by Angel Lawson
“Shut up!” I cry, swiping at the shadows creeping in the edge of my vision.
I feel the hands on me now. I look up and see Dylan speaking in a deep voice, the words a confusing language. I feel Bunny’s paintbrush slide across my breast. I feel Clinton’s hands on my belly. Damien’s calloused fingers on my feet. Sam holds my hand and whispers words of love warring with the Morrigan’s awful barrage.
There’s a battle in my soul, fighting, pushing, punching and I get loose, taking a swing at Bunny. I tag him across the cheek before Clinton can subdue me. I fight. I cry. I scream.
And the Morrigan does the same.
Her face hovers over mine—a mirror image of my own. Her eyes are darker and filled with hate. I break free once again, slapping her across the cheek.
She smiles with pleasure at the pain.
You’re foolish, don’t you know? she asks in a calmer voice. There’s so much more out there, so much I can offer you.
I don’t want your destruction.
You think that’s all it is? We’re the Goddess of War, Morgan. We didn’t create such a thing—we clean up the mess. We conquer the weak. You realize that in many cases, we’re heroes.
No, I tell her. I don’t believe that.
Images flash before my eyes. Kingdoms. Conquerors. Rebellions. The stench of smoke clogs my throat. The symbols are familiar, filled with hate and a history of violence. I want nothing to do with it.
But her pull is strong. Her tentacles deep.
You’re so stupid, don’t you know that? So very stupid. You’ll rip me from your side but that won’t stop me. You’re not the only one. Contingencies have been made. You slipped through my grasp once before. If you spit me out the regret you’ll have will make the angels weep. I don’t need you, mortal, you need me.
Dylan’s voice rises above her threats and my body is pulled in a million directions. My hands. Feet. Fingers and skin. My scalp burns, my hair stretches, pulling flesh away from my body. I scream and scream and scream until my voice is swallowed by hers and we’re screaming all at once. Her nails scrape down my arms, gouge my cheeks, until the sound of a soaring bomb splits my eardrums like glass cracking. My eyes burn with a sudden flash of light, much like a nuclear detonation. I’m blind. I’m ash. I’m nothing more.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bunny
Three weeks later
The scabs are healing.
The bruises faded.
The visible wounds, at least. Internal? I’m not convinced. I know Dylan isn’t either. So we wait and watch.
“What is she doing?” Clinton asks. We’re sitting on the rooftop enjoying one of the final sunsets before summer.
“Cartwheels?”
“I think that’s called a somersault.” I have no reason to know this but I do.
“Ah right.”
She jumps from the ground, hair springing around her. She looks like the sun—bright and beaming.
“And things are progressing? She seems okay?”
“Dylan says so,” I reply. “He’s always the most skeptical, so if he thinks she’s better then I trust him.”
The spell worked, although with some consequences. That’s normal for magic though. There’s always a price to pay.
He looks at me for a long moment so I ask, “You don’t?”
He doesn’t reply, just glances back across the rooftop, staring at our girl.
Sam approaches her with the camera. He takes a series of snapshots, getting her to smile in at least one. His face never betrays him, but when he thinks no one is looking I catch the frown as he looks at the pictures. He doesn’t like what he sees.
“She went to Damien’s workshop last night,” Clinton says. His gray eyes follow her every move. I straighten at his revelation. I didn’t know that.
“Did she?” I’m dying to know what they did behind closed doors. We all are. We aren’t ruled by sex, of course, but ever since the spell we’ve been careful, letting her heal.
Our bond is based on friendship, love, and intimacy. It’s only become stronger since that night.
“She wanted to ride on his motorcycle. He took her around the city until dawn.”
My muscles relax. “Good. The fresh air should help her.”
“I agree.”
Damien comes and sits next to us. Dylan a few moments later. The sun slips to the edge of the city, casting us all in a pinkish-orange glow.
I feel like there are so many unanswered questions. What do we do now? How do we proceed with our duties? I know I’m not the only one but no one wants to rock the boat. Not yet.
She links her hand with Sam’s and they walk over to where we’re sitting. He takes a seat on the ground and she nestles in the middle of the bench. Clinton tosses a protective arm around her shoulder and I wrap my hand around hers, relishing her heat. Damien leans against her thigh and she strokes his head. Dylan, like always, stands just above all of us.
Watching.
Waiting.
And that’s what makes me nervous.
Hope you enjoyed reading part three of The Raven Queen’s Harem. I’m love writing this series!
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Readers,
I can’t tell you how much I love writing this book, engaging with readers and being part of this amazing community. I’d like to give a special thank you to my editor Vanessa (VCedits) for finishing up this draft minutes before having a baby! Congrats on Baby Vivienne! (Sigh, I hope I spelled that right. Where’s my editor when I need her?) I’d also like to thank Angstyg Designs for the amazing cover. The Arc Readers for The Raven Queen’s Harem that are so enthusiastic and chatty and fun! It makes writing a pleasure. I’d also like to thank the amazing readers in the Raven Queen Readers Facebook Group. Again, the energy you put out in the world helps me write and publish and work hard! Thanks for the motivation!
I’m excited to share the rest of this world with you!
Angel
Angel Lawson Books
Raven Queen’s Harem:
Raven’s Mark (Part 1)
Ebony Rising (Part 2)
Black Magic (Part 3)
Obsidian Fire (Part 4)
The Death Fields:
The Girl Who Shot First
The Girl Who Punched Back
The Girl Who Kicked Ass
The Girl Who Kissed the Sun
The Girl Who Broke Free
The Girl Who Saved the World
Creature of Habit Series:
Creature of Habit (Book 1)
Creature of Habit (Book2)
Creature of Habit (Book 3)
A Vampire’s Seduction (Ryan’s Story Book 4)
A Vampire’s Fate (Sebastian’s Story Book 5)
The Wraith Series:
Wraith
Shadow Bound
Grave Possession
Urban Fantasy
The Lost Queen
Vigilant
Contemporary Romance:
FanGirl-A Girl Who Shot First Companion Novel
For the Win
