Page 37 of Moon Raven Rising
“You are insufferable.”
“Incredible.” I wink, and she groans, leaving me to trail behind her laughing.
Dax stands on the balcony, looking out over Ravendene with his arms crossed. I know he’s miserable not having Raelle here and not knowing if she’s truly okay. Having only been bonded for a short amount of time, I know I would be a mess if I were in his position.
I come to a stop at his side and mirror his posture. “Brother,”
“If you have come to try to make light of this situation I’m in, Trent, please don’t. None of this is easy.” Dax interrupts before I can finish. My brows drop with momentary disappointment, and I roll my lips, pressing my shoulders back more.
“I know I make jokes a lot, and I run my mouth and stick my opinion in places where maybe it’s not needed… but I came here to tell you Ambriel and Alaric’s parents have arrived and are waiting in the dining hall. I was hoping my brother would be there for me this one time for a big moment in my life.” He turns to face me at those words.
“I should have thought about that. You’re telling them about the mating bond?” He asks, and I shake my head. His brows drop with confusion, and I smile at him.
“I’m going to ask Ambriel to be my wife.” I swallow, holding my breath, as I watch the pain cast shadows over his eyes. It’s hard to say the rest, but I can’t let his pain cloud the happiness Ambriel and I feel having been newly bonded. Even if it was in the midst of chaos and on the brink of war. I pull my sleeve back to reveal the mating bond marks and his lips part before his eyes snap to meet mine. “Ambriel and I are mates, and I’ve never felt the push of fate more than I have with this decision.” I say with a shrug, giving a small smile. Dax’s face morphs at that moment. No longer pain-filled, but pride. Almost how I imagine my father would have took the news.
“Perhaps good things do come to Ravendene men. I’m so happy for you, Trent. You deserve it.” His words bring a chill but also a warmth to spread through me together, and it makes meshiver. He grips my shoulder, bringing me into his chest, and I wrap my arms around him too.
“I’m glad you’re back. We will get Raelle back, too.” I say before we break the embrace and look into each other’s faces.
“Oh, I guarantee it.” He growls, casting his gaze back over the ledge of the balcony. Past the people of Ravendene and the Soule mountains. I know he’s envisioning the castle of Demetrey, and I know he’s right. I’ve never seen my brother have this much calmness about him. It can’t be good for anyone who stands in his path to victory. With everything that’s been happening, his calm is only building the wrath that is to come. It can only mean one thing. The storm is going to be catastrophic.
Wiping my sweaty palms down my thighs, I stand in front of the doors of the dining room. Sounds of laughter and happy greetings are on the other side, but I stand rooted in place with the heavy wood between me and my future. The bond mark on my arm seems to burn with my anticipation, and I push my sleeve back to look at it.
It’s not for lack of excitement, but more so my own feelings of unworthiness. I’ve barely grown into a man and still have yet to find my true place in this world, and I would be naive to believethat finding that place is going to be an easy road. I know just as anyone else that a war is coming. I don’t want this for Ambriel, but I also know that she is a fighter like her mother. I would be doing her an injustice to not believe in her ability to fight alongside us, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about our future. Not just ours though, but the kingdom as a whole.
“You will make for a great husband and mate, Trent.” The voice I hear from behind me instantly brings a flood of emotions to me, and I turn to meet the scarred face that’s been missing in all of this. “You deserve such a blessing from the gods. I’m glad that you and Dax found mates in this life.” Although she’s smiling, I hear the edge to her voice. The stiffness in her shoulders.
“Kait,” I step forward to embrace her, but she steps back.
“I came back, but this will be my last fight in Aldramani. I’m going to search for answers about my lineage. Miles left some journals in his room that had information about where I possibly descended from, and I want to know more. I need to. I’m glad that you will be taken care of, even if I’m not particularly fond of her…” Her smile is soft, almost pained and it hurts me to see her like this, on the edge of breaking. Feeling alone. I wanted to be the one to tell her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to tell you myself. I wanted to tell you.” I say, lifting my hand to reach for her before dropping it again. “You will always have a home here, Kait. You are our family. You know that.” Silence eats at the space between us, and when I can’t take it anymore, I step forward again. This time she allows me to come closer, and I wrap her in my arms.
“You have always been more than a best friend to me. You’ve been like the older sister I never wanted.” I smile as I rest my head on top of hers, and she laughs quietly into my chest. “But the gods knew I needed you. We all needed you.” When she pushes away from me, her blue eyes glisten with moisture,sparkling like the lake on the clearest summer day, but she brushes away the evidence of her sorrow with the back of her hand.
“I love you too, you goof.” She smiles, but I know it’s forced, even as she punches me in the chest lightly. “Let’s pull the splinter and get this show on the road, huh?”
“Yeah,” I laugh. “That’s a horrible analogy, but sure, let’s do it.”
Chapter thirty-one
This is not howI envisioned seeing my parents again. Through the chaos of everything around us, the coming war, I now have to tell them three life-changing things that have happened since I’ve been absent.
My brother is alive.
I’ve bonded with Trent.
And I’ve taken the war maiden pledge and bonded to Raelle.
Two of the three are likely to cause a bit of a… scene… if not all.
I can feel Trent’s nervous energy brimming and spilling into the room even from behind the closed door he stands behind. Giving Trent a moment to collect himself, I look around the dining hall. My eyes instantly fall on the dark hair that is so much like my own.
Her back is to me as she speaks solemnly to Dax at the center of the table. Mymother, and at her side, my father’s large frame mutes out Maki across from him, where he sits at Dax’s side.
I let my gaze sweep the room looking for Alaric, but I don’t see him anywhere. Wringing my hands in front of me, I blink as the door opens and Trent’s aura meets mine, instantly warmingmy body. He crosses the distance between us, not giving any attention to the rest of the Fae who occupy the space and reaches down, gripping one of my hands in his. He laces our fingers together, and with a firm squeeze, he brings a smile to my face.
“He will be here,”he says, his voice a reassuring caress to my mind.
