Chapter Twenty-Eight

Valentin

R iot spins Maureen again and sends her flying straight into my arms. I catch her and pull her close. She smells like vanilla and burnt honey, sweet and smoky. I grab her hips and move her with me in step to the music.

"Are you scared, Firecracker?" I slide my fingers up her spine.

She smirks. "Fear is just an illusion, right? The only thing I'm afraid of is not ever knowing what this could be."

The beat picks up and the fairy lights start to flash like strobe lights. I grind my hips against hers. "We've got you, pretty girl. No matter what happens with the ravens or the Blackwells, or with Zeke. You belong to us, and no one will hurt you ever again."

She whimpers and her eyelids flutter as she gazes shyly up at me. "I won't let anyone hurt you either."

My stomach flips. Just when I thought I couldn't fall any harder for this exquisite creature, she goes and says some powerful shit that makes me melt. I've been carved out of stone, hard like a diamond, and rough like the rock it sprang from. But this little bolt of electricity softens all my edges with just one look.

I tuck her in tighter and my cock throbs. "You're going to cum so fucking hard tonight," I whisper.

She pulls my hips hard against her as the bass thumps louder. " Yes, Daddy ."

I almost pull her off the dancefloor and drag her into the nearest bathroom when Riot gives me a nod. His eyes are dark and hard. I take a deep breath and feel the raven's power surge through my veins.

Trouble isn't coming.

It's here.

I hand Maureen off to Atlas and follow Riot outside.

We come face to face with our initiates. They wear skull masks and dark hoods. And an unkindness of ravens flock around them.

Fuck.

I pull out my phone to warn Atlas, but it's too late.

The doors creak open behind us, letting out a flood of music from the ball.

"What the fuck is all this?" Atlas barks.

Riot growls like a fucking wolf. " Anarchy ."