Chapter 22
RAVENA
The sun was setting in Velmore, and I knew we didn’t have long until the whole Veilguard would start their search, hurting and questioning innocents in search of me.
This entire realm is in danger with Vespera ruling it, and technically, I would be next in line, as my mother is dead, which gives her another reason to want me dead if she were to find out that I survived.
I couldn’t waste any more time; leaving was my only option. Darian had told Vespera that the Whispering Woods were clear, so I could go back there, away from everyone, until everything calmed down and Malrik came back.
Ronan won’t like that he can’t see me once he learns I’m gone, and it hurts that I won’t be able to be with him, but it’s for the best. If anything ever happened to him because of me, I wouldn’t survive it. I’d rather tear myself apart than risk a single scratch on him or the others.
I picked up my clothes in a rush, shoving them into a bag. Voices echoed from the hallway outside, and when I glanced out the window at Vesperas' castle in the distance, a mix of anger and fear coiled in my chest—not for me, but for the people I’d let in.
“Raven.”
I stopped at the sound of Xarothar's voice, instantly feeling at ease to know he was okay.
“Xarothar, you have some explaining to do on why you have been gone for so long.”
There’s no way in hell that I want him back in Velmore—not now, not with Vespera sending out a hunt for me.
And knowing that she was the one who wiped out the dragons was another reason he couldn’t come back here.
If she ever found him, he would be dead in an instant, and I have lost so much.
I will be damned if I let her take him, too.
I can still be pissed that I have no idea where he is, and he’s been radio silent.
“You can lecture me when we see each other again. I am worried about you. You’re drained, and your magic is different.”
I rubbed my temple; he wasn’t wrong, though.
My body felt like I had been stomped on multiple times, my head was pounding, and I felt sick to my stomach.
The only time it ever went away was when I was with Ronan.
I can feel my magic buzzing, wild and unstable, trying to escape my body. If I let it out, I’ll be dead.
“I’m handling it. Now tell me where you are.”
He huffed, dramatic like always, followed by a low growl.
“Tell me you're close to unlocking the rest of your magic, and I’m not in Velmore.” Sarcastic ass. He’s hiding something.
“Just waiting on Malrik and what realm?”
“You will know when it’s the right time. Not a moment sooner. Try not to get yourself killed, Raven; it would be terribly inconvenient.” Then he was gone again, and I was nowhere closer to knowing where he was hiding, but maybe that was for the best.
Daleyza appeared at the doorway, her brows pinched with worry, and I turned to give her a soft smile.
She was easy to care about. Fierce when she needed to be, especially when it came to dealing with her brother's shit, and yet still soft where it counted. Honestly, I had no idea why anyone would ever want to hurt her. But if they tried again, I’d be first in line to rearrange their faces.
“Let us come with you,” She signed, her hands moving quickly.
I grab my bag, sling it over my shoulder, and walk towards her. “You know I can’t let you and Drew tag along. If you two suddenly vanished at a time like this, they would start to ask questions and most likely drag you in. You’re Darian’s siblings—your place is here, where it is safe.”
She looked like she wanted to argue with me, and honestly, I wished she would. It would’ve made it easier to push her away. But she just stood there, silently hurting. And that almost cracked me.
“I’m doing this all for you, to protect you and your idiot brother.” My voice softened. “And yeah, I hate it. But I’d rather be the one out there than risk all of you getting hurt because of me. I couldn’t live with that.”
I reached out and took her hand, squeezing gently. “If anything happens while I’m gone, anything at all—you tell me. Because no matter where I am, I’ll come back if you or Drew need me.”
She gave me a small nod, then stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. I froze for a second, my arms stiff at my sides. Then I lifted my arms and wrapped them around her slowly.
When she stepped back, I noticed her face scrunching up, indicating a headache, and a rush of power rattled in my brain, her power.
“You’re a seer.”
Her eyes widened, and she quickly shut the door before turning back to me.
How do you know?
“I know you get a lot of headaches, and every time you do, I can feel it. Perks of my mother’s power.” She looked at me carefully, biting her lip with worry.
I don’t know if she is a powerful one, but if the Astral sanctum ever found out, they would take her, and if she had a great amount of power, Vespera would want her.
I straightened up. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me, and something tells me you know more about me than you let on.”
