by Naomi Martin
I raise my eyes and look at all three of the boys, feeling my heart swell with an emotion that’s powerful and every bit as palpable as their presences are to me.
“Can I ask why you’re all sitting here in my cell?” I ask.
“Waiting for you to come back,” Zane says matter-of-factly.
“How did you know where I went?”
“Zane knows you’re a traveler,” Elliot says.
I look up at the white-haired vampire. “A traveler?”
He nods. “You have the almost unique ability to travel from one place to another with nothing more than a thought,” he explains. “You picture it in your mind, and you’re there.”
“How did you know that?” I gasp. “I didn’t even know I could do that.”
“I read a lot.” Zane grins.
They then went on to explain the Joining and what it means for all of us, leaving me stupefied. I’ve never heard of anything like it before, but as they explain it, everything starts falling into place—from my almost instant connection to them, to everything that’s happened since. I’m especially interested to hear all about this ability to travel. That very well could be our ticket out of here.
“We need to learn more about this,” I say. “We need to understand it.”
“Agreed,” Zane replies. “But you look like you need some food.”
I nod. “I’m starving. Apparently, this traveling burns up a lot of calories,” I say. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”
We all get to our feet and Elliot and Gray stand close by me on either side, as if they’re ready to catch me when I fall. But once I get some food in me, I’ll be fine.
I let them march me out to the common area and feel the eyes of Clint’s friends on me, feel their hostility and hatred as the rumor that I killed him won’t just die. Their contempte for me is heavy and smothering. But the boys refuse to let me do anything but keep walking toward the cafeteria. And, in that moment, I’m content to just go with the flow.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Zane
I sit across the table from Raven, watching her closely as she eats. Once she finishes everything on her tray, I push mine over to her. I had my blood-synthetic this morning and had only piled up a tray because she looked hungry and I wanted to make sure she had enough to eat.
I’m curious to know where she went and what she did—as are Gray and Elliot, judging by the looks on their faces. But I don’t want to rush her. I’m content to sit and wait until she’s ready to tell us what happened.
I see Raven’s eyes widen as she looks at somebody or something behind me. I turn casually and see that Sherman is passing through the common area with some blonde shifter girl trailing along in his wake, looking like a lovesick puppy. His eyes, though, are riveted on Raven. His face is dark, his expression grim, and his jaw is set in a sneer of hatred aimed directly at her.
He finally disappears into a cell at the far end of the hall, the blonde going in after him. The four of us all exchange glances and small shakes of our heads. I think it’s sad that she would choose to debase herself that way when she clearly doesn’t want to. I pity her. But, if she chooses to suck Sherman’s cock for what she thinks is an easier stay in this hellhole, so be it. It’s not for me to decide what is in her best interest.
A moment later, we hear the sharp cracks of flesh meeting flesh and her cries of pleasure that are so dramatic, they cannot be real. He’s obviously slapping or spanking her and she’s convinced herself that she’s enjoying it. Or, at least, knowing she needs to appease Sherman, is pretending to.
“That’s sad,” Elliot says, and we all nod in agreement.
“So, Sherman obviously knows I killed Clint,” Raven says.
“No, Sherman killed Clint by sending him in to rape you,” I correct. “This is on him, Raven. Do not take this on your own shoulders.”
“I agree with the bloodsucker,” Gray says and shoots me a grin. “This is all on Sherman.”
Raven shrugs. “He’ll never see it that way,” she says. “And he will take it out on me at some point. He’s going to want to finish what he and Clint started.”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Elliot says with bravado in his voice.
As nice of a sentiment as it is, it’s just not practical. We, unfortunately, cannot be with Raven twenty-four hours a day. He will find time to get her alone and, to prepare her, we need to find out what we can about her powers, as well as our own.
“So, where did you go?” I ask.
“Home,” she replies. “I went home. To the house I was raised in.”
“Interesting,” I say. “And what were you thinking of before you… traveled?”
She cuts a glance at Elliot, and I can tell she wants to preserve their sense of modesty. But as sweet as the gesture is, it is completely unnecessary. And we simply do not have time.
“We know you’ve slept with us all,” I tell her. “We’ve discussed it already and it doesn’t matter.”
Raven’s eyes widen and her alabaster cheeks turn red. She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again and looks down, almost as though ashamed. I swear to God, some people are so hung up on sex.
“Why do you think you ended up at your childhood home?” I ask. “What was it you were thinking right before you traveled?”
“I was thinking about how safe I felt with you guys. How safe I felt in that moment, in Elliot’s arms,” she says.
“Safe? In those skinny little things?” Gray laughs.
Raven shoots him a look and he falls silent, looking down at the table. Elliot stifles a laugh and I just shake my head.
“Did you actively think about your childhood home?” I press.
“I don’t know,” she replies. “Maybe I did. I mean, I remember thinking I hadn’t felt as safe as I do now since I was a kid in my family’s home and then, poof, I was there.”
