by Alicia Rades
“Why would I want to make a deal with you?” I spat. “You wouldn’t take the one we offered.”
“Because I’m prepared to offer you something better,” he asserted, offering me a chilling smile. “What will it be… Ravenite?”
My blood ran cold. How did he know?
I wasn’t registered as a shifter. No one but my friends knew I was the Ravenite. Unless one of those creeps on Gregor Island knew and spilled the beans…
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied.
Cavanaugh gestured for me to follow him. “Let’s not make a scene. I know exactly who you are, Rachel Collins. And I can help you.”
“Help me with what?” I demanded.
Cavanaugh turned and started for the fence door again. He slipped around it where no one would see him if they glanced out the back window.
I couldn’t resist my curiosity. I joined him at the door, but I didn’t step through it. I let it hang open, where I could slam it in his face if I needed to.
Zoey lived on a corner lot, so this edge of the fence faced the street, as did the front of her house. There was a shiny black sedan parked next to the curb. It was easy to guess who it belonged to.
“How did you find me?” I demanded. Seeing as Cavanaugh was here, I was just waiting for the DMR to break down our door.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on you and your friends,” he admitted.
My entire body tensed, and I spoke in disgust. “Did you follow us to the Bells’ house?”
Is that why the DMR had attacked us when we met with Carla and Adrien?
“Are you admitting to being on the premises?” he challenged.
“No,” I said quickly.
“The situation at the Bells’ house had nothing to do with you.” He waved his hand like it meant nothing.
My blood started to boil, and my hands clenched into fists. Genevieve had died! One of his men had killed her. How could he just wave it off?
He started speaking like we were in a business meeting. “I looked into your files after you visited my office, Rachel.”
He set his briefcase in the damp grass and opened it, then pulled out a thick yellow envelope. “The more I looked into you, the more I suspected something was missing from your file. I did some digging, some cross-referencing, and I found these.”
My heart hammered as I reached into the envelope and pulled out large photographs. They seemed to come from various security cameras. All of them were in black and white, and each of them showed me fighting some asshole vampire. They never showed my face, but it was clear by the hair and height that it was me.
“This doesn’t prove anything,” I said, shoving the envelope back into his hands. “That’s not me.”
“We’ll see what a jury has to say about that,” Cavanagh challenged. “According to my files, the Ravenite is guilty of at least eighty-seven murders that we know of, along with multiple breaking and entering charges and one account of grand larceny.”
My eyebrows shot up. Eighty-seven? Wow. I didn’t know my count was that high. Then again, the grand larceny charge was definitely not me, so I was guessing they’d attributed a few unsolved crimes to my name.
I shrugged. “I don’t know who did those things, but they weren’t me. Besides, they were all vampires, weren’t they?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “In the eye of the law, they’re still human. That defense won’t work now that vampires have proven their humanity was inside them all along.”
Cavanagh flipped through his papers. “Let’s forget about the Ravenite for a second and focus on these other charges. I have your friend Sondra Thompson on at least three murder charges and illegal operation of a magical establishment. Fiona Thompson… no murders that I know of, but definitely illegal shifting. Ryland Thompson, multiple accounts of illegal magic use, and I’m sure a few murders I can get a jury to convict him of. Teagan Perry, accessory to magical misuse. Venn Michaels—”
“Okay!” I shouted. I quickly lowered my tone and threw a quick glance at the house. “What’s this deal you want?”
Cavanaugh looked pleased. “The Department of Magical Regulation has attempted to go after Matias Vayne, but each attempt has been unsuccessful—”
“Why haven’t we heard about any of this on the news?” I asked before he could finish.
He frowned. “We want people to feel they’re safe, Miss Collins.”
Which meant they’d been desperately trying to cover up their failures.
“I know you intend to go after him,” Cavanaugh said. “Perhaps you will have more luck than we have had.”
“What does any of this have to do with that file in your hands?” I snapped.
“I want the Artifact,” he stated in a clipped tone.
“So that the Department can control magic?” I asked in disbelief. The thought made me sick. “You’re going to use magic to stop magic. Sounds a little ironic, doesn’t it?”
And predictable. I knew the asshole wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. He was almost as bad as Matias—stealing people’s free will to get the world he wanted.
“I admit, it goes against everything I believe in,” Cavanaugh said, “but I do think this is what needs to be done.”
“You want me to bring it to you instead of destroying it,” I stated. It wasn’t a question.
Cavanaugh nodded and waved the file at me. “You retrieve the Owl and give it to me, and I can make all of this go away.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. It was an attractive offer. He had enough evidence against me and my family to put us away for a long time.
“How can I trust you?” I asked. “What’s keeping someone else from digging up the same information and putting us on trial?”
Cavanaugh pulled a sheet of paper from the file and handed it to me. “This is the contract you would sign with the Department of Magical Regulation. In exchange for the Owl, we would agree to grant you and your friends full immunity in your previous crimes and allow you to keep access to your magic.”
“So that you can just ding us when we use it?” I snarled.
