Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

15. Trent

Chapter fifteen

Pulling my shirt off, I use it to wipe the sweat that rolls down my nose from my forehead before hanging it over a low branch next to the lake. It’s working every last nerve I have trying to find out what the hell happened in Castenelle. With Alaric arriving and everything with Cano, my fire is rising to the surface, and my fuse is short. Working out and sparring is my only escape from my own head.

One thing is for certain. I know that I need to get back to Ravendene. Our home territory deserves to be cared for by a Ravendene, and I won’t make the mistakes that my brother and Cano made. But with all the information that has been thrown at us… Fuck . And if it’s all true?

I don’t even want to think about it.

With time, I will rule the territory with a firm hand, but with fairness and kindness as well. Our people deserve better after everything they’ve been through. Before Dax and Raelle left, that was the plan, but now? They had to focus on the whole of the kingdom, but I’m just a man. Lost in my thoughts—doubts in myself and those around me. I don’t know what to do.

There has been no power transfer from Dax to me, so I know he’s not dead. I’m not going through those emotions again. I feel it in my bones, and I refuse even to entertain the idea. It was only brought up once before I put my foot down. With a sigh, I untie my waistband and let my training leathers fall to the ground.

“Hmmm… a full moon with the sun high in the sky. Hopefully, it’s not another eclipse. Last time that happened, all hell broke loose…” Ambriel’s unexpected laughter makes me grin, and as I turn my head to look over my shoulder at her, her wide smile greets me. Shaking my head, I stretch my arms wide, letting the muscles in my back bunch and my chest pull taut. The stretch relieves some of the tension I feel trying to consume my body.

“You are welcome to join me.” I turn my head back to face the motionless lake. The water like glass reflects the trees in the distance, but when I step in, it ripples and distorts the scene. It’s almost like Ambriel—disrupting my downward-spiraling thoughts. She and I have yet to talk about our relationship since we have been blessed with a bond of our own.

Absent-minded, I reach across my body, rubbing at the bond mark on my arm. She has been my rock through all of this. Both of us missing people we love have caused us to connect in our sorrow more than we already were. Stepping further into the water, the cold bite of it makes me pause, but I want to wash the feel of my vigorous training and negative thoughts of self-doubt from my body. I dive in.

When I come up for air, I brush my hair and the water from my face. My eyes immediately find her. She stands at the edge of the water; her skin glowing like honey. Tattoos and markings litter her lithe body, and my eyes snag on each one, but a moment longer on the twin to mine. Our bond . My tongue rolls out over my bottom lip, wanting to taste her sweetness. A rumble builds low in my throat as I notice a guard coming toward us in the trees.

“You bring that sweet ass into this water to hide your nakedness, or I’m going to have to kill an innocent man for laying eyes on you like this.”

“So hostile,” She chides, but she does as I say and slips into the lake like a siren coming to take me hostage. “You know…” Her hand slides up my chest and meets the other around my neck as she presses her body against mine. “You are supposed to be at the interrogation right now.”

“I know.” My eyes fall shut as I grip her hips and pull her impossibly closer, letting my cock bury into the soft flesh of her stomach. Feeling the pressure and darkness building in my soul, I push all thoughts of her naked body from my mind as I push her out to look into her eyes. “I can’t do it anymore, Ambriel. I can’t be this person anymore. This is—it’s not who I want to be. I would do anything in my power to get answers, but I just have this feeling nagging at the back of my mind…” I shake my head and watch as her eyes soften.

“Sir? I ugh, sorry to interrupt.” The guard I saw coming says as he reaches the water’s edge. He turns his body to not fully face us, his cheeks turning a bright shade of pink seeing us here like this.

“Well?” I ask.

“Alaric has woken up. He is asking to speak with you and, um, his sister.” He says shifting on his feet.

“Let Ginny and Claire know that we will be right there.”

