Conspiracy of Ravens

by J. C. McKenzie

  Lloth tilted her head back and giggled delightfully. The twinkling, bell-like sound grated Raven’s nerves. “You understand. That is good.”

  Raven frowned. Good for what? Lloth wasn’t a friend of Raven’s. If the Corvid Queen thought something was good, it probably meant something very, very bad for Raven.

  Cole’s scowl deepened. He stepped toward the queen. His shadows coiled around him.

  “Uh, uh, uh.” Lloth waved her forefinger back and forth as if scolding a child. The runes on Chloe flashed.

  Cole froze, his gaze calculating.

  “I’m so glad you understand the importance of twins,” Lloth turned to Raven and prattled on.

  “Imagine my delight when I arrived to retrieve Chloe and found a gem all on his own. So ignorant to his own power, he hasn’t learned how to wield it. I could sense his twin nature immediately and Cole’s reasons for hiding you became crystal clear. Your power is so unique I changed my plans.” She licked her lips.

  “You plan to threaten my brother to control me, too?” Raven’s voice cracked. Damn. That would work.

  Bear stiffened.

  “Silly child.” Lloth giggled. “I plan to destroy you and control him with your power.”

  Cole’s warnings of Lloth’s sanity continued to beat Raven’s brain cells to a pulp. She wanted to punch Cole in the gut. Why couldn’t he just say Lloth was the big bad villain?

  Okay, so maybe he did, and she already figured that out. But why hadn’t he mentioned how Lloth still thought he was her minion? He could’ve explained how he had a connection to her court.

  Then again, would the information have changed anything?

  “You swore to serve me,” Lloth growled at Cole, completely ignoring Raven and the impact of her last words. Lloth’s dark gaze flashed. “But that’s not quite true, is it?”

  Cole’s expression said he didn’t like where this was going at all. Join the club. Raven hadn’t liked this situation the moment Cole used a pet name for Lloth. And she really stopped liking this little visit when Lloth explained her plans to kill her.

  “You swore to serve the ‘Compeller of Corvids.’ I thought it sweet that you used one of my titles, now I know the reason. You somehow changed your allegiance to this little hatchling, didn’t you? No matter. I will rip the corvid energy from her inferior body and leave your latest infatuation a dry husk. You will serve me again. You will bow to my commands.”

  Whoa, hang on. Not only did Lloth plan to kill her, but she body shamed and insulted her, too? Raven balled her hands into fists. She needed a way out of this. How could she overcome this tyrant? How could she twist things to her advantage? There’s no way she could physically flee unless she shifted into her conspiracy.

  That would do it. Assuming Lloth couldn’t control her or consume her corvid energy when she was in that state, she could fly away.

  Movement near the dais caught her attention.

  Raven sucked in a breath as a guard removed the hood over Bear’s head. Her body tensed. Her brother’s dark Other gaze met hers.

  Nope. No fleeing in bird form. She couldn’t leave her brother with this madwoman. There had to be another way out of this for both of them.

  They’d removed Bear’s contacts, probably forcibly. He’d never take them out voluntarily. He hated having the eyes of an Other. He said he didn’t have the power to back up the look.

  Her brother stood twenty feet from her, with the doodles from a psychotic bird queen slathered over him in black ink, like some raver at a foam party. A dark bruise marked his left cheekbone, and the left side of his face looked swollen.

  Bastards!

  Anger rippled through her body. She clenched her fists. They’d pay for this. The dark energy inside her surged up. She choked the power down. Shifting into birds and flying away might save her, but it wouldn’t help anyone else she cared about.

  “Cole,” a woman’s delicate voice drew Raven’s attention away from her brother. She hadn’t noticed the other guard removing the hood from Bear’s female companion.

  Light where Cole was dark, and dark where he was light, Chloe appeared the polar opposite of her brother. Even her voice—light and twinkling, like a fairy on ecstasy—contrasted with his deep rumble. Instead of standing large and imposing, her slender frame appeared willowy, as if a gust of wind would knock her over. Only her dark Other gaze resembled her brother’s—deep and powerful.

  “If only you stayed with me,” Lloth tittered. Her lean figure swayed on the dais at the top of the stairs, as if she fed off the conflicting emotions in the room and found them overwhelming.

