30. Raven

RAVEN

How, in this realm, is there no ability to magically make me feel any less tired? It’s like that’s all I am lately: tired, drained, exhausted. They all amount to the same thing and they’re all completely unsolvable unless you’re actually able to get uninterrupted sleep, which feels like a distant memory at this point.

The shadows occupying my room seem to have calmed, but now our nights are disrupted by the Nightmares Guild instead.

After last night’s training, there was a promise of another session tonight and most nights going forward. One thing is clear, something is brewing on the horizon. If it’s not, then they’re scared of something, which is why the training seems to have been kicked up a notch or two for the foreseeable future.

Whatever has them shaking things up is lost on us. We’re never privy to that information, but we’re training for it regardless. At least I made a connection last night with Florentine. She’s now the closest thing I have to an ally in the Guild, other than the Bishops and Leila, of course.

The fact that she gave up any further future within the realm to dedicate herself to the Guild is a telling sign that she truly believes in the cause. I wasn’t the only one to gain another friend in there either. Grave, Zane’s partner, was all handshakes and high-fives when we were done, and Zane seemed to like him well enough.

Brax didn’t mention the guy he worked with, but that’s not a surprise. Neither did Creed, but Eldon said the fourth year he paired off with was focused and determined yet easy-going when they broke off.

I never thought I would be actively seeking allies, but it’s clear we really don’t know what is around the corner, and the more people we have on our side instead of against us is vital.

With my hair braided down my back, I’ve changed out of my uniform and into a pair of leggings with an emerald-green sweater and my newly-acquired combat boots issued by the Guild. Stepping out into the lounge, I pause when my gaze settles on my men who are waiting for me.

Brax is sitting the farthest away, wearing gray sweats and a plain white tee all casual, with his usual brooding face on. Eldon is beside him, leaning back in his seat in a pair of dark denim jeans and a black hoodie. Creed is on the sofa, facing them in a black tracksuit that only seems to make his eyes darker, while Zane is sitting beside him in a pair of gray shorts and a matching sweatshirt.

We’re all going to the same place, and how we dress for the situation is so different it’s almost amusing. What matters more than anything is the fact that they’re sitting here waiting for me, just like they said they would.

My chest clenches. Whenever they’ve said they’ll show up, they’ve done so. Any promise they’ve made, they’ve kept it. Any emotion I’ve felt, no matter how deeply, they’ve validated it. Time and time again, they’re speaking with actions and not just words, and as much as I like to put my walls up and hide from the world behind them, they’ve made it impossible for me to hide from them.

Clearing my throat, four sets of eyes spin my way. “I appreciate you guys. You know that, right?” I twiddle my thumbs nervously as their startled expressions shift to knitted brows and hints of confusion.

“Where’s that coming from?” Eldon asks, scratching his jaw as he continues to stare me down.

I shrug. “I feel like I showed up here and flipped everything on its head with my drama, and you just seem to be rolling with the punches like it’s no issue. I just wanted you to know that I see it, too, everything you’re doing for me, and I appreciate it.” I’m almost wishing I had kept my mouth shut as my cheeks heat under their attention.

“It’s a good thing you’re worth it then, isn’t it?” Zane states with a smirk as he pushes up to his feet and saunters toward me. I roll my eyes but it falls flat as he envelops me in his arms and squeezes me tight.

My eyes drift closed as I hug him back just as tight before he slowly takes a step back.

“So, without Ari, how are we getting to the compound?” Creed asks as Zane grabs my hand and pulls me toward the sofas. He doesn’t sit us down, though. He’s just as eager to get out of here as the rest of us. But it’s not going to be as easy as it was the last time I went to the compound since it was just me and Ari, and there’s no way in hell all five of us would fit on the back of him.

“It will be easier if Brax makes a gateway for us,” I state, and he instantly shakes his head before I can continue.

“I haven’t been, so I wouldn’t know where to go.”

“I know, so I can either get Ari to take the both of us so you can create a gateway back this way or…” My words trail off, nerves getting the better of me.

“Or…” He cocks a brow at me as I turn my whole body his way, taking a deep breath before I blurt out the alternative.

“You can take the image from my thoughts.”

Silence echoes around the room at my words, stretching into uncertain territory as his brows furrow, and I’m ready to retract the option.

“You want me to go into your mind?” he clarifies, and I offer a nervous smile.

“I trust you.” The words warm my chest, confirming now more than ever that I mean every one of them. When I first arrived and he threatened to invade my thoughts without my permission, the mere thought left me feeling violated, but now, this is my choice, my offer. It feels entirely different.

It’s funny what a little thing like consent can do to a situation to make it feel like a good idea.