“Yes, sir.” He quickly retreats, and I take a deep breath, pulling Ambriel back into me. I bury my nose into the top of her head and let her scent bring me peace, if only for this moment.

“You ready to go see what the fuck that was with your brother, tell him we’ve bonded, we’re sleeping together, and make a plan to go save the king and queen?” I laugh and she pinches at my ribs, causing me to rear back with laughter. “Ouch! Did you really just pinch me?” My laughing continues. Despite my wretched mood, she seems to always pull it from me without even trying.

“You will say nothing to my brother about sleeping with me, Trent Fornax-Ravendene, or gods help me, I will do more than just pinch you.” She tries hard not to smile, but relents when I continue grinning from ear to ear. “You are insufferable.” She turns, wagging her hips as she exits the water, and I bite my fist as I watch the water roll over her curves.

“You are incomparable… irresistible…” I say each word slowly as I prowl toward her. Naked and dripping with water, I wrap my arms around her from behind.

“Let’s add insatiable ,” she teases.

“Mmmm, very much so.” I press myself against her back, my need growing with every touch.

“Trent,”

“Mmmm,” I breathe into her ear. “I like it when you say my name.” My tongue slides up the side of her neck.

“Trent!” She turns in my arms, slapping my chest, and I laugh again, but let her go and grab my breeches from the ground and pull them on.

“Fine, but you will get it for pinching me.”

“Oh, I look forward to it.”

We have spent too much time in the infirmary these days. I know I’m not the only one who wishes that we could just have a few days of peace, but the gods and fate have deemed it necessary to torment us… Ambriel says they are ‘molding’ the future of the realm, but as I see, it’s been nothing short of wreaking havoc on the land.

“Ambriel filled me in on the vision that Alaric shared with the two of you,” Maki says as a greeting when we enter the antechamber. “I know it’s hard to come to terms with, but what Cano has been saying…”

“Cano is telling the truth,” Ambriel says, threading her hand in mine. Sensing my unease.

“So what if he is? What are we going to do about it? We can’t trust him, not after everything.” I grind out. “He should be locked away until Dax is back. He and Raelle can decide what to do with him.”

“Only that is the problem. Dax and Raelle are missing—we have to accept the fact that Cano knows his father better than any of us. If anyone could be of use right now, it’s him, and since I’m speaking freely, Alaric is just as much an asset, if not more. It would not be wise to treat either of them any other way.” There is a moment of silence as I stare at the door separating us from the rooms that hold the Fae she speaks of.

Chewing the inside of my lip, I think about Alaric. I have no argument with what she has said about him. He may be a thorn in Dax’s side, but I have no issues with him. I’ve seen his magic, and seeing what he can do in training alone proves him to be useful. Cano too would be a useful Fae to have around if we were merely looking at his ability as a soldier. It’s trusting him that is the issue.

“You don’t have to trust him to utilize him,” Ambriel says, possibly reading my thoughts—we have yet to talk about the extent of her gift or how it works. I narrow my eyes on her, and her knowing smile makes me think that my instinct is right.

“Fine. We use him, but he stays on a short leash. Flynn should come too. He can be another set of eyes on him. He helped Dax when he was a prisoner in Demetrey. I’m sure he could be of use if we need to go there too. Plus, he is a good fighter.” I turn to make eye contact with my cousin. “You should stay with your people.”

“I’ve thought about it all night. As much as I would like to come with you all, I think it wise I stay here in Loema and keep an eye on my territory. I will do all I can to watch over Ravendene as well. If I need to, I will make a trip there to show the people we are still their leaders. I will also send a group of warriors with you all. This will be no small group as it was last time.” I nod my agreement.

“Then it is settled.” We clasp our hands around our forearms. The grip is firm and absolute as we come to a decision.

“It is,” he says.

“Well, let’s go talk to Alaric and tell Cano he is going to work with us to kill his father or die along with him.” I say, as I push the door open, leading Ambriel in and letting it fall closed behind Maki as we make our way to the door.