Chapter 30
A Shit Liar
Cora
It had been a full three nights since I’d seen Cedar in that library, laying all of the truths on the table. Since then I’d been questioning every single word I’d uttered and every step I’d taken that landed me in this very spot.
“Okay, we need to get you out of this room and into the light, so to speak. You need to socialize, and I think I have just the thing,” Silvana explained from behind me.
I’d been back and forth between my room and the library countless times, and I could feel her growing restless watching me.
“We’ll bring Allie along too. Arabella arrived just as the sun was setting, and I know she’ll agree to go. Night of the ladies!”
I finally turned to look at her. Her teeth were sinking into her bottom lip, a clear sign she was nervous about my response. It would be funny if I had the energy to fight her on such a thing, but I didn’t.
I’d gone so long without Silvana, that saying no to anything she requested just wasn’t an option, but I could tell that at any moment she expected the words to fall from my lips.
The lack of enthusiasm I bore for the situation as clear as the night sky outside the window I wished to sit at right now.
Releasing a sigh, I felt myself nod. “Give me a few moments. I’ll be dressed and armed in no time, dear sister.”
Her teeth finally released her bottom lip and a smile replaced it. “Perfect! Getting the others before you change your mind.”
She ran from the room and I couldn’t help but smile as she went, a newfound pep in her step that was missing mere moments ago.
I spent the few moments I had alone sliding on clean clothes, a small silver dagger Cedar had left behind on the dresser—knowledge that I was armed would please him after our little lesson—and braided back my long hair into a tight plait over one shoulder.
Glancing in the mirror, I shook off the level of unease and discomfort I felt deep within myself, and walked downstairs to find the others.
Silvana was pouting.
“You couldn’t actually believe he’d let the four of us, three female vampires and a human, leave his castle unattended, right?” I asked her quietly.
We were seated at a half-moon-shaped table, the seats all in one bench looking out over the dance floor, which tonight held a source of entertainment in the form of half-naked men dancing.
According to Arabella’s giggles, this was supposed to be erotic, but I wasn’t getting the idea that Paine, Raiden, and Micah agreed with that sentiment.
Silvana had thought it was the girls dancing tonight, but upon our arrival had seen how annoyed her mate had been, and refused to leave the establishment until we felt our fun need had been met—whatever that meant.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I know I’m being ridiculous, and I also fully understand what everyone is telling me.
Times are tumultuous and people can’t be trusted until we put the fucker in his palace of ice in the ground, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be angry about a group of males who believe they know what’s best for me following me around like armed guards.
I’ve been taking care of myself for years, even before I lost my memories.
I don’t need the macho bullshit help now, even when it comes from a place of love. ”
Silvana sat up straight and let out a breath. “Now, I need drinks for us and food for our resident human,” she smirked over at Allie, who smiled back and nodded. “Then we can chat and have girl time or whatever the fuck girls do together. Don’t actually have any experience in this shit.”
They both slid off the bench, leaving me with Arabella. She cleared her throat after a moment of silence, her hands clasped in her lap, as her eyes finally met my own.
“It’s been a long time,” she said gently.
I felt myself nod, but words didn’t come easy. I hadn’t seen Arabella in… so long. Many of those she left behind thought of her as dead. That being the only option to why Keres hadn’t brought her home or spoken of her since her disappearance that night.
To say I was shocked when she’d arrived was an understatement.
“I’m not sure what to say,” I finally replied.
“We can start off with the simplest question. Do any of them know you helped me escape?” Her hushed whisper sank into my mind and I swallowed thickly.
“I’m not sure of what you speak, Arabella. You escaped all on your own as far as I’m aware.”
She let out a brief huff and shook her head, her eyes darting up to watch Silvana at the bar with Allie.
“We aren’t…” Her voice trailed off for a moment and she let out a slow, deep breath through her nose.
“We aren’t there anymore, Cora. We made it out, all three of us, because of you.
Trust me, I know it’s hard to reconcile in your mind, but when you get there and if you decide you wish to talk?
I’m here. Silvana doesn’t remember much, I know… but I do, and I’m here.”
