Deny Me: A Paranormal Romance (Legends of the Ashwood Institute Book 2)

by Jayla Kane

  “It’s alright,” she said, and I could tell by the set of her shoulders she’d made her mind up about something; that shield was incredibly strong, though, and I had no clue what she was thinking. “It’s a really big bed, anyway. We might not even notice each other.”

  Fat fucking chance of that, I thought, but I just nodded and let her walk by me, out into the hall.

  I lagged behind, trying to clean my brain out again and make my fucking hard-on disappear; it took a second before I remembered where we were going, and that did the trick.

  Was it wrong to want to sleep with her?

  No, I thought, rolling my shoulders as I watched her walking ahead of me, moving towards the main staircase, her hair like a sheet of black silk rippling down her back. No, it was wrong to try and control what happened between us now. I’d forfeited that right when I made her feel like shit. I had to make sure I did everything exactly the way she wanted… Well, within reason.

  I’m pretty sure, if it came down to it, she liked to let me do what I wanted in bed—as far as kinky shit went anyway. I could probably spend a lot more time doing a lot more… Romantic things, I guess, although the word made me roll my eyes. But she didn’t seem to need that like she needed to be teased, to scratch a different, darker itch.

  I shook off another bout of filthy thoughts and focused on the door that loomed ahead of us as we reached the first floor. Raven waited for me, her face anxious, as we paused before entering the dining room. I quickly strode up to her and grasped her offered hand, enjoying the feel of her skin against mine, grateful for the rush of sweet warmth that flooded up my arm. “You ready?” I looked down into those twilight eyes, now normal—if that level of beauty could be called normal, anyway—and squeezed her fingers lightly.

  Let’s do this, she said, setting her jaw, and we walked inside.

  Chapter Eleven

  Raven

  “Hello, Raven,” Mina said. Her words had an immediate effect: my blood cooled.

  We were standing a foot inside of the door, looking at the broad table in front of us, elegantly dressed in finest silver and china, and I really, honestly thought: I might just puke right now. Mina was wearing diamonds—I’m sure they were real—and her hair was dyed a lurid, orange-tinted red. She had bright blue eyes, her best feature, and they gave a convincing impression of innocence that the rest of her appearance worked over-time to undermine. She had on a low-cut blouse, sheer silk, if I had to guess, and a pencil skirt that hugged her curves; her skin was tanned, but looked oddly forced as her natural paleness showed up all over in the form of clustered freckles. She would probably have beautiful skin if she left it alone, but years of tanning gave her the appearance of cracking leather. Her face was sultry, but in a way that told me she’d had some work done since I saw her last; the effect wasn’t endearing, at least not to me.

  And then there was Lucas.

  Lucas was very short and slight—odd, given the build of the rest of the Warfield men. He was also strangely beautiful, with a face you could definitely match with Jake’s; he was handsome, sure, but there was something about the fringe of his lashes and the curve of his mouth that wouldn’t have been out of place on a pretty woman. His eyes were hazel, without the smoke and gold of Jake and Tristan’s, and flat. Maybe his cruelty ate up all that sparkle from the inside—I have no idea. But Lucas, in spite of his tailored suit, his expensive watch and beautiful bone structure, had something about him that screamed warning as loudly as it could. And I hadn’t even peeked out from behind my shield.

  He was strong; wiry, beneath that tweed and cashmere, with quick reflexes and broader shoulders than made sense on his frame. But he’d be no match for Jake under any circumstances, no magic necessary. Maybe that’s why he’d stopped, finally, I thought, reaching back into my own memory and trying to compare a fourteen year old Jake with the man in front of me. He realized Jake might hurt him when he hit back—which I knew he did by then. It made it so much worse.

  And now we were going to sit down and have a nice, civilized dinner together.

  “Hi Raven,” another voice called out, and this one I was both surprised and pleased to see. My mother’s best friend from high school, Trinity, was Mina’s sister. She worked at the Institute as some kind of admin, and I hadn’t seen her in ages. She looked exactly the same: long, sweet natured face with the same gorgeous eyes her sister had, but her hair was beautiful waves of chestnut, and she was much taller. She had long, elegant limbs on a long, elegant frame, folding herself into the chair next to Mina’s and studiously ignoring Lucas’s darting glance.

