Page 43 of Moon Raven Rising
“I suppose that’s true for all of us.” She says somberly, pressing her lips together in a thin line. “But strength is built through damage. Is it not?”
“Indeed it is,” I say as my gaze catches on the waxing moon. “Before we go, I’d like to try projecting to see her. Make sure she knows I’m coming. Can you stay with me while I do?”
“Of course.” She responds and then guides me to sit at her side on the settee. She keeps her hand firmly in mine, and while it should feel strange having this woman holding my hand, nothing feels wrong about this. It’s as though she is already family; the press of our skin brings me the same kind of strength I would hope I gave Melani or Trent were they needing it from me.
“I’m not sure how this works, but with the connection of our hands, you may be able to see how I do; through the eyes of my raven,” I tell her, and she nods excitedly.
“I’m ready.” We both close our eyes, and I focus on Raelle.
On the love I have for her.
Our bond.
Our future.
My soul seems to float through the vast nothingness between conscious and unconscious thought. I finally settle into the shape of my raven and perch on the edge of the railing. I’m still outside, the castle’s ominous shadow looming over the balcony where I can see into what must be Raelle’s room. She sleeps peacefully in a bed, with what seems to be all the comforts of home. It allows me to breathe a sigh of relief.
I don’t feel Ambriel with me. I’m not sure if I was able to actually bring her with me like I had hoped, but I’m relieved to know I can do it at least.I can project. Inching closer to the arched door, I tilt my head as I hear the door to her room click. The feeling of relief quickly dissipates as I hear the tell-tell sound of a lock sliding and see the door easing open. A guard, Soren, and someone who appears to be a healer, judging by their tan gown covering them. They shuffle into her room on light feet, and the closer they get, the more I feel my magic pressing outward.
A male guard with a grotesque face, scared with old injuries and teeth rotting from lack of care, hovers over her and slaps his big dirty hand over her mouth. My wings flare with the movement. My need to be there for her, to defend her, andto kill the fucker who puts his hands on her now causes my concentration to flicker. Black shadows plume like smoke from my wings, trying to carry me back to my body, but I clamp down on the feeling, and I take a deep breath to stay there. Even if my presence is useless.
Her eyes are wide as she is startled awake, and she opens her eyes in fear to see a stranger looking down at her. He smiles at her in a way that causes my skin to crawl, the feathers of my raven to lift and puff, and a sharp caw comes from my beak.
Soren comes up behind the guard, and Raelle’s eyes flash with her moon magic, only for a second, before he nods and the healer shoves a needle into her arm. I see the terror on her face as she realizes what has just happened.
I push all the magic out, from the moon that shines on my beak to the shadows that form my feathers and the twirling magic that is our bond. I tell her that I’m on my way, and I hope that she can hear it. Feel it. “I’m coming, my love. Hold on.” I let out a loud cry through my shadowed beak before pushing hard at the rail and launching into the sky, my body dissolving into mist. The last thing I see is Raelle’s eyes close and Soren with a wise look of fear painting his face, and I can’t help but hope he saw me as my shadow raven. I hope he heard my cry. Because it was as much a warning for him as it was a notice for Raelle. I am coming for them both, but for Soren, it will be his death I seek.
I’m gasping when I come back into the room with Ambriel at my side. Sweat coats my forehead, and when I look down, I see the shadows binding my hand with hers. Ambriel blinks, then looks into my eyes, unconcerned about the deadly shadows that wind around her wrist and mine.
“Dax, I was pulled… I don’t think you took me with you with your projection.” She says, as tears well in her eyes. “I—I think we need to leave… Right now.” My eyes flick between hers andI don’t waste another moment as I pull her up with me, and we both run from the room in a flash.
We don’t have to wake anyone. The castle is brimming with energy. Every Fae here is able to feel the shift in the air as the tides change on fate. We run into Trent and Cano on the way to the stables. Kait bolts from the treeline, pulling clothes on after her shift. We all come to a stop just outside of the inquisition center.
“We all have our orders.” My voice echoes through the town center. Looking out toward the stables, I see Maki standing with armor on next to my war horse. They will both be in good hands with each other. I nod, and Maki returns the gesture.
Alaric lands at my side within the next moment, and my wings burst from my back. Cano cracks his neck and begins shaking out his limbs, readying for his own shift. We all know the plan and what our roles are. It’s time that we finally come together and bring our queen home to reign.
Chapter thirty-five
Trent’s warm body pressesagainst mine as he flies us over the vast snow capped mountains. If I didn’t think about where we were heading, it would almost be peaceful. High above the clouds and the troubles that lie on the ground.
“Hey, where are you in there?” Trent asks with a smile and nuzzles his nose into the space behind my ear.
“Just thinking…” I say still in my own head. I pull closer to him as my hair tries to pull out of its pleat in the cool air. I'm not sure I will ever get used to flying, though with Trent I feel like it's the safest place I could ever be.
“You want to tell me what it is you’re thinking about that has that sad look on your face?” He asks, and I pull a small smile to my lips; that does nothing to convince him. The false pleasantry doesn’t reach my eyes, and before I even try to make up some excuse, I let it fall as I look between the warm thoughtfulness in his eyes.
“Nothing we can’t overcome.” I tell him truthfully. Fate warned me about what is coming, and I have an unrelenting feeling that the battle I saw that night in the garden will be soon.
Reaching up, I cradle his face in my palm. The rough bite of his overgrown scruff is a new feeling, but I don’t mind this look on him at all. His eyes flick between mine as he tries to reach in and speak to my mind, but I won’t allow it. I’ve closed myself off for this trip. I need the time to think about everything.
Seeing the vision before was heartbreaking… and that was before. Before we were mates and before he stole my heart.
“Right there,” Alaric shouts while pointing to a stretch of land below near the cliff’s edge, and Trent drags his eyes away from me to look in that direction. The castle and cliffside are still shrouded in a cloudy early morning haze. Painting the sky with an ominous black and gray canvas.
My heart races as Trent begins the descent to land. I can’t help but wonder if this will be the day that fate steals away my future and kills the man who holds me so tightly against his thundering, strong heart right now.
The memory of the vision has been clear in my mind ever since, but I know decisions can alter fate. I just hope that my decision to be quiet about this is the right one. That every decision I’ve made since has, in some way, proved to the gods and fate my intentions.
