Exaltation (Insight #11)(94)
“Berries is going to make her life hell,” Rydell argued. He could not let this man live.
Jamison moved his head side to side. “I’m taking his memory of this day and the days just before away. Then I’m going to give him illusions that each of the myths he tried to disprove are haunting him.”
Jamison glanced at Dagen then to Rydell. “This is going to take time. Are you going to stay at her side?” He needed him to stay not only to protect Raven, but so he could find a way to make this right. It was going to be a long road.
“You really think she’s going to let me?”
“That is your karma to bury,” Jamison whispered, hoping that even if Raven sent him away, Rydell would still stay near. If he vanished into The Realm all the realism Rydell was grasping now would fade. His mortal memories would be even further away.
Rydell went to walk away but Jamison stopped him. “Rydell. Never ask her to make a promise she can’t keep, one that you can’t keep.”
Rydell nodded once.
Rydell left Dagen with Jamison and rushed through the house.
When Raven saw him she ran, it was a slow run, not a scared one. She moved through the energy dome around the house. Rydell followed her, finding rain was pelting down. She put her hands on her head as if she were trying to think of a direction to run. Rydell moved to her instantly and pulled her body around his before setting her on his car. You would have thought the rain was representing the tears leaving her soul.
She said through gasping tears, “You wanted to kill me because, because, you think I want to kill you—but I don’t and I don’t think you do so it doesn’t matter right—right—tell me it doesn’t matter!”
Rydell said nothing as his stare peered into her beautiful face.
“Tell me!” she said as she beat her fist into his chest. Rydell let her, then a second later he pulled her lips to his, swallowing her gasp. He leaned his forehead to hers as she cried on.
“I could never hurt you. You were an idea. Not a soul,” he cradled her face in his hands. “That kiss. It changed my existence. I knew I would never be the same again. I owe you everything. I owe you my life.”
She punched his shoulder. “I’m not a killer!”
He took her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. He pulled her into the cage of his arms and let her cry it all out as he rocked her side to side. He felt her crumbling in his arms. The innocent, carefree, blissful soul that seized his being was vanishing and it was tearing him apart. She was too young for this, too innocent.
When she began to tremble he moved them, took her to Emery’s home. Miss Thelma Ray was in the kitchen. She glanced at the compromising way Rydell was holding her and gave him a scowl. Then she heard Raven gasp out another sob and compassion filled her face. She took Raven from Rydell’s arms and led her upstairs.
Rydell paced the kitchen like a lion in a cage. Berries may be a done matter, but he still had to contend with whatever Benjamin had in the works. It wasn’t even about Kade anymore, or if his curse would hurt River, ultimately hurting Raven. It was the fact Benjamin was after Rydell, and there was only one way to hurt him right then…losing Raven.
Rydell wasn’t sure how much time had passed. The twins had come home. Emery was tending to them upstairs.
Rydell knew he should have left, that would have been wise. Raven needed time to think this all through, and he had to get his faction ready for war. When he’d finally decided to do just that, Thelma Ray emerged in the kitchen.
Rydell stood from the stool he was on and murmured, “I know, I’m leaving.”
“You ain’t leaving this house, no sir. Mr. Jamison said you were guarding her, that he had things to attend to. You opened this box, you walked into this, and you’re staying if I have to tie you to her.” She grunted. “When it comes time to be ‘fessing your sins I’ll have your back. The good lord knows you gonna need it,” she said. In a lower tone she said. “The woman is gonna shred you. Beauregard has no mercy, none at all.’”
Rydell furrowed his brow, not understanding any of that. He had confessed his sins, and Raven, even as mad as she was, would not hurt him, not right now at least. Who was Beauregard? All Rydell could assume was it was one of the originals who’d looked at him like he was from another world. He didn’t have time to care who they were.
“She wants me here?” Rydell asked, looking over this woman a brave man would think twice before crossing.
“Raven lives in the now. You’re in the now.” She walked over to Rydell and peered up as if he were an alien. “Sometimes you have to give a damn just so you can lose it all, just so you can find where you’re supposed to be. I don’t know why you’re here now. But you are. So deal with ‘dat so we can all move on.” She pointed. “Go on, get now.”
Rydell ran his hand over his face and sighed before he made his way to Raven.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Raven was curled up on her bed, laying in the dark fighting the weight of tears when she sensed Rydell come into the loft. Her breath caught when she felt the weight of his body ease next to hers.
Carefully he reached his arm around her and pulled her into the cradle of his arms. No words. They just lay there. From the loft you could hear the entire house. Emery and Thelma Ray downstairs rummaging around, the phone ringing every other second.