17. Brax

BRAX

It feels like ever since the attack on the Shadowmoor outpost, we’ve become nocturnal. No one’s fucking sleeping, everyone’s getting grouchy, and not a single one of us can put a finger on what’s happening. It’s driving me insane.

After Zane met with his father yesterday, we spent the majority of the day going over the revelation that The Monarchy has a whiff of a new necromancer. They’ve got a scent of Raven, my fucking shadow, and it infuriates me.

By the end of the day, we had decided that we need to keep her magic locked up even tighter. It’s not for anyone to know or see. Not that she would really be able to put on a show with it, but what it does mean is that we need to see if she has a secondary ability to focus on. At least in public.

All necromancers ever reported have had at least one other power, and we’re hopeful that’s the case for Raven as well. We’ve gone from one extreme to another, from protecting a Void to hiding a necromancer. What the fuck is my life right now?

Classes today were a huge fuck up. I was too tired to pay much attention, and as every minute ticked by, I could feel myself getting grouchier and colder. I get the sense Raven and the Bishops know it too because they’ve left me out here to work out alone while they do whatever the fuck it is they’re doing inside.

Dropping the weights at my feet, I lean back, taking a deep breath as sweat beads at my temples. My muscles ache since I worked out early this morning too, but I need the distraction. With my hands on my hips, I turn my attention to the coastline, searching for an answer to a question I can’t quite put my finger on, when I hear the patio door open behind me.

“Appreciating you working out when the sun is setting instead of when it’s rising is an entirely different thing,” Raven states, her voice wrapping around me like a fucking prayer, and all I can do is grunt.

Fucking grunt.

I keep my gaze focused forward, my back to her, hoping for… fuck knows what, when I sense her getting nearer.

“Are you doing okay? I know we’re all kind of going through some shit right now, but everyone else seems more open to airing their troubles.” She comes to a stop beside me, facing out over the cliff as I read between the lines. I’m in no mood to talk about my feelings, not even to Raven.

“You don’t need to be privy to everything about me because you saved me,” I bite, instantly hating the taste of the harsh words on my tongue. Peering out of the corner of my eye at her, it’s impossible for me not to see the subtle sting on her face.

Fuck.

What’s that I’m feeling? Clawing at my chest like a feral beast, burning a hole through my body as it tries to escape. Guilt?

Shit.

Pushing people away and keeping them at arm’s length is all I know, all I used to want. After losing my parents, why let anyone close if you know what the inevitable loss feels like? But Raven… damn, she just keeps trying to worm her way under my skin and I have no control over it.

With a sigh, I dip my head and look down at my feet. My eyelids flutter closed for a second as I exhale, trying to summon the words of apology that feel foreign to even think about, nevermind express.

Just when I think I have something to ease the guilt in my chest and the pain I’ve caused in my shadow, a screech startles me from my thoughts. Turning to my left, I freeze up, tension coiling in my gut when I find three bodies draped in black cloaks wearing golden masks grappling with Raven, who now has a black bag secured over her head.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

“You just signed your death warrant,” I snarl, clenching my fists at my sides as two more fucking black-and-gold clad people charge me. My right arm is stone before they get within arm’s reach and I smash my enlarged knuckles into their faces. They hurtle through the air, crashing into the glass at the back of the house with a bang.

That better get the attention of the others or I’m about to add them to my kill list.

“Fuck,” one of them hisses, their head bouncing back and forth between me and the injured fucker still slumped against the glass. “How can we initiate you into the Guild if you fucking fight like this?” It sounds like a guy’s voice, but it’s not one I can place.

My chest heaves with every breath as I slowly turn my attention to each of them before settling on Raven, who remains still in their hold. She doesn’t look harmed, just restrained, but that still doesn’t sit well with me. Not one bit.

The urge to continue fighting is hard to overcome. It’s what I’m good at. Despite that, I force my muscles to relax, release the magic from my arm, and drop my chin to my chest. They act quickly, pulling a black cloth over my head as they render me useless.

What the fuck have we gotten ourselves into?

* * *

Every second feelslike an entire year. The air shifts around us and the cooling breeze of the distant sea is gone. It’s almost stifling in comparison as I try to focus on what I can hear and sense around me. My body aches from the battle inside me, keeping my anger at bay.

Hands shove at my shoulders and I tumble backward, landing in a seat with a huff. A moment later, the cloth over my head is removed. Manically searching around me, my gaze crashes with Raven’s a moment later and relief whooshes through me.

I track my gaze over her from head to toe, checking for anything and everything, and when my eyes land back on hers, she offers me a soft smile.

“I’m fine, big man,” she mouths from her seat across from me, and I relax a little more.

