Page 8 of Foretold

His gaze trails slowly down my body before flickering back to my face, and I realize I’m wearing nothing but a thin night dress that leaves nothing to the imagination.

“You better get ready. Your mate is at the castle gates demanding we hand you over,” he says, his tone husky.

“Shit. Give me a few minutes,” I reply, closing the door. No wonder I can feel Rave so strongly… he’s right outside.

I think I hear him mutter something like ‘lucky fucker,’ but I can’t be sure. Sighing, I quickly get dressed, not bothering to do anything with my hair, letting it fall down my back in tousled waves. I knew Rave would find me, and after I told him about Zython, I shouldn’t be surprised he’d come looking here. But if I’m being honest, I’m not ready to see him yet. I haven’t processed everything that happened.Do I miss him?Yes. My soul hurts without him, but my heart and head are still fucking angry at his lies.

Glancing at myself in the mirror, I grin at the tight tunic and leggings that show off my shape. Let him see what he lost.

Zython, my brothers, Bane, and August, are all waiting for me and quietly talking.

“He’s waiting outside for you,” Zython says as he lifts his head. “Do you want to talk to him? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I reply, glancing toward the entrance. “Who is he with?”

“Soren and Elios,” Kai replies, surprising me by kissing my head.

Of course, he brought all my favorite people with him. I don’t want to cause any problems, so I hope this ends without Rave sending his shadows all over my father’s castle.

Taking a deep breath, I step outside and walk down the stone steps. Rave is standing at the gate, which opens as they enter. His icy-blue eyes give me a slow once-over as if making sure I’m safe and sound. His body is tense, feet apart in a fighting stance. Two swords are crossed at his back. Magic and darkness ripples from him as he tries to contain them, but I can still feel it. His power is so strong it makes the air around him thick and uncomfortable. His eyes flash with anger, which he quickly masks into inscrutability.

I’ve never met anyone more morally gray than the male standing before me.

I know he’s many things, but I never thought he would be a liar.

I don’t know what he has planned, but I’m not returning with him today. My eyes move to Soren, who gives me a long, searching look, a storm brewing in his gray eyes.

Elios looks hurt and a little perplexed, but his hand rests on the hilt of his short sword.

“I’ve come for what’s mine,” Rave announces, his eyes zeroing in on me. He exudes predatory dominance, and it gives me a little pleasure knowing he can have all the magic in the world, yet I’m the one who has power over him. His anger curls off him in shadowed coils, which only infuriates me further.

He has no reason to be mad at me.

Unless he truly does blame me for being unable to save his son.

August steps closer, his fingers brushing mine, and Rave’s eyes narrow as he notices it. “Astrid,” he says, his voice silky smooth with barely restrained violence. The sheer dominant energy he exudes should scare me, but I know he’d never physically hurt me. “Come home with me. Whatever has upset you and made you so fucking angry, we will handle it privately between us.”

Whatever has upset me?

Confusion hits me, and I take a few steps closer to him.

Bane seizes my wrist, holding me back. “This is her home now.”

“Let go of her, Bane, unless you want to die today,” Rave growls, his eyes darkening to pitch black.

The threat that hangs in the air is chilling. Rave can be terrifying when he’s angry.

These two definitely have history, and I want to know what it is.

“You don’t know why I left? Is that what you’re saying?” I ask him, my brow furrowing as I pull my hand free from Bane’s touch.

He grinds his jaw. “You just up and left, Astrid, without a word. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You somehow shielded yourself from Soren’s tracking. Do you know how worried I’ve been? If I couldn’t feel you through the bond, I would have thought you were dead.”

He doesn’t know that I know.

Which must mean his son is alive, and Vera didn’t tell him anything.

Was this some plan of hers?

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