by K. G. Reuss
“I’m sorry to have scared you,” I murmured, watching Amara and Raiden. He pulled his arm away from her and gave her a tight smile. The other members were grinning and greeting him. It took me a moment to realize there were two men in dark robes standing in the room.
Order members. They had to be.
“Son,” the man with the graying hair called out in a deep voice. Raiden stiffened, then glanced at me quickly, before greeting what I guessed was his father, the sigil, with a handshake. The man gave him a gruff, one-armed hug before the other man pulled him in for a more emotional embrace.
“Thought we lost you,” the second man croaked out, patting Raiden on the back. Raiden winced, his shirt dark with his blood. He didn’t seem to want anyone to notice it, so instead of addressing that he needed help, he continued to converse as if nothing was wrong.
“Nearly did, Uncle,” Raiden answered, his eyes finding me again. His uncle and the sigil both looked to me.
I swallowed hard as a look of sheer hatred crossed the sigil’s face causing my stomach to knot. His face was so dark and twisted I had to look away.
“Miss Torres! The whisperer!” Raiden’s uncle greeted me, coming to shake my hand. “You’re a beauty, aren’t you?” His eyes swept over me quickly, sending a shiver through my body. Something about the man immediately rubbed me the wrong way. Or maybe I was leery of everyone. Raiden’s uncle's seemed familiar to me, but I couldn’t place how I knew him. It drove me nuts.
I knew the sigil wasn’t on my list of people I wanted to be around. He looked fierce. And really angry. “I admire your abilities,” Raiden’s uncle continued. “My name is Sangrey Hawthorne. I’m Raiden’s uncle. Raiden has told me some of what you can do.”
“It’s always nice to meet a fan,” I answered dully.
Damien snorted but tried to hide it behind a cough.
“We are not fans.” The sigil glared at me. The room fell silent as he stood looming over me. The air thickened with tension.
I shifted awkwardly, not quite sure what to do with my hands. I left them to hang limply at my sides.
“Well, can’t please everyone.” I gave him a tight smile that only caused a sneer to tip his lips up. I didn’t care who he was. The guy was a jerk.
“You’ll find in life that not everyone will love what you do or who you are. Those people aren’t the ones you should concern yourself with,” Sangrey whispered with a smile. “Even if they are kings.”
“Uncle,” Raiden cut in. “Miss Torres is exhausted from our ordeal. Brandon was just going to heal her.”
Brandon stepped forward and offered me his hand. I didn’t need to be psychic to know Raiden was doing that telepathy thing with him. A moment later, Brandon pushed his healing at me in a corner of the room away from everyone, soothing my aching muscles. It didn’t help much with my exhaustion though. The flutter of nerves died down, leaving a strange buzz of calmness over me.
“You’re pretty bad,” Brandon murmured to me. “I’ll heal more—”
“No.” I brushed him away. “I’m fine. Raiden is worse. Help him. He needs it. He’s bleeding all over the floor. I’ll go see Madam Ann if I need to.”
Brandon looked over at Raiden who was grimacing from the pain, engaged in conversation with the men again while everyone else had gone back to their own chats.
“He’s a stubborn ass. I’ll get him.” Brandon made to move away from me but paused. “Hey, Torres.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about what I said last night. And, uh, thanks for saving him.”
I gave him a small smile. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” There was something else on my mind. Something I needed to ask him. “Brandon?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you control my emotions? Whenever you heal me, I always feel calmer.”
“I never control anyone. That wouldn’t be right. But if I can offer comfort to a friend, I always will.”
I smiled at him. “You’re OK, you know that?”
A grin spread over Brandon’s face and he shot me a wink before he returned to his group. I stood awkwardly in the back of the room, watching as Amara went back to twining her arm around Raiden’s. He was swaying where he stood, not bothering to fight her off. In that instance, I understood, even if it did upset me. Eric, Damien and Sloane were talking to the Order members. Everyone else appeared lost in conversation or in the kitchen putting together food. I didn’t belong there.
