14. Raven

RAVEN

The knocking at the door becomes incessant as I remain frozen in place, panting with every shallow breath I take. Brax stares at me, but there’s no surprise in his eyes and Creed, Eldon, and Zane all watch me just as intently as the silence continues to extend around us.

Clearing my throat, I slowly reach for Brax’s hand and guide his pointed nail away from his flesh. His skin feels like stone against mine but I keep my mouth shut about it as I push to my feet. I can’t fucking breathe and the knocking is escalating the stress even further.

“I should answer that,” I mumble, heading for the door.

“No, you shouldn’t,” Eldon argues, and I turn to face him.

“What time is it?” His brows furrow at my question, but he still checks for me.

“Seven o’clock.”

Nodding, I swipe a hand down my blazer. “It’s Leila. We’re going to the party. She’s not going to stop knocking until I answer.” I turn for the door but don’t take a step as Brax’s voice washes over me.

“Do you seriously think you’re still going to the party after dropping a bomb like that on us?”

Rolling my shoulders back, I take a deep breath as my spine stiffens at the tone of his voice. I look back over my shoulder at him. “You are aware that I’m my own person, right? I can make my own decisions.” The scowl on his face makes it clear that he really couldn’t give a shit.

“Not when it comes to your safety, it seems.”

Shaking my head, I stride toward the door. I manage to grab the handle and open it an inch before it’s slammed shut again. The woodsy scent that envelops me confirms who it is. His front is pressed to my back and his arm is stretched out over my shoulder with his hand plastered against the door.

Fuck.

My brain is already messy. I don’t need to feel his body heat as well right now. I can’t think straight.

Eldon.

“We haven’t finished talking yet, Little Bird,” he breathes against my ear, and I have to force back a shiver.

Blowing a heavy breath past my lips, I keep my gaze fixed ahead as I answer him. “Today has been a fucking mess.”

“That’s putting it lightly,” Brax interrupts.

“Finally,” I holler, tilting my head around Eldon’s frame to lock eyes with him. “Something we can agree on.” Zane snickers, making me relax a little despite Eldon’s close proximity. “But seriously, I need to unwind before I self-combust. So I’m going to this party.”

“Are you forgetting the part where you just announced you’re a Void? You can’t go to a party where everyone else has magical abilities.” I turn to face Eldon and lift my palm to his chest. His eyes heat before me, but darken the second I knock him back a step.

“I didn’t just turn Void this second, Eldon. I’ve been Void since forever and I have been surrounded by magic every day. I can handle myself. Now, give me some space.” I turn with a huff, grabbing the door handle again. This time, I manage to open the door wide enough to see Leila. Her eyebrows are pinched in confusion and I try to offer her a reassuring smile before the door slams shut again.

I’m about to beat a man so hard.

Frustration simmers in my veins as I spin to stare Eldon down but, to my surprise, Zane is hovering closest to the door now. Sighing, I drop my face into my hands as I try to rally what little composure I have left.

“Here’s the deal. I’m going to the party. I don’t care where you guys are or what the fuck you’re doing, but I am going to let my hair down for the night in hopes of letting the stress of today fizzle out.” Zane opens his mouth to interrupt me but I lift my hand to halt him before a breath even escapes his lips. “Then tomorrow, if you so desire, we will discuss this further.” My heart races, ready for the pushback I know will come.

“Discussing it now would be better,” Creed explains, a surprisingly soft smile on his face when I turn to him.

“That would be better for you, and, selfishly, I’m making this about me, but I don’t care.” Taking another deep breath, I look each of them in the eye before giving my peace offering. “Tomorrow, I’m all yours. I’ll do whatever you want, even read the damn handbook, but tonight? This is for me. The alternative is I go anyway, but I’ve had enough of my life dictated for me by others. I’m already at my limit. Sebastian’s bullshit has left no room for anyone else taking my options away.”

Eldon steps forward, raising his hand out toward me. “Deal.” I don’t miss a beat as I lace my fingers with his and shake on it. A smirk spreads across his face as he leans in so close I can feel his breath on my lips. “You should have been more specific when you said whatever I want, Little Bird.” His eyes drop to my mouth, tongue peeking out to swipe over his bottom lip as my thighs clench together.

Leila’s knocking on the door is as ferocious as the beating of my heart now, and when Eldon’s hand loosens on mine, I stumble back a step. Blindly searching for the door handle behind me, my cheeks heat under their intense stares before I whirl around to look at Leila.

“Hey.”

“Are the Bishops living up to their asshole-ish nature?” she asks with a smirk, and I grin, tucking a pink curl behind my ear.

“Something like that.”

“Why aren’t you dressed yet?”

I look down at my dirty uniform and cringe. I was supposed to go to the shops on campus after classes today to get something, but Sebastian’s little adventure meant that didn’t happen.