  “Now you shall be mine for good.” She flicked her finger at Chloe, and the runes flickered again. Chloe cried out.

  Cole tensed. His mouth clamped shut and his shadows drew in around him.

  Raven had no knowledge of runes, but Lloth’s actions needed no explanation. She’d threatened Chloe’s life. Cole couldn’t interfere. He couldn’t help Raven. She was on her own.

  Lloth held her hand out toward Bear. The runes on his skin glowed.

  Bear grunted.

  Lloth swayed more, like a lethargic top hat. The more Bear’s runes glowed, the more she rocked. The metal blade of the scythe glowed.

  The dark energy inside Raven, the source of her power and Other nature, pulsed. This close to Bear always seemed to heighten her awareness, but now, with him glowing, her power burned.

  Ravens croaked as more corvids swooped into the room from the dark summer night above. Bear’s expression grew pinched. Yes, he tapped his power to bring them here, but not by choice. Cole said she fed off corvid energy, and her brother’s power provided the queen with her favorite food.

  No wonder the Corvid Queen wanted him. No wonder Lloth wanted Raven. Her life probably looked like a fat cupcake slathered with icing to Lloth.

  “Yes!” Lloth screeched. She threw her hands up in the air, still gripping the weapon. “More.”

  Raven gulped. Like standing in front of a tsunami, overwhelming helplessness consumed her.

  Cole stepped forward.

  Lloth’s head snapped back. “One more move, shadow scum, and your sister’s life ends.” To emphasize her point, she held her hand out toward Chloe.

  The Claíomh Solais gasped.

  “No.” Cole clenched his jaw and rocked back on his heels. He glanced over at Raven, a war of emotions battling in his deep gaze.

  Of course, he’d choose his sister. Raven would pick her sibling, too. She couldn’t hate him for the same decision she’d make if their roles were reversed. Twins before wins. Always.

  Sweat poured down her brother’s face as hordes of corvids flooded into the grand hall. The Otherworld energy within her twisted and spiraled, aching to emerge, to be set free. The Corvid Queen continued to sway, gaining energy and sucking up power.

  Raven clenched her hands. Like she’d stand here and wait for Lloth to smite her.

  “More!” Lloth repeated. Her skin grew dark and her gaze lit as she turned to Raven. All the while, Bear’s runes glowed as he continued to call the corvids to Lloth’s castle.

  Raven’s shoulders slumped. With her brother acting involuntarily against her, how could she possibly defeat Lloth?

  Bear shook his head. She wouldn’t have noticed if she hadn’t been glaring at him. Maybe he used Lloth’s power to call more birds to him, but not because he had to, but rather he wanted to. Why would he—

  She was an idiot.

  Luke and Cole’s comments about soulmates rebounded against her skull. Proximity to Bear always made her stronger. Lloth wasn’t the only one capable of feeding off Bear’s power. She’d never tried to use Bear’s skills to amplify her own, but there had to be a way. Her energy pulsed to confirm her suspicions.

  If Bear was her soulmate and being close to him made her stronger that meant distance made her weaker. Raven groaned.

  She really was an idiot.

  All this time, she was losing her birds, not because she was growin
g older, or sick, but because the distance and divide between her and her brother continued to grow.

  “I shall absorb your power.” Lloth grinned at her. “Eat it like the tasty morsel it is. Consume it. Master it. And with your brother by my side, I shall be invincible.”

  Absorb it.

  More corvids poured into the room. Bear visibly trembled. His lips compressed and grew white.

  Lloth cackled. She waved her arms around and recited arcane words. The energy in the room grew and called to Raven’s power.

  Cole tensed beside her. When she glanced over, his gaze contained no fear, only calculation. Did he have a plan? Should she wait for him to save her? Grandma Lu’s groan vibrated in her skull.

  No.

  Crawford women saved themselves.

  She refused to stand by helpless and meek while some power-thirsty psychopath consumed her powers and used her brother as a magical battery pack. No. Just...no.

