Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

8. Cano

Chapter eight

An invisible weight holds my body down as I hear shuffling and the murmur of Fae voices talking quietly around me, but the heaviness in my eyelids and limbs makes it nearly impossible to move. A sour scent assaults my nostrils a moment later, forcing my body to jerk to attention. Instinctively, I throw my arms out. The need to defend myself stronger than anything else at that moment, and I push anybody close away. When I hear a gasp from a female, my eyes fly open and lock in on the rosy-cheeked Claire, who has been nothing but kind to me since arriving in Loema. Her mouth is open and covered by her hand, and her eyes are wide.

“Oh! Goddess!” She says as she falls back into a chair that sits behind her, her chest straining on the fabric of her dress as her breaths come rapidly from the startle.

“Sorry,” I cough, swiping my blackened fingers along my nose. Catching sight of them, I grind my teeth, balling them into fists, and pushing the reminder of what I’ve done down at my side. A reminder of the gift from the poison my father and that wench were feeding me. The darkness in my fingers that crawls up my arms in web-like veins is a constant reminder to me and anyone I come into contact with of who and what I am. “Stay away from me,” I growl.

“You need to be healed, Cano. I am a healer.” She barks back, standing and brushing her skirt to get rid of any wrinkles.

“Healer in training ,” Ginny says as she approaches. I let out a huff as she begins fussing over me. She pulls my fist from the sheets and attempts to pry my fingers open. When I don’t allow it, she leans in whispering.

“Please?” Her face is still pink in the cheeks, and her softness lingers in her gaze. Fucking hell. Rolling my eyes, I comply, turning away from the females as they examine, poke, and prod at me. Never in my life have I been shown so much attentiveness. I don’t know what to do with it. Confusion and frustration consume me.

“I need to leave,” I mumble to no one in particular as I start shuffling the blankets that cover me.

“Well, that won’t be happening.” The deep voice brings my gaze over my shoulder to face the door where Maki stands, his arms crossed over his chest and his feet firmly shoulder-width apart. “You will be held under my care. I was just informed that Trent will return to Ravendene within a few days, during which we will determine what to do next…with you .”

“I suppose you can count on Trent’s vote to be my death.” My eyes lock with his, and the flash of pity I see makes bile rise in my throat. “Just let me go—I’ll find my father and kill the bastard myself!” The dry laugh he barks out causes my lip to jump. A growl of frustration builds in the back of my throat. Calm the fuck down, Cano. Nothing will go as you wish if you lose your fucking shit. I clench my jaw to stop myself from saying any more in the moment.

“As much as I would like to see you two take care of each other… the trust is not there to allow such a thing. You—”

“I know. I’m a risk. You don’t have to explain it to me. I would like an audience with Dax and Raelle. I would like a chance to explain myself. To ask for—” He holds up a hand, beckoning me to stop and my words stall on my tongue. My teeth are at risk of becoming sand in my mouth the longer I talk to Maki.

“Dax and Raelle are not in Loema at the moment. They have been gone nearly a fortnight.”

“When are they expected to return?” I question impatiently. Maki makes eye contact with Claire, and I follow his gaze. Her face falls at the mention of their return. I look between all of the Fae in the room. Each shows a different level of concern. My eyes train back on Maki, and they narrow. “What are you not saying?”

“They should have returned already.” It’s Claire who speaks up now, but I keep my focus on the leader in the room.

“Where did they go?” I ask, and as I wait for his response, flickers of memories come flashing back to me. Different conversations in the castle of Demetrey—of my father and Thames leaving to go on a mission… a mission for securing something of great value… When no one answers, I begin to rip the blankets and sheets from my bed and swing my legs off the side to stand. The suddenness causes my head to swim but it is short-lived and I find my feet. “Answer the godsdamned question!” I yell at Maki. My hand clutches air at my sides as my anger builds.

“Castenelle,” Claire whispers.

“Fuck.” I turn, slamming my fist into the wall. The shadow-stained skin splits as I make contact. Crimson blood drips from my fingertips as I turn to face the Lord of Loema. “Maki, is it true?” One nod is what he gives me, but it’s enough to send me spiraling.

“Motherfucker. We need to leave. Get a crew—anyone able. Arm them. We need to get there now. I think that my father had a plan to take her. It’s the only thing that makes sense. We need to go, Maki, now.” He still doesn’t move. No one in the room moves a muscle. I launch myself from where I stand and storm Maki, pushing my chest out, and I knock him back a step. “Did you fucking hear me, asshole? Raelle and Dax are in trouble!” He puts his hands up in an act to calm me.

“Take a seat, Cano. Even if it were true. You would be no help to save the King and Queen.”

“The fuck I won’t be.” I push him back again, and I barely notice the twitch of his head in time. I turn quickly to find Ginny coming to stick me with what has to be some sort of magical sedative. I twist, catching her wrist before she can plunge it into my neck. She shrieks when I squeeze. I twist her wrist with enough force that she drops the drug. I have been drugged long enough! I refuse to be inebriated by magic again. “You will let me leave. I will be of no use laid out in a fucking bed. DAX AND RAELLE ARE IN TROUBLE!” I bellow, pushing with much more force at Maki’s chest. He staggers back with a growl rumbling in his chest, his wings bursting from his back, and the yellow-orange glow flickering in his eyes as he shifts.

“You are not the one in charge here, Cano. I am. This is my territory, and I have people to protect from the monsters in this kingdom. I will not allow you to leave this room. Sit down, now. Before I am forced to make you.” His words are spoken evenly, but I can see the twitch in his fingers and the clench in his jaw, showing me just how much he is holding back. As much as I would like to lay him out for that little show of fucking power, I recede. Taking a step back, I shrug my shoulders, shaking my head

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I seethe, then turn to the healer, “You won’t come near me with that shit again or I’ll cut your fucking hands off.” Ginny trembles at my words, and Maki steps back, allowing first Ginny, then Claire to leave the room. Claire looks back, her cinnamon curls falling over her shoulder with her gaze. A sadness brackets her mouth as she looks at me. Questions linger in the silence as she finally drops her gaze, shakes her head and shuts the door.

The turn of the lock from the outside shows just how much they distrust me. I don’t blame them. It would be stupid on their part to leave a monster without a cage. All I can do is hope that they hear what I’ve said.