5. Raven

FIVE

RAVEN

Soft sunlight, the warmth of it euphoric, dancing along my eyelids, stirs me awake as I stretch out my aching limbs. I can’t remember when it ever felt this good before and it takes a moment for my eyes to focus as I take in my room.

It lasts for the shortest moment before I remember the current state of my life, the pain determined to follow me around, and my bones run cold. Clutching the sheets to my chest, I roll to my side, lifting my knees as I curl in on myself.

Eternity came and went last night. The ability to fall asleep continued to evade me until the early hours. I wasn’t alone, though. Brax seemed to be struggling just as much as me. The call with Rhys last night helped somewhat, but it only added further questions to my over-wired brain, making it impossible for me to shut it off.

Another day. Another overwhelming pang of the unknown.

How are we supposed to figure out how to get back to Zane, Eldon, and Creed when we have to be present here? More than that, how are we going to explain their absence?

Shaking my head, I force the thoughts to the back of my mind, storing them for later. They’ve run on a loop, keeping me awake most of the night, but I can’t allow them to take my focus from the day too.

I give myself an extra ten seconds curled up in a ball before I force myself to my back, staring up at the ceiling helplessly.

Grunts rumble through the room, dragging me to the present and leaving me confused as I glance around, unable to see the source of the sound.

Despite the desire to fall back asleep or simply lay here feeling sorry for myself, I follow the sound, crawling to the foot of the bed where I find Brax. I catch him dropping down into a push-up, the grunt slipping from his lips as he repeats the process again and again.

Hot.

Toohot.

What I would do to hear those sounds with him dipping low to thrust his cock inside me instead. The thought makes my cheeks heat and my thighs clench. A tiny squeak tickles my throat and I find wide eyes staring up at me in the next breath.

Startled, Brax drops to his knees, reaching for the bottle of water beside him. His gaze remains locked on mine as he downs most of the bottle in one gulp. The darkness in his pretty eyes is like a shot to the heart, reminding me of life as we currently know it.

The bed sheets instantly feel cold against my skin. The bed empty. My heart aches.

“Sorry,” he grunts. “I didn’t mean to wake you, but I needed to work out and leaving you in here alone wasn’t an option.”

I shift, adjusting to sit cross-legged on the bed as I frown at him. “Why?”

He shrugs, glancing away from me, and I understand instantly.

Folding my arms around myself, I wet my dry lips as I try to find the calmest words. “Just because the guys aren’t here doesn’t mean you have to change your routine. Certainly not for me. You can’t be by my side all of the time. I know that.”

“Yes, I can.” He shakes his head as he scoffs at me, making me sigh.

“You really don⁠—”

“I want to,” he interjects, cutting off my words and rendering me speechless.

Fuck.

He pushes up off the floor, hovering above me with the storm still swirling in his eyes as he grabs my chin, tilting my head back even farther. His lips crush against mine in the next breath, claiming me with the most blissfully perfect bruising kiss that ever existed.

It doesn’t last long enough. It never would have. All too soon, he’s releasing me and taking a step back.

“Get dressed, Shadow. I’m going to shower. Then we can figure out some food before seeing what shit show this day has in store for us.”

I nod, offering him a soft smile as he moves toward the bathroom. I instantly hate the distance between us. Watching every inch of him, I notice the cords in his neck are tight, his muscles bunched together more than usual.

“Brax, are you okay?” I call out. I don’t know what feels different, and I know we’re dealing with a lot of crap right now, but I feel like I’m missing something. He turns to look at me, his eyebrow raised in question, and I roll my eyes at him. “Apart from the obvious, of course.”

Fucker.

He sighs, hanging his head for a brief second as his eyelids fall closed. I wait. I don’t want to push him for answers that I don’t even know the question to. Thankfully, he takes a deep breath and tilts his head to look at me.

“My dreams took me to the Realm of Shadows again last night.”

Fuck. I hadn’t considered that it may have even been an option.

“They did?” I croak, wishing like hell I could do that too.

He nods, but he doesn’t seem happy. “I saw the house, my parents, the guys… all in the distance. I woke before I could get close enough.”

My academy-issuedblazer sits perfectly on my shoulders, my skirt falling mid-thigh as I look every inch the excellent student while begrudging every step I take toward the main building. Zane’s shell is tucked in my backpack, on hand should anything come up, and my fingers are linked with Brax’s. His grip is deathly tight, but it fills me with the strength I didn’t know I needed.

As we take the pathway, more and more students join us, and one thing is for certain: there’s a new level of uncertainty looming over everyone. It’s solemn. Everyone’s movements are sluggish and paced, no one wanting to approach today just like any other.

Maybe it’s the anticipation of The Monarchy coming and Erikel’s preparation for it, but we know it won’t happen. Not now that Rhys is up to date. Nobody else knows that though, and I don’t plan on telling them. Not that we did the last time, either. Which reminds me to keep the golden warrior as far away from us as possible.

