Page 36 of Moon Raven Rising
“I—I don’t know how; I just wanted to live.” I laugh; the motion curling my lips feels foreign, and the sound just as much. It causes me to stop abruptly, a frown quickly pulling the corners of my mouth down as I realize how long it has been since I’ve felt the true emotion to bring even an ounce of elation.
“Focus on where you are and that you want to see her fly by. Push your magic out to her like a beacon for her to follow, andBracarvawill come.” He points to my skirt of my dress and the pocket in the side. “Use the power of the channeling stone for more control over the magic.”
Wrapping my fingers tightly around the stone in my pocket, I close my eyes and think of the giant black dragon with glittering scales that are both deepest night and stars alike. I think of billowing flames, claws, and teeth—the power she emanates with just size alone. The deep rumbling growl and the scream before she lets her fire fly.
When the screech pierces my ears, my eyes snap open to see Bracarva flying directly in front of me. A wide jovial smile spreads across my face, and when I think of how I want her to show me her fire, she accepts the command with a show of blazing heat in a wide arch as she back flips then flies throughthe circle of flames she creates. A breathless laugh slips past my lips as my air is taken away at the beauty I am finally able to see in the beast.
When I look to my right, I see Osiris watching her too with a lazy smile on his face.
“She’s beautiful.” I tell him, and then he looks down at me.
“She likes you too.”
Chapter thirty
Being able to witnessDax ascend into his place of power like this is nothing short of amazing. I know my parents would be proud of him for finally accepting and using his rare magic so openly. In the days since those of us in the library took a knee for him, so too has the rest of Ravendene. Messengers from Lesa have also sent responses that they lay their swords at Dax’s feet.
Three territories have now accepted Dax and Raelle as the rulers. The rumor of the Moon Raven rising had already reached most ears in the kingdom. Right now, though, all of that is on hold while I get ready to meet my future in-laws.
With things as tense as they have been since I’ve met Ambriel, something as ‘normal’ as meeting the parents of your girlfriend, or in my case, my god-chosen mate…should feel like a breeze,but I feel like I’m choking. I’ve never done anything like this before.
“Stop fidgeting,” Ambriel laughs and pulls my attention over my shoulder in the mirror. She’s standing behind me, her hand on her popped-out hip.
“I—am not fidgeting.” I rebuke, but continue to straighten my tunic and tuck stray hairs behind my ears. Turning around, I take two long steps and pull her into me, dragging my hand up her back until it cradles the back of her head. “You make me a better man every day that I am in your presence, and we have been through storms, but anything that comes next… it’s just rain.”
She pushes up on her tiptoes and wraps her hands around my neck, pulling my hair from its leather band, laughing as my hair falls into my face and dusts my shoulders. Her fingers rake through the dark brown locks. “This isn’t battle. You don’t need your hair pulled back. Be yourself. They are going to love you, just like I do.” Her cheeks pink, which is something I don’t think I will ever get used to—the softness that she speaks with me at times is a stark contrast to her usual brutality.
“How could they not?” I smirk, winking at her and earning a smack to the chest. A deep bellied laugh erupts from me, and I squeeze her tight as she tries to get away, burying my face into the crook of her neck as I growl, “I love you, too.”
The real reason I’m nervous isn’t because I’m meeting her parents. It’s the conversation I wish to have with them. A knock at the door pulls my attention away from my mate, though, and she flits away as I make my way to pull it open.
“I was hoping you might need a drink,” Alaric asks.
“He does not!” Ambriel yells from the bathing chamber, and I laugh, nodding and taking a flask from my chest pocket in my leathers. Alaric smiles widely with his eyebrows up. Whenthe door yanks open and Ambriel peeks her head out, eyes narrowed, I laugh again.
“What?” I ask, hiding the flask behind my back.
“I can literally read your mind.” Ambriel says without hiding her amusement.
“Well, that’s inconvenient. Can we turn that off somehow?” I ask with a grin. She shakes her head at my question, and Alaric’s bellowing laugh echoes through the room.
“Good luck, brother, and congratulations on the bond…” He rolls his lips, barely suppressing his smile and snatching the flask from behind my back. “I’ll take this so you don’t find yourself under the wrath of an Ambrose woman. Believe me, you don’t want it. I have a feeling I will be getting enough of that for the both of us tonight.” He sighs, and I take a deep breath, give him a tight-lipped smile, and clap my hand down on his shoulder.
“I don’t know, Alaric, if I had the chance to see my family who I believed died walk through the door again, I don’t think I would greet them with anything other than open arms. Usually, we only get one chance at life; you, however, get two. Use it for good.” He claps his hand over mine.
“I’ll drink for you. I’m going to go see if I can find Kait,” He responds, his grin returning.
“Tell her I need to talk to her. I haven’t had a chance to tell her about the bond with everything that’s going on, and I’d like her to hear it from me.” I worry about Kait. Something has been off with her since we were taken by Cano, especially since Melani’s passing. It’s overdue I have a conversation with my best friend. Dax too, actually.
Alaric nods before dipping back into the hall and leaving me once again in front of the mirror alone to stare back at myself. I lift my chin, take a deep breath, and puff out my chest. In this lighting, this clothing, chin raised high, I look like my fathermore. The same high cheeks, defined jaw, and wide shoulders, but my long hair will always set me apart. I run my fingers through the stands and check my weapons one more time.
“You know, I hope you don’t have use for those during a meal with my father,” Ambriel says, running a hand up my spine. I lean into her touch.
“I sure hope not, but I would be a stupid man not to be prepared,” I say, turning around to wrap her in my arms. “You know we have time—”
“Trent Fornax-Ravendene, don’t you dare finish that sentence. It’s been ages since I’ve seen my parents, and they are just downstairs waiting for us.” She slaps my chest playfully as she says it, but the sparkle in her eye tells me that she likes the idea of spending a little more time wrapped around me. “No. I see the look on your face matches your salacious thoughts. Get. Going.” She pushes at me, and I can’t help but chuckle.
Keeping my arm wrapped around her shoulders, I turn us to look in the mirror together and say, “We are going to make the cutest fucking babies.”
