Bear scowled and slowly got to his feet. Pain shot through his body, but not as much as it should have. Cole had pulled some of his punches, hitting Bear to make a point more than to cause damage.
Bear brushed off the dirt from his skin. Blood streaked his chest and the paste used to draw the runes had smeared, making war-like stripes along his torso.
Raven gaped at him with a “what the fuck?” expression plastered on her face. They were so alike in many ways.
Yeah, what the fuck? Why had he launched himself at Cole? Why had he reacted so violently to the idea of Chloe being taken away? Bear knew the answer.
“I love Chloe,” he announced, the words ringing true despite how absurd it must sound to everyone, including his former self. “You can’t take her from me.”
Chloe sighed and their gazes met. Yes. He said what he said, and surprisingly, she wasn’t running away or mocking him. Instead, the black of her eyes bled out to cover the white, and her mouth parted. Power rolled off her and she glowed, emitting light like a beacon. And like a moth, he wanted to go to the flames. He wanted to snatch her up in his arms, find a safe place for them to be alone, and revel in the heat of her power.
Cole’s eyes narrowed. “Like I said, I’m her brother. I have no intention of fighting you, nor any plans to harm my sister.”
“Why’d you keep hitting me then?”
Cole’s lips spread into a nasty smile. “Those shots were for your sister.”
Okay, Bear deserved that. He tore his gaze away from Chloe to study his sister. She looked ready to fall over. He really was an asshole. He took three giant steps and held his twin in his arms. Their magic pinged against each other. Her spring rain scent mixed with mischief wrapped around them and the dark energy inside him hummed. He spoke into her hair, his voice muffled. “Rayray.”
“Brother Bear.” She relaxed in his arms and squeezed him back. Everything was going to be okay.
“You’re a shitty brother,” Cole said somewhere behind him. The urge to punch the dark fae lord returned.
Bear reluctantly stepped away from Raven to face Chloe’s brother. As much as this man scared and pissed him off at the same time, Bear couldn’t deny Cole was right. “I am. I hadn’t realized how much I hurt her or myself with my absence. I will make it up to her.”
“You better.” The shadows drew around Cole, surrounding him like a liquid threat.
Bear straightened and pulled his shoulders back. Oh, it was like that, was it?
“How about instead of posturing with one another, you take us home?” Chloe stood with her hands on her hips. “I want to scrub off your psycho ex’s doodles, and Bear’s sister looks like she’s about to fall over.”
They all turned to Raven. Her body went limp, but instead of falling to the ground, bands of shadows shot out from the corners of the room and caught her. Huh. Cole might hate him, but the fae had feelings for his sister.
Bear didn’t know how to begin processing that. The man was a walking dagger—slick and stunning in a lethal way, but dangerous and sharp to touch—but none of the barely contained malice was directed at his sister.
Cole gathered Raven in his arms, supported by the bands of shadow and looked down at her possessively.
Bear suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he was intruding on a personal moment and his sister wasn’t even conscious. He shifted his weight and cleared his throat.
As if only now realizing he had an audience, Cole looked up at Chloe and Bear standing side by side. He scowled at Bear before turning to Chloe. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, but you’re taking both of us.” She reached down and clasped Bear’s hand. “Together.”
Warmth spread through Bear’s chest and he squeezed her hand back. That was the best thing he’d heard all week.
Epilogue
“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.”
~ Sarah Dessen
Bear threw his keys on the kitchen counter and watched Chloe walk around his apartment—his real one, not the safe house. Though the building was decrepit and the street run down, his place was clean and well furnished. The only thing missing was Tasha’s indignant croak. She hated when he left her outside.
His heart dropped.
“No personal items.” Chloe turned and frowned.
“I have a cat.” He rounded his shoulders and shoved his hands in his pockets. “And a picture of me and Raven.”
“Of course, you do.”
What did she mean by that? More of that soulmate crap? He couldn’t deny he had a connection with his sister and it strengthened in her presence, but he wasn’t so sure about the whole two sides to the same coin thing. “You could’ve told me the Shadow Man was your brother. I would’ve returned you to him.”
“That’s precisely why I didn’t.”
Huh? If he’d contacted Cole and bartered for her return in exchange for sparing his life, he would’ve only had to worry about Bane.
And he never would’ve gotten to know Chloe.
“I was curious to see what you’d do and what we could become,” Chloe continued.
“We?” Why did his chest expand with warmth and lightness like that? Why did she seem to have this power over him?
“I heard what you said earlier, Pretty Boy.” She folded her arms. “We.”
He scratched his head. “Yeah, about that...”
She cocked her head, a small smile playing on her lips like she was in on some inside joke. “Did you not mean it?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I’ve never said that to anyone before. I’m not sure if it’s true. I barely know you. How can it be true? That’s weird, don’t you think? Too quick.”
Kissa chose that moment to saunter out of his bedroom. The cat despised his sister and Bear always suspected her hatred stemmed from jealousy. Kissa never liked any of the women he brought home.
The cat continued to strut through the apartment like she worked her own personal runway, tail straight in the air. When she reached Chloe’s leg, Bear braced for the hell-beast to freak out.
Instead, after one sniff, Kissa rubbed her cheek on Chloe’s jeans. A loud purr erupted from her chest.
Bear rocked back on his heels. He didn’t believe in fate or signs from above, but his cat and Tasha both told him the same thing in their own way—they liked Chloe—and that meant something to him.
