Ethan frowns warily. “When did Drystan tell you this?”
“Um.” I hadn’t told him about the odd connection Drystan and I have. I thought I’d wait for Drystan to contact me this way on purpose first. “Just now.”
He tenses under me. “Are you saying you just had a whole conversation telepathically?”
My stomach knots when several emotions scroll across his face. None of them happy. I shake my head. “I can’t talk to him. I just hear what he’s saying.”
“How long has this been happening?” he asks, only the sound of the front door opening interrupts us. Before I can move, Houdini comes barreling toward me covered in snow.
“Hey, buddy,” I say, rubbing his head as he licks me on the cheek. “Looks like you’re back to your old self again.”
“What are you still doing here?” My dad says while Ethan leans over to help me to my feet.
“We fell asleep under the tree,” I say, gesturing to the spot where we’d pushed presents to the side.
“This is what I was talking to you about, Elizabeth.” My father’s attention snaps to my mom, who’s looking bone tired as she hooks her coat and scarf on the rack.
Suddenly my mom’s shoulders straighten. “That’s enough, Jonathan. It’s Christmas, and this is my home.”
Turning to Ethan, she says, “Your car is completely covered. You won’t be getting it out tonight.”
“I can walk home, Mrs. Collins. It’s not that far—”
“Absolutely not,” Mom cuts in. “The temperature has dropped to the single digits. You can sleep here on the floor. Just send your brother a text so he doesn’t worry about you.”
Facing my dad, she says, “I doubt you’ll get a taxi this late. I’m pretty sure everyone’s hunkered in for the night. You’re welcome to the couch. I’m going to bed.” Waving to us, she starts up the stairs and calls over her shoulder, “Nara, get our guests some blankets and pillows. Jonathan will cook pancakes tomorrow morning in payment for staying the night.”
“I will?” my dad asks, surprised sarcasm lacing his tone.
When my mom stops on the stairs, but doesn’t turn around, he immediately says, “Pancakes it is. Night, Elizabeth.”
She doesn’t say another word, just continues up to the second floor.
I’m a nervous wreck when I come back downstairs with blankets and pillows for my dad and Ethan. I already gave them new toothbrushes—for some odd reason Mom always keeps a fresh supply of toothbrushes handy.
I poke my head in the open bathroom doorway just as my dad’s spitting toothpaste foam into the sink. “I’ll put your pillow and blanket on the couch, Dad.” Then I lower my voice just for him and say in a forceful tone, “Be nice to him.”
He grunts and sets the toothbrush down, saying, “Goodnight, Nari,” before he turns and closes the door to finish up his nightly routine.
I hand Ethan his pillow and blankets, and grimace. “I’m going to apologize now if my dad gives you a hard time tonight.”
“There’s nothing your dad can say to me that would be any worse than what I’ve heard from my own dad,” Ethan says, gathering the covers under his arm.
“I know you would’ve been fine walking in that crazy weather out there, so thank you for staying for my mom’s sake. She would’ve worried you would freeze to death on your way home.”
He kisses me on the forehead, but when he straightens, he has the same look on his face he did earlier. “About Drystan—”
My dad opens the bathroom door, cutting off our conversation. I give Ethan an apologetic smile, then wave goodnight.
By the time I wash my face and crawl into bed, I have two texts from Ethan.
Ethan: Is the Drystan thing recent?
Ethan: I’m not freaking out. Just wondering.
Me: It seems a little like you’re freaking out. Ever since Drystan arrived in England, if he thinks my name, I hear his thoughts. After all my attempts to contact Madeline failed, I got worried someone might already be after the second book, so I asked Drystan to check the library for me. He thought it’d be faster to ‘think’ the answer to me.
Ethan: Did something happen to Madeline?
Me: Her website is gone. Her email bounces. None of my earlier contact information with her works. It’s like she never existed.
Ethan: Hopefully Madeline’s fine. As for Drystan, I know how he feels about you, Nara. I don’t want him in your head.
Drystan’s not the only one in my head. But I can’t say anything to Ethan about what I heard that day in his car. I’m still not sure if I imagined it, since it just happened the one time.
Me: He was only helping me out.
Ethan: I know. There’s something else I want to talk to you about tomorrow. Then I think you’ll understand why I’m feeling the way I do.
Me: How are you feeling?
Ethan: Territorial.
That’s an interesting word choice. Very Corvus of him. I type an answer back that should help.
Me: TTTWFO
Ethan: I love you, Sunshine. Night.
Me: Love you too. Night.
Ethan
Nara’s dad never said a word to me, but like a guard dog ready to strike if I moved a muscle, he kept his distrustful gaze on my back for at least an hour before he finally succumbed to sleep. Now that his breathing has evened out, I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling in the darkness.
The conversation I had earlier with the Corvus plays through my head in an endless, frustrating loop, keeping me wide awake.
Nara’s head hitting the tree woke me, but when she asked me to be quiet and confusion rolled through me, that’s when the Corvus piped in.
Drystan’s in her head.
My gut tightened. Was this some new form of torture he has decided to inflict on me now? She’s not thinking about him.