I slipped out the back door, letting it latch quietly behind me before making my way to my dorm. When I reached it, Nev was pacing in front of my door.
“Nev?” I called out. His head shot up, and he rushed to me, sweeping me up into a tight embrace.
“I’ve never been so worried in my entire life,” he growled, giving me a good squeeze. “I thought you were dead.”
“Apparently, you’re not the only one.” I winced as he released me. “How did you know about it though?”
“I had to practically beat it out of Craft when you didn’t come home. I was ready to head out and find you myself.”
“Wait. How did you know I didn’t come home?”
He didn’t bother looking ashamed. “I keep an eye on you.”
I sighed. Of course, he did. They wanted me in Dyre. “I was fine. I-I actually need to talk to you about what happened.”
“I’m all ears and fangs.” He flashed his fangs at me. I hadn’t noticed how dark his eyes were.
“Put those away,” I hissed at him, unlocking my door and beckoning him to enter. “Why haven’t you fed?”
“Tolerance. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
“Are you safe to have in my house?”
“No.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “But I find the challenge exhilarating. And if memory serves correctly, you really enjoyed our last encounter.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Whatever. Not happening again. I need a shower, so just make yourself at home. No going bloodlust either. I’ll be out in a minute.” I didn’t wait for an answer. I needed some time alone to process everything, even if it meant leaving a vampire alone in my living room.
Fifty-Two
Raiden
“I’d like a word with you,” Father stated as everyone continued celebrating my return.
I sought out Everly in the room. My heart clenched when I realized she’d left. I didn’t blame her. After the way my father treated her, she had every right to go. It didn’t make her absence hurt any less. All I wanted to do was find her and hold her. Everything seemed too good to be true.
I knew the next moments with my father were unavoidable, so I beckoned for him to come to my office. Brandon healed me already. Aside from the dried blood on my hands and face plus my damp shirt, no one would know I’d nearly been gutted only hours before.
“What do you need?” I asked, dead on my feet. What I wouldn't give for a shower and a nap. Above all of those things, Everly. What I wouldn’t give to kiss her again.
Father and Sangrey both followed me into my office. Sangrey closed the door behind him.
“I’d like to know why you had the whisperer with you on Conexus business,” he said in his gruff tone, his eyes narrowed at me as he and Sangrey took seats across from me at my desk. “It’s forbidden to bring outsiders into the inner workings of our affairs. You need to explain yourself, General, before I decide to bring you to the circle for interrogation.”
“Right, Father.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Because you’d love to beat some sense into me.”
“Raiden,” Sangrey intervened before my father could shoot back a response. “We’re only curious about what’s going on. Can you afford us the reason?”
Sighing, I rubbed my eyes and told them about Ever’s prediction.
“So you see, I was saving my men. Myself. Believe me, I didn’t want to bring her with us. It was a last-ditch effort. As a general, my men were my first concern. I took care of them by bringing her. That’s all.”
“That�
��s all?” Father looked at me again, rubbing his hand along his goatee. “Nothing else?”
“Nothing else,” I said firmly. “Except we closed off that portal, so it won’t be an issue any longer.”
“You did?” Sangrey lifted his eyebrows in surprise at the news. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. Nothing survived.”
“How?” Sangrey pressed. This was the part I didn’t want to tell them. I knew I had to though.
“I told my crew to leave. I’d distract the droves while they escaped. I wanted them to take Everly and make sure she was safe—”
“You were going to sacrifice yourself?” Father boomed out, his eyes wide with rage. “Why? Why would you sacrifice yourself for her safety? We talked about this—”
“She’s still a person, Father,” I snapped at him. “She deserves to live just as much as anyone else. It wasn’t just for her. It was for everyone.”
He ground his teeth at me but didn’t press the subject.
“So I stayed behind. I would’ve died had she not come back for me.”
