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Nausea swirls in my stomach, my head pounding as I try to open my eyes, but it’s impossible.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Everywhere aches, my body cemented to the surface beneath me and panic rising in my throat like acid. I have no idea where I am and the brain fog I’m rocking isn’t helping at all.
Taking a weak breath, I try to open my eyes again. It takes a few more attempts but, eventually, I can see the dim room without my eyeballs wanting to burn.
I’m in my bedroom.How did I get here?I’m still in my uniform on top of the covers, the late evening sun casting shadows across the room. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to remember the last thing that easily comes to mind. Sebastian. He came to collect me from class to take me to…
It hits me all at once. Mama, Papa, the random guy, the medical department, the murmurs about abilities and suppression and crazy fucking grandparents that violated my mind as a child, which lead to… running? Hiding? Surviving? I don’t really know what to call what we were doing in Shadowmoor, but my gut clenches with the thought. It was because of me, because of the magic the seer saw in me.
Panic morphs into dread and I feel like I can’t breathe. Pushing up to sit on the bed doesn’t make it any easier, my lungs constricting despite my efforts.
“Raven? Hey, calm down.” I startle at the sound of Zane’s voice, my heart lurching even more when I find him sitting on a chair beside my bed. How did I not even notice he was there? He reaches for the lamp on my nightstand and illuminates the room in a soft glow, highlighting the concern on his face as he moves closer. “Is there anything I can get you?”
I shake my head, unable to find any words. My stress must be evident in my body language because he’s reaching for my hands in the next moment, taking big, deep breaths, encouraging me to copy him. I feel like an idiot, embarrassed at my panic attack, but I mimic his motions regardless. After what feels like an eternity, it starts working, my shoulders relaxing a little and a sigh finally falls from my lips.
“Better?” he asks, tucking my hair behind my ear, and I nod.
“Thank you.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay, Dove. What happened?” He looks deep into my eyes, his hazel pools practically touching my soul as he searches for answers, and I don’t even know how to formulate words.
Rubbing my dry lips together, I glance around the room. “How long have I been here?”
He swipes a hand down his face, irritation tightening his jaw. “I honestly don’t know, Raven. We searched the entire academy after you didn’t come back to class. Over an hour checking every inch of the place. It was only after Brax cornered Sebastian that we considered coming back to the house. That’s when we found you laying here, passed out, and that was at least two hours ago.”
Fuck.
A knock at the door interrupts my response and Eldon’s head peeks through the gap as he inches it open. “She’s awake.” He rushes into the room, Creed right behind him as Brax waits by the door, filling the space with his broad shoulders.
I expect to feel overwhelmed with them all barging in but it doesn’t seem to bother me. Although, that’s likely because I’m already sinking over something else. Over what my parents did to me… whatever that is.
I’m standing before Eldon can reach the bed, running my hands over my crumpled uniform.
“What’s happening?” he asks, blocking my path to the door.
“I need to get back to the academy, back to them.” My mind goes into overdrive and I can hear the mania in my voice, teetering on the edge of panic. They have to still be there. They can’t have left. Not after this.
“Who’s them?” Creed asks, his brows furrowing at my vagueness.
“My parents.”
“Your parents were here?” Zane’s expression matches Creed's as they stare at me in confusion.
Join the party, guys, I’m fucking confused too.
Wiping a hand down my face, I don’t really want to explain any of it, but I have to offer them something. “That’s where Sebastian took me, to them. To…”
“To what, Raven?” Eldon’s tone gets sharper, notatme, butforme, but that doesn’t seem to make a difference to the bubbling turmoil inside.
Locking eyes with Creed, a thought comes to mind. “I need you to reveal the mark on my temple again. Please.”
I move toward him and he instinctively steps back. “I’m not doing that.”
“I need you to, or one of you, please.” I’m very aware I’m starting to sound a little crazy, but he doesn’t understand.
“Tell me why.”
