28. Raven

RAVEN

Two days have passed and I’m still in a trance. I can’t shake the feeling that rattled me so deeply at the compound; the fact that the view of the academy and its surrounding landscape is so beautiful, yet every day that passes, something else seems darker and more tainted than before.

The weekend passed in a blur and I’m still locked on the ache I felt in my chest when Ari looked at Gia. The pain of seeing your loved one in that situation and not being able to do anything about it is gut-wrenching.

I have to help them, I have to help all of them. I just haven’t figured out how, and that’s exactly what has me completely locked away in my head. I’m sure the Bishops can sense it, but they can't ease my worries.

One thing after another has piled on top of me and now I’m struggling to withstand the strain. Maybe I wasn’t the raven from Eldon’s vision. Maybe that had nothing to do with me at all. Would that change how he felt about me? Would that change how they all felt about me?

Fuck.

I don’t know where this sudden urge to doubt myself so harshly is coming from, but it’s impossible to avoid it. Just as it’s impossible to focus in any of my classes so far today. Another lesson, another shitload of information going straight over my head.

I’m letting my thoughts and surroundings affect me too much, and as much as it’s a slippery slope, I’m not really fighting all that much to get out of it to begin with.

Chairs scrape across the floor around me as students rise from their seats, pulling me from my swirling thoughts. Thank goodness for my magic copying down whatever the professor was talking about. I can glance over it later. Maybe.

Stuffing everything into my backpack, I hitch it over my shoulder and turn to find Leila frowning at me.

“Is everything okay? I know you have a lot going on that I’m not aware of, but you seem really distant today.”

“More distant than usual?” I remark with half a smile, and she rolls her eyes at me.

“Standoffish? Maybe. Distant? No. You’re always focused and alert, but I don’t think you would have even noticed if a fireball exploded in the room,” she states, falling into step with me as I head for the door.

I can sense the Bishops around me, and knowing they’re there, I let myself focus on my conversation with Leila. “Did you know that when we entered the Gauntlet for the simulator exercise, it was only a simulator for us and not the griffins?” It’s not a trick question, and I’m not going to be mad if she did, but I want to understand if it’s common knowledge or not. The instant her eyebrows knit together is all the answer I need.

“How is that even possible?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug, my emotions coiling in my stomach and leaving me queasy. “But there’s a compound on academy grounds where the magical creatures are held until they’re brought into the Gauntlet or whatever else they might want them for. But it’s no wonder they’re taking out students without care if they’re being kept against their will.” I know I’m rambling, but if there’s a fresh set of ears to hear me out, I’m going to take it.

A soft smile glosses Leila’s lips, despite my upset, and I frown, but she quickly explains. “You’re passionate about this, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Ari was kept there, and he’s only out because he's my familiar, but that doesn’t help his love, Gia. But more than that, if there’s so much at stake around us, why don’t we have allies in these creatures instead of using them as tools?”

She purses her lips as we take a left turn down one of the corridors, approaching our next class.

“Do you want me to try and find out from my father if I can?” she offers, and my eyes widen. That’s not what this was about. I hadn’t even considered it, but if it’s available, who am I to deny a source?

“I mean, I wouldn’t say no, but that was not my intention here.”

“I know, that’s why I’m offering,” she replies with another genuine smile. “I’ll speak to him later and see what he can tell me.”

A burst of hope sweeps through me but I tamp it down, not wanting to get my hopes up too much. “Thank you, Leila.”

“Yeah, thanks, Leila,” Zane adds, stepping into my side as we walk through the doorway of our next class. Her smile widens, but before I can consider anything more, a gust of wind smacks into me at full force and I’m whipped off my feet and pinned to a wall before I can even understand what’s happening.

What the fuck?

Laughter bubbles around me and my gaze darts around the room until my eyes land on my new victim.

Genie.