  “Hi Trin!” I sat down opposite from her and let Jake sit next to his uncle and across from his aunt. “It’s really good to see you!” It was. Trinity, I’d always thought, had been my mother’s backbone, her common sense, and when they drifted apart it sent my mom off into the deep end, untethered from reality. Nothing bad happened between them; it was always a weird match. Trin was just more grounded than Mom, so the friendship just kind of fell apart. They still had the occasional cup of coffee together when she came into the shop, no hard feelings. Trinity was always the person Zelle called when we were younger and had nothing to eat; I called Jake, of course, but I think my sister didn’t want Tristan to know how bad off we were. At any rate, I trusted Trinity. You couldn’t choose your family.

  I was living evidence of it, and so was the man beside me.

  “Anna made your favorite, Jacob,” Mina said, and he nodded beside me. I snaked out a tendril of my power, searching for him, and found his mind trying to erect a wobbling shield. I’d weakened his ability earlier—I’d felt it happening, the wall puncturing beneath my deliberate blows as I advanced—I’d tried to be gentle, but—

  Relax, a deep voice said, the kindness in it practically a caress. You didn’t do anything wrong.

  I left you vulnerable, I said, and wondered as I did if I could shield him myself—if I could somehow extend my shield to his mind, as well. It might be dangerous, though; that might bring us too close together, making all of his thoughts available to me—

  Don’t act like that doesn’t have at least some appeal, Jake whispered, and I fought back a smile, trying to listen to Trinity’s practiced banter while absorbing his words. Just a little. You’re human, you’re allowed to gloat a little.

  Fine, I said, I won’t. His laugh echoed through me, and he made a small amused sound that brought him to everyone’s attention.

  “So,” he said, and I braced myself, seeing his words in my mind’s eye just before he spoke them, wiping the smile off his face as he gazed around the table at the gathered company. “Did you know that Tristan is back in town?”

  “What?”

  “What did you say?”

  “I thought that might be why we were having this little dinner,” Jake said, dragging the dish of mashed potatoes over and giving himself a ridiculously large portion before dumping an only slightly smaller one on my plate. I started to object, then realized I was starving. He pulled the butter over with perfected nonchalance, enjoying their silence. “Yeah, he’s not dead. He hasn’t called any of you?” His eyes bored into Lucas’s, who glared right back at him. I probed the air between them, but there was nothing; if his uncle had powers, they weren’t like mine.

  Speaking of my powers… I gently sent more tendrils out, flicking them across the table so they could invisibly prod the minds of the adults across from me, and felt… Nothing. Mina’s brain was ensconced in a… A bubble, almost, something soft and squishy, and I didn’t push too hard on the surface for fear of hurting her. I felt like whatever was inside practically oozed, as if it were some kind of viscous liquid—nothing like Jake’s thoughts. Or Hunter’s, I realized, remembering his hard words, slicing through the shuttered blackness that surrounded his mind. I hadn’t even realized he had a shield until just now. But Mina… That wasn’t really a shell, so much as a container. If she tipped over too far, I felt like the contents would spill out of her nose—a disg
usting thought. I put down my spoon.

  There was nothing from Trin, not a shield or anything else; I didn’t understand, but thought it might be either another untrained, unintentional shield like Hunter’s, or just the limits of my untested power. I hadn’t felt anything from Sarah either, after all. Lucas, on the other hand… Lucas’s mind was boiling. It was almost too hot to touch, the thoughts burbling and splashing like a cauldron. And… It stank. I furrowed my brow, disgust rising in the back of my throat. It was no surprise that Lucas’s mind would be vile; Lucas was barely human, if you knew him. And then I realized there was a sound coming out of it—a laugh. Low and reedy all at once, like the sound of cruelty personified… And beneath that… The noises of animals. Bellowing, grunting, roaring in muted agony.

  My skin rippled with goosebumps, and I withdrew immediately. I couldn’t find anything in that mess. Without deliberating, I threw up a shield around Jake and I so strong that it took me a second to be able to hear what the people around me were saying—I’d temporarily deafened myself. Jake glanced at me, and I lowered it enough for him to hear too.

