Page 117 of Rage of Her Ravens

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Shiri

Tears streamed downmy face as I sat on the cool tile floor, my back pressed against the wall. Out of all the brothers, Nikkos had always been the kindest, the one I felt I could count on to always support me.

What else can he do to earn your trust and forgiveness?

Nikkos acted as if his brother had moved mountains for me. He hadn’t. He’d offered the girls and me a place to stay. He’d given us dolls and pretty dresses. He’d apologized. That wasn’t enough to earn my trust.

Nikkos didn’t realize all I’d given to them already. How far I’d come in being able to trust them after what those mountain men had done. Had I been foolish to trust these mages with my heart? With my body?

And yet, would the elements match me with mates who meant to harm me? None of them had ever tried to force themselves on me. Then again, they knew what would happen if they tried.

I hung my head in my hands, cursing myself for being so cynical. Nikkos and Blaze had both been honest with me so far. Perhaps worry about my safety had driven Nikkos to pressure me. He’d been poisoned by a demon, after all, and now there was a new threat from possibly hostile mages. And what if Malvolia’s army came here? Would I expect my mates to fight her mages for me? To die for me? How long would my siren voice be able to hold back her army?

I feared my only option would be to join her army, or else risk not just my mates’ lives, but the girls’ lives, too. And it would be easier to stand against our foes if Draevyn and I could mind-speak.

Shoulders sagging, I realized I’d been too hard on Nikkos. Perhaps he was right to want me to bond with Draevyn. I couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward Draevyn was sometimes too maddening, and my traitorous body wanted nothing more than to rip off our clothes and straddle him. And maybe that was the root of my anger, that my body wasn’t listening to my mind. I shouldn’t want to bond with a mage who’d threatened to drop me, no matter how many times he’d apologized. Yet, I wanted him in the worst way, my desire for him sometimes robbing my mind of reason. I cursed my foolish heart. I would have to make up with Nikkos soon, but first, I had to drive all thoughts of Draevyn from my mind.

* * *

Draevyn

After flying aroundthe battlements and checking in with my guards, I flew around the castle for good measure, eyeing the forest for any signs of Sol and Bertram and the missing nurses. I’d already sent men to follow the giants’ retreat, making sure they didn’t decide to turn around. They had only just returned, their wings tired from the flight, but at least they reported the giants had gone over the mountains. After doubling the guard and sending a search party to find the nurses, my forces were stretched too thin. Yet I had to find those nurses, so I sent out a second search party, which meant I had less eyes on the battlements. Where had those nurses gotten those demon herbs, and why would they want to kill my baby brother?

I flew past Shirina’s balcony, nodding toward Blaze who leaned against the open doorway, a somber look in his eyes. Was that look because of the news we’d received today, or was something else troubling him? I hated to pull him away from Shirina, but he and Nikkos would need to relieve the watch tonight. I was just waiting for the right moment to tell them, fearing Shirina would think I was trying to separate her from her mates.

I flew over the balcony leading to the nursery and halted when I heard squeals coming from inside. I landed on the balcony and strode through the doors, not surprised to find the girls standing on top of an armoire, howling like little wild wolves. It was much too tall for them to have climbed up, which meant Aurora teleported them there. Mrs. Euphemia had her hands pressed to her fuzzy cheeks, a panicked look in her eyes while she begged them to come down.

“Girls,” I said as I flew up to them, “are you being good for Mrs. Euphemia?”

They gaped at me, their eyes wide with shock—and fear. That wouldn’t do. Though I supposed they had good reason to fear me after the way I’d treated them in the past.

Mrs. Euphemia looked up at me, plastering on a smile. “I’m afraid they’ve grown restless, My Lord.”

Restless.Her endearing term for wild, uncontrollable heathens. She’d described my brothers and me as ‘restless’ enough times for me to know what she really meant.

I yelped, my wings faltering when they suddenly appeared below me. Elements. This teleporting would take some getting used to.

“Why can’t we go in the garden?” Aurora asked me.

“You can once it’s safe,” I answered as I landed, ruffling my wings and pretending they hadn’t just scared the feathers off me. “Right now, it’s safest inside.”

I got a good look at the girls this time, recognizing Aurora with the shorter hair and Ember with the longer hair. Ember also clutched a porcelain doll to her chest. Even though the doll already had a sagging arm that appeared to have been pulled out of socket, she was vastly superior to Ember’s previous raggedy doll.

Ember pouted. “Uncle Blaze and Uncle Nikkos were supposed to play hide-and-seek with us.”

I forced a smile. “And I’m sure they will.” Though maybe not. Why would they ever want to leave Shirina’s bedchamber? I know I’d never want to leave if we were bonded. I pretended I wasn’t upset that my mate refused to even look at me, much less invite me to her bedchamber.

Aurora tugged on my wingtip. “Will you play with us?”

I scratched the back of my head. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at hiding.”

“That’s okay,” Aurora said with a squeal, clasping her hands together. “We’ll hide, and you find us.”

“Well...” I gave Mrs. Euphemia a helpless look, hoping she’d offer me a way out. “If your nursemaid says it’s okay.”

She stumbled to a rocking chair and fell into it with a sigh. “It’s more than okay, My Lord.”

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