Page 24 of The Collector
"Let's hope not. Elanah's a free agent—under contract by choice."
"I thought you two were done."
"We are. I told her last week to start focusing on her future. She just seems determined to keep fighting for something she's never going to get."
Stoker snorted. "Maybe you should stop being so damn desirable, Raven."
Raven didn't smile. "I'm not sure how I could've been blunter than 'Thanks for the good time. I hope you find true happiness at Blood Lust—with one of the members.'"
As the two entered the dining room, they split apart, each heading to their seats. Conversation temporarily halted as they did. Few people overlooked his presence—his broad, muscular build and imposing height made him a striking man, impossibleto ignore. For a moment, all eyes were on him— before the usual morning chatter resumed. Everyone casually returned to their plates, piling food onto them, his arrival now nothing more than a familiar rhythm in their daily routine.
Raven made his way to his seat at the head of the table; his eyes landed on Elanah, who had chosen the spot beside Mynx. He inwardly groaned at the sight. Their encounter a few weeks ago had been —brief, but afterward, Elanah made it clear she wanted more from him than he was willing to give. Raven had a strict approach to relationships. When women failed to understand the boundaries he set, he cut ties immediately. The emotional complexities they brought to his life were more than he cared to handle.
He'd decided long ago love wasn't for him. It was a sentiment he had no interest in exploring. The lifestyle he led wasn't a place a woman could endure long—the violence, the wars, the bloodshed inevitably broke them. He'd watched his mother endure it as a child; it was something he would never be able to force on a woman.
His Butterfly sat seemingly unfazed by the unfamiliar environment. Mynx observed the other women intently, as though studying them with a mix of incredulous wonder and curiosity. It was clear by the look on her face that she was wondering how they managed to lead seemingly everyday, happy lives in their current circumstances.
Raven paused at Mynx's chair.
"I see Shelby found you this morning," he said.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Mynx shot back.
"And as eloquent as ever," he replied.
She stuck her tongue out at him, and Elanah turned toward the exchange, her smile fading to something unreadable.
Mynx turned back to her meal, picking at it like a bird. Raven felt the urge to take her right there in front of everyone—burnaway that streak of spite with something primal. Consequences be damned.
Elanah's glare caught his eye.
Not now.
Her radiant smile returned as his focus landed back on her. He met it with a curt nod, impassive. If she registered the dismissal, she didn't show it. He could only hope she'd take the hint and move on. But hope wasn't enough. He needed a strategy. Redirection. Introducing her to eligible members this weekend would be crucial. If all went according to plan, it would shift her focus, ease the tension, and finally give him the breathing room he needed.
There was no denying her beauty. Her mahogany skin glowed under the low light; elegance etched into every feature. Dark lashes cast soft shadows as she lowered her gaze, fork tracing idle patterns across her plate. The pout tugging at her lips was a subtle rebellion wrapped in allure, designed to draw attention without a word.
She'd be trouble for Mynx.
Raven picked up his fork and tapped it against his water glass. The crisp clink sliced through the table's low murmur. Conversation stilled. Eyes turned to him. He had their attention—exactly as intended.
He rose with deliberate authority, his voice slicing through the morning chatter. "Everyone, all eyes on me for a moment." He paused. "For those of you who haven't noticed, we have a new addition to Blood Lust this week. I'd like you all to meet Mynx." Raven motioned in her direction.
Mynx stiffened, her glare sharp as she met his gaze. A subdued chorus of hellos followed. Their expressions ranged from subtle smirks to feigned indifference, but the undercurrent of judgment was unmistakable. It wasn't outright hostility—it was the quiet, calculated scrutiny of a group accustomed to findingcracks in even the most polished facade. They were all looking to find Mynx's now.
"I expect you all to help her settle in," he said, voice firm. "Show her the ropes. Guide her the way you were when you first arrived."
His tone didn't invite discussion—it carved the expectation into stone. "That's an order, not a request, so I expect you all to obey it."
He took a final sweeping glance around the room to ensure his words landed.
"That's all. Carry on." He sat, the command lingering in the air as Mynx braced herself for what came next.
With that, he settled back into his chair, letting the room's lively rhythm resume. Elanah's gaze flicked to Mynx and then back to him, a sly smirk curling her lips. Her coffee cup, as if by accident—or perhaps not—slipped from her fingers, sending steaming liquid splashing onto Mynx's lap before the cup clattered to the floor. Mynx jumped from her seat as the hot liquid soaked through her dress and came into contact with her skin.
"Oh—I'm so sorry," Elanah said quickly, dabbing at the spilled coffee with her napkin. "Here, let me help you with that."
Raven froze, uncertain whether to intervene. The air shifted. It was sharp, electric. Mynx wasn't playing along with Elanah's feigned sweetness. She was furious.
