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“We can’t just wade in all of the time. We’ve talked about this,” Zane states, adding more irritation to the already overwhelming sensation that’s creeping up my spine.
“But if we had stayed with her, she would be safe with us right now. Instead, we have no clue where she fucking is and what danger she might be facing,” I snarl, my worry and frustration twisting into anger as the door slams shut right beside me, echoing as the floor practically vibrates with the force.
I whirl around to gape at the woman in question. My heart races in my chest with relief at the sight of her while my eyes take her in from head to toe. She’s wet, her clothes soaked through and droplets of rain clinging to her lashes. On top of that, she looks worn down, exhausted, and completely ready to drop. Despite that, I can’t stop the words from breaking past my lips.
“Where the hell have you been?”
She looks at me like she knew someone would ask that exact question as her backpack drops with a thud on the floor at her feet. She just hadn’t decided which one of us it would be. “Before you start blasting me, can I at least get a drink? Despite how sopping wet I am, I’m thirsty.”
“Use your magic,” Brax grunts, shutting the patio door behind him as he stalks toward us.
Raven shivers. “No thanks, my magic and I are… taking a minute.”
My brows furrow in confusion as I assess her.
“Is that why you also didn’t use it to protect you from the rain?” Zane asks, still sitting on the sofa. At least his leg is no longer bouncing.
“Wait, I could have done that?” Raven gasps, instantly reconsidering the sudden hiatus with her magic.
“You forget your abilities, Raven. You’re the strongest person I know,” Eldon soothes, producing a glass of water out of thin air and bringing it to her. She softly smiles at him and I’m instantly pissy with his brown-nosing.
Asshole.
I wait a few moments for her to down the water before I push on. “You’re going to need to explain, Raven.”
She hangs her head for a beat, exhaling slowly, as if she’s trying to gather the words. “I know, let’s sit.”
Eldon sweeps her up off her feet and moves to the sofa, dropping her into his lap as he gets comfortable beside Zane. The second she’s in his lap, she’s dry to the bone and she instantly nestles into him. Brax sits on the other side of them while I opt for the sofa across from them.
Raven looks down at her hands as she speaks. “My parents took me to Haven Court to have my magic tested.”
“What the fuck?” Brax growls as my chest clenches.
What the fuck, indeed.
“Right? What’s with these people?” Raven says with a sigh, swiping a hand down her face.
“What did they do to you, Dove?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m gonna kill them anyway.” The snarl bursts from my lips without a care as my knuckles turn white in my lap.
“Maybe,” Raven breathes, casting a soft smile in my direction. “But not right now. They didn’t manage to do anything.” I can’t decide if she’s just saying that to appease us or whether she means it, but the longer I stare into her eyes, the more clearly I see the truth in her words. Why do I get the feeling it was damn close, though?
“How?” Zane asks, like he’s as disbelieving as me.
Raven turns her attention his way, eyes fixed on his as she speaks. “Your father.”
“My… how?”
She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she softly shakes her head. “I don’t know, he was just there and he refused to let them do anything. He must have sensed the panic in me or something. He mentioned something about my mama reaching out to yours to be there to interject, but I don’t truly understand anything right now.”
Why is everything always a mindfuck? Nothing is as simple as I wish it could be.
“What did he say?” Brax asks, breaking his silence as he leans forward to look at our girl.
Her eyebrows pinch as she tries to retrace everything that happened. “He asked if you knew about whatever made me worried, Zane, and I said yes.” She winces as if bracing for a negative response, but Zane places his hand on her thigh.
“Good, go on.”
