19. Brax

BRAX

Smoke billows around me in a vortex, my vision blurring as faceless men storm the room. Finn’s lifeless body is a heap at the door as they clamber over him without an ounce of care. My blade feels heavy in my hand as I try to wield it, but it’s impossible. I’m losing, they’re winning, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

I have to turn to stone if I have any hope of staving off their attack. Magic floods through my veins, starting at my toes before creeping up my spine, but the perfect shiver I get whenever I’ve completely transformed doesn’t come. Instead, an unwavering slice of pain consumes me.

My back burns, my smoke-filled vision fading to black in an instant, but there’s no reprieve for me. Blinking my eyes open, confusion grips me tight as the smoke disappears, the faceless men along with it, as the room morphs into another haunting sight.

Black marble flooring, carved stone walls, and the imposing gold table.

My attackers no longer come in the form of faceless men and my surroundings are no longer those of the Shadowmoor outpost. Instead, a flock of black-cloaked gold-masked motherfuckers swarm me in a circle that continues to get smaller and smaller. I can’t find my blade; the handle gone from my grasp. It’s only me and my fists now, but the uncertainty of shifting is overwhelming. The last time I transformed when in danger, I still wound up leaving myself vulnerable.

I can’t just turn my back this time.

Clenching my fists, my magic swirls down my arms, turning them to stone, but as the nearest member of the Nightmares Guild gets even closer, my body refuses to move.

“You’re helpless against us, you fool. You’re dead.” A cackle rings out, the lights diminishing as their gold masks begin to glow in the darkness.

I’m not dead. I’m fucking standing right here in front of you.

“I can hear your thoughts, you know. As adorable as it is that you think you’re alive just because you’re standing here, you’re going to need the reality check you deserve. This is the realm of the Shadows, Brax Carlsen. Get comfortable. You’re here for the rest of eternity.”

“No!”

I refuse. I refuse. I refuse.

My back burns, the pain of death taking its hold on me once again as the room’s blanketed in darkness. With a single blink, my surroundings shift before me; only this time, I’m familiar with where I am.

Home.

The pale-blue exterior glistens in the late evening sun. The sound of laughter echoes around me as I double-take on the people standing on the white wraparound porch.

“Mom? Dad?”

The words feel strange on my tongue, but the two sets of eyes that turn to greet me are not.

“Brax?” My mother’s eyebrows pinch together as I race up the footpath, taking the steps up to the porch two at a time. My chest heaves with every breath as my mother’s worry grows. “Brax, what are you doing here?”

“I… I don’t know,” I admit, swiping a stone hand down my face. I quickly bring in my magic and let my gargoyle rest.

“Son, you’re not supposed to be here,” my father states, clapping me on the shoulder as his green eyes take me in.

“I don’t know where here is.”

My mother wraps her arms around my waist, squeezing me tight as she takes a deep breath. “Either way, I get a minute to drink you in,” she murmurs with a happy smile.

Tentatively wrapping my arms around her, it’s startling to notice that she now comes up to my shoulders. The last I remember of them, I barely came to her waist, but a lot of time has passed since then.

“I’m worried that you’re here again so soon, son.”

I blink at my father, confused by his worry and mention of it being so soon. It’s been forever. “I don’t know what you mean.”

A look passes between them, one I don’t recall or understand, but whatever it is, it isn’t good.

“Son, you were here merely a week ago, hurt, bloody, injured. We thought the worst, but then you disappeared in the blink of an eye. Are you hurt again? Is that why you’re back?”

Slipping out of my mother’s hold, I look between them. They’re so startlingly different it’s almost sweet. My father is built like me, with blond floppy hair and piercing green eyes, while my mother has olive skin, brown hair, and matching brown eyes. A blond Viking warrior and a golden goddess. And then they have me.

“Why would I have to be hurt to be back? I don’t remember being here.”

As much as everything looks like home, the feeling in my chest tells me it’s not the same, I just can’t pinpoint how or why.

“Honey, this is the afterlife. We’re in the—”

I jolt, my body stiffening as I bolt upright in bed. Sweat clings to every inch of me and my heart feels like it’s about to burst from my chest. Lifting my hand, I place my palm against my chest, feeling the rhythm of my heartbeat slowly calm down.

What the fuck was that?

I’ve had nightmares of the night at the outpost ever since we got home, that part isn’t new, but the Nightmares Guild and my parents? Fuck. Swiping a hand down my face, I flop back down in bed, staring up at the ceiling as confusion gets the better of me.

It felt so real, so vivid, yet… I was asleep? I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. Until now.

Glancing at the time, it’s a little after two in the morning, even earlier than the past few nights. I’m not going to work out in the yard at this time. It was almost midnight before I finally passed out.

A soft knock slightly rattles my door, and a moment later, it pries open to reveal a sliver of Raven through the crack.

“What do you want?” I rasp, my defenses rising at her arrival. I don’t want to be seen this vulnerable right now. I feel raw, like my emotions are completely exposed, and I think I might be sick.

“I heard a noise,” she whispers, slipping through the door and clicking it shut behind her. Her hair is messy from sleep, her nightwear stopping midthigh against her soft skin. Despite how good she looks, though, I feel like I can’t breathe.