  Which was important, because he was in the middle of a very tense interview.

  “I have no idea why he’s here,” Jake said, and I could see the images in his mind flickering by at lightening speed; being behind the same shield didn’t exactly give me unfiltered access, because his little pock-marked shield was still there. I could just see right through it, without even trying. “He didn’t tell me. He just acted like he was late—for what, don’t ask, I have no idea.”

  “Why isn’t he staying here?” Mina glared around at us all like we were the ones who’d talked him out of it. “He should be here, with his family.”

  Ha, Jake thought, and I sent my probe out and laid it, gently, against his wall. He rallied. “Maybe he has nothing to say to us,” Jake said, sniffing at a piece of chicken and digging in. Watching him eat made me hungry again, and I tentatively reached down and tried another bite of Anna’s delicious potatoes and gravy, then couldn’t stop myself from snapping up more. The two of us went to town, Jake supplying the perfect indifference that had driven me completely out of my mind for the last five years and was doing a similar job now with a different audience. Mina huffed and crossed her arms over her chest; Trinity furrowed her brow with concern. Lucas practically steamed at Jake as he nonchalantly continued eating, deliberately talking with his mouth stuffed full of food, amping his rudeness up to the max. I had to hide a smile. “I don’t know. Don’t know where he’s staying, either, before you ask. He just arrived, and I guess when he’s ready to explain himself he’ll come by.”

  “He better explain himself to our stock-holders, and the police,” Lucas hissed, and I put my spoon down again; just hearing his voice made my skin crawl. Under the table, Jake’s hand briefly reached over and hesitantly rested on my arm, then retreated. It was just enough to tell me he saw.

  I can hear you, I said. I’m trying not to be intrusive.

  I know, he said softly. I can feel you. He paused. Hang on—and then his wall crumbled, and I watched the images playing out in his mind as he spoke. I don’t believe them, he told me, his mind’s eye honing in on Lucas’s face as his eyes darted back and forth. It doesn’t make sense. A house full of goddamn witch shit and spells and god-knows-what and nobody else knew? I don’t think so. “So none of you knew? Not a single one of you knew he was alive?”

  “Of course not,” Mina huffed; I watched as her mind slid back and forth, pink and soft and disgusting. I believed her. It would be difficult for me to imagine Mina being able to cut her own food from here on out—I had no idea how she was forming sentences.

  “If we did, we would’ve told you,” Lucas spat, snatching another piece of bread. “And our lawyers. Jesus Christ,” he groaned, setting it back down and staring at Mina. “Do you think he’s here just because he’s come of age?”

  “Oh come on,” Trinity said, glaring at him. I couldn’t look at him; even through my shield—refortified in his direction, just so I wouldn’t puke from the smell—I could see the bubbles and gushes of red hot garbage spewing back and forth in his mind… Blood, I realized. Lucas’s mind was full of wrath, vengeance, cruelty and… And blood.

  Rae, baby, are you okay? Jake’s hand swiftly wrapped around mine, pulsing warmth through it. Reassurance, comfort, and… And love. It made the nausea ebb.

  I can’t touch them, I confessed. I couldn’t handle it.

  Thank god, he said, squeezing me good-naturedly. Well, that’s a wrap then, I think. Can we get the fuck out of here?

  Yes. Please. I laid my fork down and dabbed at my mouth; Mina caught my eye.

  “You’re not finished, are you? We haven’t even gotten to ask about your—your situation.” She waved a hand between us, arching a brow. Jake made a show of slapping his stomach, the flickers of malevolent laughter that rippled through his mind as Lucas glared daggers at him flashing before me.

  “What situation? Exactly?”

  “Well,” Mina said, pausing to consider her words; Jake pushed away from the table and stood up in one fluid motion, then abruptly leaned down to nuzzle my neck debaucherously. I was too surprised to move—and then I didn’t want to, waves of slow, grinding warmth pulsing through my core as his teeth grazed my earlobe.