“No,” Cavanaugh said. “If you read through the contract, you will see that you’ll be free to use your magic, barring any harm to others.”
I hesitated. “And if I don’t hand over the Owl?”
“Then this information goes to the courts,” Cavanaugh threatened. “You only have one choice in this matter, Miss Collins. Give us the Owl, or you and your friends will spend the rest of your lives in prison. I’ll give you a few days to think it over.”
Cavanagh left me with the contract in my hands as he turned back to his vehicle. Before he slipped inside, he turned back to me. “Oh, and Miss Collins? You tell anyone of this deal, and the offer’s off the table.”
I knew instantly what he was getting at. He couldn’t have anyone persuading me not to hand the Owl over. With all the research he’d done, he knew I was his best shot at getting his hands on the Artifact. He also knew my family was my weak spot.
And he knew I was actually considering the deal.
24
Cavanaugh left me standing in the lawn, feeling completely torn. How could I pass up this deal if it meant protecting my family? But at the same time, how could I accept if it meant stealing magic from innocent supernaturals?
“Rae?” The sound of Venn’s voice came from the back door. “You out here?”
I quickly folded the paper in my hands, shoved it into my back pocket, and hurried toward the door. “I’m here. Just needed a moment to myself.”
Venn stood in the doorway looking at me. “I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. My knees shook as I entered the house. I wanted to immediately tell him—tell anyone—about Cavanaugh’s visit, but I knew I couldn’t. I still hadn’t made up my mind about it, and I knew the second I told anyone, the deal was over.
We started toward the basement, but my mind was racing. There was so much
to deal with right now—losing Genevieve, facing my parents’ graves, the contract with Cavanaugh… All I really wanted to do was forget about it all for a moment, to find just one ray of sunlight on this dark and dreary day. Jenna had been a huge help earlier, but not in the way I needed right now. I needed to know that once this was all over, everything would be okay. We would be okay.
Before I realized what I was doing, I pulled Venn down the hall. I pinned him against the wall and kissed him with everything I had in me. The weight in my abdomen melted away, and my shoulders relaxed. Warmth rushed in to replace all the cold in my bones.
I drew away from him, beaming. God, that kiss was everything. It might be the one thing that would keep me holding on tonight.
Venn smiled, looking pleased. “What’s this about?”
I shrugged. The truth was, I didn’t know where this came from. I was conflicted about everything right now. I just wanted to be with Venn one last time before we faced Matias.
I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his chest. “I just need to be with you right now.”
He hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head. “I’m here. Whatever you need.”
I glanced both ways down the hall, then took his hand and dragged him into the privacy of the bathroom.
“In here?” he hissed.
He could take me anywhere he wanted and I wouldn’t care.
“Where else are we going to get a little privacy?” I asked.
Venn quickly agreed by pulling his shirt up over his head.
I couldn’t believe this was happening again. We’d been through so much these past few days. But I needed Venn right now as much as he needed me. I could see it in his eyes.
We wasted no time. Venn and I were on each other in seconds, our hands roaming over each other’s backsides. He grabbed my ass, where I’d tucked the contract into my pocket.
Worry hit me, and I jumped back. He couldn’t know I had that on me.
He shot me a confused expression, but then I stripped my pants off, and he relaxed. I tossed my shoes and jeans aside, then lifted my shirt up over my head. I stood in nothing but my bra and panties.
I helped Venn strip down to nothing, then he helped me. Our bodies pressed together as we kissed each other over and over again.
I drew away to catch my breath, then stole a quick glance in the mirror. Before, the sight of my own naked body used to disgust me. I wasn’t skinny enough. I wasn’t tall enough. My hair was too dark and my skin too pale. But now that I was standing next to Venn, it was like looking at a different girl. She was beautiful, and he was… there were no words.
He caught me staring at him in the mirror. “You like this view?”
“Yeah,” I admitted breathlessly. My gaze flickered down our bodies, and I realized I really liked this view. Maybe the bathroom wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
“Protection?” I asked him.
“Already on it.” He smiled as he pulled a condom from his jeans on the floor. “Figured it’d come in handy eventually.”
After he put the condom on, Venn guided my shoulders so I was facing the mirror. He pressed himself up against me from behind. I gasped at the feel of his warm body on my back.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
I couldn’t take my eyes off us in the mirror. “Absolutely.”
I bent over the counter, and Venn pressed into me. He held on to my hips, and I moaned as I watched him move against me. At the sound, Venn reached between my legs from the front and began massaging me. I moaned again. It felt so good that I couldn’t help but close my eyes and simply bask in the glory of his hands on me. My breasts pressed against the cold countertop, which I liked even more. Everything felt more sensitive.
Venn rubbed harder, faster, until I couldn’t take it any longer and grabbed the hand resting on my left hip. I brought it to my mouth and bit down on his hand to keep from making any noises. Venn increased his speed, until we both finished in a glorious display of mental fireworks.
We both went weak in the knees and fell the ground. The plush rug in front of the sink was warm against my back.
I struggled to catch my breath. “Venn… That was amazing.”
He looked to me from where he lay beside me. “You’re telling me?”