“What happened?” Sangrey asked, leaning forward in his seat, curiosity in his eyes. I hadn’t told them about her glowing blue or running ahead of us.
“She-she unleashed a static flame. It incinerated everything within a quarter mile radius. It burned all night and kept us safe while we rested.”
“Did you lie with her?” Father growled. “During this time, did you sleep with the girl?”
“No, Father, I did not have sex with her,” I snapped, angry he would think so lowly of me. I’d never just sleep with her and call it quits. “Even if I did, it’s none of your damn business—”
“General,” Sangrey eased. “Your father is only concerned with your well-being—”
“No, he’s concerned with a crown I hate and a fiancée I don’t want. He doesn’t give a shit past that.” I drew in short, ragged breaths as I glared at my father.
“I care about the future of our world, General.” Father sighed, surprising me by not pushing the subject. “We’re in a trying time. I really think the girl needs to be debriefed.”
“I agree,” Sangrey nodded. “She should come to Xanan—”
“No,” I snarled through gritted teeth. “I won’t allow it. She’s been through enough. She saved my life. Let her be.”
“Why don’t you want her to be seen by the Order?” Sangrey cocked his head at me. “You’ve been fighting us on all things related to the whisperer for months.”
“I just know you all want her within Conexus ranks. I do not.”
“But she will be—” Sangrey started.
“She will not. I won’t allow it,” Father broke in.
At least we were on the same page with that. It was about the only thing we agreed on. Sangrey only gave me a slight nod, his mouth drawn tight, clearly irritated with us not wanting Everly in Conexus.
“Is the girl seeing anyone?” Sangrey asked.
“What?”
“She’s a beautiful girl. If you’re going to fight us on her joining Conexus, then she’d be good stock for breeding.”
My mouth went dry, my guts clenching at his words. It wasn’t unheard of for members of the Order to marry Specials off with other Specials they thought they might breed good stock out of. It’s what had happened to my mother. It’s what was happening to me. But Everly? I’d never allow it.
“And create more abominations?” Father snapped. “It’s the last thing our world needs right now.”
“I’d hate to see a perfectly good woman go to waste,” Sangrey interjected. “Beauty like she possesses is hard to come by. Her powers grow. Abilities like hers are unheard of. And she saved Raiden’s life. The girl needs to either join Conexus and pair off with someone, or we do the proper thing and reward her with a husband.”
“It’s barbaric and outdated.” My nails bit into my palms as I fisted my hands. “If anything, the reward we should give her is the one where we leave her the hell alone. She’s been through far too much as it is.”
My father nodded. “I agree. I said I was going to accept her coming to Dementon despite my reservations on the subject. If I had my way, we’d execute her right now and be done with any potential issues we may face in the future with her.”
“Wesley, surely you can see the value in the girl. After all, she saved our prince. And he clearly cares for the girl—”
I knew we had a fight on our hands. I barely held off from punching my father in the face for the words he’d uttered. I wanted them to leave so I could shower and go see Everly.
“I’m going to end this right here.” I breathed out, my voice menacing. I looked to each man in the room. “If anyone so much as thinks about touching her—to interrogate, execute, or otherwise cause her discomfort in any way—I will personally end them. Do I make myself clear?”
Father opened his mouth to speak, but Sangrey was faster. “You love the girl.”
My eyes locked on my father’s as I said it. “I would die for her.”
“And her for you,” Sangrey murmured, glancing between me and my father as we engaged in a death glare with one another.
My heart ached. I’d told Ever we could be together. In that moment, staring my father down, I knew how impossible it would be. He’d never allow it. He’d follow through and end her life. But I wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight. I loved that girl, and that wasn’t ever going to change. I needed to find a way to make it work. I had to. Not having her wasn’t an option anymore.
Sangrey sighed as he glanced between me and Father. “I don’t believe there’s much more for any of us to do tonight. We were simply worried when Mr. Craft came to inform us that you were missing along with a student. Now that we know you’re safe and alive, we can go and let you carry on. I bet you’re exhausted.”