“I’m fine,” I grumble, clearing my throat, and she shrugs, cutting the remaining distance between us. Without a word, she crawls up the bed, nestling her head on the pillow beside me as she snuggles in.

“Well, I’m not.”

“Make yourself comfortable, why don’t you.” The words snap from my tongue, but the harshness isn’t there like it usually would be. Her cheek presses against my shoulder, her hair brushing against my throat as her palm flattens on my chest.

“I will, thanks.”

I’m rendered speechless as she effortlessly snuggles into my side. Her breathing evens out quickly before she’s fast asleep beside me.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with her, but it’s as if my body has been waiting to have her in my bed again, in my arms, for an eternity because I shuffle around so she won’t strain her neck and band my arm around her waist.

Quicker than I care to admit, my breathing evens out too, and for the first time since the Shadowmoor outpost, I simply sleep.

* * *

I don’t knowwhat it is with this woman and her ability to just… be her, but my soul fucking likes it. I slept like the dead, barely waking up with enough time to work out this morning after a fucked up night from Hell, and even though I don’t want to admit it, I know it has something to do with her being in my bed.

It was a close call whether I was going to get my exercise in by fucking her hard and fast or actually going outside with the others. And despite how desperate I was to feel her, the night’s revelations forced me to put a little bit of space between us so I could think.

Not that I’ve really done much thinking that hasn’t revolved around her.

Even now, as we head toward the main academy building for today’s classes, she doesn’t stay a step behind me like usual. No, she clings to my arm. Her fingers flex around my biceps, sending a direct shot to my fucking dick. I’m seriously considering that something might be wrong with me.

“Are you okay? You feel tense,” she states, looking up at me with those long fucking eyelashes that flutter like butterflies, luring me in and making me soft.

“I’m fine,” I grunt, and I feel her hand begin to slip from my arm. Before she can release me completely, I press my tricep into my side, trapping her fingers between them. She takes the silent hint, holding onto me once again.

“Are we shocked Leila didn’t show up this morning like usual?” Zane asks from behind, and Raven shakes her head.

“No. After she dropped the bomb on us about the asshole on campus, I told her I needed some breathing space. Which included leaving me to come to her. She can listen at least,” she mutters.

I can see why she’s able to see both sides of the coin with the Nightmares Guild and Leila’s participation, but my brothers and I all saw the pain on Raven’s face when she first saw her. If I can be a pillar of strength to ward off anything that may make her feel like that again, I will. Shady friends included.

I’m not trying to be a controlling fucker, even though it’s definitely in my nature, so I’m trying to respect her wants, but if Leila rocks with Sebastian and Genie, then she’s out. No questions asked. Possibly dead because that shit would be a betrayal.

“You know you’re sitting beside her in most of the lessons today, though, right?” Creed appears at her other side, concern in his dark eyes, and she shrugs.

“That I can handle.”

“Or, you could sit with one of us instead,” Eldon offers, wagging his brows at her, and she rolls her eyes.

“No thanks, I actually need to focus,” she retorts, like we would be some kind of distraction, but before I can call her out on it, a shadow falls over us and we instinctively stop.

“Raven.”

The sound of Sebastian’s voice saying her name is worse than dying, I’m sure of it.

Raven’s hold on my arm drops, but I clutch her fingers before she can take a step back.

“What do you want, asshole?” Eldon bites before I get the chance, and the slimy fucker smirks.

“Just wanted to check in on the new… recruits. Wondering if you’re ready to be put through your paces or if you’ll even survive it,” he says with a sneer. Even though Raven’s glare doesn’t budge on her face, I feel her fingers wrap slightly tighter around my own and I take that as my cue to make sure this fucker can’t get any closer to her.

“Thanks, but fuck off,” I grunt, pulling Raven a step behind me as I sense Creed, Zane, and Eldon all inch closer too.

“I’m talking to my sister.”

“No. She stopped being your sister when you stopped protecting her,” I snarl, feeling the eyes of other students on us as they slow down to watch the drama unravel. “Now, she’s mine. And unless I fucking say so, you don’t get to speak to her. At. All.”

My pulse pounds in my ear, screaming one word over and over.

Mine.

I feel possessive as hell and I really couldn’t care less.

“Yesterday’s excitement changes all of that because I’m a faction leader. Which means I overrule every word that comes out of your mouth,” he spits, inching closer to get in my face, as if I’m going to back down from him.

This guy has no damn clue who he’s pushing at. But if he wants to get familiar, I’m more than happy to help him along. Shuffling Raven completely behind me and out of his view, I straighten my spine so I stand a few inches taller than him.

If he wants to play the intimidation game, I’m all in.

I get myself so close that my chest brushes against his. “Fuck you. Fuck your ranking. Fuck your last damn name. It means nothing. Not after you put hands on her and tried to play God with her life.” His hand lifts to my shoulder, ready to push me away, but it’s too late; my blood is already boiling.

Rearing my fist back, it’s stone before it touches him, blasting him backward into the academy building with a grunt and a splattering of his blood coating my fingers. I hear the gasps ring out around us, but none of that matters. All that matters is him knowing the new fucking rules. Moving up beside him, I crouch, bringing my nose to his as I sneer.

“I’m done letting you think you can harm what’s mine. Next time it won’t just be your blood on my hands. Mark my words, it’ll be your death.”