  Raven reached down to where the corvid essence lurked deep within her and pulled. Instead of combusting into a large flock of ravens, she pushed the chaotic power to her extremities, and directed the dark energy. Controlled it. Like she had at Luke’s cabin, she guided the power to her limbs. The flood of power continued. Pain sliced through her body. She gasped as the corvid essence took hold.

  Cole yelled something.

  Lloth cackled.

  The pain intensified and Raven’s body convulsed uncontrollably.

  A portal snapped in place somewhere behind her, the shock of power and suck of air unmistakable.

  Raven bent over as the pain hammered her senses. Her energy continued to pulse and flood her limbs.

  A dark figure walked through the portal. From her crumpled position, she made out his feet, outfitted in warrior boots. The familiar soft scent of cologne washed over her.

  “An interesting development,” Bane mused. A raven’s feather fluttered to her feet. Not one of hers. Lloth’s. “You left this helpful clue at your place.”

  “Too late!” Lloth squealed. “You’re too late!”

  “Am I?” Bane mused. “I think the show has just started.”

  Lloth’s energy looped around Raven like a demented lasso and pulled. Raven lurched forward, her power still within, but pushing against her skin as if it would burst from her instead of transforming her.

  Too much.

  Sweat ran down her face. Her heart punched against her breastbone.

  Too much power.

  Lloth’s magic pulled again. This time, it reached inside and sank its hooks in. With each pull from the Corvid Queen, everything within Raven tried to go with it, as if her spine and organs would physically rip out of her body. With each tug, the sensation grew stronger. Lloth would literally wrench out Raven’s power to consume it. No wonder Lloth needed to amass power, instead of just gutting Raven with a sword like a normal tyrannical overlord.

  The tugging didn’t relent. Raven bent over again and threw up. The remains of her celebration dinner splattered the hard flooring and splashed her legs. Not having a halibut time now, Dad.

  Dad’s warm face flashed through her mind, followed by her mom and siblings.

  “Fight, Einin!” Cole hissed from somewhere to her right. “Fight or you lose it all.”

  Anger welled up along with what remained of her power. How dare he tell her to fight when he stood by her side as useless as her shadow.

  “Yes,” crooned Bane. “Fight.”

  Banshee’s bastard! The Lord of War’s not-so-original advice didn’t make the situation any better. He probably got off on it. Sick fuck.

  Lloth’s power pulled again. Her skin stretched and ached. One more pull and she’d rip apart.

  “Use it, little raven.” With Bane’s words, another energy coated her skin. Scalding, hot, angry power seeped into her skin. She yanked the power in and wound it around her own twisted energy. She reached out and grasped Bear’s as well, wrenching it to her core.

  Her brother grunted.

  Her body vibrated with power. Her vision blurred.

  When Lloth pulled again, Raven used the tug and pushed her energy out. Her skin tore. Her power burst from her human body. She screamed. Her mind cracked, threatening to fracture.

  No!

  With the last ounce of effort still remaining, Raven molded all the power she held. Her body contorted. Bones snapped. Flesh compressed and expanded. Pain stabbed at her skin. Her stained shirt and shorts tore as her body ripped through them like paper. Feathers and scales sprouted. In an instance, her raven essence wiped away what remained of her human form, leaving a large bird in its place.

  Larger than Luke and Cole, she towered over the men and women in the room.

  “Holy fuck,” her brother whispered.

  Dark energy radiated from her bird chest. Her blood thrummed with potent power. The Others in the room glowed with their dark essences, the pulsing light a beacon to her heightened raven senses.

  Lloth stood, arms out, eyes wide. Her rambling citations cut short. Her followers screamed. Their footsteps slapped the black marble as they fled from the room.

  Without hesitation, Raven launched in the air and pumped her wings to move toward the Corvid Queen.

  “No,” Lloth sneered. She turned toward Raven and raised her scythe, and evil smile spread across her face. She opened her mouth and mumbled a dark spell. The metal of her weapon glowed and pulsed with the swirling Underworld magic.

  Lloth’s dark gaze cut to the side. She broke off her chant. Abruptly, she whirled around as Cole materialized from the mounting shadows.

  Time slowed. Raven’s vision narrowed to surgical precision. She hovered above the queen. Cole stepped forward from the shadows. What was he doing? If he attacked Lloth, he risked his sister’s life.

