Page 25 of Darkened Wings
The man, I still didn’t know his name, reeled back. My words had somehow offended him, slapped him right across the cheek. His ocean-blue eyes widened, and he clenched his jaw. “Nice to you.”
I laughed a little but not from anything funny. “Yeah, imagine that. Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air. I thought I had a new friend. I should’ve known better. Only an enemy would talk to me without cutting me down or reminding me how I don’t belong.”
Another step away from me. Maybe I reminded him of who he was talking to. How damaged I was. How I didn’t have any business being at this academy.
How his reputation might be blotted just being seen within ten feet of me. My damage might bleed onto his spotless perfect uniform, leaving an unremovable stain.
“You should know better. No matter how nice he is to you, he is dangerous. All crows are dangerous. Don’t be fooled into thinking they are your friends.”
Anger bubbled to the surface. No one spoke to me, and then this gorgeous guy with an ugly attitude thought he could dole out advice to me, warn me, try to tell me what to do.
I might be damaged goods, but I wasn’t stupid.
My hands curled up into fists and this time I took a step toward him. “I’m not a fool.”
He paled a little. “I didn’t say you were.”
Scoffing, I squared off my shoulders. Students passed by us but at a distance. They were too busy talking about their great flights to even notice the conflict going on. “You kind of did. I’ll say it again; I didn’t know he was a crow. But I know how to spot one now, okay? Crows are the only ones who speak to me like a person, no condescending tone, no attitude of self-righteousness. Don’t worry. I’m very clear on how crows act in opposition to how ravens act now. If anyone is nice to me or gods forbid pays me any kindness, they must be a crow.” I whirled around and grabbed my bag from the ground where I had left it, wanting to relieve myself of the weight while I watched the others soar through the sky. “This conversation is over.”
He reached out and grabbed my biceps. “I was just warning you. For your own good. Crows are the enemy. They are cunning and manipulative. Many a raven has been deceived by their dark words that are spoken like light. You can’t be hurt. You can’t be taken in by their trickery.”
I looked down at where his hand touched my arm. A gentle warmth pulsed from his skin to mine, calming my anger a bit but not enough to make it retreat. My raven preened and hopped inside me as though he’d given us a gift, a shiny trinket to hold tight to our chests, but despite his warning, his touch was as deceptive as the crow’s words.
My body betrayed me, saying toward him. “I can take care of myself. I always have and I always will. Be like the others and pretend I don’t exist.”
I wrenched my arm out of his hold, but my raven saddened at the disconnect. Maybe she was the fool. A fool for his good looks and false charm.
“I could never pretend you don’t exist, Gwen.”
His tone stopped me in my tracks. Our eyes met once again, but this time there was no chasm of defense between us. My chest simmered with warmth, and a tingle shot through my body, head to toe. His words were sincere.
He was telling the truth.
To what end, I didn’t know. He said crows couldn’t be trusted.
He was wrong.
No one in this academy or beyond could be trusted.
Except Astra. She was my friend, a comrade in rejection and neglect. She knew my pain because it was the same pain that resided in her.
“Then pretend I’m a plague. An untouchable disease. Whatever you have to tell yourself to feel better about leaving me alone.”
A chuckle resounded in the space between us. “I don’t think I can.” A group of students passed, and he cleared his throat.
One of the students patted him on the back but changed their tone once they realized who he was talking to. They moved on quickly after that.
“See? It’s easy. Just act like everyone else,” I said and stood my ground.
“Fine,” he gruffed and kicked at the dirt before stomping away in a huff. Everyone in this place probably bowed down to him because of his gorgeousness and charisma. “By the way, my name is Raddix.”
I might be unwanted and spurned by my own kind, but I bowed down to no one.
Not even those spellbinding eyes.
Or that hair that made me want to run my fingers through it.
Raddix could kiss my damaged ass.
