11. Raven

RAVEN

Living with four hot guys who are overbearing, irritating, and constantly in my space is more challenging than I initially thought it would be. Avoiding them is practically impossible, not to mention stressful. I just have to get through today, then I can spend the weekend hiding in my room, earning myself some well-deserved peace and tranquility.

I’ve barely made eye contact with any of them since Eldon had me pinned against the wall, mouth fused to mine as he claimed a piece of me I didn’t even know existed. Damn, I would have acted on the need clawing at my insides in any other moment, but I had a point to make.

Any attempt at a conversation has been stilted on my end, not from their lack of trying, and sometimes I feel shitty about it. Like when Zane sits beside me at the dining table explaining his love for some game, I don’t engage, despite wanting to. They have a way of getting under my skin without even trying and it’s driving me insane.

Creed still doesn’t say much but the way his eyes caress my skin as he observes my every move is like the most deadly foreplay I’ve ever felt. On the other hand, Brax is a dick, a broad-shouldered asshole who inserts himself between me and anything he may deem a threat. Sometimes it’s warranted, like how he hasn’t let Sebastian get within ten feet of me for the past three days, while other times, it’s to stop Finn from approaching.

I think my silence irritates Eldon the most. Or maybe he’s just the one to show it, but he’s the worst out of all of them. Leila was right, he’s definitely their leader, and the fact that I’m not simply falling in line with them is pissing him off.

“Raven, let’s go. Leila is here,” Zane calls out, rapping his knuckles on my bedroom door.

Running my fingers through my hair one last time, I let the soft curls fall down my back and over my shoulders. I’ve been wearing it up and off my face, but today has me nervous and I need something to hide behind.

“Let’s go.” A louder knock against my door echoes around me, accompanied by Brax’s gruff voice, making me roll my eyes.

Hiking my bag over my shoulder, I swing the bedroom door open before they can knock again. Zane is standing an inch away from the door, a soft smile on his lips. One so enticing I almost look up to meet his gaze, but I manage to stop myself before it’s too late. Brax is standing right behind him, his shoulders tense as always.

I wave my hand, encouraging them to move, and they take a small step back, still crowding me as I brush past them.

Fuck, now my body is tingling like a firework, ready to go off, fizzling and whizzing through the sky. I need to get laid or something because this is driving me crazy.

Creed and Eldon are by the main door but I don’t stop beside them. Instead, I breeze past, linking my arm through Leila’s as I have every other day, and head for the pathway.

“How’s your avoidance technique going?” Leila asks with a chuckle, knowing just how little they seem to care about it.

“What matters is whether I’m going to be able to enjoy this party you’ve been going on about tonight or if they’re going to fuck me over on that, too,” I grumble, making her laugh a little louder. I’m sure she does it to get a reaction out of them, but it’s slightly amusing, so I don’t try to stop her.

“I will make it my mission to ensure you, Raven Hendrix, have the time of your life tonight. Okay?” The enthusiasm dancing in her eyes is infectious and I trust in her certainty.

We spend the rest of the walk in silence, basking in the early morning sun as the number of students around us grows, leaving me to get lost in my head over the first class of the day, power strengthening.

How the fuck am I supposed to strengthen a power that doesn’t exist?

I’m screwed, and not in a good way.

I considered playing sick today but that would only delay the inevitable. Maybe once they learn I’m a Void, they might just kick me out. My gut twists at the thought. The excitement I first felt when I considered getting the hell out of here is waning. The past six days have been a whirlwind and I don’t know how I feel about this place. I need a weekend locked away by myself to figure out the pros and cons before I do something reckless.

My lack of magical ability is still a closely-guarded secret. I haven’t breathed a word to anyone, not even Leila, out of worry of how she may look at me. She took my Shadowmoor past effortlessly, but this feels different. More personal.

As we enter the academy building, the chatter around us increases from the mass of students darting through the halls. We don’t get far before a bell rings out, just like it did the day I arrived, making me frown.

“Oh, damn. There’s a gathering. Let’s head outside.” Leila steers me toward the courtyard where I first met her. A quick glance over my shoulder reveals the guys are still hot on our heels, but Leila doesn’t bother with any of that as she pulls us into the growing crowd of students, stopping dead center.

Looking around, I notice Finn and his friends to the far left. He’s already staring my way and his smile grows when our eyes lock. Maybe I need to let off some steam tonight and, hopefully, I can get Finn not to quake in his boots as soon as the guys glare in his direction. I’m not looking for a forever kind of guy. I’m looking for someone to fuck my problems away. He winks and it does nothing for me, not even a flicker of excitement, but I drill that down to the fact that I’m stressed about today’s class and turn my attention back to the front.

A projection flickers above everyone and a moment later, the headmaster appears. His suit is immaculate, his hair held perfectly in place as a wry smile takes over his face.

“Good morning, students.”

“Good morning, Professor Burton,” every student except me replies as one, sending an eery chill down my spine, just as it did the first time it happened.

“I have some exciting news for our first years,” he starts, instantly creating a buzz through the students around me. “You may notice no third years are present today as they were surprised with a midnight visit to the warden’s outpost in Pinebrook.” The murmuring around us stops as everyone gives Burton their full attention. “The trip was successful, the threat a false alarm, and since no one has been harmed, we thought this would be an exceptional opportunity for our newest students to experience it.”

“Holy shit, this is so freaking awesome,” Leila whispers, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Does this mean I get to avoid— “You will attend your first class then transportation will arrive for you to spend the rest of the day at Pinebrook. Have a fantastic day. Follow the sun, destroy the shadows, and survive another dawn.”