I still don’t see Leila as the double doors leading inside come into view and it stirs my gut. I hope everything was okay with her father last night.

The worry is paused when I see Professor Figgins hovering by the entrance. I stand taller, my pace quickening, and Brax keeps at my side, despite having no clue what I’m doing. The fact only makes my heart grow warmer for him. He’d follow me into the pits of Hell, just as I would him.

I’ve tried a few times since I got back from Ashdale to reach out to Ari, but it’s not working. I need to know why or come up with a plan to head out there to see him.

Her eyes lock on mine, her shoulders sagging with relief as she subtly nods us closer.

Before I reach her, my path is blocked by four men. The alternative uniform to my own immediately identifies them as Erikel’s students from the Shadowgrim Institute. If that didn’t, the sneers on their faces would solidify it.

I have no energy to deal with their bullshit on top of everything else today.

“It’s the little soul dancer,” one of them says, taking a step forward. It’s Ruben, I think. He seems to think he’s a leader among the rest of us, but he’s most definitely wrong. With my current head space being filled with fight or flight, I would love nothing more than to bring this asshole to his knees and put him in his place.

Brax’s hold on my hand tightens somehow, spiking my own annoyance even more. When I don’t instantly respond to Ruben, he takes a step forward, running his eyes over me from head to toe and back again. Brax inches forward, too, blocking me slightly from the fucker’s view, but I’m intrigued with what else he’s going to say. Right now, he’s fueling the rage burning so easily inside of me, and I want as many reasons as possible to beat his ass.

“Where are the rest of your fuckboys?” he asks, eyes drilling into mine as he tilts his head.

I should have known that question was coming. I don’t want to answer him, but I know that will only make the situation worse.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I grumble, dramatically rolling my eyes at him.

“Don’t play dumb,” he sneers as one of the others mutters the word bitch under his breath. Nice. Real nice. “Where are they?” he repeats, rolling his shoulders back as his gaze briefly shifts to Brax for a moment before settling back on me.

Biting back another sigh, I stiffen with irritation. “I. Don’t. Know. Why don’t you tell me? We all left for the caves together, and they haven’t made it back. I want to know where they are more than anyone else.” My voice is louder than necessary, but I can’t control the emotion consuming me.

Ruben’s eyes narrow, assessing me when one of his friends pats him on the shoulder, snickering before he even speaks. “Be real, Ruben. They probably got sick of sharing her loose cunt and didn’t⁠—”

Brax slams his fist into the fucker’s face, cutting off whatever else he was about to say. Ruben is quick to jump to his friend’s defense, but his punch is greeted by Brax’s gargoyle form and the asshole howls in pain, dropping to the ground.

I’m rooted to the spot, aware of the crowd watching as Brax knocks down the final two Shadowgrim students until they’re all flat out on their backs. He leaves them groaning in agony while he stands tall over them, flexing his hands as they go from stone to flesh and bone.

“That’s enough,” Figgins hollers, moving closer, but her steps are tentative, with very little authority in her tone as she steps in too late to deescalate the situation.

“Go back to your fucking perch,” Brax growls, waving his hand toward where she was standing a few minutes ago. “You should have interjected when they first came at Raven. You didn’t. So I had to take matters into my own hands.”

She cocks a brow at him before turning her attention to me.

Shit.

Cutting the distance between Brax and me, I gently place my hand on his arm before stepping in closer. “She’s on our side, Brax,” I breathe, keeping my voice low as he frowns at me.

She was simply saying what is expected of her as a professor on academy grounds. She didn’t seem all that fussed about Brax beating the fuck out of them. He does have a point though, she didn’t interrupt the scene they created.

Brax drags a hand down his face, still watching the assholes on the ground in case they try to retaliate with their own magic, but they seem content to roll around, spitting insults as everyone else watches in amusement.

We haven’t stepped foot inside the academy yet and I’m ready for the day to be over. We really don’t have the time to deal with this. It’s exactly what has me stressed. I would rather be holed up at the house, on the shell with Rhys as we hash out a solid plan.

“Raven Hendrix.” I still at the sound of my name, turning to find Professor Fitch standing in the entryway. His hands are braced behind his back, his gaze narrowed as he looks down his nose at all of us. It’s strange to think I trusted this man more than most when I first arrived, but now… I hold him with more suspicion than anyone else. “Your parents are here for a visit,” he states, sending a shiver down my spine.

That can’t be possible. Rhys mentioned the issues they’re having with my father. That wouldn’t have changed overnight, surely. I can’t say that, though. I can’t confirm that I’m in contact with Rhys.

Instead, I peer at Brax, trying to silently convey my uncertainty, and I see the same understanding in his eyes without having to utter a single word. It doesn’t seem like Fitch sees it, though, as he gives his order.

“Follow me.”