  Bands of gray snaked around Lloth’s wrists. Cole’s hand darted out. Silver flashed under the moonlight. Lloth twisted to the side.

  Time resumed its fast adrenaline racing pace. Cole’s dagger sank deep into her chest, inches away from her heart. He missed.

  “Traitor!” Lloth bellowed. She staggered, her back toward Raven and dropped the scythe. The weapon clattered to the ground.

  Raven pulled her wings in and dove. She had to help. Failure wasn’t an option. They’d pay for the slightest mistake with their lives.

  Lloth threw her arms wide, shrieking ancient words.

  Raven swooped down. Wind rushed against her face as her strong beak cut through the air.

  Lloth turned and gasped. She flung her hands up and screamed.

  Raven opened her enormous beak and clamped onto Lloth’s head. The queen’s skull jammed between her bills like a fragile sunflower seed.

  Lloth thrashed and pummeled her fists against Raven’s feathers.

  Dark energy curled around Raven like a cocoon. This dark fae had planned to kill her and use her brother. Her beak snapped shut.

  Bones crunched. Fluids and tissues exploded on her tongue. Lloth’s body shuddered. The queen dangled, body limp, from Raven’s beak.

  Raven opened her mouth and what remained of Lloth fell to the floor with a sloppy, wet slap. The dark energy drained from Raven’s body. Her limbs grew heavy. Her body withered in on itself, shedding feathers and excess skin. Her fatigued human form slumped to the slick tile.

  Raven took in the bloody mess in front of her and fainted.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “I look like the girl next door—if you happen to live next to an amusement park.”

  ~Dolly Parton

  A shadow fell over her. Through tears, she looked up. Her stomach rolled. Blood coated her tongue, metallic and tangy. Lloth’s blood.

  What in the Underworld had she done?

  Luke Bane, Lord of War, stood before her, on the other side of Lloth’s limp and bloody body. His stance relaxed, face smug. He held two swords, both dripping blood. The prone bodies of what remained of Lloth’s loyal guards lay on the floor behind him. Lloth’s court reeked of death.

  Ra
ven glanced down. Blood. Gore. She swallowed the rising stomach acid and quickly looked away. Her brain scrambled to make sense of the deformed remains of Lloth. Raven’s head grew light, and her vision swam.

  She killed someone.

  Bane cleaned his swords with the cape of a fallen guard before sheathing them. He squatted beside her, completely unfazed by her naked, blood-spattered body, and ran a finger through the pool of blood by his feet.

  Cole straightened from another guard’s prone body a few feet away, bloody dagger still clutched in his hand. Cole and Bane had dispatched at least ten guards together while she lay vulnerable on the blood-soaked floor.

  Cole grumbled something in fae before cleaning and sheathing his dagger. He walked over to Raven wearing his shadows as a shroud and side-stepping bodies. His cloak dragged against the stones and hung heavy with blood.

  She gulped.

  Cole crouched beside Raven, unclipped his cloak and draped it over her shoulders. His intoxicating scent embedded in the thick cloth surrounded her, providing comfort as the cloak provided warmth. She drew the surprisingly soft fabric around her, held it close and ignored the damp hem.

  Bane brought his hand up to examine Lloth’s blood as it ran down his finger. He tsked and shook his head.

  “Little Raven.” Bane shook his head again. “What have you done?”

  Cole straightened and Bane’s gaze travelled up as he mirrored Cole’s actions, his relaxed stance gone.

  “Do we have a problem here?” Cole asked.

  Raven wanted to laugh. No, she wanted to puke, roll up in a ball, cry...and then maybe laugh hysterically, while rocking back and forth and clutching her childhood doll. A problem? She had ninety-nine problems and no idea how to deal with one. Cole’s question, phrased like a line from a cowboy standoff in a bad Western movie, seemed so inadequate for the situation.

  Bane chuckled and shook his head for the third time. “A problem? No. You’ve just handed me the solution.”

  Bane continued to laugh as he turned on his heel and walked toward a waiting portal.

  “Wait!” she called out.

  Bane paused.

  “My brother? Spare him.” Her voice quivered more than she would’ve liked.