I can’t move a muscle but that doesn’t stop my men charging at her. Brax looks like a charging bull, but when he gets within arms reach of her, something stops him. Her friends chuckle louder and I realize there are three girls just a step behind her. Their magic must be at play, too.

My insides burn as I try to fight against the hold on me. What’s weirder is I can practically feel every inch of it touching me. If I could just move my hand, I might be able to help myself.

Keeping my gaze locked on Genie as Zane and Creed also fail to reach her, I take a deep breath and try to calm my rising frustration.

Eldon stops short of the others, tilting his head as he assesses Genie, who pulls her stare from me to look at him. “Come closer, Eldon,” she purrs, seductively sweeping her tongue along her bottom lip, and my whole body stiffens even tighter when he doesn’t miss a beat, edging closer to her, just as she wants.

He sidesteps Creed, Zane, and Brax, no magic holding him back as he stops beside the table Genie is sitting on. Leaning in close to whisper in her ear, I think I’m going to be sick as fury burns the back of my throat. His hand grips her chin and she smirks as she blinks up at me.

My body aches from trying to fight against the magic, but it’s useless. I’m not going anywhere. My lungs burn with every breath I take as I try to understand why the fucking hell Eldon would even be entertaining her right now.

Then a scream rips from her lungs, her face heating, and her focus on me shifts as she recoils from Eldon’s touch. I slump to the floor with a thud, unable to ready myself to land solidly on my feet.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” I bite, scrambling to my feet and racing between the chairs and desks to hunt this bitch down.

By the time I get there, Eldon has released her and she’s sobbing into her hands uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, are you a little hot?” Leila sings, stepping up to her side as Genie’s friends simply gape in surprise at the fact that their plan failed. “Let me cool you down,” she says with a smirk before squeezing Genie’s hands that are cupping her face. She screams even louder as icicles erupt across her features.

“Enough!” Professor Figgins screeches from the top of her lungs, and the whole room goes still. My chest heaves with every breath as I continue to stare at Genie. I don’t care if Eldon and Leila have already caused her pain; I’m ready to let her have a taste of my anger, too.

Professor or not.

“Find your seats. Now.”

I hear people shuffling around me but I don’t budge until Zane moves to my side and places his hands on my shoulders. “Come on, Dove,” he murmurs against my ear, and I release the breath I didn’t realize was lodged between my lips.

This isn’t over. Far from it. And when Genie looks at me, I know she feels the exact same.

I drop down into my seat and Leila goes to take her usual spot beside me, but before she gets a chance, Eldon is moving her out of his way. “Take my seat,” he grumbles, pointing over his shoulder to his usual spot beside Brax.

Leila looks nervously between me and the seat and decides against arguing. Although, in my current mindset, I think that would have been fun to watch.

“Raven,” Eldon starts, brushing his hand over my knuckles, but I’m already shaking my head at him.

“Don’t.”

I don’t know what I’m asking for; my mind is a whirlwind. Seeing him with Genie, I went to the worst-case scenario in my head and now I can’t shake it. I need a minute.

With a sigh, he seems to accept that for the time being as he slouches back in the chair and Figgins begins talking. I instantly drown her out, acutely aware of just how close Eldon is, but more so, how fucking mad I am.

Now that the moment has passed, I can see and almost understand that he did as she asked, moved in close, to lead her into a false sense of security. Or I assume so, at least. But the jealousy that zings through me is unrelenting and I can’t fucking shake it.

My hands clench in my lap. I haven’t even pulled out my things so I can keep track of what the professor is talking about, but I don’t care enough to rectify it.

Minute after minute ticks by but the tension doesn’t ease up and I feel like my brain is going to explode if I don’t find some kind of release for it. I want to kick, punch, scream, and tear this damn place to the ground. With or without people in it.

Squeezing my eyes closed, I try to take a calming breath, but it’s futile. I know I’m overreacting, but that doesn’t make the feelings any less real. I need an outlet, something to channel, but fuck, if I open my mouth now, I feel like I’m going to burst into flames.

