Page 53 of Moon Raven Rising
“There isn’t much time between now and the journey back home. I suggest you forget the notion ofthatgirl, Osiris. Raelle is your future now. She isourfuture. You will come to be grateful for what I have given you.” The king’s footsteps become louder as he approaches the door I stand on the other side of. When I see the lever press down, I grimace, pulling the shadows around me and stepping back into the wall behind me.
“This is not up for discussion. It would be best if you prepared yourself for the journey. The winter moon is fast approaching, son.” The king says without looking back at his son or closing the door between them, he walks back the way I had come and fades into the distance.
Osiris stands statue still watching as his father disappears, his rage mirroring my own. When he turns away from the door, I take my chance and let my shadows crawl through the door and follow them into the room. Watching Osiris closely, he paces in front of the roaring hearth. The flames barely let any shadows live in the room, but there I stand in the ones cast by me in the corner.
“You can show yourself.” Osiris stops, turning his gaze to the corner I stand in. And I wait, wondering who else is going to show their hand tonight. “I can sense you there. Your magic—I can feel it through my bond with Raelle,” he continues bluntly. With her name, I step from the darkness, using my shadow magic to shut the door. I guess it is time I have a diplomatic discussion, king to future king.
“Osiris Drach,” I say through clenched teeth as his eyes roam up my form with speculative interest. He watches the darkness that slithers along my limbs menacingly as I eye him back. For a long moment, only silence stands between us.
“King.” He tucks his chin in a slight bow, taking me by surprise. “Dax Fornax-Ravendene, I presume?” He says as he folds his arms over his chest. “I thought you’d be taller.” The asshole smirks, as though we are old friends.
“I am a man of many talents, Prince Osiris; patience for perversity is not one of them.” I keep my arms at my sides as I step out of the shadows.
“No sense of humor; understood. Easy enough.” He huffs, turning and sitting on the settee in the center of the room. The room appears to be a library. The walls are lined with so many books that it makes the library in Ravendene look like a personal collection. The sight of it makes me angry because I know many of these books don’t belong here. They belong in the palace. The palace that is now just a wasteland.
“Sit.” Osiris gestures to the chair in front of him, but instead, I cross my arms as he did moments ago.
“I’ll stand. We don’t have time for a long decision, so I’m going to keep this short. What are your plans with my wife?” The stare I keep pinned on him could sever heads, but I couldn’t care less right now. I need to know what is going on.
“We are helping each other. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, but your other half is quite formidable. A badass you could say. She has more power than she knows what to do with, and her mind is unlike any other leader this realm has seen.” I note that he says realm and not kingdom.
“What does that have to do with you?” I ask pointedly.
“Nothing, but she needs to learn to channel or harness her magic, let alone understand it, and I can help with all of that. I already have.”
“You have kept her prisoner,” I growl.
“I have done what I’ve had to, but believe me when I say, I have not harmed the moon raven, and I have done things in her protection that I cannot say I have done for many.” He says, keeping his gaze locked with mine. I don’t see any falter in his claim. Raelle herself clearly trusts the prince; otherwise, I know she would not have a bond mark on her skin.
“Fine,” I say as I step closer to him. My shadows grow darker with the threat of my temper. “Raelle seems to believe in whatever plan you have with her, so I will attempt to put up with you. Help me find and free Cano Croix from the dungeons.”
“That was not what I expected to hear.” His brows rise, looking me in the eyes.
“I’m full of surprises. Will you do it?” I say sarcastically, my straight face showing nothing but seriousness.
“Of course I will. I’ve already got your other friends away from the castle; what is one more?” My eyes must show my shock at his statement, and mirth plays on his face. “I guess we are both full of surprises.”
“So it seems.”
A knock at the door pulls our attention, and Osiris breaks away from me as he answers it. The voice on the other side is hushed, but there is no mistaking the name I heard. My mates. I’m crossing the distance before I even know what I’m doing, and Osiris snaps the door shut just as I reach for it.
“You cannot be seen here, Dax. It will complicate everything.” He says harshly.
“He said Raelle’s name. Why? Is everything ok?” I shouldn’t have left her. I should have taken her from this place the moment I laid eyes on her. My breathing is coming stronger with each influx of breath, and my anger boils my blood.
“Dax!” Osiris places his hand on my chest in an attempt to calm me, and I lose it. Shadows explode from me in alldirections. The darkness eats away all the light. The fire that was burning seconds ago snuffed out completely as I forcefully bring the inky dark towards the prince’s direction.
“Fucking hot-tempered shadow fuck!” Osiris grunts from under my hold, and in the distance I hear a screeching wail from a dragon.
“Call the dragon off, or I will rip your fucking head from your shoulders.” I growl through gritted teeth, pressing my forearm into his neck.
“Dax,” he pleads now, pushing me back and causing us to roll. One of the tall back chairs flies backward when we hit it, crashing to the floor and causing the wood to splinter and break. “Fucking.Listen.” He growls again, throwing his weight against me; my head slams the hard ground, and my vision ripples along with my magic.
“Let me go to her!” I beg through my rage and annoyance that this man is the only one who has truly given me a fair match in a fight. If there ever was a time I needed to dominate my opponent, it should have been now, but that would be a kindness fate rarely likes to give.
“She doesn’t need you to get to her. She needs you to calm the fuck down and not ruin this. It was Raelle who called my dragon to her. The man at the door? He was here to tell me a message—It’s time.”Controlled anger sharpens the intensity in his eyes as he stares down at me, pinning my shoulders in place. “Raelle is ready to leave, Dax, are you?”
“Fine. Fill me in on what the plan is.”