  My skin practically sizzled where he touched me. When I dared to raise my eyes, everyone at the table was staring at us, and my cheeks heated immediately; his lips sipped the soft spot beneath my ear, and I felt my nipples harden. Trinity hid an indulgent smile behind her hand, and Mina’s mouth thinned into a bitter, disapproving line.

  “Like I said,” Jake repeated as he leaned back, his face now parallel with mine as he gazed out at his family, his voice threaded with dark warnings, “what. Situation.” I realized I was holding my breath, and let out a long, silent sigh. He gave them one last, lingering look, the obvious equivalent of a dare, then stood up and stretched. I managed to keep from twisting to look at the smooth stripe of perfect musculature that peeked out from under his raised shirt, my knees clenching under the table.

  “Jacob, you know we just want to be informed—”

  “She’s staying. When’s Morgan coming home?” Jake grabbed a piece of bread and stared down at them from his full standing height, his posture deceptively casual. Mina flinched; his aim was true, always right at the heart. It was strange seeing him do this to other people, people who really deserved it; his eyes practically sparked with hate, but his whole countenance—that beautiful, perfectly made face, his incredible body—signaled relaxed indifference. Total dismissal. I don’t give a fuck about this, but I’m indulging you pieces of shit. Can I go yet? It was like a master class in assholery. “Guess he’s not. We’ll see you guys around.” Jake slid my chair out and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, gently pulling me to my feet; only I could feel the tension in that massive bicep, the force in his touch. He was protecting me. My own personal six foot three pit bull, complete with super powers.

  I’m sorry for doing that without asking first, his voice echoed in my mind. He sauntered out of the room, carrying me along on a cloud of cool. We continued walking slowly down the hallway until I couldn’t stand it any more.

  You have seriously perfected the role of Frat Asshole. My mind went back to more serious topics, and I turned to watching his face. Jake, did you see? I was trying not to show you but when I—

  You put me under your shield? His eyes slid to mine. Was someone… Were they…

  No, I said, shaking my head as we gazed at one another, still walking slowly, his arm over my shoulders. The picture of self-involved teen-age lovers. Nobody was reading your mind. I just… I don’t know, I mostly had control over my powers—which felt amazing—but they were so… So grotesque. I glanced up at him, realizing he might have seen, and was relieved when he tightened his arm around my shoulders.

  No surprise there, he said quietly. I did see, some of it—Lucas was really fuzzy—

  Hi
s mind… It smelled bad, I said, gasping for air even at the memory. We walked up the stairs, his arm still tight around me, holding me close. I didn’t think it was for show any more. I wasn’t thinking about it, I just put the shield up between us so…

  That bad, huh.

  Yeah.

  We walked the rest of the way down the hall in silence, but when we almost reached his room, Jake suddenly froze. I have an idea, he said, and before I could read his thoughts he abruptly turned around and spoke to the wall. “Sarah?”

  “Jake, are you crazy? She’s—”

  “Master Jacob?” The tall thin woman appeared right behind me, out of thin air—that couldn’t be, I thought, my mind racing as I stumbled back from her. She gave me a brief glance. “My apologies, Miss Keller. What can I do for you, sir?”

  I realized how scared Jake was by the broad dilation of his pupils, but, being Jake, he immediately shook the feeling off and walked closer to her, his gaze narrowing as he inspected her. She didn’t budge. “Sarah, Lucas put Miss Keller off her dinner. Do you mind asking Anna to send up another plate? I’m sorry to stop you if you were just on your way out.”

  “It’s no problem, sir,” she said swiftly. Jake and I stared at her. Was it a trick? Some kind of hologram? What. The. Hell. “Is that all?”

  “No—no, Sarah…” Jake’s gaze sharpened. “I… I want to make a specific request to you that no one be allowed in my room but Miss Keller and I. And no one may come on the grounds but people we invite.”

  “I’m sorry sir, but anyone in your family and their guests are allowed on the property.” She gave him a genteel, deferential nod, but her tone brooked no argument. “The order was given a long time ago, and it is irrefutable, sir. However,” she continued, meeting his gaze, her thin, honest face never wavering, “I can be sure to safeguard your own room from any and all intrusions. That is your own quarters, and its rules are your own to make.”