“Today has been eventful and I don’t have anything to wear,” I admit, the pang of irritation coiling through my veins getting tighter.

“You can borrow something of mine,” Leila says with a smile, waving her hand in front of me, and I choke on a gasp as the air shifts around me. The feel of butterfly wings kissing my skin from head to toe sweeps over me, watching in shock as my uniform disappears. A light breeze now touches my exposed legs and arms as a shimmering silver mini dress covers my torso. Matching heels adorn my feet, and my hair blows around my face and shoulders in soft pink waves.

Holy shit.

“There we go. I made sure to put your uniform on the chair behind you. Since I haven’t seen your bedroom, I couldn’t put it away for you.”

“Thank you,” I muster, trying to hide the surprise from my voice as I run my fingers over the sequined dress.

“No problem. We might be the same size, but you’re definitely taller than me,” she says with a grin, indicating the hem of the dress stopping higher up my thighs than the blue dress she’s wearing.

“You can’t wear that.” I turn around with a pointed look to question Eldon, but Leila beats me to it.

“Says who?”

“My dick,” he retorts instantly, and all the guys chuckle at him.

These fucking Bishops have me so screwed.

“Are you ready for a good time?” Leila asks, and I turn back to her and grin.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

* * *

I don’t know what I expected when Finn mentioned that the party was at the Silvercrest Memorial, but it wasn’t this. Mausoleums frame a large open space with a drink table set up, bartender and all, along the far right, a dance space cleared in the center, and seating scattered toward the left. Music swirls in the air and other students already fill the dance floor.

It doesn’t give any creepy vibes like I thought there might be, but I’ve seen worse in Shadowmoor. Far worse. For starters, there are no pits set up for fighting like there would be back home. Everyone is dressed to impress, dancing and drinking to their heart’s content.

Tonight is going to be more fun than I thought. Especially when the grass doesn’t give way under my heels. That’s the kind of magic I need in my life.

“What do you want to drink?” Leila asks as we slow to a stop by the bar. “I’m having two shots of moon root and a bottle of pearl shine. They’re my favorites.” She claps excitedly as the line dwindles, but uncertainty makes me cautious.

“I don’t usually drink at parties. I need to remain alert,” I admit, making her eyebrows gather in confusion.

“What do you need to stay alert for here? Everyone is having a good time. You should join in too.” I nibble at my lip. I didn’t mention my little trip, courtesy of Sebastian. Not that it’s a secret, but I would really like to not have to deal with that stress right now.

When it’s our turn to order, Leila takes over, ordering double and taking a tray with our drinks. Instead of going to one of the tables across the space, she finds a high-top table at the end of the line.

Joining her, I don’t immediately take the drinks she’s chosen, still unsure what to do when my eyes lock with Creed’s. He’s with Eldon, Zane, and Brax, the four of them making their way to the bar. They’re all dressed in jeans and polo shirts. Creed’s is black with a floral detailed collar and Eldon’s is white with a pocket on his chest while Brax’s is navy blue and fits like a second skin over his muscles. Zane’s, however, is an array of colors swirling across the material and I’ve never seen anything more fitting for the craziness that is him.

“Yeah, you definitely have them under some kind of spell, Raven,” Leila says with a chuckle, pulling my attention away from them for a moment.

“Why?”

“Because they never ever come to parties at the memorial. Which means they’re only here for one reason, and that’s you.”

I gulp, desperate to correct her on her assessment, but I can’t deny how much I like that idea. I glance at them once more and my eyes find Creed’s at the same time Leila thrusts a shot glass into my hand.

He nods subtly and I glance down at my drink. It’s like he can sense my uncertainty and that’s his little signal to indicate that it’s okay…he’s got me.

Fuck, that’s a rush all on its own.

“Let’s go in three, two, one,” Leila shouts, and I bring the rim of the glass to my lips, letting the moon root burst along my tongue before swallowing it down. There’s a sharp zing of an aftertaste, like lemon and lime battling it out in my throat, but it’s nice.

“Holy crap, Leila,” I gasp, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, and she grins.

“One more,” she encourages, offering me another glass. I take it more willingly this time.

Lifting my gaze to search out Creed again, I still when I lock gazes with my brother instead. The shock on Sebastian’s face is evident as his top lip rises with a snarl. Smiling sweetly at him, I clink my glass with Leila and down the shot, needing a bit of liquid courage to deal with that motherfucker.

When I feel the sharp zing again, I turn to Leila, effectively dismissing Sebastian. “What does the pearl shine taste like?”

“Like Heaven,” she insists, taking a sip of hers before handing me my bottle.

It’s fruity, all coconut, pineapple, and something else I can’t quite grasp, but she’s right. It’s so good.

“I hope you’re ready to carry me home later,” I say with a grin, my muscles relaxing as I let the music swirl through my being, mixing with the liquor and making my hips sway.

