Moon Raven Rising (The Moon Raven Trilogy #3)

40. Raelle

Chapter forty

As though I can feel each step he takes toward me, my skin crawls with each resounding stomp of his boots. It’s not a nervous energy, but the magic of the moon and each of my bonds. It fills me with strength. That is coupled with the blood in my veins and the support from the man fate has chosen as my equal.

“My gods,” Soren’s jaw falls slack when he lays eyes on me. Although he’s not really looking at me. His eyes are wide with fascination as he takes in the shadow magic I let drape my body in an inky black waterfall.

The shadows caress my body in a way that I know is Dax’s doing. His gentle reminder that he is here and I have his support. I keep my face blank, regardless of the way my posture stiffens as he approaches me. He comes too close for my comfort, and when he reaches out to touch me, the shadows strike his hand, like a mother scolding a child. He rears back with a laugh. I would laugh too had I been the one who controlled the movement. Again, Dax’s doing.

“Lord Soren, the king is demanding an audience. The commotion has woke him, and he says his dragon senses—” The guard who is addressing Soren approaches and his words fail as his eyes finally land on me and my shadow gown. “Oh my gods,” His mouth moves, trying to dispel more words, but nothing comes. He looks to Soren, who only has a look of smug satisfaction painting his face. Soren ignores him.

“Oh little bird, how good you look bathed in darkness.” The low rumble of his voice makes me clench my teeth together as he comes in close, and I tilt my head at him, trying to keep my emotions tucked away. The shadows follow my command, as I put a barrier in place and put distance between us. His laughter fills the space and snaps the guard out of whatever trance he’s been stuck in seeing the magic I’m cloaked in.

“How are you feeling, pet?” Soren purrs in the same way that always makes me sick, but he does keep space between us, still studying each movement I make.

I don’t have to answer his question though, because soon after the words left his lips, there is a commotion of shouting, a deep rumbling voice demanding to know what is going on. King Phyrrohs storms the halls, barreling toward the doorway that will lead to us. My eyes flick up to meet Soren’s. He’s frantically looking around, panicked, and blotchy red skin is crawling up his neck with his discontent. My eyes narrow on him.

“Get her back to the tower. NOW!” He pushes the nearest guard. A man I have seen before. Mostly in passing, he has not been one to escort me or guard over my quarters before. Young, probably just barely ascended.

“Yes, sir.” He moves in to offer me an escort but thinks twice before approaching the slithering shadows that dance around me. Smart kid. “Follow me,” he says, swallowing hard and raising his chin, starting for the door.

“No! Not that way. Use the passages.” Soren barks in a hushed tone, pointing to one of the dark archways. The boy nods, quickly changing his path. Soren’s eyes never leave me as I pointedly ignore him. He catches my arm in his grip as I pass him and spins me, and forces me to look him square in his eyes. He leans forward, his lip curling the smallest amount.

“If you so much as try anything at all. The man that lays in that cave in Castenelle will be burnt to ash and let go on the wind.” He growls, his hot breath heating the skin on my cheek. Slowly, I let my face morph into something else. I soften my features and bring my hand up to his cheek, like a lover’s touch. The shadows around me quiver with Dax’s anger.

“I owe you everything and more. All of this is because of you. You have shown me what I didn’t know I needed to see.” I say gently before sweeping past him and approaching the weary guard who is to lead me back to my pretty prison. As soon as my face is turned away, my lips curl into a smile as a reaction to my words, like a double-sided blade. Each one of them was true… However, the only thing he will be getting from me is a Meraki-sized hole through his over-puffed chest.

Just as we slip from the room, I feel Dax at my side. Still hidden within the shadows, but his presence is unmistakable. The passage is narrow, but the guard doesn’t complain, though. I know he and Dax at my back must be cramped in the tight quarters meant for the usually much smaller waitstaff, not the hulking form of the soldiers in Aldramani.

The guard stops, peeking his head out of the next dark archway, and then steps through, grunting for me to follow him. I move to follow, but I’m tugged back by the shadows wrapped around my waist and pressed against the wall.

Dax slowly materializes; the twin flames in his eyes show first, then the rest of his face comes into view as his body presses into me. He leans down, his lips hovering over mine, and my heart flutters.

“Dax,” I say breathless. He silences me with the warm press of his lips. The chaste kiss threatens to bring me to my knees. We don’t have much time until the guard realizes I’m not right behind him. I press my hand onto Dax’s chest, pushing so I can see into his eyes.

“I need your trust right now,” I whisper, cupping his face in my hands. He reaches between us, his grip on my wrists firm, and pulls them to the center of his chest, covering my hands with his.

“You have it. Always.” He leans in, pressing his forehead to mine. “It doesn’t make it any less difficult to walk away right now.”

“I know.” Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, filling my senses with his scent, letting it replace the lingering foul, dark magic they tried to corrupt me with.

“Is everyone else safe?” I ask, and worry drops his brows.

“I came here with the others, but I felt what you were going through. I had to get to you. We were separated.” Dax says as he frowns.

“Ambriel?”

“She is with Trent. Alaric, Kait, and Cano were together outside too. But Trent and Ambriel came with me. Maki and the regime are nearby. Ambriel was supposed to be communicating with all of us. I’m worried because I have not heard anything.” He confesses; the squeeze of his hands over mine tells me just how much his worry is getting to him.

“I’ve learned a few things about my magic since being here. I think I can communicate with Ambriel at least. I will try to get her a message. Dax—you have to go. Go back to Maki and wait. I don’t want to sacrifice any of the people of Aldramani. Soren would start a war if he knew what we were planning. Just be ready.” I say quickly as I hear footsteps approaching.

