for the door and open it wide. Leila is wearing a sparkly deep-green v-neck dress and killer heels. There’s only one thing to do.

“Bring on the shots.”