“I am,” I answered curtly, breaking my glare away from Father. “I’ll see you out.” My voice had a ring of finality to it.
Sangrey and my father both rose to their feet. My father didn’t even bid me farewell. He stormed out of my office, his black robes billowing behind him, leaving me behind with Sangrey.
“Overlook him, Raiden. It’s difficult for him.”
“I’m sure,” I muttered.
Sangrey studied me for a moment before speaking, “She’s the Mancer, isn’t she?”
I stared at him, my throat tight. I’d always loved, respected, and trusted my uncle. Despite all that was going on within the Order, I needed an ally.
“She is.”
“And you are her reever,” he concluded.
“I am.”
He blew out a breath. “She needs to be in Conexus, Raiden. You know she’ll be safe once you’re bound to one another—”
“I don’t want harm to come to her, Uncle. She’s my whole world. I just want her to be happy. Being in Conexus won’t afford her that. A-and I want to be happy. I’m trying to move on. I am. If she’s in Conexus and around me, I’ll be in perpetual hell if Father continues to deny this. I’m being forced to marry Amara. When I’m near Everly, my soul lights up. She’s always been the light to my darkness. I’m tired of hurting without her. I want her.”
“There’s always a loophole,” Sangrey said softly, his eyes showcasing he truly believed it.
“Not for me. I-I want the prophecy. I need to see it. I need to know that it’s OK to let her go.”
“Unfortunately, nephew, that’s not something I can give you.”
“Why is it so hidden? What's really going on?”
“Honestly, Raiden, no one can read the prophecy. We aren’t even sure if we have it,” Sangrey lowered his voice.
I stared at him wide-eyed. “What?”
“The scroll is blank. It contains no words. What we know about the prophecy is just what’s been handed down by word of mouth over the years. The saying goes that the seer who made the prediction had it spellbound. Only the soul bound can read it. We’ve not yet met a witch or wizard powerful enough to undo w
hat’s been done to it. And so, we simply go by what’s been said.”
“You’re kidding me.” This whole time I’d thought it was just locked away so no one could read it.
“I’m not. Only with you bound to her will you be able to read whatever is written. Together, you’d be unstoppable in so many ways.” Sangrey’s eyes met mine.
“We’d take out the Cipher.”
“And we’d usher in a new era of control and rule.” Sangrey’s eyes darkened. “For far too long we’ve been soft with the Cipher. The vamps. Especially the vamps. They killed your mother. Our queen. If I had my way, there wouldn’t be a vampire left in existence.” His voice had taken on a dark tone, a storm cloud passing over his features. I’d never heard my uncle speak that way before. “The queen should be avenged, Raiden. And if you have the power to act, you should. You’re next to be king.”
I swallowed hard at his words.
“There’s a mole in the Order,” I whispered.
“I know there is.” Sangrey looked to my father. “Which is why you pairing with the Mancer is so damn important. What if they find out and get her? Take her? Kill her? What will you do then?”
“I’ll find them and end them,” I growled, my chest aching at the thought of anyone hurting her.
“My advice is take what you need, Raiden. If it’s the girl, take her.”
“How?” My eyes swept over my uncle.
“Let go. You’re going to be a king, Raiden. Kings take what they want. Whatever they want. If you don’t, someone else will. And trust me, once she’s gone, she’s gone. In this case, not just you will suffer. Our entire world will. We want the vamps gone, Raiden. All of them. It’s up to you to make it happen.”
I nodded. He was right.
“Uncle, do you know of a way to get out of marrying Amara?”
Sangrey looked out to the commons where my father was speaking with Eric and Damien.
“I do not, but I’ll look into seeing what we can do to help you with that. I may have appeared all for it, Raiden, but I’m not sold on the idea, especially now that we know what you and the whisperer are. For now, we must keep this information to ourselves.”