Page 24 of Moon Raven Rising
All of this time, fate has been at work. Like a craftsman at a forge, an artist with lives. The gods play on our every move.
Lifting the blade from the dais, I test the weight of the weapon. Spinning it in a tight twirl before arching it wide where Alaric stands at my side. He flinches when the blade stops just a hair’s breadth from his throat, and the smile that was tugging spreads wide as I drop the blade down to my side.
“We did it! We found it. I know it in my soul. This is what was hidden for Raelle.”
“Say you are right. What do we do now?” Alaric asks. Pride fills my chest as I think of my uncle. Knowing in my heart that he is the one who forged this blade for the king. Knowing that even now he has helped forge the future of the kingdom. I’ll tell Alaric all about it, but right now isn’t the time. I clap him on the shoulder.
“We get the fuck out of this cliffside.”
As though the cave breathes a sigh of relief, no longer burdened with the responsibility of keeping this blade brimming with magic safe, a warm breeze blows through the catacomb and pushes us in the direction of the exit. I squeeze the hilt in my hand just to ensure I still have it. To remind myself that all of this wasn’t some sort of nightmare just as we reach the mouth of the cave and are greeted with bright rays of daylight.
My feet slow as I hear voices. This isn’t the same cave we came in through, and there is no telling how far we had traveled through the earth. Anyone could be on the other side, but as Trent steps into view, warmth that I have not felt in too long spreads through my body.
“Cano, just stay away from her and don’t make eye contact. I don’t know how many times I’m going to be able to save your ass from Kait’s wrath,” I hear Trent grumble as he catches a darkened fist to the arm laughing.Laughing?He rubs where the punch landed, backing up to reveal Cano standing in front of him. Cano runs a hand that looks dipped in ink down his face before looking over his shoulder at the woman behind him.
“She has every right to want to kill me.” Cano says bleakly.
“She does, but she hasn’t because she, just like us, can sense the change in you. There might be a small heart in that chest after all.” Ambriel teases. My brows drop, and I realize my feet have stopped just beyond where the sunlight touches, and I wait in the shadows. Alaric steps to my side and places a hand on my shoulder. Likely sensing my apprehension.
“A lot has changed since you left.”
“I can see that.” I grind out, watching as Trent shakes his head, wrapping his arms around Ambriel from behind, and kissing along the column of her neck. I sense Alaric tense as he does, and I look over at him. “You adjusting to all the new changes too?”
“So it seems.” He growls, and I can’t help the twitch at the corner of my mouth. “You ready?” The silence stretches between us, but he doesn’t take a step forward, revealing us to the group, and for that I’m thankful. I need a moment to figure out how I am going to approach this. The sword in my grip vibrates, and as I look down at it, it serves as a reminder of what is to come. Of what is the most important thing inthismoment. Ripping Cano to pieces might make me feel better for a moment, but it won’t serve to right the situation right now. It won’t bring Raelle back.
I take a step forward. The sun is immediately more blinding having been underground so long. The sunlight catches the blade and glints a ray toward the group. Their gaze snaps our way. Cano’s eyes go wide as they land on me. Trent and Ambriel’s smiles even wider, but my best friend… Kait launchesherself from the boulder she sits on. Her arms flinging around my neck and her face burying into my neck, causing me to stumble back. Alaric catches us and rights me before we fall.
Her muffled cries are incomprehensible, but it brings a relieved smile to my face to be holding her close. To hear her cries at all or feel the warm tears stain my skin. I push her back so I can look at her. “It’s good to see you too.” I smile.
“I’ve been so fucking worried.” She whispers, then her eyes flick to Alaric. “About both of you.” Alaric’s lips tighten into a brief smile before he reaches out and squeezes Kait’s shoulder.
“I’m glad you’re ok and came around to shifting back into your Fae form,” Alaric says. Something passes between them. She smiles lightly before Trent comes barreling up and wraps me and Kait in his wide arms, squeezing the breath out of us. I wheeze out a laugh.
“For fucks sake,” I laugh, tipping my head back and wheezing for air.
“I hate to say it, but I didn’t think you were coming out of there. I—I was…” He lets us out of his embrace and steps back so I can get a look at his face. Unshed tears swim in my not so little brother’s eyes and something inside of me pinches.
“I know, but I’m here now.”
“You are fucking here now!” He barks a laugh, his tears spilling over, and he wipes them away quickly with the back of his hand. Kait backs away from us, and Trent steps forward, wrapping me in an unrelenting hug. My eyes fall over his shoulder and lock with Canos. When Trent releases me, he keeps an arm slung over my shoulder and pats my chest, then points at the man my eyes are trained on. “We all have a lot to talk about.”
My lip threatens to curl back into a snarl. “We don’t have time. I assume you have a good reason for him being here…I don’t care to argue right now. We need to get Raelle.”
“Dax…” Cano says my name and a growl builds in my chest just hearing my name on his tongue.
“I said we don’t have fucking time.” I growl, my irritation popping within me like coals in a fire.
“I mean, I’m sure—” Trent starts, but I cut him off.
“No!” I snarl the word, ducking from under his arm and stalking up to Cano. Pushing him in the chest, he staggers back but doesn’t fight. Merely looks sternly back at me. The first wise choice he’s made in his whole life. “There is no room for negotiation. You. Have. Done. Enough.” I growl each word through bared teeth.
Turning on my heel, I face the group of Fae. “We need to head back to Ravendene. I have a kingdom to claim.” When I turn again, I slam my shoulder against Cano. Knocking him out of my way as I make my way through the woods, toward the sea and the open air. My wings snap free from my back, and I splay them wide. The fresh breeze feels amazing as it runs through my feathers. One thing is for certain, I will not waste any time arguing or making excuses for any bullshit. I am the King of Aldramani, and my queen needs me. As I told her before, I will bring the realm to its knees for her if I must, and I plan to do just fucking that.
Chapter twenty-two
Soren stares at mefrom across the room. The massive library seems to shrink as soon as he steps foot into the room. I’m not afraid of him, but my hate for him keeps me quiet for now. As much as he thinks he’s learning about my magic, I know that I’m learning more. Having access to the Demetrey library has proven to be as much of a blessing as I think fate can give me in this situation.
He doesn’t say anything; just sits in the settee with his legs crossed as he sips his bourbon. I can’t tell by his facial expression what he’s thinking, so I put my book down in my lap.
