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I have no idea if waking him is a good idea or not, but I can’t stand to leave him in distress like this. No matter the consequences.
“Eldon?” I whisper, unsure of what I’m actually doing, as I try not to alarm the others. “Eldon?” I stroke my thumb across his cheek and the thrashing stops, but the way his face continues to scrunch up tells me he’s still deep in his dream. His name is on the tip of my tongue, but before I can murmur it, his eyes ping open and his body stills.
He frowns up at me, disoriented, as he tilts his face. “Raven?”
“Hey, you were having a dream of some kind, I think,” I explain, avoiding the word nightmare for some reason, but he knows what I’m referring to.
“Come lay down. I’m sorry for disturbing you,” he breathes, pulling me against his chest and draping his arm around my shoulders.
I nestle into him, relieved he’s okay, as I melt against his body. “Is everything okay?” I ask, tipping my head up to meet his gaze as he swipes a hand down his face with a sigh.
“I’m not so sure it was a dream. I think it was more of a vision.”
“A vision?”
He nods, taking another deep breath before he turns to face me head on. “Yeah. I’m trying to think how to best explain it.” He looks up at the ceiling, his eyes scrunching closed every so often, and I try to give him the space he needs to think. “It’s dark, cave-like, and cold. So fucking cold.” A shiver seems to ripple through him as he speaks, making me tense a little. “There’s a platform in the distance, something shimmering gold, and my gut feels relieved to see it.”
“Can you make out what it is?”
“No.” The disappointment is clear in his tone as he tightens his hold on me in comfort, more for him than for me.
“It’s okay; I’m sure it will come to you. It always does.” My attempt to reassure him earns me a tired smile. “Maybe we should start a mood board for all of your visions so we can tryto solve them and piece them together as a team,” I add, and his smile grows before he presses a kiss to my temple.
“That sounds like the perfect plan, Little Bird. Thank you. But for now, snuggle with me. You need the rest.”
His calmness and ease seems to seep into me. My earlier thoughts are nonexistent as I focus on him instead. Feeling his heartbeat beneath my palm, the world becomes dark once more.
Sleep may have claimedme again, but not for long enough. Out in the crisp morning air, I’m wishing I’d stayed beneath the sheets. The only thing keeping me out here is the joy of watching the Bishops workout.
It’s not something I usually get to see. I’m either hiding in bed or working out with them, whereas this morning, I get to enjoy the view.
So good. So,sogood.
Brax’s muscles flex with every breath as he uses the weights, likely oblivious to my watchful gaze. I didn’t think I could be so attracted to a back, but here we are. Eldon works out beside him, but he’s facing me, his pecs bunching together every few moments, accompanied by a wink everytime he catches me looking. Creed is the closest to me, doing what I’m sure is his two-hundredth sit-up, with only the smallest beads of sweat gathering at his temple. Zane, however, has a thin layer of perspiration clinging to every inch of his skin as he runs short sprints back and forth across the lawn.
I never knew sweat could be so appealing. Watching all of the deliciousness is exhausting on it’s own, I can’t imagine how draining it is to simply exist and be that fucking hot.
With my legs crossed, I run my fingers through the blades of grass, and other than enjoying the view, I can’t stop thinking about my magic. Not the necromancy, but the magic that comes with it. As if sensing my thoughts brimming back to the surface, Creed sits up and shuffles closer to me so his legs frame either side of me.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind my ear as his onyx eyes pierce mine.
“I’m thinking it might be a good idea for me to start working on my mirror magic,” I admit. “I don’t want to end the week with my whole head covered in black hair as I bring people back from the dead again and again, while ignoring the importance of the abilities that also come with it.”
“You don’t want to be defenseless, Raven. I understand that. We’ve got a bit of time now if you want to dive into it before we leave.”
I gape at him, speechless for a moment as I bask in the awe I feel for these men. I mention my thoughts, and not even a second passes before they’re willing to put everything on hold. For me.
It’s not because of my new-found magic either. They were like this before all of that. They were like this when I thought I was a Void. I scoff at the word that tainted my life before coming here.
Void.
It’s weird to look at me now. In such a short space of time, everything has changed.
“Raven?”
I blink, focusing on Creed again as I nod eagerly. “Please, that would be great.”
“Perfect.” He stands, offering me his hand to pull me to my feet, and my toes curl into the grass, keeping me grounded as I nervously glance around.