With every beat of my heart, the same word repeats.

Mine.

Jealously can’t look good on me. It certainly doesn’t feel it, that’s for sure. It’s turning me into a raging lunatic.

I need to get out of here.

I ping my eyes open as I sit up straight in my seat, ready to push away from the table and do just that when Eldon’s arm stretches across my chest, holding me in place.

“I need to go,” I bite under my breath, not really caring if anyone hears, and Eldon shakes his head at me. Which only makes me madder.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“You don’t get to—”

He ignores me, glancing behind us and making me frown at the dismissal. “Creed. I want no movement, no eyes, and no hearing. All senses gone except one,” he nods, but I don’t understand what’s going on. I’m too fucking mad.

Spinning to face Creed, I glare at him. “Don’t you dare leave me helpless like that,” I grind out, earning my name as a snarl on Professor Figgins’s lips, but when I turn to tell her to go fuck herself, I find her in her seat with her head down and eyes closed.

“Who said anything about you, Little Bird?”

I turn to face Eldon, confused as hell, as he cocks a knowing brow at me. Glancing around the room, I notice that every student in the room has the exact same posture except the Bishops. Everyone else is… under Creed’s magic?

“I don’t understand,” I reluctantly grumble, my temper unwavering as he slowly removes his arm from across me.

“I’m not going to lie, Raven, jealousy looks hot as fuck on you.”

My eyes narrow.

“I’m not jealous,” I lie, and he has the audacity to chuckle at me.

“If you say so. Want me to go and sit beside Genie for the rest of the class?” he offers, and I snarl.

“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

“I didn’t think so.”

Sighing, I fold my arms over my chest. “I need to go.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.” Why do I have to explain myself to him right now?

“I can feel the tension and anger coming off you in waves, Raven. Tell me what you need.”

“I already did,” I reply, rolling my eyes. “And you’re not listening. I need to get the fuck out of here before I combust with all of the anger rolling around inside of me.”

He leans back in his seat, a smile spreading across his face. “That sounds more like it.”

“More like what?” This man is driving me insane.

“What I wanted to hear,” he states before rising to his feet and planting his palms flat against the table.

“What—”

My words are cut off as he suddenly yanks my chair back and grabs my waist, effortlessly lifting me onto the table before resuming the position he was in moments ago.

“What are you doing?” I grumble, confusion getting the better of me as my annoyance falters for a second.

“Giving you what you want.”

“Which is what?” I fold my arms over my chest and cock a brow at him.

The devilish smile on his face should be my first hint, but I’m too focused on my racing heart to fully pay attention. His hands shift to my thighs, skimming under the hem of my skirt as he grazes higher and higher.

I glance around the room, surprised, but everyone is exactly as they were when I last looked. “Eldon, what the fuck are you doing?”

“You want to get out of here so you don’t combust, right?” His finger teases the trim of my panties, making my core clench as I nod. “Well, I think you’ll feel a hell of a lot better if you did.”

I blink at him, his words slow to process in my head as he snags at the material covering my pussy in one move before plunging his fingers deep into my core. “Oh my… Fuck,” I groan, my hands slamming down on the table to either side of me so I don’t fall.

“That’s it, Little Bird, let it all out,” he murmurs with a grin as his fingers fuck me on the classroom table.

This can’t be happening, but it fucking is.

I should tell him to stop but the words feel like a lie in my thoughts, nevermind on my tongue. Besides, with the way he’s making my pussy clench, my tension is quickly morphing into sexual need, having the exact effect he wanted.

“Eldon,” I gasp, wrapping my fingers around the edge of the table as I scoot back a few inches, exposing even more of myself.

“That’s it, Raven. Say my name as you come on my hand,” he growls as he leans down, flipping my skirt higher up my waist so he can latch his mouth around my clit.

Fuck.

