Chapter 52
Corvis
It’s been a week since Raven pressed her mother’s head to the soil, and everything has changed.
My Raven has a different feel to her—a shift in the air around her, in the way she carries herself.
It’s almost like she’s finally comfortable in her own skin.
She’s slowly moving from being afraid of the power within her to becoming comfortable with it.
The change is subtle but undeniable. Thauglor has taken her literally under his wing, his massive pitch-black form dwarfing hers during their flights.
He guides her through his memories of how things used to be—ancient traditions, old protocols, the weight of leadership.
Today I watch my mate sit beside Klauth as he meets with other flight leaders in the great hall.
The scent of old wood and dragon musk fills the air, heavy and ancient.
He has his dragon close to the surface—that dangerous edge that makes lesser beings step back—to hide the power Raven is still learning to control.
The males at the table are the elders of the different flights in the territory, their combined ages spanning millennia.
I watch Raven taking notes in a leather-bound journal, her pen scratching across the parchment with soft whispers.
Every once in a while, she writes something and slides it closer to Klauth.
He glances down at it, his crimson-flecked amber eyes scanning her words, then he changes the angle of his head and adjusts the direction of the conversation.
They’re working together seamlessly, and pride swells in my chest.
The meeting drags on for an hour, voices rising and falling in discussion. Klauth announces Raven is taking over Blackhaven as the flight mother over there. “Corvis is taking over as head drake for the den?” One elder asks, looking back at me with calculating eyes.
Raven winces, and I see her hand lower and rest about level with her stomach.
Looking closer, I see under her jacket the straps of the egg carrier—orange shell just barely visible.
“I have a cursed egg. If it hatches as the elder drake, he will become the lead drake. I will not announce which male is in charge of the nest’s safety just yet.
” Her eyes lift, looking at the door where Thauglor stands, and he looks pissed off—eyes blazing sapphire fire, his jaw clenched.
“Until a dominant drake is chosen, my father Thauglor will be deferred to.” A slow smile crosses her lips as she turns to look at Klauth.
“Or my nest father and sire...” She raises her arm, pushing back her sleeve to show off the red scale marking her as his heir apparent—the crimson standing out against her pale skin like a brand.
Looks like these old bastards forgot Raven ascended to heir apparent to the Marzana Empire.
Whispers spread through the room like wildfire, voices overlapping in shocked murmurs.
No one in their right mind will question Raven now.
The meeting comes to a close, and Raven hangs back while Klauth and Thauglor lead the others out.
The sound of their footsteps echoes down the corridor, fading into silence.
There’s a hesitancy in the way she’s looking at them—vulnerability she rarely shows.
She doesn’t want to tip her hand yet, but she knows we can’t hide it forever.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I move closer and take my mate in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body against mine.
Raven curls into me and wraps us in her wings—soft leather blocking out the world—and she draws in the first deep breath I’ve seen since the meeting started.
“I am now. Thank you for being here.” She kisses my jaw, her lips warm and soft, and purrs so softly for me.
The sound vibrates through my chest, settling something restless inside me.
I hold my mate close and rest my cheek on the top of her head, breathing in her scent—smoke and spice and something uniquely Raven.
“Anything you need, just ask. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.” I whisper just to her, and she squeezes me tighter. I feel a vibration through the egg carrier—a pulse of warmth and energy.
Raven laughs a little, the sound lighter than it’s been all day. “Solaris says you’re gonna give him a run for his money in the romance department.” Raven nuzzles my chest and sighs again, holding me tighter.
“As long as we keep you smiling, that’s all that matters.” I press my lips to her temple and smile, feeling the vibration from the egg intensify.
“He agrees.” Raven says before opening her wings and releasing me. Cool air rushes in where her warmth had been. She raises a brow, looking at me. “There’s an exodus from Mom’s flight to mine.” Raven’s grip on my hand tightens as we walk out to the lower courtyard, our boots echoing on the stone.
“Oh? How bad?” I arch a brow, looking at her.
