Chapter 15
RAVENA
I opened my eyes, and this time, golden morning light streamed through the massive windows across from me. The city stretched out beyond the glass, bathed in soft hues of dawn, the world already awake.
I shifted slightly, testing my body. A dull ache settled in my limbs, the remnants of exhaustion still there, but the unbearable pain had dulled into something more manageable.
For now.
Movement caught my eye. The same guy from last night sat nearby, his messy ash-blonde hair sticking up at odd angles like he’d just rolled out of bed. His brows were furrowed as he tapped away at a small games console, completely absorbed.
I pushed myself up, wincing slightly, and the moment I did, his head snapped toward me. His eyes widened briefly before a grin spread across his face. He tossed the console onto the chair he was on and stretched.
“Well, well, sleeping beauty finally decides to grace us with her presence,” he said, annoyingly chipper. “I was starting to think I would have to kiss you awake.”
I glared at him. “I don’t even know you well enough for you to be joking with me.”
He grinned again, completely unbothered and then plopped down at the edge of the bed. “Oh, but you will,” he said. “I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be the best of friends.”
His tone was dripping with amusement, but there was an easy confidence in how he said it, like it was inevitable.
I narrowed my eyes at him, unimpressed. “Doubtful.”
“You say that now, but give it time. I grow on people.”
I huffed, crossing my arms. “Like a rash?”
His laugh was loud and genuine. “Exactly.”
I shook my head, scanning the room. Everything was neat, almost painfully so. The bed was impossibly soft; I could stay in it forever.
“Raven, you, okay?” Relief loosened the tight grip around my chest as I heard his voice.
“I’m fine. Are you?” In response, he sent a wave of calmness through the bond, a warmth that settled deep in my bones.
“I’m okay now. Whatever you did last night drained us both.”
Guilt washed through me.
“I didn’t mean to tap into our bond. I was just so angry.”
He chuffed. “I could feel that, but whilst I’m not fully grown, it will drain us, most likely kill us.”
Well shit.
“And your body can’t take any more now. Don’t be stupid. The moment we unlock your full magic, every last soul who's ever dared threaten you—Every. Single. One will pay. The king, your enemies. They won't live to regret it.”
The man in front of me sat closer; he reached for my hand, and his skin was soft and warm. The way he looked at me stopped me from pulling away.
“When will you be back?”
“It’s hard to say, but if you need me, I will be there.”
Now it was quiet, and I really missed him. I just hope he’s okay. It’s probably best he wasn’t here; he needed to be safe, and staying in Velmore wasn’t for him.
“I want to say thank you. For what you did for my sister last night. You didn’t have to help her, but you did. That makes you one of the best people in my eyes.”
I blinked at him, caught off guard. Compliments weren’t something I was used to. My first instinct was to deflect, but something in his expression stopped me.
I exhaled, running my fingers through the ends of my messy hair. “She didn’t deserve what they were going to do to her,” I said quietly. “Nobody deserves that kind of treatment.”
His lips quirked up into a small smile. “Still, it means a lot.” I shrugged, trying to ignore the unfamiliar warmth curling in my chest.
“Don’t get used to it.”
He chuckled, the teasing glint back in his eyes. “Too late.” He stood up, stretching his arms up before holding a hand out toward me, wiggling his fingers impatiently.
“Come on, Ronan has breakfast cooking. You don’t want to miss it cause that man can fucking cook.”
I know.
After a moment, I sighed and slowly placed my hand in his.
His grip was firm but careful as he pulled me to my feet.
My legs were still weak from yesterday; they wobbled beneath me.
I stumbled slightly into him, but before I could fall, he caught me with ease, his hands steadying me.
As I looked up, his face was much closer than I expected, and he was smirking.
Luckily for me, I didn’t get the same feeling when I was around the four men who had stumbled into my life.
“Falling for me already, little red?”
Nicknames. Again.
I pulled away from his hold, though my legs still protested the movement. “You wish.”
He laughed lightly, slipping his hands into his pockets with a lazy grin. “Give it time, little red.”
I scoffed. “Don’t hold your breath. Or better yet, do.”
He jerked his chin toward the door, “Come on, before Ronan eats everything, or you collapse again. I’m not carrying you; you’d probably stab me for the effort.”
“Smart man.” I followed him out of the room, down a very plain hallway.
I could hear low voices growing louder with each step.
The scent of something warm and savoury filled the air, and a surprising comfort settled in my chest despite the unfamiliarity of it all.
