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This is exactly what it’s been doing since everything went to shit.
Repeating the same motions, I try again, but once more, my father’s voice doesn’t magically fill the room.
Fuck.
Trying one more time, I’m left just as disappointed as I was the first time around when it cuts out, leaving me all alone with my bubbling agitation. I’m not going to get anywhere with it again today, and I need him now more than ever.
I launch the shell across the room, letting it clatter against the wall before bouncing on my bed while I stand, panting with every breath as my frustration turns into fury. I’ve never felt more helpless and useless than I do right now. Raven deserves more from me, and I’m offering her nothing. Nothing of value, at least.
A knock comes from my bedroom door, halting my internal raving, and a second later, Raven’s head peeks around the frame.
“Hey, is everything okay?” she asks, her eyebrows pinching with concern, and I’m left even more irritated. She doesn’t need this from me on top of everything else. Her mental load is already at full capacity, and I’m just making it worse. But it’s too late now. It’s clear I’m struggling. To deny it would only drag out the situation, and I want that even less.
“No. No, it’s not, Raven.” Admitting it lifts a weight from my shoulders. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of my pops. I’m trying and trying but he’s not picking up. I’m getting nothing at all. It’s been like this since the night he left. We need his help.Ineed his help.”
Her shoulders sag, and a soft smile turns the corner of her mouth as she steps farther into the room. “Then it’s simple, Zane. We go to Lyra.”
I immediately shake my head. “I’ve thought of that so many times, but it’s too risky. She’s probably under the power of Erikel.”
Raven waves me off as my brothers step into the room behind her.
“We won’t know unless we go to find out.”
Since when did she talk with such reason in a time of pressure?
Nodding, I take a deep breath, letting my shoulders relax back as her smile grows. She spins for the door, side-stepping Brax, Eldon, and Creed before turning to glance at me.
“You coming?”
“I would follow you anywhere.”
Our footsteps echooff the marble floor as we make our way through the double doors of the main academy building, Lyra’s office now in sight. We saw a few other classmates on our walk over here, but the second we stepped inside, you could tell it’s the weekend because it’s empty as hell.
Shit, even Lyra might not be here, but when Raven is on a mission, she’sona mission, and we’re happy for her to guide us to Hell if necessary.
Raven takes the lead as we get closer, knocking on Lyra’s door without a moment’s pause. I’m certain we’re going to get no response, and the walk back will hopefully calm us all down, but to my surprise, her voice replies from the other side.
“Come in.”
Raven looks over her shoulder at me with her eyebrows raised and her fingers crossed, and the rest of us take her lead as she steps into the room. I kick the door closed behind me, doinga quick sweep of the room with my eyes, but nothing out of the ordinary stands out.
“Lyra.”
“Raven,” the administrator retorts, cocking a brow at my Dove. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I step forward, accidentally shouldering past Eldon to get there quicker. “I've been having trouble with my shell. It’s not working.”
Fuck.
I’m quite certain we were going to downplay this until we were sure she could be trusted, but apparently, my loose lips have other ideas.
Raven glances back at me with worry in her eyes as she clears her throat. “Yeah, we seem to be having some trouble with Zane’s shell. Are replacements an option?” she asks, turning back to Lyra, who is already shaking her head.
“No. They’ve been disconnected,” Lyra explains without lifting her gaze from the parchment in front of her.
“Disconnected?” I blurt again, feeling my brothers glance at me sideways while Raven’s gaze seems fixated elsewhere in the room as if she’s watching something. “How is that even possible?” I add. My worry has been around my father’s safety, along with my mother’s and sister’s, but if it’s the shell that’s having problems, then hopefully, my family is okay.
Lyra frowns, the quill scrawling with magic in front of her pausing briefly as she glances up. “I don’t know.”
