The Ravager Chronicles: The Complete Series

by Sara Page

  Now I feel like we’re all in danger if we remain here.

  Something is wrong with the crowd. It’s almost as if something is agitating them to this point. Surely this isn’t the normal Ravager aggression I’ve heard of?

  Celeste stands just behind the king, wringing her hands with worry. The guards seem unsure of what to do; they keep glancing back at their king for answers. This doesn’t seem like a situation they’re used to dealing with.

  There are so many bodies out there trying to get closer to us, it’s utter chaos and madness. So many hands reaching for me, so many desperate voices just wanting my attention.

  Bending towards my ear, Beast tells me, “It’s no longer safe here. We must make our exit.”

  Placing his hand against the small of my back, Beast guides me forward while King Ros takes point, leading us towards a hidden door located behind the podium.

  Behind us, the roar of the crowd grows louder, distressed by our exit.

  Vis separates from our group just before we walk through the door. Fists clenching at his sides, I don’t know why, perhaps it’s the eager glint in his eye, but I get this feeling that he’s been waiting for an excuse to do some violence.

  Chapter Four

  King Ros leads our little group back to the royal apartments, and the amount of guards providing security in the private wing is increased by threefold.

  The entire palace is put on an emergency lockdown, and the guards are given the order to peacefully clear the crowd from the main hall.

  Until the situation has been resolved, we are all to remain in the King’s quarters for safety reasons. There will be no sneaking off, no opportunities to slip into the library again…

  My aunt paces the floor anxiously and Celeste bustles about, offering everyone tea and refreshments.

  From the whispers I overhear, and the sideways glances I keep catching, I get the impression nothing like this has ever occurred before and everyone is just a little disturbed by it.

  No one wants to believe my daughters and I were in any real danger of being harmed. In their eyes a citizen of Blackspire would never intentionally harm a woman.

  But the crowd was so frenzied no one knows for sure what would have happened had things continued…

  I shiver and try not to think what they would have done to me.

  Trying to keep my mind off of all the dark thoughts trying to creep into my head, I focus on my babies.

  After all, it’s pointless to obsess about how I’m not safe on Blackspire after all.

  That even here my children and I are still in danger…

  Esha is becoming more and more agitated as time drags on, and since I can’t return to my apartment for privacy, Beast and Striker help me settle down in a big, comfy armchair to feed her.

  I nurse Esha and Ellany until they’re both full and sleepy, and then Grogan, our physician, is sent for.

  After a quick examination, Grogan deems both girls unharmed and completely healthy.

  Holding Ellany in his arms, I ask Grogan, “You’re sure the liquid didn’t hurt them?”

  Unable to take his eyes off of the sleeping baby in his arms, Grogan answers without look at me. “I’m very sure. All of her scans came back clean. The water did no harm to her.”

  “Was it water, though, or something else?”

  “It was only water,” Striker reassures me, laying a heavy hand on my shoulder.

  I tip my head back to look up at him and he affectionately squeezes my shoulder. “The blessing is simply a rite of passage. A tradition that’s been handed down through the generations. They were never in any danger.”

  “To some it’s not simply a rite of passage,” Beast rumbles and we both look to him.

  “Oh?” I ask.

  Beast nods his head. “There are many who believe it washes away the traces of darkness that linger after we’re brought into this world and purifies the body against future corruption.”

  “That is true,” Striker concedes and then he smirks. “There are also many of us that believe we must purify our Callings before they have accepted us.”

  I frown at Striker. “You think we’re tainted?”

  Striker’s smirk only sharpens, and he shakes his head. “Of course not, my princess. It’s just a fun way to get intimately acquainted with each other.”

  I roll my eyes at Striker and then ask Beast, “Is that why you forced a bath on me after you carried me on your ship?”

  Beast’s eyes flare, and he slowly nods his head. “Yes, that was one of the reasons…”

  “One of the reasons?” I press.