“Interesting,” I say. “You have a power that’s exceedingly rare, Raven. I mean, there are so few travelers—”
“But why did I travel when I was holding onto Elliot?” she asks.
“It’s not necessarily that it was Elliot. It’s that we’re all bonded,” I tell her. “That we have all been intimate with you has unlocked your powers and our own. And you have a power that’s exceedingly rare.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
Gray and Elliot both turn to me, asking me with their eyes to explain the Joining to her. I take a drink of water and order my thoughts before launching into everything I know and have learned about it. Admittedly, my base of knowledge is still small, and I am hoping to find more material in the library that will fill in some of the blanks. But I know enough to explain the basics to her. Raven listens to me, taking in everything I say. And when I’m finished, she sits back in her chair and twists her long black hair around her fingers.
“That makes a lot of sense,” she says. “The first time I saw each of you, I knew there was something different. There was a familiarity with you all, something so compelling that I couldn’t ignore it.”
“That’s the Joining,” I say. “And now that we’ve all consummated our bonds, we are now part of you—and each other—and you are part of us.”
I watch Raven absorbing everything I’ve said, watch it sinking into her mind and wrapping itself around her heart. And I can tell that being bonded to all three of us is not disagreeable to her. Gray and Elliot have certain misgivings, of course, but with Raven, there isn’t the slightest bit of hesitation. She is all in, with all of us. It’s fascinating to me only in that the idea of having three men at once isn’t considered “normal.” And many women would not only hesitate, but would reject the idea outright simply to maintain the appearance of propriety.
It makes me wonder if that is why Joinings between four people are so rare—simply because some people reject the pull of other people and never consecrate those bonds simply because it’s not thought of as proper. Because they might be judged by other
s. Or because they’re simply afraid. But Raven is different. She’s not only open to the idea, she embraces it.
Gray and Elliot are aghast at my attitude toward sex. And maybe, because I was thrown into this place at such an early age, I never developed the insecurities and inhibitions that so-called “normal” people do. Maybe my attitude is different because I’ve only ever viewed sex as a means of pleasure—the only pleasure there is to be found in this place. I haven’t developed the hang-ups other people have. If that makes me a deviant and somehow immoral, so be it. I couldn’t care less.
Raven looks at each of us in turn and smiles. “I can’t think of three better men to be Joined with,” she says. “Each of you fills a special place in my heart and adds something special to my life.”
“Something vital,” I add. “Were it not for the four of us coming together, we might not stand a chance at ever escaping this place.”
A smile touches Elliot’s lips. “The odds of the four of us not only having powers but—whatever it is that draws us together—all ending up in this place together, at the same time, are infinitesimal,” he says. “I’d say it’s the hand of fate or God at work. But I don’t believe in either, so I don’t know what it is. It’s just… strange.”
“And pretty amazing. This is all weird as fuck, but I know how I feel about Raven,” Gray adds. “And I have to say, my heart and my soul are definitely more complete with her being part of my life. If I have to share her with anybody, I guess I’m glad it’s you two.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Elliot grins.
Gray wads up a napkin and throws it at him, making Raven and I laugh. I feel the tension that existed between us dissipating, replaced with a growing bond of genuine camaraderie. I know they can feel it, too. And when I look into Raven’s icy blue eyes, I see nothing but joy in them. She feels that bond. Cherishes it. It’s clear that she’s never felt this sort of emotion before, and though she’s overwhelmed by it, she’s embracing it fully and completely.
As am I.
But before we can truly celebrate our bond, we need to escape from this place. We need to get away from the Villas and the Shermans, the Frys and the Keenes of this world. We need to get away from this life and put it far in our past. Go somewhere the foul taint of this place can no longer harm us.
But to do that, to create our own world and enjoy our life together, we have to survive. We have to escape. And I know that’s not going to be simple or easy. There are pitfalls everywhere. And there are even more dangers. Especially for Raven. That fact is underscored by Sherman.
We all watch him walk out of the cell, buttoning his pants and fixing his belt. His face is red and he stares at the four of us with nothing but contempt. A moment later, the blonde shifter girl staggers out of her cell. She’s limping, her clothes are askew, her hair is mussed, and her face is red from where he slapped her. But she looks at the retreating form of Sherman with something like awe on her face. Her smile is wide, and she leans against the door of her cell looking well and thoroughly used.
I shake my head and look down at the table. When I look back up, I see Sherman’s eyes laser-focused on Raven. Something bad is going to happen. And it’s going to happen soon. I can practically smell it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Raven
“So, you’re my babysitter today, huh?”
Elliot smiles. “Think of me as your extremely handsome bodyguard.”
I laugh, nudging him with my elbow. “That’s not hard to do.”
Ever since the episode with Clint, one of the boys has been by my side every minute of the day that we’re not locked down. And because of my new power, I’ve been able to travel into their cells after lockdown and spend the night with each of them on a rotating basis. It’s a handy power to have.
The last week has been spent working with my powers, trying to get a feel for what I can do and what I can’t do. That, and dodging Sherman, as well as Clint’s cronies—just because he’s gone doesn’t mean he’s been forgotten, unfortunately.