As we walked through the living area and stepped into the kitchen, my eyes immediately landed on Ronan, who was at the stove, effortlessly plating food like he belonged in the kitchen.
At the table, the brown-haired girl that I saved last night was sitting at the table with a glass of orange juice, her hands moving smoothly as she signed something to Ronan.
You’re fussing too much. She’s not broken.
“I know she’s not broken, D; I just want to make sure she’s looked after.
I’m sick of seeing her hurt.” He turned his head then, and the second his eyes locked onto mine, something shifted.
The tension in his shoulders eased, and a crooked smile pulled at his mouth—one that sent a swarm of butterflies into a frenzy.
“Good morning, Cherry,” he said smoothly. “Sleep well? I made you some tea.”
I wrinkled my nose. Tea.
The boy beside me let out a loud laugh at my expression.
“The tea is for the pain,” Ronan clarified, clearly amused too. “Then I will get you something better to drink.”
“Like coffee?” I asked, hopeful.
“Like coffee,” he confirmed with a smile before turning back to the food.
The boy beside me clapped his hands together dramatically. “Right, before we go any further, introductions are in order,” He shot me a grin. “I’m Drew, Darian's much hotter and younger brother.”
Oh. I remember Darian mentioning his siblings a lot, always speaking highly of his little sister and that his brother must have been adopted, but I knew he loved them with everything.
I arched a brow at him. “I don’t see it.”
“You will, little red.”
I groaned internally as Drew gestured to the girl. “And that’s Daleyza—my twin. You saved her life last night, so congrats, you’re officially stuck with us now.”
I walked over and slid into the seat across from her, offering her a small smile.
“How are you feeling today?” I asked, watching as she set her glass down on the table and lifted her hands to respond.
I’m good, thank you. And, thanks again for last night.
I leaned forward in my chair. “It’s no problem at all. I don’t think they’ll give you any more problems now.” I added a wink, making her laugh softly, barely there, but I caught it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed both Ronan and Drew staring, their eyes wide like I had just grown a second head.
“You know sign language?” Ronan asked as he placed a mug in front of me.
“Clearly.” I glanced at the tea he had set down, followed by my breakfast, which he had made. The tea smelt… awful. I barely stopped myself from wrinkling my nose again, but I picked it up.
Anything to stop the lingering pain and aches.
Daleyza tapped the table lightly, drawing my attention back.
They’re not used to people knowing it. She signed; her expression amused.
I took a sip of the tea, suppressing a grimace at the bitter taste. “I’m not like most people.”
“Don’t I know it.” I heard Ronan say, but nobody commented.
The boys sat down and tucked into their food straight away, and I looked down at my own plate—crispy bacon, sausages, eggs, and then pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and drowning in syrup.
I’m still not used to anyone cooking for me. Ronan has been doing it for me since I met him. He’s also been trying to teach me, but he’s very distracting with his pretty blue eyes, teasing touches and that laugh I like so much.
I took another sip of my tea, the dull ache in my body finally starting to dull. Before I could wallow in it any longer, Ronan slid a cup of coffee across the table toward me.
I looked up and met his gaze. The playful smile was gone, replaced by quiet focus. I offered a small, real smile in return.
“Thank you.”
He just shrugged one shoulder, like it was nothing.
But it wasn’t nothing.
He wasn’t nothing.
Ronan was starting to mean more than I knew how to deal with.
The coffee hit just right, smooth and strong with a hint of sweetness. Drew leaned forward, smirk in place, plate pushed aside mid-bite. “So…when's the wedding?”
I choked mid-sip, coughing into my fist while Ronan shot him a look that could’ve curdled blood. Without missing a beat, he leaned over and punched Drew hard in the arm.
“Fucking hell,” Drew yelped, dropping his fork and clutching his bicep. “It’s a valid question!”
Daleyza rolled her eyes at her brother, but she was hiding a grin behind her glass.
Setting my cup down with a little more force than necessary, I pinned Drew with a deadpan stare. “You’re an idiot.”
Drew just smiled at me. “Yeah, but I’m your favourite idiot,” he said, stuffing more bacon into his mouth from Daleyza's plate.
“There’s no wedding. There’s nothing.” I said, voice flat, but the second the words left my mouth, they tasted bitter. Like some part of me wasn’t convinced anymore.
Drew opened his mouth, probably about to say something equally dumb and irritating, but before he could, I caught the flicker of something—something raw —in Ronan’s eyes.
A tightness rose in my chest.