Chapter 28
A Sheet in the Wind
Levi
Present Day - Grypheem
Levi’s head buzzed with energy as he opened his eyes and came into consciousness. He felt like he had drank several bottles of alcohol and then been ran over a few times.
And more than that, his cock was tingling and not in a pleasant way. As if the appendage was filled with pins and needles.
He stretched out and the move brought him back into reality as he hit flesh.
Maverick grumbled, batting him away before rolling over further into the cushions.
I’m naked. He’s naked. We’re all naked.
Levi looked around and found that they were all in fact unclothed, and Raven was at the center, cocooned between Julian and Griffin, her body nearly covered entirely by theirs.
Levi could admit jealousy had taken place in his heart watching her getting fucked by the other men, but it had quickly been replaced by interest. He enjoyed the view. But he also wished they had done this with their wits about them.
He had been rolling with each of the punches thrown his way since they landed in this unfamiliar country, but he had quickly deduced he hated it here.
Despised the cold. Didn’t trust the King. And wanted to run fast and far from their High Priestess. The snake-like woman had caused literal goosebumps when he had seen her.
A mechanical sound drew his attention as a pocket door behind them creaked open, sliding into the wall.
It was as if it had unlocked itself.
Maybe it was on a timer. But at least we’re finally free from here.
Nobody except Raven stirred at the noise, she flipped a few times and managed to squirm her way out of the cocoon.
“Hey,” Levi said, watching her carefully. He needed to make sure she was okay, that this wasn’t too much.
Raven’s eyes met his. “Can you help me get dressed? I need to pee.”
Levi contained the laughter, maneuvering on the cushions and dodged Oleks’s bare ass, Enzo’s leg, and Julian’s arm to retrieve their clothes.
He offered her a hand and helped her off the pile, reaching down and plucking her up when she was close enough.
He let her on the ground to allow them time to both clothe, but then she was in his arms again. The only place he felt comfortable.
“I don’t know where a bathroom is,” he admitted sheepishly with her wrapped around him. He ducked through the door, whipping his head back and forth to check that it was safe to leave.
With the coast clear, he chose to leave the other men behind.
The thought of them waking up naked without Raven in the center was comical, but he held in his laughter.
Raven’s arms encircled his neck, her head landing on his chest. “Griffin’s quarters are the best bet.” She hummed. “I’m crunchy and need to put something else on. I have to get into the right headspace. That was a lot. Please.”
Levi wasn’t sure about being caught at her side, but they could manage to Griffin’s room and then hide out in there until the other men woke up.
He carried her towards the stairs, his entire focus on the woman in his arms. “It was. I love you darlin’, you know that don’t you?
And if this is too much, if you need to escape, we can run to Violencia ourselves.
” His voice was hushed as he took the stairs down towards the correct floor.
The castle was empty, as it had been more often than not, and he was grateful for that. He hated the people here, they all left a sour flavor in his mouth. And Matty, her childhood friend, was no different.
“I know. And I—I love you too. Thank you for being here. I miss Jayce and Sparrow so much, but it is more manageable because of you.”
His heart warmed and buzzed in his chest. He knew this hadn’t been easy for her, but he was grateful that at least they had each other. That in the chaos of everything else going on, she could count on him.
And she could. He would be by her side no matter what.
They made it to Griffin’s space in silence, not passing a single soul as they did. Levi pushed open the door, but immediately he could tell something wasn’t right.
The fireplace was going, the space was warm.
“Amelia?” He saw her sitting on the couch from this angle, the woman’s hands folded in her lap as she stared down.
Her face whipped up, her eyes widening in terror at the sight of them.
RUN!
The word was clearly mouthed and Levi was set to do just that.
But he was too late.
“I see. The rumors are true.”
Levi set Raven down, placing himself firmly in front of her.
The High Priestess stepped into view from inside the room, staring down her nose at Levi.
This woman was terror wrapped in flesh, a snake that slithered under the disguise of skin.
Levi had met one other person that reminded him of the woman before him.
Ivan.
“A wanted man with a Sacred Cherished woman. And she’s covered in bruises.” The High Priestess moved until she was in Levi’s face.
He was aware of the priests surrounding them now, filing out of the room and encircling them, but he kept his attention on the woman before him.
The most obvious threat.
“High Priestess,” Drago’s voice came from behind, but Levi didn’t dare turn.
Levi kept his gaze on the High Priestess. Her translucent skin illuminating eerily as she raised her hand up to him.
“Drago. I told you I would be stopping by. I require proof. Imagine my surprise when the cherished was not where she was meant to be. When your lackey attempted to stop me from entering. And now here the woman is with this neanderthal. This man was in the games. He should be behind bars, not with the Cherished.”
Levi watched the Priestess’s face attempting to understand the emotions displayed there, but it was as if he were watching a sheet in the wind. Fluttering and flickering but still blank and empty.
“And so you have.” Drago’s steps approached.
Levi wrapped a hand around Raven from behind holding her to him.
“I will leave. But we are taking this man with us. He will be punished accordingly to his crimes.”
Levi stiffened as understanding pulsated through him. That he was going to be torn from Raven.
Was this Drago’s plan? An accident?
“No!” Raven shouted from behind him. She attempted to move, but Levi held her in place.
The High Priestess’s eyes lit up. “Was it consensual? Did you allow this man to claim you?”
“She did not,” Levi replied gruffly. He understood there was more at play than he grasped. That they were simply tools towards some political goal. “I will go with you willingly. She was not a part of this. I took her from Griffin and Julian as they slept.” There was truth to the words.
Levi turned around, staring down at Raven, attempting to convey a thousand words in the few moments they had.
Raven’s eyes were glassy, the come down from the drugs had already left her uneasy and he knew this would topple her further off the edge.
“I’ll be okay, darlin’. Stay safe,” he murmured, not daring to reach for her, to touch her again.
Large hands grabbed hold of his arms, wrenching him far away from her. He didn’t fight them. He watched as Drago stepped behind her, holding her shoulders, not allowing her to run.
The hood went over his head just as she toppled to her knees.
But Levi didn’t fight, he wouldn’t do anything to put her in danger. Even if that meant being taken from her, separated.
He knew the other men would keep her safe, but he was afraid.
Not for himself but for her.