I could hear Darian telling me to hurry up, and I knew it wouldn’t be long till he came barging in here, so I had to make it quick.
I hate it, she slowly signed with shaky fingers, looking me dead in the eyes. I see everything, the past and the future. When I meet someone, just by their touch, I can see everything about them, and I can also change what I know will happen.
Well shit. Daleyza would become a massive target, being that powerful. Vespera would keep her as a secret weapon against all the realms, her enemies. She would become unstoppable, and that’s the last thing we need. But something tells me there would be consequences for changing the future.
Then it hit me like a punch to the gut. “You know who I am,” I whispered, the words barely making it past my lips.
She looked off to the side, and that’s when the door slammed open with a loud crash loud enough to wake the dead. It bounced off the wall, and there he was.
Darian stood in the doorway with a murderous look on his face as he looked at me, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him.
I can’t be arsed with his shit.
I raised a brow. “Wow. Did the door personally offend you, or are we just throwing tantrums now?”
I tried to ignore the worry of Daleyza knowing the truth. Nobody was ever meant to know, and there was no reason for her to keep my secret.
“Times up, move—now.” His voice was low, commanding, leaving no room for argument as his eyes cut to his sister with a silent warning.
Ignoring the way his muscles bulged as he crossed his arms and those hazel green eyes, I used to love so much, I turned back to Daleyza.
“I will see you soon, and please, look after them.” I wrapped her up in another hug, trusting that she wouldn’t tell them, especially Darian. She squeezed me back before I took off and walked past Darian without even a glance.
Kieran was at the front door, already geared up with a silver sword strapped to him, light blue runes along the blade pulsing faintly. He stood straighter when he saw us, eyes flicking past me.
“I’ll take her,” he said to Darian, like I wasn’t even there. “You need to get back to Ronan.”
Darian didn’t argue. Just gave a small nod. “Don’t waste time. Just dump her and go.”
I stepped closer to Darian. “Ex-fucking-scuse me? I’m not fucking invisible.”
The nerve of him, the fucking prick.
He barely glanced at me. “Don’t slow him down. I don’t want to see you again.”
I scoffed, heat crawling up my neck. “You’re an asshole.”
Now, when he looked at me, his eyes slid past mine and landed lower—on the bridge of my nose, where my freckles marked my skin. Once, he traced them like they were constellations only he could see. Now, he couldn’t even look me in the eye, and it felt like losing him all over again.
“And you’re a problem. Glad we are being honest.”
God, how can someone be this much of a jerk? I heard the rumours about him. Cold. Ruthless. Heartless. And yet those damn memories creep in. How sweet he used to be with me, back when we were younger. What he has sacrificed for his family.
I force myself to remember—the dark magic crawling under his skin, the pieces of him buried beneath that cold mask. I know there's more to him than what he shows, but knowing doesn’t stop the other part of me that wants to grab him and smash his head into the nearest wall.
Repeatedly.
Kieran stepped in behind me, his hand brushing my arm, and I turned to face him. My pulse quickened at those storm-grey eyes and the ghost of a smirk tugging one corner of his mouth.
“Pretty sure he’s been an asshole since birth, temptress.”
The nicknames didn't faze me anymore—not when his touch lingered on my skin longer than it should have. When he finally let go, his hand dragged down his face, tracing over the scar and the rough stubble that made him look dark, untamed… and far too irresistible for my own good.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry, and my chest felt warm from how close he was. The scent—dark chocolate and spiced bourbon—wrapped around me, sinking deep into my skin, and it made me want to lick him.
Ugh, what is wrong with me?
I need to leave, like now.
I peered over my shoulder. “If I didn’t have to leave, I’d kick your ass.” Darian just scowled at me, like I was some annoying fly he wanted to swat.
I didn’t miss the husky chuckle that Kieran let slip.
“Let’s go.” We turned just as a woman strutted up to the door—long black hair, legs for days, and what I assume was meant to be a green dress. Honestly, if she so much as sneezed, you’d get a full view of her underwear. And her breasts were practically hanging out.
She threw me and Kieran a scowl before sauntering past with a sugary smile aimed at Darian. He looked at her, and didn’t wear the usual glare he saved just for me since he saw me again. I felt it twist in my chest, that stupid sting. I know it shouldn’t bother me… but it did.
“Hey, handsome, who’s your friend?”