“There will be nothing for you to trust,” Brax advises as he stands, prowling toward me with slow, measured steps. “If you think of just that in your mind, I swear to leave everything else untouched.”

A shiver runs down my spine as he comes to a stop in front of me. Wow. Could it really be so simple for him to delve deeper into my thoughts? I meant what I said, though. I trust him in my mind, and even more so to only see what he needs.

He steps closer and I can feel the eyes of the rest of my men watching our every move. He lifts his hand to stroke under my chin, a simple touch that calms me without even trying. From there, he trails his fingertips up my cheek before settling them at my temples.

My eyes close of their own accord and the vivid picture of the compound comes to mind. I see everything. The tree line, the imprisoned creatures, the shrubs, all of it. I can feel him in my mind, weirdly similar to a soft caress, and I bite back a groan. No one mentioned it was going to feel… good.

“What are you doing?” he mumbles as he presses his forehead against mine.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m supposed to find the image waiting, but it’s like you’re projecting it directly into my mind.” He leans back and I blink open my eyes.

“I’m sorry?” It feels like a question because I don’t really know what I did, but I also can’t sense if he’s mad or not. If I did something wrong, there was no intention to it.

“Don’t be sorry, Shadow. That’s just never happened before.” Frown lines mar the skin between his eyes. One brown. One green. Both staring inquisitively at my soul through my own blue pools.

“You’re still making me feel like I should apologize again,” I mumble, and he shakes his head.

“I know exactly what I’m envisioning, so we got the task done, but could you see if you could give the image to Eldon as well?”

“Why?”

“It could be a magical ability, Raven.” His voice softens as I meet his gaze and I nod. I’m so confused by every little thing that I didn't even consider that to be an option. Eldon steps up to my side a moment later, a gentle smile on his face as he approaches. “Place your hands on her temples like I did, Eldon,” Brax orders, and he does just that.

Closing my eyes, I picture the compound in my mind, exactly like I did last time, but after a few minutes pass, Eldon drops his hands and takes a step back.

“I’m getting nothing,” he admits, and I peer up at him, a hint of disappointment casting over me. Of course, finding another magical ability wouldn’t be so easy.

“I’m sorry,” I breathe, before hands squeeze my sides and lift me off the ground.

“Let’s go before she apologizes us all to death,” Zane says with a snicker, and the others laugh too. This time, I roll my eyes and mean it. Asshole. He places me down on my feet, tilting my head back to look into my eyes with a smirk plastered to his lips. “Shake your funk off, Dove. We’ve got this. Some things just take time.”

I sigh, letting the stress I’m putting on myself melt away. I mouth my thanks to him and he winks before steering us toward the gateway Brax has now created.

Creed steps through first, followed by Eldon, and I sneak through next, Zane and Brax right behind me. My eyes widen in surprise when I realize Brax has brought us to the same spot I was standing in the last time. It’s as if he’s placed us exactly where my memory showed him I was.

The compound is as I left it and my familiar is where he said he would be. I can see him off to the left, close to the barrier.

“It doesn’t look like a cage,” Zane states as we head toward Ari, and I nod.

“I can’t decide if that makes it better or worse, but it’s a prison to them all the same. They’re basically being kept as cattle for the students to slaughter,” I grumble. I’m sure they’re sick of me repeating myself, but it’s hard not to when I can feel Ari’s pain and heartache over the situation. Especially with Gia inside.

I run the remaining steps toward Ari, burying my face in his feathers as I stroke a hand down his chest without a single word passing between us first. His head dips down as usual and I take a deep breath, settling my heart rate with his.

“Anything new?” I ask, and he shakes his head as I take a step back. I can sense an almost awkwardness between the Bishops and my familiar, but I don’t really know how to rectify it. Ari can’t speak to them like he can to me, so the instant inability to communicate doesn’t help.

“Who’s that over there?” Creed asks, and I frown as I follow his line of sight to see two members of staff from the academy step through the barrier over by the forest.

“They’re the staff that come to do checks on everyone every few days,”Ari explains, and I reiterate the information to the others.

“Is it just those that can enter or people in general?” Eldon adds, looking at Ari for the answer.

“People can come and go as they wish.”I relay the message again, and Brax frowns.

“How can the barrier tell the difference?” he queries, and Ari sighs.

“I’m not sure. I’ve always seen people come and go without pause.”

When I repeat my familiar’s words, Zane shakes his head. “I’m not sure I trust him on that. I’m worried if you go in there, you won’t be able to get out, Raven.”

“I trust him, Zane. I feel him in here,” I explain, pressing my hand to my chest.

“I can go in first and check,” Eldon offers, and before I can refuse, he does exactly as he says, stepping through into the compound without resistance.