  Now it’s Beast that is smirking. Clearly all the time he’s been spending with Striker is rubbing off on him.

  “Yes, one of the reasons, my love. There was also this smell…”

  Beast leans over the back of the chair and begins to sniff me.

  I giggle as his nose brushes against the side of my neck and lean away from him. “What are you doing?”

  “I think…” he begins and then pulls away, making a funny face.

  Striker laughs.

  “Oh god, do I stink that bad?” I ask, utterly mortified by the face he’s making. I mean I know I smelled awful back then after being unable to wash for days, but now?

  Eyes watering, Beast shakes his head and then lets out a loud sneeze.

  The sneeze is so loud that it startles little Esha in her sleep. With a whimper, she squirms, snuggling closer to my breast.

  Beast rubs at his nose with an annoyed look on his face. “I was going to suggest we do a re-purification to get reacquainted with each other, but you’re so dusty you’d need a bath first.”

  “Oh,” I say, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Sinking back into my chair, I try to inconspicuously fluff more dust from my curls.

  I’d love to do a re-purification with Beast or Striker, even though I’m not quite sure what a re-purification is. We haven’t joined together since we were on board the Harpy, and I’m really starting to feel a bit lonely, even though I’m constantly with both of them.

  It’s been eight weeks since I gave birth to the girls but there just hasn’t been enough time or privacy to be intimate.

  “Dusty?” Striker asks, arching a brow. “Why are you dusty, Ameia?”

  “Cake?” My aunt suddenly asks, appearing out of nowhere and practically shoving a wedge of cake in Striker’s face.

  Lorune and Celeste must have been eavesdropping on our conversation. They wheeled their little dessert cart over just in time to save my dusty ass.

  “Tea?” Celeste asks, pouring a steaming cup and handing it up to Beast.

  Beast frowns at the cup of tea but accepts it.

  Striker shakes his head at the wedge of cake and regards my aunt suspiciously.

  Ignoring the look, Lorune turns to me and offers me the plate she offered him. “Cake, Ameia?”

  “Yes, thank you,” I smile at her. I try to shift Esha a little to free up one of my hands but she only clings to me harder, her little grip tightening.

  “Here, allow me,” Striker says, coming around the chair and gently prying Esha’s little fingers off of my blouse.

  Picking up Esha, Striker cradles her protectively in his arms and smiles down at her. I feel my throat tightening up just watching him handle her with such tender care. He gazes down at her with such love, such affection, I know he would do anything to protect her.

  He holds her as if she means the world to him.

  I accepted the slice of cake from my aunt because I was grateful for the interruption but actually eating the thing is proving to be difficult. Each bite is dry and wants to stick in my throat.

  I was almost caught, and Beast keeps casting sideways looks at me as if he’s still suspicious of me. Thankfully, Striker seems to be indifferent.

  Time seems to crawl by. Lorune and Celeste engage Striker and Beast in idle conversation while Grogan lingers close, holding Ellany as she sleeps even though he completed her examination some
time ago.

  I manage to choke down half the slice of cake and then sip on some tea.

  Easing down into the warm, comfy cushions of the chair, I begin to drift off, all the excitement of the day finally catching up to me.

  I’m not sure how long I doze for before a commotion coming from the front of the apartment startles me to full alertness.

  “The palace is clear now,” King Ros speaks quietly behind my chair. “It was a bit messy but it is safe to return to your apartment.”

  Messy?

  Sitting up in the chair, I turn to see Beast with his head bent close to his father. Beast notices my movement and glances over at me. Straightening, he and his father take a step away from each other. I’m pretty sure they were quietly discussing something.

  I frown, feeling like I interrupted their secret conversation. I should have pretended to still be asleep so I could hear more of it.

  Beast nods to his father and the king nods back. Beast then comes around my chair and offers me a hand up.

  “Come, Ameia, let’s return home. You’ll be more comfortable in your own bed.”