I chuckled. “I’m glad we’re not fighting anymore.”
Venn kissed me lightly. “Me too. I’m sorry about all that.”
I reached up a finger and placed it to his lips. “Shh… It’s over. We’re good. Just… let me help you from now on.”
He nodded. “I will.”
A knock sounded at the door, and we both jumped.
“Occupied!” I called out quickly.
“Hey, Rae. It’s Teagan,” she called through the door. “Let me know when you’re done in there. I need to talk to you.”
Venn and I quickly got to our feet. I started cleaning up while he pulled on his pants.
“I’ll be right out!” I called.
“That goes for you, too, Venn,” Teagan said.
My face went white, and I started laughing hard under my breath. Did she know what we were up to in here?
“Shh…” Venn chuckled, but he didn’t seem to care.
I dressed quickly, then smoothed my hair down. When we stepped out of the bathroom, we heard voices in the kitchen. Ryland and Teagan sat at the table, waiting for us. Everyone else was still downstairs.
“What’s up?” I asked innocently.
Teagan knotted her hands together and looked to Ryland. “We… we have something we have to tell you two.”
My stomach sank as Ryland gestured to a dining room chair. This didn’t sound good. I took a seat next to Venn, who looked as clueless as I felt. I grabbed Venn’s hand beneath the table, and he squeezed it tightly.
“First off, I want to start by apologizing,” Ryland said.
“Apologizing?” I furrowed my brow at him. “For what?”
“I haven’t been very welcoming to you,” he admitted.
“Don’t say that…” I started, but it was kind of true.
Ryland held up a hand. “Let me finish. I never should’ve blamed you for what happened in your past lives. You had no control over that. Things have been hard on all of us lately. I’m sorry I made it harder for you.”
A hint of a smile touched my lips. “Thank you, Ryland. Apology accepted.”
I thought for a moment that was it, but I could tell by their faces that they wanted to tell us something else.
“What is it?” Venn asked, sounding worried.
Teagan gazed down at her hands. “We wanted you to know that I won’t be able to come with you.”
I gaped at her. “But you’re our best fighter.”
“I know,” she said in a small voice.
I’d had my suspicions for a while, but I never knew how to bring it up. Now seemed like an appropriate time. “Did something happen on Gregor Island?”
Ryland and Teagan shared that look again.
Teagan shook her head. “No, it happened before. There was a reason I didn’t go with you into the woods that night on the island, either—why Ryland and I went to the boathouse instead.”
“Were you hurt?” I asked. “When they took you?”
She didn’t look hurt, but something had definitely changed.
“No,” Teagan said. “The exact opposite. I’m pregnant.”
My jaw dropped, and Venn went speechless beside me. It took me a moment to process what she’d said, then I leapt to my feet and rounded the table.
I pulled her into a hug. “Oh my God!”
Venn finally found his voice and said, “Congratulations!”
He stood and gave Ryland one of those one-arm hugs guys shared. Ryland beamed, and Teagan hugged me back tightly.
“Thanks,” Ryland said. “Now you get why Tea hasn’t been able to help you. We just want the baby to stay safe.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked as I drew away from her.
“I hope we’re not the first people you told,” Venn said.
“No,” Ryland assured me. “We just told Sondra and Fiona this morning, but we wanted to tell everyone individually rather than in a big group.”
“It feels easier that way,” Teagan said.
“Well, we’re really happy for you,” I told them.
Teagan ran a hand across her belly. “Thank you. We’re just ready for all this to be over.”
Venn chuckled. “Believe me, we all are.”
“So, names?” I asked excitedly.
“We haven’t decided yet,” Teagan said. “We probably won’t until we know whether it’s a boy or a girl.”
“How long do you have to wait?” I asked.
“Just a few more weeks.” Teagan looked own at her belly. I hadn’t noticed before, but now that I was looking for it, I saw she had a small bump.
“Anyway,” she said. “You should probably head back downstairs. We have a lot more preparations to do before tonight, and we still have more people to tell.”
When Ryland and Teagan told us about their baby, it felt like maybe things would turn out okay.
We only had a few more hours until we found out.
25
Venn stood at my side in the trees as I fiddled with Carla's bracelet. We'd arrived at Bryant Park over an hour ago, just before dusk, and there was still no sign of Matias.
“Do you think he figured out this is an ambush?” I whispered.
Venn placed his index finger to his lips to quiet me. I distinctly heard the brush of fabric as his arm moved. My senses were on high alert after the potion I drank. I could easily see through the darkness and feel the heaviness in the air, indicting further rain. I was also armed with one of Devin's cufflinks, a healing potion, a few weapons, and my trinket—a golden ring we'd gotten from Xander. I'd also drank one of those potions Clarita had said made one guy invisible, but I had yet to discover what superpower I'd drawn.
I heard the flapping of his suit coat in the wind before I saw him. Valkas came down from the skies like an angel of death, levitating himself above the ground. He landed so softly in the grass that I didn’t hear it. He straightened a lock of hair, then glanced around. Even without the silver eyes, he still looked sinister.