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He steps closer, towering over me, so I have to crane my neck back to see him. It feels like he stares deep into my eyes for an eternity before he sighs. “You can’t be a lone ranger forever, you know?”
My heart clenches at the desperation in his tone. “I’m not trying to be, but I’m a big girl.”
“I couldn’t give a shit if you were deemed the golden warrior of Elevin. You’re still mine to protect.” The memory of what he did to Wyatt back in Shadowmoor flashes through my mind.
He means every word.
“Miss Hendrix,” Professor Barton interrupts, and despite wanting to soothe Creed, I step around him and head for the door. Burton steps out into the hall and I glance back over my shoulder to see every student looking at me, but my gaze is locked on the Bishops and the twisted expressions on their faces.
Is that… hurt? Fuck, I don’t know, but I need to deal with one thing at a time. And since this seems to be such a pressing matter with my parents, I’m going to need to tick that off my list first.
Burton keeps one step ahead of me with no interest in inquiring about what I meant earlier, no desire to discuss what we all saw last night. Nothing. It’s this kind of behavior that has left me unable to trust people and now that issue is slowly driving a wedge between the Bishops and me.
I know I’m going to fuck it up if I don’t stop acting like I can face the world on my own, but after doing it all of my life, it’s a hard shift to make. I just have to hope that they can be patient with me and all of the messed up drama I come with.
My footsteps echo off the marble floor as we approach Lyra’s office and I’m at least thankful that we’re not heading anywhere near the medical center this time. He opens the door, not glancing back at me before he leads me to what I can’t help but feel will be my impending doom.
I thought I was prepared, but seeing both Mama and Abel sitting on a cream sofa to the left of the room, which I don’t recall from the last time I was here, makes my spine stiffen and my heart start to race.
A quick peek around confirms that Lyra herself isn’t here, not that I’m sure she would have done anything to interject, but standing in a room with three people who all seem to hold some kind of power over you is intimidating as fuck.
Professor Burton waves me into the room and my gaze instantly latches onto the open gateway in the corner of the room. I hope that’s what they came through and not…
“Mr. and Mrs. Hendrix, thank you for being patient. Please keep your visit as short as possible. We don’t want to interrupt Raven’s education too much now, do we?” The smile on his face seems fake but I can’t say I know him enough to confirm it.
“Of course, Professor. This won’t take long,” Abel states, rising from his seat to shake hands with Burton before he slips from the room, closing the door behind him.
Fucker.
“Raven, how are you?” Mama asks, and I tilt my head at her.
I don’t know what I’m missing between these two, but I’m guessing it’s not simple. Once upon a time, they clearly loved each other. Was it because of me, my magic, that it all fell apart? My brain wants to feel guilt over that, but really, it’s not like I chose any of this. They both made their decisions. But why, after so many years, is Mama suddenly giving in to Abel’s demands? That’s what I’m struggling with.
“I’m doing as well as can be. Why are you here?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest as I remain in place.
“We’ve got to make a little trip, Raven. You’ll be back in no time. Who knows? You might even ignite your magic by then, too,” Abel says with a smile running from ear to ear, and my pulse quickens.
Wetting my lips, I glance between my parents, noting the apprehension on my mother’s face. “Where is it we’re supposedly going?”
“To Haven Court.”
My eyebrows pinch at my father’s excitement. “I’d rather not,” I grumble, shaking my head, but he waves me off, just as I expect.
“Raven,” Mama starts, rising from her seat with concern knitting her eyebrows together tighter than my own. This obviously has something to do with giving me my magic, which she already knowsI have, so why the hell is this happening? It surely can’t be something crazy on the other side if, deep down, she knows that… can it? Still, I’d rather stay exactly where I am.
“Raven, that’s unfortunately not a choice you get to make,” Abel announces, pointing to the gateway. Refusal is on the tip of my tongue, but it never comes as I’m cast off my feet and begin drifting through the air.
A little shove from the wind swarming around me has me tumbling backward through the gateway, a scream tearing from my lips before I land with a thud on a white porcelain floor.
“What the fuck?” I mumble in shock, staring down the length of myself as I try to piece together what the hell just happened.
Polished shoes appear next to me and I tilt my head back, ready to give my father a piece of my mind, but the first word is paused on my lips when it’s not Abel I find. Cropped brown hair is styled back from the man’s face, inquisitive eyes peering down at me as he, too, tries to place where we’ve met before.
“Are you okay?” he asks, offering me his hand. I take it, letting him pull me up as my backpack stays on the floor. “Have we met before?”
I run my hands over my skirt, completely overwhelmed, and the reminder triggers that I’ve felt overwhelmed and under pressure in his presence before. “I think… are you Zane’s father?”
A warm smile spreads across his face at the mention of Zane’s name and he eagerly nods. “Raven, correct?”