“If you’re going to have feelings for all of them, can I choose favorites?”Ari asks, making me chuckle, but I don’t respond as I watch Eldon step back out of the compound with no issues. I sigh with relief. “If so, he’s definitely my number one right now.” I roll my eyes at Ari and Creed cocks a brow at me but I wave him off. We’ve got more important things to focus on than Ari’s favorite Bishop of the day.

“So we’re going in there?” Zane asks, pointing at the compound, and I nod.

“Yeah, I want to see it for myself, see the conditions we’re dealing with.”

“When you get in there, touch Gia. She will know we are connected, as she and I are. She will help you,”Ari explains, but my nose wrinkles with uncertainty. “Trust me. You have an hour. If you’re not out by then, I’ll come find you myself.”

“You can’t come and find us. If you do, you’ll be trapped in the compound again,” I state.

“What’s he saying?” Brax glances between Ari and me.

“He’s saying we have an hour to get in and out; otherwise, he’ll come in looking for me, even though it will confine him to the compound.” I give my griffin a pointed look but he simply blinks at me in response.

“Good. That’s what a familiar is supposed to be. An extension of you, uncaring of the consequences to keep you safe, just as you are doing for his loved one and the rest of his pride.” Brax has a point there, but I don’t state it.

“Maybe I can have two favorites today.”

I flip Ari off, not dealing with his smart mouth as I turn for the barrier.

“Let’s go.”

“Be safe.”

“What else am I going to be?”

“I heard that.”

I spin to face him, eyes wide and jaw slack as my heart races. I can feel my men watching me, but none of them interrupt the weird stare-off I’ve got going on with Ari. After a few moments, the tall and proud griffin nods at me and I do the same before stepping into the compound.

The magic tingles over me from head to toe, making me quake for a beat before it simmers down. The sun feels dimmer, the breeze gustier, and the grass damper beneath my boots.

“Where to?” Creed asks, glancing around at the trees and natural setting that surrounds us.

“I don’t know. I don’t want to piss anyone off, I just want to look around. Let’s start that way.”

Brax slips past me to take the lead as usual, and it’s Zane who takes the tail position while Creed and Eldon flank my sides. I’m careful with every step I take. Branches, fallen tree trunks, and protruding roots create an obstacle course around us.

A growl in the distance makes us pause and I turn to the left to see three minotaurs gathered behind a fallen tree. They don’t look happy to see us, but when they don’t immediately charge our way, I continue on and they, thankfully, leave us be.

The sound of water falling in the distance pricks my ears, along with giggles, and I consider whether to head in that direction or not, but the memory of the sirens from the Gauntlet has me heading in the opposite direction.

“Can you hear that?” Creed asks, pausing, and we all stop with him.

“Hear what?”

“It sounds like tiny wings,” Creed explains, and I squint, looking around us as I try to hear what he’s talking about. Just before I tell him he’s full of shit, I hear a small fluttering, barely audible over the breeze.

“Look up,” Eldon whispers, and I tilt my head back and gape in surprise.

Another magical creature from folklore and fairytales. Pixies line the branches of the huge tree we’re under. They’re not paying us any attention as they go about their lives.

Wow. Just wow.

“Let’s keep going before Ari comes to hunt Raven down, otherwise we’ll never hear the end of it,” Brax breathes, and I take an extra second to admire their little wings as they flutter so fast they’re barely visible.

Continuing around the brambles, a thud halts us once more. Slowly turning to our right, my eyes widen at the sight of at least a dozen griffins.

“Holy shit,” Zane mutters, and I look over each of them in search of someone special.

I know it’s her instantly. I may have been at a distance last time, but her eyes are locked on mine as she takes two steps toward us. I’m moving toward her in the next breath, not stopping until I’m a few feet away.

“Raven,” Brax warns, worrying for me, but I know I’m safe.

“It’s her,” I explain, like that’s enough, and before I can do anything else, I watch in awe as she extends a claw forward and bows her head. A beat passes before the remaining griffins do the same, and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

“What’s happening?” Zane asks, but I don’t have the answer. Instead, I take the remaining steps to Gia and stroke a hand between her eyes, resting my palm at the small dip just before her beak.

“Ari has told me much about you.”

I gasp at her soft and sultry voice in my head before I find my voice.

“I dread to think.” A chuckle echoes in my mind as she peers up at me.

“Help us, Raven. We believe in you,”she says with a hum, leaving me breathless. There’s pain in her eyes, sorrow in her heart, and a helplessness draped over her like I’ve never felt before.

“I will try my best,” I promise.

“And we will try our best for you.”

“For me? That’s not necessary,” I insist, and she shakes her head.

“It will be. The darkness is coming.”