Our eyes finally met once more, honey golden brown staring back at me, the plea within them clear.
“I’m not ready to talk about it, not because of you, but because I don’t feel free.
” I swallowed back all the confessions that sat on the tip of my tongue—Keres, his letters, his demands, his expectations.
“But, maybe one day when I find myself in that mindset, the safety net that the two of you have found, I’ll gladly be that shoulder you need, Arabella. ”
She reached over, her hand tight around my own as she squeezed with a nod. Only releasing once Silv and Allie came back to the table, goblets and plates in hand.
“Okay, so I have a bit of everything,” Silvana began as she set things down in front of us all and took her seat back beside me, Allie on her other side, but the words drifted off of me as my eyes returned to Arabella.
The previous pain in her voice was gone, replaced by a sense of peace I’d never dared dream of.
I’d seen that look in Silvana’s eyes, and I’d wanted to contribute it to her lack of memory of what happened to us, but Arabella remembered everything.
She’d fled at the peak of Keres's horrific actions towards the majority of the females trapped within the castle of Whitbourne. Moments when he’d began killing those he deemed unworthy during his fits of rage.
Slitting throats for fun when Sabel hadn’t given him the news he’d wanted.
When he couldn’t have children, he felt blood was due in its place. Fear in place of love. Pain in place of the growth. But Arabella was free. She’d found her mate and she seemed at peace, even if the nightmares still plagued her at times.
“What’s it like to be mated?” I found myself asking, interrupting whatever they’d been talking about, my eyes solely on Arabella.
“Mated? Like to Paine? Or generally speaking?”
“Take your pick.”
She smiled softly, glancing over her shoulder to the back of the room where all the males sat before her gaze returned to me. “It’s like nothing I ever expected, yet everything I always needed.”
A set of chocolate brown eyes entered my mind, but I shoved the feelings down before they could form fully.
“Did you ever worry the Fates had it wrong? That they paired you with someone not… right for you?”
A knowing look entered her eyes and she nodded.
“Of course I did. I didn’t feel worthy of such a male.
The Court of Ravens has never shied away from the just and fair ruler Paine has been since he took his throne.
So even before I’d met him, I’d heard of him.
To say I felt unworthy was an understatement, Cora.
But, who was I to judge or question the Fates? ”
Quiet fell between us as Silvana’s hand slid into my own, a soft squeeze that I’d missed more than I cared to admit.
“Why do you ask? Anyone in mind?” Arabella asked, her tone now light and casual as she bumped my shoulder playfully with her own.
I shook my head—faster than was necessary when she was clearly poking fun at me—but Silvana started giggling.
“Another raven shifter, I’m sure.”
I didn’t dare act on anything my sister was saying, lest I give away anything going on in my mind right now.
“The threads are bright between the two of you,” Allie added, her voice soft as if she were trying to calm an irate child.
I released a slow breath before turning to look at the human.
“Respectfully, Allie, I have no idea what that means.”
Silvana chuckled once more. “It means that it isn’t the damn blood magic. Stop being stuck in such a state of denial already. I swear the two of you are made for each other—stubborn as fuck. You’re in love with my best friend, Cora! Things could be much worse.”
I rolled my eyes, pulling my hand from hers, and picking up the cup she’d set in front of me. Taking a small sip, I was forced to try to hide the grimace when the spiked blood hit my tongue.
“Ha!” Silvana hollered. “I was fucking right!”
“Right about what?” I shot back, exasperated by her insanity this evening.
Arabella cleared her throat as she peered over the rim of my goblet. “Um, have you and Cedar… you know?” she asked, her voice trailing off.
“Fucked,” Silvana stated plainly.
“I mean, I only ask because, well, once Paine and I had, any blood that wasn’t his tasted of dirt. It was quite the shock to the system.”
I scoffed. “We’re not fated. The drink is just fine.” Lifting the cup to my lips, I forced another sip down, refusing to let the disgust show on my face.
“You’ve always been a shit liar, sister of mine,” Silvana muttered through a set of giggles.