Every drop of anger and jealousy, every ounce of tension coiled through my body, dissolves in rippling waves of ecstasy as I climax, chanting his name like a prayer. When I’m completely spent, I collapse back onto my elbows, looking up at him in a daze.

“I’m not done with you yet, Little Bird.”

I gape at him as he reaches for the zipper on his pants, revealing his thick length that’s pleading for attention. He sheaths his cock with protection and lines up the tip at my entrance without looking away from me.

“I told you the first time I tasted your sweet pussy who I belonged to. Have you forgotten?” he asks, barely slipping an inch into me as I desperately move to take him deeper, but he holds all of the power right now. “Answer me, Raven.”

“No. I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then tell me, who do I belong to?”

“Me.”

That’s the magic word. He thrusts deep into my core, stretching me around his cock as the rest of the class sits, seemingly unaware, around us. That shouldn’t get me hot. But it does.

“Don’t ever fucking doubt that again. Do you understand me?” he grinds out with every slam of his hips, and I see the frustration and disappointment in me flash in his eyes. I blink at him, unable to find the words as I nod, but that’s not good enough for him. “Never. Again. Raven. Tell. Me.” Every word is punctuated with another thrust of his hips and I’m sure the table is going to start screeching across the floor beneath us.

“Never again,” I manage, between gasps and groans, ready to fall apart in his grasp once more.

“Good. Now, only one other person in this room, aside from the Bishops, can hear everything we’re fucking saying right now. Who do you think that is?” I can’t fucking think when he’s pounding me so hard and fast. I manage to glance behind him to where the Bishops are, but that doesn’t make sense with what he’s saying.

“I-I don’t know.”

He snickers. “Think harder, Raven. I’m yours, you’re mine. Tell me who you want to hear that fact more than anyone else in this room?” My eyes widen as a knowing grin spreads across his face. “Tell her, Raven. Tell her who I belong to.”

His hips don’t falter as he claims me over and over again while I gape at him in a mixture of surprise and… shock? I’m not fucking sure, but either way, I can’t stop myself from letting the words flow from my tongue.

“You belong to me.”

“Louder, Little Bird,” he shouts, his hips relentlessly pistoning in and out of me.

“You belong to me,” I yell, my chest burning as my toes curl and another orgasm rips through my body, making me combust at his touch.

His hips falter, jutting with need as he follows me over the cliff. His lips claim mine, capturing my moans for himself as the world spins around us.

Panting together, we take a moment to catch our breath before he retreats from my core with his hand on my chin and his nose brushing mine as he peers into my eyes.

“I love you, Raven. Everything I do is for you,” he whispers so only I can hear, and my heart pounds like crazy in my chest. He adjusts my skirt, straightens my blazer, and smooths a hand over my hair before sorting himself out and pointing down at my seat.

“I don’t have any panties on.”

“Good,” he retorts with a wink, dropping down into his seat.

Fucker.

“That was hot as hell, Dove,” Zane muses from behind me, and I stare at him with wide eyes as he grins.

“He’s not even exaggerating,” Brax adds, making my thighs clench as Creed smirks.

“Are you ready for the world to return?” His onyx eyes are set on mine, and as much as I want to say no, I nod and turn forward.

All of the anger, all of the fury, all of the rage is gone.

From me, at least.

In the blink of an eye, movement takes over the room and Figgins is quick to her feet.

“Who did that?” she snarls, eyes wide and panicked as she glances around the room.

Genie whirls around in her seat, disgust on her face as she points a finger in my direction, but before she can say a word, Creed rises from his seat.

“Me.”

“You?” The surprise is evident in her tone, but she still points toward the door with narrowed eyes. “Get the hell out of my classroom. Now.”

He winks at me, a smirk on his face as he tucks his hands into his pockets and saunters from the room without a backward glance as chaos spirals around us. I could almost get swept up in it, too, if it wasn’t for the warm palm against my thigh and the soft brush of lips against my cheek.

Maybe combusting isn’t always a bad thing anymore.