“My lady?” The guard’s voice echoes through the narrow hall as he steps back in calling to me. My head snaps in his direction, and I immediately feel cold without Dax’s touch. He stepped back and faded into the shadows just in time for the guard not to see him.

“Sorry, I am not as quick as you.” I say, hoping that my attempt to sound coy was believable. I step in close, and he stumbles back, sure not to come too close to the darkness that still cloaks me.

“The apologies are mine; I didn’t realize that I had lost you.” He shakes his head. “Not a very good guard, I suppose. I didn’t think this would be what my life would have come to.” His words bring me to pause.

“What’s your name?” I ask as we both come into the hallway leading to my room’s door. He looks around, nervous energy emanating from him. Swallowing, he shakes his head.

“Doesn’t matter,” he grunts. We stop as we reach the door, and he opens it, but I stand there waiting. “I shouldn’t have said anything. My fate is set.”

“Something tells me that your fate is greater than you believe.” I’m not sure why I feel so strongly about encouraging him to lose the dejected energy that surrounds him, but I do. Placing my hand on his arm, I look into his wide green eyes. He reminds me of my brother. Wren used to get so wrapped up in his own head it was hard for him to let go.

“Use the negative energy that has come into your life. Let it burn in your gut and fuel the fire in your soul. It’s the dark that shies away from the light.” The words come easily, and even though I don’t know his story, I know that he resonates with them. He swallows hard, nodding.

“Thank you, Moon Raven.” He bows. The gesture bringing a warmth to me.

“Will you help me?” I ask, and he shifts on his feet, looking around before answering.

“What do you need?”

“Prince Osiris. Tell him, it’s time.”

Taking the path that Osiris has taught me, I make my way to the far entrance of the garden without running into any problems. Once outside the walls, I’m met with the chilled winter air as soft flurries begin to float down. The decision to leave couldn’t have come at a better time. At least this way I won’t have to worry about covering my tracks in the snow.

Each step I take, the more the weight on my chest begins to lift. I will soon be with everyone I love, and we will be on our way to making things right with Aldramani. Knowing that Dax is alive and well—not under the control of Soren—makes this decision that much easier.

I didn’t waste time changing or packing anything. There is nothing here I wish to take with me into my new life. Heaving myself up, I begin to climb the stone wall that separates me from the forest beyond. I can’t get anywhere near the gates, but I have to get through this wall to meet Bracarva. Anywhere else she would be seen.

“And just where do you think you are off to?” A man’s voice interrupts my silent escape, and I freeze in my tracks. Slowly, I spin to meet the dead eyes of one of the many guards who have treated me poorly at Soren’s command. This one, though, is more cruel than most.

“I thought I might go for a walk…” I respond with more sarcasm than I would normally allow since being held prisoner here. The surprise is evident by the way his brows jump up his forehead, but his lip curls, as do his fists.

“I don’t think taking a walk and scaling a wall is quite the same thing, do you? What was it? Little bird?” His smile is vile, as he says the nickname Soren called me. Something about his voice is familiar… “You know little birds like you shouldn’t be out in the dark like this… you never know what’s lurking in the shadows…”

“You got me there…” I mumble as I check my surroundings. He’s alone, which is also odd. “But what are you doing outside of the wall all by yourself?”

“Well, now… you .” He moves fast, reaching out with his right arm, aiming for my neck, but I’m quicker. My left arm snaps between us, shadows so thick they create an impenetrable wall between us in an instant. I hear him curse from the darkness, and I ease the magic back a little so I can see him. His eyes are wide as he searches the black cloud that surrounds him.

“What the fuck is this?” The guard demands. I step close, still concealed by the deep shadow magic, and push him at his chest. “Get back!” He screams like a coward, and I can’t help but laugh.

“What’s the matter? Are you afraid of what lurks in the shadows?” I say then step closer but just out of reach, and I whisper, “Are you afraid of the dark?” His arms flail as he tries to hit out at me, but I jump back before he makes his mark. Laughing again, I use the shadow magic to lasso around his neck and body, then pull him to move closer to me.

In my other hand, I let my moon magic build into a glowing orb, a miniature version of the moon. His eyes widen impossibly as he watches the orb shift in my hand, taking the shape of a moonlit dagger. I keep my eyes trained on the forming weapon, and when it is fully settled in my palm, my eyes flick up to meet his.

“Next time, maybe don’t pick a fight with a moon bitch at night.” The shadows fall away at the same time I shove the dagger of light through the underside of his chin. His eyes lighting from behind with the power of the moon, then they roll into the back of his head before he drops.

When my hands fall away, so too does the magic; darkness and light are gone, leaving only me and the corpse at my feet. I look down at my trembling hands. I hadn’t even noticed I was shaking before. I’ve killed before; it was awful, and I hated doing it, but this? This felt like vengeance and glory. My heart is racing with adrenaline and power.

Closing my eyes, I try to pull in as much air into my lungs through my nose. I hold the breath until my lungs feel as though they might pop. My lips part as I blow the cleansing breath out and open my eyes anew. This man deserved worse. I gave him kindness by making his death swift. He was the man who drugged me, pulling me from my bed and helping Soren to force dark shadows into my body, and then just now threatened to violate my body. Fae who have so little respect for another, deserve a cruel end just as the cruelness they put into the world.

“Fate gave you a kindness you did not deserve tonight,” I say to him as his eyes stare unseeing into the expanse of wintery slate gray clouds that press down on us. The watchful guardians of death, they block out all of the stars.. A dusting of snow is already starting to coat his dead body. Leaving only me as witness to his end. “It also gave a kindness to the realm, removing you from existence.” I step over his lifeless body and don’t look back as I continue my trek to the clearing in the woods, where hopefully a beautiful black dragon lay waiting for my arrival.