Glancing around, I find Eldon and Zane to my left and Creed to my right, completing the somewhat circle we’ve been placed in. Their scowls match my own, their distaste for this shit competing with mine as I fold my arms over my chest and glare at the closest fucker in black and gold.

I hate that I can’t see their expression beneath the mask more than I hate not knowing who it is.

Fuckers.

Taking stock of the room, I note the black marble flooring, the carvings in the stone windowless walls, and the ornate gold table sitting in the center of the five of us. I turn my head back around to Eldon. His gaze is locked on Raven’s, but he must sense my stare because he turns my way a moment later.

I cock my brow at him, the silent question registers on his end and he nods at me.

This is the room from his vision.

At least that piece of the puzzle is arranged. Now we have to go through all of their bullshit to figure out why we need to be here to begin with.

“Eldon Rhodes, Brax Carlsen, Creed Wylder, Zane Denver, and Raven Hendrix.” My gaze whips to the guild member stepping forward, our names hot on their lips. “You have been summoned forward to be inducted into the elite ranks of the Nightmares Guild.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to say, “I’ll pass,” but I manage to keep my mouth shut. “This is a Guild built on blood, fueled by the enemy, and shrouded with darkness in order to achieve what others cannot.”

As they speak, more and more black suits and gold masks step forward, circling around us. One of them carries a large gold pot and places it on the table without a word before they rejoin the others. This is weird as shit.

“Do you agree to follow the values of the Nightmares Guild?”

I scoff as Eldon huffs. “You’re going to have to be a bit more specific with what we’re signing up to first, don’t you think?” I grin, pleased with his retort since he beat me to it.

Silence descends around us, the torches around the edge of the room dimming as the member speaking steps into the smaller circle we’ve been placed in, walking the perimeter and making eye contact with each of us.

“The Nightmares Guild does what is necessary for the people of our realm. We believe in a truer future for everyone, even those from Ashdale and Shadowmoor. The Nightmares Guild began as a handful of vigilantes whose bloodlines now trickle through the generations, each with the same goal; to rid the realm of the darkness that continues to claw at our very center.”

My brows rise, my intrigue piqued, and when I glance at Raven and my brothers, I see the same expression there too.

Why would Professor Burton, along with Zane’s father, a member of The Monarchy, be a part of this? If there was ever a telling sign that there’s more going on than we know, this is it. A startling reality comes to mind. We were caught coming back after sneaking off to Shadowmoor. Burton saw the determination in us to find answers, and this is seemingly the way we’re going to get them.

Perfect.

“Do you believe in something along those lines?”

Blinking up at the person peering down at me, my jaw tightens with their need to call me out specifically, so I shrug, uncaring.

“I’m in,” Raven blurts, and my eyes dart to hers. The second they mentioned that they wanted an equal realm for everyone, Shadowmoor included, I knew she would be fully committed. She will forever be attached to a place that treated her like shit, made her life Hell, and carved away at her every day. On the surface, she’s strong, resilient, and unwavering. That remains the same underneath too, but she also cares, whole-fucking-heartedly, without a drop of need for anyone to care back.

She was made to be a vigilante.

“Anyone else?” the slightly distorted voice asks, glancing around at the others before settling back on me. Raven’s acceptance triggers the rest of us, a resounding yes murmuring past each of our lips. “Excellent. Rites of passage and challenges will present themselves along the way, but for now, to begin your induction and acceptance into the Nightmares Guild, repeat after me. Follow your heart, find solace in the shadows, and take down the dawn.”

Raven’s eyes widen, making me pause, but her lips move without pause and I quickly follow to keep up with her. “Follow your heart, find solace in the shadows, and take down the dawn.”

As the last word echoes around us, the light completely evaporates, drenching us in darkness. Only the soft sound of steps can be heard around us until a small flickering reappears, and only one member stands before us.

Ignoring them for a moment, I fixate on Raven. “What was that look before you spoke?” I ask, and she gapes at me for a second, her gaze flicking to the member for a second before she shakes her head at me.

Reluctantly, I take the hint, wiping a hand down my face as I try to gather my thoughts.

“Are you here to guide us out or show your face?” Zane grunts, rising from his seat as the member stands by the table.

It’s almost as though they’re considering what to say, if anything at all. I’m ready to ignore them altogether and get the fuck out of here, but as I stand, the member turns to face Raven head-on.

One tentative step toward her and my spine stiffens.

Sebastian. If that’s him, I’ll fucking kill him before he can get within arm’s length of her. My feet are already moving, refusing to fail at my own vow, but I stumble to a stop when the black hood is dropped and the mask is discarded.

It’s not him, but the look on Raven’s face has me unsure whether she would feel the same if it was.

“Hey, Raven.”

Leila.