“All the blink hounds, Lily, Thorne, Orpheus, and about a dozen other families.” She draws in a deep breath and looks at dragons launching, heading toward Blackhaven—dark shapes against the blue sky.
“Construction has been nonstop since Mom announced my taking over last week.” Raven points at Leander and Hemlocke standing shoulder to shoulder, looking at the gardens.
Sunlight catches on Hemlocke’s long black hair, making it gleam.
We catch up with them, and they turn as we approach. “Hey, guys.” Leander says as he shakes my hand—his grip firm—and hugs Raven. “The rough turnouts are being built in that upper field like you suggested.” Leander says to Raven.
“Our mate suggested letting the war horses that are in their rest cycles come to stay with us. We have the open fields, and the type of grass that is there is very good for them and replenishes quickly.” Hemlocke smiles, and I can’t miss the look of pride on his face—his pink eyes bright.
“When the mares are getting close to foaling, they will rotate into that field to have the best nutrition and security for their young.” He and Leander look at Raven with an affectionate smile.
“What? I love foals—they are so stinking adorable. They have the softest noses, and their tiny hooves are so cute.” Raven practically squeals, her entire demeanor shifting from serious flight mother to excited girl.
Hemlocke and Leander’s eyebrows shoot up. “She’s not lying.” Leander says, amusement in his voice. “She stole my daughter so much Mina had to limit Raven’s solo watching Isolde time.” Leander gets a haunted look in his eyes mentioning his daughter, the levity draining from his face.
“No, no, no, shh... Dad, please...” Raven dives into Leander’s arms and hugs him tightly. They cry together, holding onto each other. The sound of their sobs makes my chest ache.
The same girl they’re crying over rounds the corner and sees them hugging it out. Isolde dives in and wiggles herself between her sister and father, her small form fitting perfectly between them. “I’m safe. I’m home.” She says over and over again, the words a mantra.
Hemlocke and I step back, giving them space, letting them have their moment.
“Leander feels guilty that Raven broke her wing getting his daughter back. Isolde doesn’t go far from Titan now when she goes out, or she waits for Leander or me.
” I watch Hemlocke bite his lower lip, worry etched on his face.
“She’s going to ask to come with us,” Hemlocke says and turns to look back at the hugfest before us.
“That’s a good thing, right?” I ask, looking at him, tilting my head, not sure how to parse the information.
“Some of my brothers are coming to join us at Blackhaven too.” Hemlocke raises an eyebrow and motions toward Isolde.
“Charron believes she’s his mate by scent.
” Hemlocke purses his lips and turns his back to the hugfest, his shoulders tense.
“Isolde hugged me before school one day, and I met my brothers in the cafeteria. Charron came up and bumped my shoulder and froze, then sniffed my shirt. I knew the look in his eyes. It’s the same one I had the first time I caught Raven’s scent. ”
I arch a brow as I move Hemlocke away from Raven and the others, lowering my voice. “When do nightmares and unicorns know who their mate is?”
Hemlocke makes sure no one is looking, glancing around the courtyard. “Males as young as five. Females eighteen.” He looks between me and our mate, concern flickering in his pink eyes. “What’s the age difference?”
I try to think back to the year Ziggy went around abducting his nest mates—chaos and laughter and family forming. “Maybe four to five years, I think. So, as early as this winter?” I arch a brow and shrug.
“That gives Charron all summer and into the winter to get to know her and for her to get to know him.” Hemlocke looks back at Leander and Raven talking to Isolde, their heads bent together.
They turn and start walking toward us, and part of me feels as if I’m in trouble for something. I’m not sure what, but I have information about Raven’s sister that she may or may not have. “Hey, baby.” I open my arms to Raven, and she snuggles in immediately, fitting perfectly against me.
“So... we’ve got something to tell you.” Raven cocks her head, and her right eyebrow shoots up in a way that means she already suspects something.
“Okay. Hit me with it.” I press my lips to her forehead before passing her to Hemlocke, feeling the reluctance in letting her go.
