Exaltation (Insight #11)(95)

Soren came in and made his way to the twins’ room, the three of them in there whispering. Apparently the plan was for all of them to be in one location so it was easier for the coven to protect them.

Over and over Raven heard Miss Thelma Ray tell someone on the phone, “No, Rydell is here. So is Soren. Fortress, that’s what we are.”

Rydell’s arm just tightened around Raven. He buried his face in her neck, in her hair. Every time she shuddered he would kiss her skin.

Long after the house became ghostly quiet, somewhere in the wee hours of the night, she turned to face him. She could see the moonlight from the window cascading in his otherworldly ice blue eyes.

“You came here to kill me. You sent people to do that before. You sent Benjamin to kill me. All those people I fought in those hurricanes,” she whispered.

No denial.

“And you expect me to believe kissing you, a result of an adrenaline-charged carefree, teenage high changed your mind?”

His long fingertips outline her lips carefully. “Your vim is powerful. You brought a fever to me. You changed my life. I’d never felt anything like it before.”

Raven’s eyes glassed over. “You’re not from a coven are you?”

His eyes confirmed he wasn’t.

“An Escort.” She breathed in deeply. “I don’t know anything about that world. Why people think I have to kill others.”

“You’re going to bring change. You’re going to bring bliss.”

“I can’t do that. Bliss is already in everyone. It’s their own fault if they don’t recognize it.”

He let his fingertips trace her tender young profile. “You’re right. But your purpose is more complicated than I could ever explain. You will be a breath of fresh air.”

“I’m not killing you,” she said as she mirrored his movements, outlined his face with the tips of her fingers. “I only hurt those others because they were after me, and I don’t even clearly remember how I knew to do it.”

“Instinct.”

“Tell me I don’t have to hurt you,” Raven said as she traced his lips.

“This is bigger than you and me.”

Raven slammed her eyes shut. All she wanted was one promise.

Rydell kissed her cheek before he spoke. “I’ll figure out how to win this for you, to spare you the agony of war. But if all else fails you have to do what’s right.”

“Not doing it,” Raven said as she draped her leg over him. “I don’t care what happens.”

His eyes searched over hers. “You’re young. You’re growing into life. Your perspective over time could change. Everything could change.”

“Why you? Why are there five?”

“I don’t know,” he said as his thumb caressed away a wayward tear of hers. “Right now we’re going to bear this storm. We’re going to lay low and let time ease us forward, let time explain the master plan before us.”

“How much time?”

“Whatever is needed,” he whispered. Carefully, tenderly, he kissed her lips, then pulled her to his chest and let his hand graze down her back as he ushered her to sleep. As he laid there he planned his attack on Benjamin, on Revelin, all he could do to keep Raven safe, her guardians safe.

At dawn, after whispering a kiss across her brow, he left her to go and meet with his faction.

River was the one who woke Raven hours later.

“Get dressed.”

“Where are we going?”

“The race. Jamison said we had to be seen, that we could not drop our plans because it would look suspicious. He’s still taking care of Berries.”

“What do you mean ‘taking care of?’” The nightmare of yesterday caused Raven to feel sick and weighted all over again.

“They gave him the herb that helped us forget, and they have all of our stuff back. They’re just tracking down any connections he may have and such.”

“Where’s Rydell?”

“He left a while ago. He’s coming back for you. Ash and I are following you guys out there with Soren.”

Raven couldn’t shake the dark feeling she had. She felt like something horrible was about to happen. She had to tell herself to breathe more than once.

Rydell came for her, led her to his passenger seat. Kade and Dagen were parked behind him. The twins and Soren pulled out to follow them to the secluded race track.

Just the sight of Rydell had done as Raven wanted it to, gave her calm.

“You okay?” he asked as he put his arm across the back of her seat.

God he smelled so good. “Are you? You’re not talking much.”

“Worried about tonight.”

“The race?” Raven asked as she reached to rub her hand across the dash. “Promise me you will never put this baby through something like that.”

He laughed. “You like her?”

“Are you kidding? I’m not really a car girl but I know a pretty one when I see it.”

“Pretty huh,” he said with another laugh.

“Promise.”

“If I ever did I could build her back, make her stronger than before.”

“Why mess with perfection?” Raven argued.

He shook his head.