“No way, that’s what the Bishops are here for.” I shake my head at her, refusing to acknowledge the hope clenching my chest.

They’re assholes, huge dicks, but they fucking found me in the wastelands. Found. Me. When no one else was even looking. That says more about them than it does about how isolated and lonely I actually am.

“Want to dance?” Leila thankfully interrupts the mental hole I was falling into and I nod eagerly.

“Lead the way.”

I down the rest of my pearl shine before she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the dance floor. The music picks up as we squeeze our way to the center of the crowd.

“Thanks for this, Raven. I usually come to parties and just hide on the outskirts. It feels good to have some fun,” Leila says as she leans in to be heard over the music.

I want to ask why she feels disliked so much but now isn’t the time to be bringing her down with all of that. Tonight is about having some fun. One song leads into another and another. My hips swing more, my hands rise above my head, and I dance like no one is watching. I feel eyes on me the entire time, but somehow it only makes my body thrum for more.

Time passes in myriad colors as the moon glows down on us while the sky is lit with different colored spotlights. When my feet start to ache, I consider trying to grab a table. That’s when a hard body presses into my back. Their scent isn’t instantly recognizable, but I see why when I glance over my shoulder.

Finn.

“You look stunning, Raven,” he purrs in my ear, and instead of goosebumps spreading over my skin with excitement, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

“Thanks,” I murmur, turning away from him. I’m hoping that will be enough to dismiss him, but his hands find my waist in the next breath as his body starts to move with mine.

I slow, not wanting his paws all over me, and take a deep breath. “I’d rather dance alone,” I shout over the music as I look back at him, but his smile widens and the press of his dick nestles between my ass cheeks.

“Nobody ever wants to dance alone. Besides, I’ll give you a good time,” he insists, annoying the hell out of me as I come to a complete stop. Leila shuffles around to meet my eyes, her eyebrows pinching together as she sees the tension radiating from me at Finn’s touch.

Spinning around, I come face to face with Finn, who smoothes the palms of his hands over the globes of my ass before I get a chance to whack his arms away. Shoving at his chest, he stumbles back a step, thankfully not taking me with him.

“I said no,” I shout over the music, and he shakes his head.

“No, you didn’t,” he retorts, running his hands down his shirt as he glares at me.

He’s technically correct. I didn’t say no specifically, but what I did say meant the same thing. Any chance of explaining that to him is gone when Eldon stalks toward us with murderous purpose in his stride. He’s not looking at me, though, he’s focused on Finn and I know he’s about to cause a scene.

Before I can think better of it, I eliminate the distance between Eldon and me before he can reach the asshole with a death wish.

“Hey,” I gush, throwing my arms around his neck, and he comes to a complete stop, frozen at my touch. “Dance with me?” I flutter my eyelashes at him, praying that the rage burning in his eyes will dissipate.

He glances slowly from Finn to me and back again. “Fuck off before I add you to one of the mausoleums for laying hands on my girl.”

I don’t turn to see Finn’s reaction but the way Eldon relaxes against me tells me his words did the trick.

“I need to sit down,” Leila murmurs in my ear, and I move to take a step back from Eldon but he holds me tight against him. It’s the complete opposite feeling of what I felt moments ago with Finn. My body is alive in his hands.

“Zane will take you to our table, Leila,” Eldon explains, and she murmurs her thanks before disappearing with Zane.

“What if I want to sit down too?” I ask when it’s just the two of us, despite the sea of people around us.

“You promised me a dance, Little Bird.”

His fingers spread out at the base of my spine, holding me closer as our bodies move together. When I try to lower my hands, he quickly secures them around his neck again. Dancing no longer eases the tension I felt earlier. Now it bubbles beneath the surface, warped, different, infused with desire and need.

“I think it’s time to take you home,” Eldon murmurs after a while, my breath hitching at his lips against my ear.

Fuck.

“I have so much tension in my body. I need to get rid of it,” I blurt, my body wrung tight, and he chuckles.

“I can sense it. Let me take you home.” His voice gets huskier with every word, the meaning behind them making my thighs rub together, but I want to play with him first.

“I can’t remember if I packed my favorite toy or not. Does a shop on site around here sell them?” The pearl shine and moon root is coursing through me, but it’s too much fun to stop.

“You don’t need a toy,” Eldon states, leaning back to meet my eyes, and I grin.

“I do. It’s not the same with only these.” I waggle my fingers at him and he grabs my hand, slowly pressing his lips to each of my fingertips as he keeps his eyes fixed on mine. My heartbeat detonates, going off the charts as I scramble to breathe.

“Let me take care of you, Raven.” He glances down at his watch before a sultry grin takes over his face. “Besides, it’s after midnight, and you said I could have anything I wanted today, and what I want is to fucking taste you.”