  Placing my hand in Beast’s, I glance around and ask, “Where’s Esha and Ellany?”

  Helping me to my feet, Beast answers, “Striker and Grogan are taking them to the nursery for the night.”

  “Oh, okay,” I mumble as Beast pulls me forward, leading me out of the apartment.

  Just as we step outside of the door, Warrick and Vis are standing there, waiting for us. They look a little rumpled and I think there’s a dark spot on Vis’ shirt that could be blood but otherwise they appear to be fine.

  With a smile, I slow to speak to Warrick but Beast squeezes my hand and tugs me forward.

  “Hey,” I protest and glare at Beast’s back, trying to dig in my heels.

  Warrick growls behind me, and casting another glance back, I watch Vis’ eyes narrow to menacing slits.

  But Beast doesn’t stop, he keeps me moving forward. Warrick and Vis make no move to help me or stop him.

  “What the hell, Beast?” I ask and try to slip my hand out of his grip.

  “You’re exhausted; you need to sleep. If they wish to speak to you, they can call upon you in the morning.”

  “I want to speak to them now,” I insist.

  I want to know what happened in the main hall. I want to make sure they’re not injured and didn’t have to injure anyone. I’d actually like to spend some time with them too. Lately there’s never any time for the three of us.

  Beast shakes his head and his pace quickens. “Do not test me on this right now, Ameia.”

  Seriously, what the hell? Why is he acting so caveman all of a sudden?

  Using my free hand, I grab the hand gripping me and begin to pry his fingers off of me as I stumble behind him. Beast stops again and then looks down at our hands.

  Looking up at me, his eyes flare and his lips thin.

  He looks mad and determined. I don’t know what’s going on but I get the feeling he’s upset about something.

  I squeal as he suddenly grabs me by the hips and lifts me up.

  “What the hell, Beast?” I ask as he throws me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

  His heavy hand comes down on my bottom in a firm smack and I gasp.

  Why is he doing this?

  Stomping forward, his shoulder bounces into my stomach and he keeps me trapped with an arm just under my ass.

  I push up on his back to see the hallway behind us empty now. Warrick and Vis are gone, there’s no one around to help me now.

  Beast delivers another thump to my bottom and this time I cry out, “Beast!” angrily.

  Thank the stars there’s no one else around to witness this humiliation. I’d just die if he did this in front of our family.

  Beast carries me like this, over his shoulder, the entire way to our apartment.

  Shoving our door open, he kicks it shut behind us and then carries me over to my new, extra wide bed, dropping me on it.

  Chapter Five

  Bouncing on my springy mattress, I’m struggling to brush my curls out of my eyes when Beast grabs my hands and comes down on top of me.

  “What has gotten into you?!” I ask in disbelief.

  “I told you not to test me,” he growls, his eyes glowing down at me as he pins my hands above my head. “It’s been too long.”

  I gulp as his words sink in and suddenly his aggression is starting to make more sense.

  “It has been too long,” I agree with a sigh as his head bends down and he nuzzles his face affectionately against my neck.

  I feel his lips touch me, opening, his tongue tasting me. He pulls back a hard suckle and inside I’m melting against him.

  Body coming down on my body, he nudges my knees apart so he can fit himself between them.

  Stars, I’ve missed this.

  Missed his touch, missed his attention.

  Missed being beneath him.

  But I shouldn’t just let him get away with this. He shouldn’t be throwing me over his shoulder in public. I’m the mother of his children, dammit.

  “That was rude as hell, what you did back there,” I groan out.

  I feel a puff of warm air against my neck as he snorts in response.

  Pushing up on my trapped hands, I squirm, trying to free them. “I wanted to talk to Warrick and Vis. You could have given me a minute…”

  Beast growls now, his teeth pinching me with a nip.

  I yelp and jerk beneath him.

  “I mean it, Beast,” I insist and brace myself for another nip.