He dragged his gaze away from Kissa to look up at Chloe. He found her amused smile gone. The crinkles around her eyes softened and she walked over to where he stood by some overripe bananas. “Some things in life defy logical explanations.”
Though he understood at some level what she meant, he still didn’t trust the potency of their connection. He’d never been one to fall hard or fast. In fact, he wasn’t one to fall at all. “What do you suggest?”
Instead of answering, she slid her hands up his shoulders and neck to grip the back of his head and pulled him down for a kiss. Her lips pressed against his and her magic, light and bright, coiled around him. Warmth spread through his body and tingled his toes. She tasted like sugar and naughty promises whispered at midnight.
He held her in his arms and kissed her back. She felt right like this, with him. He didn’t know what romantic love was. He loved his family, of course, but that was different. That wasn’t the same thing as love for a partner. He’d take it slow and figure things out. He didn’t deserve her—that was for certain—but she didn’t seem to mind.
Sure, this was new, and uncomfortable. But for the first time in a long time, he had hope.
~The End~
Did you enjoy reading The Call of Corvids? Please help this author out and tell someone or leave a review. Your support is much appreciated.
If you haven’t read the Raven Crawford books yet and want to know more of the story, start with Conspiracy of Ravens
(A Raven Crawford Story, Book 1),
a full-length novel by J. C.
McKenzie.
GLOSSARY Of TERMS
Anam cara: Roughly translated from dark fae to English, Anam Cara means “soul friend.” It is a deeply felt, eternal fae bond that allows two souls to flow together in a way that transcends time, place and definition. The anam cara bond allows souls to access each other’s strength, power and magic. According to John O’Donohue, “when you are blessed with an anam cara...you have arrived at the most sacred place: home.” (Anam Cara: A book of Celtic Wisdom, 998).
Caomhnóir: Guardian who is blood sworn to protect fae nobility.
Dark fae: Any fae from any of the realms within the Underworld. They are called “dark” fae because of their eyes and hue of their magic. The pupil of a dark fae eyes will appear to “bleed out,” when in fact it’s the iris that turns black and spreads to cover the whites of the eyes. This is caused during intense emotion or when accessing vast amounts of power. Dark fae are compatible with humans and have a wide range of human physical traits, though they are always attractive. Dark fae are the most feared by mortals due to their ability to blend in with regs, eagerness to exploit mortal weaknesses and willingness to venture into the Mortal Realm for their own personal gain.
Mortal: Any inhabitant of the Mortal Realm. Note: All entities of all the realms can be killed, but this term is reserved for anyone who is not an Other. Used as a derogatory slur by Others.
Other: Any inhabitant NOT from the Mortal Realm. Any inhabitant from the Realm of Light, the Underworld or the Shadow Realm. Mortal, but not a mortal.
Reg: A “regular” human being from the Mortal Realm without any supernatural powers or skills.
Underworld: An Other realm, often in direct conflict with the Realm of Light. Contains multiple, smaller realms, such as the realms of War and Lust.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This story originally appeared in an even shorter version as a part of a box set called Heart of a Phoenix. This project was dedicated to raising funds for those negatively impacted by the Australian bushfires in January 2020. I dedicated that short story, and this version as well, to Mirren Hogan, who was one of many to lose a home in these fires. My heart goes out to Mirren, and I hope rebuilding will bring her a sense of peace in this chaotic time.
Thank you to Margo Bond Collins for inviting me to participate in the box set and great cause.
Thank you to my fabulous beta readers, Jo-Ann Carson, Brianne Melnyk, Maureen Bonatch, Karilyn Bentley, Nicole Flockton and Wendy P.
Thank you to Lara Parker, my extraordinary editor and DP, my proof-reader at Book Nook Nuts.
I love how supportive the writing community and how everyone comes together to help others in need.
Thank you to my friends and family for their continued love and support.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to you, the reader, for supporting me and enjoying the stories I create.
About the Author
J. C. McKenzie is a book-loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She's the author of the Carus Series, the Obsidian Flame Series and the Raven Crawford Series. Born and raised on the West Coast, J. C. sets the majority of her books in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy heroines and brutish, alpha-type men.
Visit her at www.jcmckenzie.ca
Blog: jcmckenzie.blogspot.ca
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/JCMcKenzie
Twitter: twitter.com/JC_McKenzie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/j.c.mckenzie.author
Instagram: www.instagram.com/j.c.mckenzie
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Did you love The Call of Corvids? Then you should read Conspiracy of Ravens by J. C. McKenzie!
Raven Crawford knows better than to venture into the seductive world of the dark fae or agree to any of their salacious promises. She plans to pay off her debts so she can get on with her life and stay far away from the denizens of the Underworld.Unfortunately, her numbskull twin steals from the most tempting and lethal fae of them all. Now, Raven must help the Lord of Shadows get back what her idiot brother stole. Her only weapons? Just a little ingenuity and a whole lot of snark. It's suicide for sure, but she'll do anything to protect her twin.
Also by J. C. McKenzie
A Raven Crawford Sibling Story
The Call of Corvids (Coming Soon)
Heart's Desired Mate
The Good Griffin
Raven Crawford
Conspiracy of Ravens
Nevermore
Queen of Corvids
Standalone
The Night House
The Call of Corvids Page 11