He disappears before my very eyes, swiping away the hope of avoiding today’s power strengthening class. Everyone starts to disperse around us and I, once again, let Leila lead us through the masses toward my impending doom. I didn’t miss the fact that he mentioned the third years aren’t present, though. Which means I don’t have to have my guard up waiting for Sebastian to appear for the rest of the morning.

Genie, however, is still a threat. A shitty one, but she’s on my radar nonetheless, especially since she hasn’t done anything in retaliation for my little stunt the other day.

All too soon, Leila is pulling me through a large door, but instead of the ample open space I expected, there are rows and rows of tables and chairs, just like in the other classes.

“I thought this was power strengthening class,” I murmur, taking the seat beside her as the telltale sound of chairs dragging along the floor rings out behind me. I don’t need to look to confirm two of my housemates will be sitting directly behind me with the other two to the right, just as they have in every other class.

“Oh, we haven’t started the practical side of it yet. I think we have one or two more lessons on this stuff before we head out,” Leila explains, and I exhale heavily as a weight leaves my shoulders.

“Good morning.” A rich, raspy voice swirls in the air as a man dressed head to toe in black approaches the front of the room. He oozes a presence I can’t quite describe, like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders while simultaneously slaying the enemy. He turns to face the room, eyes almost white as he scans over each student. There’s a scar running down his cheek, three to be precise, which only seems to show what this man has been through.

“I can’t decide if I’m in awe of this man’s strength or scared,” I whisper, and Leila hums.

“Definitely not the latter. He’s not scary at all.”

“Are you sure? He looks like he could break me in the palm of his hand with little to no effort,” I insist, and she snickers.

“I keep forgetting you don’t know stuff.” I turn to face her, confused about why that matters. She nods toward the professor. “Professor Gunnar Fitch is my papa.”

My eyes widen, surprise getting the better of me as I gape from her to the man up front a few times.

“Your father looks cool as fuck,” I admit, making her shake her head.

“Most people despise me because of him,” she whispers, avoiding my gaze, and I frown.

“Why?”

“Because they’re intimidated by him. Not in the ‘he looks a little scary’ kind of way, more the ‘I refuse to admit he’s better than me’ kind instead.”

I sigh. “That’s bullshit.”

“That’s life.”

Before I can offer her some kind of philosophical empowering speech, Fitch’s voice booms around us. “It seems we have a new student among us. Can anyone catch her up to speed on the lessons missed so far?” He’s staring at me, intrigue in his eyes, but his mask of indifference slips ever so slightly when he glances to my right and smiles at his daughter.

Wow.

I can’t even explain what I would do for someone to look at me lovingly like that. Unconditionally, without reservation and no expectations.

I half expect Leila to raise her hand but, to my surprise, he points to someone behind me. Excellent.

“There are seven main categories of magic that will help determine the groups you work in while strengthening your powers. Nature-based, divination, conjuring, psychic, medics, shifters, and the one subject not encouraged at Silvercrest, necromancy,” Creed explains, all factual and to the point as I would expect. “Your magical ability will determine where you are categorized. Those of us with more than one gift will be placed in our strongest category while also training our other skills where possible.”

More than one magical ability? I didn’t even realize that was possible. And did he say…those of us? Is he talking about himself?

I can’t stop myself from looking back at him, only to find his eyes already on me, but I don't turn away for the first time in days. I’m too intrigued, hoping he’ll randomly disclose that information right now, but Professor Fitch continues to speak instead.

“Thank you, Creed. Since you’re heading out to the Pinebrook post today, I thought organizing you into your groups would be a good idea. I’ve placed some signs around the room with each magical sub-group written on them. Discuss with your friends and find the one best suited to you.”

Everybody rushes to their feet, excitement swirling in the air as I remain frozen in my seat. My gaze slowly travels around the room, reading each sign like one will magically tell me what to do.

“I’m over in the nature-based category, but I’m just going to speak to my papa first,” Leila murmurs, and I nod numbly as she walks away.

She’s barely taken two steps when I feel a presence at my back. “Where will you be placed, Raven?”

Eldon.

Clearing my throat, I stand, turning to avoid his gaze. Not because I don’t want to speak to him, but out of embarrassment. Dammit.

“That’s none of your business.”

“You still haven’t read the handbook, have you?” Zane murmurs, a hint of humor in his voice, and I shrug.

“Maybe if we go first, she might be more forthcoming,” Creed states, but I don’t lift my gaze from the spot on Eldon’s tie that I’m locked onto.

“I’ll be focusing on nature-based, Brax will be with the shifters, Creed with the psychics, and Zane in divination,” Eldon reels off, offering me an insight without telling me their abilities.

I quickly realize that I could say whichever I want, but lying isn’t my strong suit. It’s also what triggers my poor little mind and makes me anxious.

“And you…” Zane musters, hopeful that I’ll divulge, but I shrug.

Brax scoffs from my right, pulling my attention in his direction, but I still manage to avoid his gaze. “You know I can pull the information from you, right? All I have to do is place my hand on your head, and I’ll have everything I need.”

I gasp in horror, glaring at him for a split second before quickly looking away.

“You wouldn’t,” I spit, my heart galloping in my chest as worry starts to consume me.

“Try me,” he snarks back, stepping toward me, and my spine stiffens.

“Go ahead. You do that. You take away my trust and prove you’re no better than Sebastian.”

Silence hangs over us, seeping into my body and clawing at my veins, ready to cut me open and offer me on a platter to these assholes.

“Whatever. Take care of yourself, then. See if we care.”