Exaltation (Insight #11)(57)

It was Revelin.

“He’s calling you again? King! Look at me!” Dagen bellowed, as he dove to the ground before Rydell.

For days this call from Revelin had been coming. Each time Rydell fought it off, but this time, the pull was so strong he didn’t think he could. At the very least, he was sure Revelin would manifest where Rydell was if he didn’t go to him. Rydell didn’t want him that close to Raven or any of this.

“Listen to me. You find Benjamin. You make sure he’s here when I get back. And figure out how to get Kade straight. No one touches Raven. You make sure of that. You hear me?”

“I’m going with you,” Dagen said, prepared to do just that.

“No. This is my place. You’re in charge right now.”

“King, do not do this. He was bound to feel that kiss. He has to have figured out what is going on. He will kill you just to make a point.”

“And if he does, you go to Raven’s father and you tell him that you and our faction are going to stand and protect them. You lay it all out.”

“Are you insane!”

“We’re not killing innocents. I doubt Revelin will strike me. He can’t afford how weak that will make him right now. But if he does, my last words to you are that we do not harm the innocent. Ever.”

And with that Rydell vanished to face his king.





Chapter Seventeen

Raven expected Soren to have a million questions for her about Rydell on the way home, but he only asked if she was good and left it at that. The rest of the way home he talked about school, the rink, the normal things.

Raven was calm, not dancing in her seat or laughing. She couldn’t figure out the rush of vim between her and Rydell and was humiliated by it. She feared all the unlocking of memories and such had made her some kind of freak. She was all for being different, but she wasn’t sure she could function in her normal life if this kept up, and it scared her.

Once Soren dropped Raven off she walked around the side of Emery’s home and picked up a scent she had never smelled at either of her homes.

Raven crept toward the gardens and saw Emery standing on one of the benches against the wall, peering over it with a cigarette in hand. She was hitting it like she was about to walk to the gallows.

What has her so bothered?

“Now I’ve been told that’s a bad habit, and something like ‘you should respect your temple,’ and all.”

Emery jumped, which made her fall from the bench. Right as Raven went to help her, Emery hopped out of the flowerbed on one foot. Swallowing a curse, she held the cigarette behind her, which made no sense because Raven just said she saw her smoking it.

Raven raised one brow.

Emery let her shoulders fall, dropped the butt, and stepped back to put it out. Then the thought to dispose of the evidence crossed her mind. Emery picked it up and shoved it in her pocket.

This week had been hell. Emery was used to seeing Jamison or talking to him daily. Ever since the weekend he had been with Saige and Evanthe, another original from the coven, going over the details of the prophecy. Trying to piece it together with what was going on today. They never had a chance to finish their fight, or rather make up from it. When they spoke it sounded more like them laying out battle plans. They were only speaking of protecting the girls at this point.

Emery was saturated with guilt. And the more time she was alone, the more she watched the twins try and dig into their past, the worse she felt. Looking back, she knew her reasons for distance made no sense, and she feared she had waited too long. Now the girls were grown, now they were facing danger, and their family was at risk of falling apart when the truth of their odd beginning was revealed.

Emery tried to tell herself that the girls had joked about her and Jamison enough that it would be a relief, and that may be true. But it didn’t take the fact away she had hurt Jamison over the years with her insecurities and her fears. Immortal or not, it was a sin to waste time better spent with a lover, with a family.

“Dude? Was that out?” Raven asked, looking at Emery’s pocket.

Emery nodded once.

“What has you so whacked?”

“Were you not with the girls tonight?” Emery asked. She knew they were digging up the past. She had almost convinced herself, when they came back she was going to tell them what they wanted to know.

“No. I had to work remember?”

“That’s right,” Emery said with a shaky breath, as she smoothed out her shirt.

“They were hanging out with Miss Sherri’s—” Raven stopped short. That was the direction Emery was spying in. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just know how Ash and River are when they get their mind on something.”

Raven gave her a vague smile and started to walk inside. Right as she reached the porch Emery said her name. Raven may not have been made of her flesh but she was still her daughter and right now she sensed her pain. The bright light she was had begun to dim.

Raven hesitated before she looked over her shoulder.

“What happened tonight?” Emery asked. She knew Jamison was alarmed just before, but whatever worry he had faded as fast as it came.

“I don’t know how to say it,” Raven said, looking down.

“Someone hurt you?” Emery asked, moving forward.

“I think one day he could,” Raven said honestly. She was sure if she spent too much time around Rydell King she would fall for him and that didn’t feel right. Not when she thought about all the emotion she saw in his eyes. When she was sure some other girl held his broken heart.