“Isolde is coming to live with us. She wants to help Hemlocke with the warhorses and the foals in the spring.” Raven smiles as she purrs against Hemlocke’s chest, the sound making him relax.
“That’s amazing.” I smile broadly, looking at my sister-in-law. She’s so young, so fragile-looking compared to Raven.
“Dad told me the black unicorns are joining the flight, so...” She bites her bottom lip and looks to Raven, who nods at her encouragingly. “I’m hoping to find my mate. I turn eighteen this winter, so...” She looks back at Raven and blushes, her cheeks turning pink.
“I told you, Hemlocke and I will make sure that whatever male thinks he’s good enough for you, we’ll talk to. Worst case, I’ll eat them.” Raven smiles a toothy grin that is borderline feral—all canines and predator.
“This is exactly why I’m comfortable with my baby moving in with you.
You went to war for her, melted an island for her.
” Leander says passionately as he reaches out and touches Raven’s wing that she had broken—running his fingers over the healed bone.
“You risked everything for her.” He gets choked up thinking about what had happened, his voice breaking.
“I would do it again. She’s my baby sister. I would melt the continent if it meant keeping her safe.” Raven says as her bottom lip quivers, tears threatening to spill.
Hemlocke hugs her tighter and kisses her forehead, his lips lingering.
“Let’s go finish packing up our stuff at our old place.
We should go to Blackhaven and see how the renovations are going.
I believe Mina is there overseeing the adjustments.
” Hemlocke says as he gets Raven and Isolde to follow him, leading them away gently.
“So many of the hatchlings are leaving the nest.” Leander laments, sadness heavy in his voice.
“We’re not far. Just eight leagues north of here. An easy run for a nightmare.” I pat his shoulder, trying to comfort him, feeling the tension in his muscles.
“You’re right. Come on, let’s get everything settled so you can start settling into your new home.” Leander turns me, and we head toward the guest house we had been living in—the familiar stone path worn smooth by countless feet.
“I’m surprised Vox and Cerce left so early.” The minute the words leave my mouth, Leander laughs—a deep, genuine sound.
“Thauglor showed up with a team of movers to get them out so Raven can settle. We’re all concerned about having Raven and Mina too close together.
” Leander’s eyes burn—that nightmare fire just beneath the surface, flickering orange and red.
“I can feel the power my daughter is trying to suppress. It’s bad enough that we have to stagger Raven’s classes and the classes Mina teaches next year.
” He shakes his head, frustration evident.
“Oh, and the King of the North is coming just before school starts up again.”
“Why?” I stop Leander from walking and step in front of him, blocking his path. My heart rate picks up.
“The last phoenix flock lives on the northern Isle. Our very own Finlay comes from that isle. He’s petitioned to move here permanently.” Leander says and raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to connect the dots.
“Did he say why he wants to move here?” I have a gut feeling I’m missing something vitally important—something that makes my scales itch.
“His mate is here. Or how did he put it, his soon-to-be mate.” Leander stares at me, letting the words sink in.
“Okay?” Shaking my head, it’s still not clicking. My brain refuses to make the connection.
“Mina and I suspect it’s Raven. She has to be present for when the king arrives and when Finlay denounces his ties to the northern isles.
He has to request to live here from Klauth and his heir apparent.
” He flares his eyes, looking at me, and it makes sense.
The realization hits me like a physical blow.
“Oh, shit.” I take two steps back, my boots scraping on stone. “Shit, if he’s the elder of his flock, they may follow him.” I slide my hand down my face and exhale loudly, the sound harsh in the quiet courtyard.
“We don’t have a good relationship with them already.
This could make it worse.” Leander says before walking away, his shoulders tense.
“Be prepared for anything.” He waves over his shoulder, and I feel like there’s a boulder in the pit of my stomach.
A phoenix may be Raven’s mate. An ancient dragon is her mate.
If the northern king proclaims war, there will be no hiding Raven.
She will burn it all down.
And I’ll be right there beside her, watching the world melt.
Are you ready for year two? Raven’s Journey
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