Page 73 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

I was never meant to come back.

Death found me, and he’s not going to let me go. I slowly back away from the crowd, managing to avoid drawing attention from the guys. They’re all too focused on Raven to notice me slinking away. I should say goodbye, but she’d fight for me. If she died because of me, I don’t think I could bear it. Not to mention what Draco would do to me if he ever got his hands on me afterward.

So I retreat to the secret room alone, building walls around the bond to try and keep her from doing anything rash.

I’m not worthy of such fierce protection, and she’s been through enough.

Chapter 25

RAVEN

I finish my speech, wrinkling my nose at the pack’s applause, and turn to the men. Carter swoops in for a quick kiss, and holds me against his side. Adler, Everett, and Draco all pout a little, and Brayden… isn’t here.

“Where’s Brayden?”

Draco scowls and searches the foyer. “He was right here. I swear if he left in the middle of your first formal address, I’ll kill him.”

“Settle down, tiger. I’m sure he went to the bathroom or something.” I’m not offended in the slightest. Listening to another person drone on when you already know what they’re going to say would be boring.

I’m about to ask what they want to do next when it hits me. A solid sucker punch of Death’s power to my gut. Hinging forward, I grunt and try to breathe through my nose as the bond fires up with pain.

“What the hell?” Adler asks through gritted teeth.

“Death,” I rasp.

Oh no.

Brayden.

Focusing on him, I search for where he is. I stumble away from Carter’s hold and start to hurry toward the dungeon where I can sense Brayden’s energy. The men aren’t far behind me, and after a few seconds I can breathe through the power pulsing through the bond, and I stand a little straighter.

“Raven, babe. Talk to us. What’s happening?” Everett’s voice is full of concern.

“I don’t know,” I mutter over my shoulder. “Death is here.”

“Fuck,” Draco says under his breath.

I nod and turn so I can race down the stairs without breaking my neck. Bypassing the musty cells, I sprint through the secret door which was left open, and skid to a stop when I get to the hidden room.

Aw, shit. This isn’t good.

Joan’s words don’t seem adequate because the scene playing out in front of me is more than not good, it’s awful.

Brayden’s back is arched and Death’s skeletal hand hovers in the air above his chest, shooting black threads of magic into Brayden.

Oh, hell no. That’s my man.

Yeah, fuck him up! Screw this boner!

Joan, not now!

My words come out a harsh command, but I can’t concentrate with her yelling obscene things inside my head.

I don’t think. I act. With a running start, I leap for Death and crash into his robed body, knocking him to the side a little. It’s not much, but itisenough to break his connection to Brayden. His body thuds to the ground, but I’m already rearing my fist back to punch Death in the kisser. My skin meets bone, and the hooded head whips to the side. I pull back again to hit him, but he roars.

Not a sound you’d hear from Everett or Draco.

No.

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