  I could just drop this whole thing and let him have his way with me but if I do that then he’ll think he can always get away with it. “I’ve accepted Warrick. It’s not right that you’re keeping me from seeing him.”

  I don’t even mention Vis because I know exactly what he’ll say about him. But it’s not right he’s keeping me away from him either.

  Beast stills above me and there’s something about it that’s more frightening than if he nipped me. Leaning back, his face is set in a mask of anger and his eyes blaze like two red infernos as he stares down at me in the darkness.

  Hovering above me menacingly, even with my improved night vision, in this dim lighting he looks every inch the space demon.

  “Warrick stole you from me,” he growls between his clenched teeth.

  I open my mouth to speak up in Warrick’s defense but Beast’s eyes narrow in a way that has the words dying on my lips.

  “He stole you from me. And he stole Esha and Ellany. He should be grateful he still breathes.”

  “But,” is the only word I get to say before he’s growling so viciously all the little hairs on my body are standing on end.

  “No, buts, Ameia. If I thought you would forgive me, I’d challenge him and kill him in the arena.”

  “No,” I gasp, feeling a cold dread seeping into my veins. I’d expect something like this out of Striker, even Vis, but not Beast. “You can’t really mean that… you’d kill him? In an arena?”

  Beast’s lips curve into a feral grin. “Yes. I’d challenge him in the arena and kill him. As your mate it is my right to challenge any of your other mates as I see fit. I’d kill him for taking you. I’d kill him for putting you and our children in danger. I’d kill him for being a traitor.”

  I shake my head in disbelief. “You can’t—”

  Beast cuts me off by forcibly saying, “I can.”

  I stare at Beast for a long time, until my eyes are watering and I have to look away. Part of me wonders if something about him has changed. If something is making him more aggressive. But then I remember his reaction to Striker back on the Harpy’s Talon and have to admit to myself he’s probably always been like this.

  I understand his dislike of Warrick and Vis, I do. I get it. They did take me. They did help destroy the Harpy. They put me and my daughters in peril by delivering us to the enemy.

  But I understand why they did it. And more im
portantly I forgive them.

  I accepted Warrick and Vis, just like I accepted Striker. Just like I accepted Beast. And I’ve forgiven each of them for all the shitty things they’ve done to me in the past, whether it was accidental or done with malice.

  And I sure as hell hope they’ve forgiven me for any shitty things I’ve done, especially in my ignorance.

  I want to move on. I want to put all that nastiness in the past and find a way to live together happily.

  “You won’t though, right?” I finally ask softly. “Because of me?”

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Beast nodding his head slowly, begrudgingly. “For you they still breathe. For you I will do anything. But if they ever put you in danger again… If they ever try to take you from me…”

  Beast shudders and his grip on my wrists tightens. “I will destroy them. Even if it means you will never forgive me for it. Even if it means you hate me for it.”

  I want to tell him I could never hate you… but if he were to kill Warrick and Vis, for whatever reason, I know in my heart hating him is a very real possibility.

  “I could live with your hatred, Ameia,” Beast rumbles and his grip on my wrists loosens.

  Above me, he seems to deflate.

  His shoulders slump forward and more of his weight comes down on my stomach. “But I couldn’t live without you. Those months you were missing… I can’t ever experience that again.”

  Again, our eyes meet and we stare at each other. In his eyes there is so much pain, so much vulnerability, it makes my chest tighten painfully. I have no idea of the hell he suffered while scouring the galaxies for me—I can only imagine.

  He’s so strong, so powerful yet I am his weakness.

  I am both humbled and terrified by this revelation.

  I slip my wrists free of Beast’s grip and he stiffens before I wrap my arms around him.

  Softly I say, “Nor can I.”

  Relaxing again, he leans down, pressing his forehead against my forehead. Closing his eyes, he says, “I love you, Ameia.”

  “I love you, Beast,” I sigh, just enjoying this intimacy with him.