“So, when do you think we’ll make our break?” Elliot asks.
I shake my head. “I have no idea yet. There’s still a lot I need to learn. I haven’t figured out how to beat these runes and get these fucking collars of our necks,” I admit. “And that has to be priority number one. We won’t last a minute outside with them on. Talk about a scarlet fucking letter.”
He nods and gives me a small, sad smile. “You know, before you came, I’d pretty much given up all hope of ever getting out of here,” he says. “I was resigned to the fact that this was going to be my life. And now? Now, I not only have hope, but I’ve come to care for you, Raven. A lot.”
“And I care for you, too,” I tell him. “I never expected that I’d find somebody I care about as much as I care about you. Not in here.”
“Well, technically you’ve found three people you care about,” he points out, flashing me a mischievous grin.
I laugh. “Shut up. You know what I mean.”
He nods. “I do,” he confirms with a smile. “I just like to tease you about it.”
“I know. It’s part of what makes you so adorable.”
I lean over the table and give him a quick peck on the lips, then watch him blush and turn away. He’s shy about things like displays of affection, and it’s cute. It’s the exact opposite of Gray or even Zane, both of whom would likely fuck me on the table in the middle of the common area if I asked them to. Gray, because he has no shame, and Zane simply doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with healthy displays of affection and sensuality.
I’m once again struck by how different my boys are in almost every way. About the only way they’re the same is in the love and affection they show for me. This Joining thing Zane talks about is such a beautiful concept, and I absolutely believe it’s real. My soul cried out for all three of them when I first saw them. I just didn’t know what it meant; I had no concept of this Setsugo. I’m glad I do now, though.
And Elliot was right when he talked about the odds of this happening. I mean, really, what are the chances that four random people who not only have abilities, but whose souls align perfectly in this cosmic Joining deal, wind up in the same prison at the same time? They’re astronomical. You’d have a better chance of being eaten by a shark while being stuck by lightning and holding a winning lottery ticket.
Not that I’m religious or anything, but it’s hard not to think there’s some higher power that has guided us to one another. It raises the question in my mind—to what end? If there really is some higher power that set this ball in motion, bringing us together, what is the purpose? What is the reason for it? I can’t believe it would be to just make us all happy and our lives more complete.
“So, are you getting more comfortable with the whole traveling deal?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah, I’m getting a handle on it. But it has its limitations right now,” I confess. “I think it’s mostly because of this fucking collar.”
I’m frustrated that I haven’t found a way to not only disable them completely, but to get them off our necks. They’re warded to prevent us from removing them and it’s a complicated energy pattern.
“It’s a Gordian knot,” he says.
I nod. “Yeah. For now,” I growl. “But I will crack it.”
“McCabe. Raven McCabe.”
My eyes grow wide as Sherman bellows my name. I look over to see him standing by the door, his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. I cut a glance back at Elliot, who looks worried. Sherman has, by and large, ignored me for the last few days. He hasn’t even bothered looking my way. But he’s been a more regular presence in the prison.
He’s walked rounds with his men, has spent time talking to the girls who, for whatever reason, pretend to like him. Some might actually like him, but I hear their harsh words when he’s not around. I hear them laughing about him, his prowess, and anything else they can think of. And yet, some of the g
irls continue to go into their cells with him and let him have his way. I understand some of them are just trying to assert some semblance of control or make the best of a terrible situation. But the idea of letting that creep touch me turns my stomach.
It makes me sad for the girls who feel they have to please him. Sherman is a predator, plain and simple. He preys on the girls. On their fears and insecurities. On their need to be protected. He twists and turns them up and uses his position of authority—not to mention threats of violence—to get what he wants. It’s disgusting beyond words.
And it makes me want to get them out of here. Regardless of how badly they’ve treated me, no girl should be forced to live like this. No girl should have to make the decision to give themselves to a pig and a predator like Sherman simply for security. And, as long as I’m thinking about it, no girl—no one—should have to be in here just for being different to begin with.
Now, with the fires of my hatred for Sherman at a fever pitch, he’s bellowing for me to join him. Alone. It sends a river of ice flowing through my veins and a flutter through my heart. But it also plies me with a steely resolve to get every girl out of here and away from him.
“Let’s go, McCabe,” Sherman yells, irritation coloring his voice. “Ain’t got all fuckin’ day. Move your ass!”
“Remember,” Elliot cautions. “Be careful to not use your power. They can’t know. You have—”
“I know, El,” I say, giving him a nervous smile. “They can’t know about my power. I remember.”
“Be careful, Raven,” he says. “Please be careful.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I get to my feet and cross the common area, feeling the full weight of everybody’s eyes on me. Some stare at me in awe, but it seems like most regard me with contempt. Perhaps a bit of fear. They all know I had something to do with Clint’s death, they just don’t know how I did it. And while some people are thankful, some are scared of me, and others, like Clint’s friends, hate me more than ever.