Page 88 of Land of Monsters

“Raven?” I heard Ash call me, but I didn’t stop, my brother jogging for me too. He was such a mix of mom and dad. Dark hair, green eyes, and the stature of our father, but he had mom’s fine bones and high cheeks. He was a blend of rugged and refined prince, and he could flip the switch on either in a blink. He was just as comfortable in a tux, shmoozing with elites, as he was in jeans hunting with our uncles. Charming, funny, and slightly arrogant, my brother had been fawned over his whole life by girls and guys alike.

“Roo,” I muttered the pet name I gave him when I was a baby, his arms wrapping around me, his tall build towering over me, lifting me off the ground.

“Ravy.” His voice croaked, pulling me in tight, squeezing me with a heavy exhale. “You’re all right,” he whispered over and over, like he needed to reassure himself. “You’re alive.”

“I’m sorry,” I hiccupped, my guard coming down with my brother, my heart realizing how homesick I was for my family. “I’m so sorry.”

My apology triggered him. Pulling back, he dropped me back down, his gaze rolling over me, his lids narrowing.

“What the actual fuck, Raven?” His head wagged, anger washing out the worry now that he knew I was okay. “We have been losing our minds thinking you were kidnapped or killed! You have mom and dad so sick with worry. She hasn’t slept in a month!” His voice rose. “She is having episodes again, thinking she sees you running for your life! That bull-like monsters are holding you hostage!”

Mom was a powerful seer Druid and occasionally would have dreams of the future, outcomes that could possibly happen. They usually struck when she was stressed or something horrible was about to happen. When she got them, it took her a while to get out of them. Dad was the only one who could bring her back and settle her. Their bond and love were something Ialways wished to have. I thought I did with Wyatt, but now I see I was forcing it to be that when it never was.

“I’m so sorry.” I swallowed. Guilt over what I had been putting everyone through finally hit me.

“Sorry? Are you kidding me? Sorry is not enough.” He threw out his hands. “What the hell happened? We got intel about Reid being killed and you possibly being taken! But Uncle Lars and mom never received any ransom messages. I’ve been out searching for you this whole time!” He peered around, seeing I was perfectly free and didn’t even have the cuff on my arm. “Why didn’t you contact anyone… call me?” He motioned to himself. “Meof all people, Rav.”

“I know. I should have—”

“But you didn’t!”

“Hey.” Ash’s deep voice cut between us, stepping close to me, his head scanning around. “This is not the place for this.”

“Who the hell are you?” Rook’s attention snapped to Ash, a flash of red flickering in Rook’s eyes, his chest puffing at the intruder.

“Rook.” I said his name in warning. Rook’s eyes snapped back to mine, then darted between me and Ash, taking in the way his body touched mine, his nearness, reading me like no one else could. “This is Ash. Ash, this is my brother Rook.”

“Seriously, Rav?” Rook nose wrinkled, his forehead furrowing, his expression reminding me so much of dad when he was furious. His anger and disappointment curled his lip, and I knew what he smelled on me. Sex.

“I can’t believe you…” He wagged his head. “Here we’ve all been worried sick. Uncle Lars and mom have spies scouring the earth. Dad, Uncle Eli, and Aunt Ember are out searching. Wyatt has been jumping every place we could think of around Switzerland to find a shred of where you might have gone, andhere you are—” He motioned to Ash. “In Romania, the most dangerous country to be in right now… getting laid?”

“Hey. Enough.” Ash stepped between us, his shoulders rolling back. Rook’s eyes flashed red, his teeth snapping as he silently stepped into Ash. Ash was still about an inch taller, but my brother could shift into a dweller on a dime, slaughter the entire piazza in minutes.

“You do not get to tell me what is enough. She ismysister. Who the fuck are you?”

“Rook. Stop.” I wiggled between them, pushing them both back. “Ash, can you give us a moment?” My eyes pleaded with him.

“I don’t think—”

“Please. I just need a moment.”

Ash jaw clenched, but he nodded, “I’ll get you something more to eat,” he mumbled, not happy to leave me, but strolled off for the food wagon.

“Rook.” I faced my brother.

“Who the hell is that?” He jerked his arm toward Ash’s retreating figure. “He’s acting all possessive, like he needs to protect you from me?”

“No, he’s just trying to keep me safe, period, which isn’t easy to do.”

“Don’t I know it.” Rook folded his arms.

“I know you are mad at me. You have every right to be, but this is not the place to discuss it.” I glanced around at the people milling about the plaza. Any of them could be a spy, and we were bringing too much attention to ourselves. Even hooded, it wouldn’t be long before someone spotted the prince and princess of the Unified Nations right in front of them. “I have a lot to tell you. You don’t know everything. The reasons I ran off. Why I couldn’t contact you.”

Hurt twitched Rook’s cheek. I knew I was such a soft spot for him, someone he grew up wanting to protect, to shield from the world, afraid the press or people outside our bubble would find out about me. Discover I was fucked up and wrong. A monster. It was why he always stepped up and took the lead on the royal duties, pulling focus to him. He loved it, but he also did it to keep the press from looking too hard at me.

“Rook.” I took his hand in mine, peering up at him. “I am so sorry. And I swear I will tell you everything, but not here, okay? It’s too dangerous.”

He huffed, but dipped his head. “You are such a pain in the ass.”

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