I didn’t say that. He’s talking to her. At least he was in her dream.
My hand resting on Nara’s back curled into a fist. How do you know that?
Because I was there.
It took massive effort to remain still under Nara when all I wanted to do was punch the stupid spirit. Why?
I told you…her lightness is addicting.
My heart constricted with worry. I had been right to yank my hand away from her face last night after I saved her from that demon. It wasn’t me touching her. And I told you to stay the hell away from her.
This again? You have to keep your distance for that to happen, and we both know you can’t.
His egotistical confidence set me off. Screw you, Corvus!
You may call me Rave.
He sounded like a prince bestowing me with his permission. Hop off, you self-important feather-covered rat. Rave? Really? I mentally snorted.
That’s my name.
Since when?
I like it. It’s—
Dumb, I said in a droll tone.
—self-explanatory.
Corny.
I don’t think Nara’s dumb or corny. Should I tell her you do? He laughed heartily at that.
The fact that he sounded pleased with his new name ticked me off even more. She named you like a pet, same way she did Patch, I gritted out.
I am not an animal. I am beyond your comprehension! The Corvus roared so loud it felt like my brain was vibrating in my skull. And then he was gone. Nara sighing her frustration yanked me out of my own head. Lying on the floor under the tree with her felt so peaceful, I didn’t want it to end. I brushed her hair out of her face just so I could touch her and asked what was wrong.
A clock ticking quietly somewhere in Nara’s living room brings me back to the present. The repetitiveness sounds fast, but it’s taking forever. The morning can’t get here soon enough. I really don’t like the idea of Drystan being able to pop into her head whenever he wants, but right now I’m more worried about the Corvus.
I fold my arms behind my head and try to figure out the Corvus’ angle. What does he want? Did he talk to Nara just to freak me out? Or is there mo
re to it?
A sudden flash of memory ricochets around in my skull and the pain is so fierce I grip my head. When the aching stops, and I’m finally able to unclench my jaw, a sheen of sweat coats my entire body. Blowing out a quiet breath, I fist my hands in my hair and whisper, “Fucking hell.”
Nara
Forty minutes before sunrise I crouch beside Ethan and hold my steaming mug of coffee close to his nose. When his eyes fly open and he starts to say something, I quickly press my finger to his lips and shake my head. I glance at my dad, who’s snoring lightly on the couch, then lift my finger and curl it toward me as I stand.
Ethan follows me up the stairs, and then sits facing me once we reach a place—three steps from the top—where the stairwell wall comes down and will block us from my dad’s view.
Ethan looks so devastatingly handsome, with mussed hair and an overnight beard on his jaw, I set my phone on the stairs and twine my yoga-panted legs with his jean-covered ones, just to be close to him. Leaning toward him, I say in a quiet voice, “Merry Christmas. I didn’t make you a cup of coffee since you claim not to like it.”
Ethan tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, his act so tender I want to kiss him. “If it only tasted as good as it smelled, I’m sure I’d love it.”
I hug the cup between my hands and take a sip, letting its warmth chase the morning chill away. “I thought you might like to talk before everyone gets up.”
Nodding, he reaches for one of my hands and turns me around on the stairs until my body’s tucked between his legs. “This is much better,” he says in a husky tone, bending down to kiss me on the cheek.
I lean fully into his hard chest and the warm circle of his arms, snuggling close. “I agree.”
Just when I start to take another sip of my coffee, he steals the cup and swallows a big gulp, then hands it back to me. “Hmmm, Nara-coffee tastes like manna from heaven.”
My stomach flutters. He always finds a way to make me feel special. Holding the warm cup with both hands once more, I glance up at him. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
He’s quiet for a second, like he’s choosing his words carefully, then he says, “The Corvus told me Drystan was in your head while he was talking to you about the library. He heard Drystan in your dream.”
My eyes widen. “Your Corvus is talking to you now?” I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. “What did he say?”
Ethan frowns down at me. “That you named him Rave.”
“Oh, that.” My face flames, and I shrug. “I thought giving him a name might help him open up.”
“He doesn’t need to open up,” Ethan grates. “I don’t like the idea of anyone talking to you in your head, Nara. Not Drystan, nor that stupid bird, spirit…whatever the hell it is.”
“So this is where that ‘territorial’ comment came from last night.”
He scowls. “It’s not because I’m jealous.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, really?”
Shrugging, he grunts. “I guess that’s part of it, but I’m more worried about how having someone in your head can affect and influence you. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”
“If you know what you’re talking about—I’m assuming you mean your Corvus—then you also know that you can still stay true to yourself no matter how strong the mental influence. You did.”
He opens his mouth like he’s going to say something else, then closes it. A muscle jumps along his jawline for a few seconds. Then he finally speaks. “I believe you now.”
“Believe me about what?”
“That I’m the Master Corvus.”
Relief flows through me and I turn sideways, hooking my elbow around his thigh. “That’s good news. Things will be so much easier now that the Master Corvus is back on track—why are you shaking your head?”
Ethan points to his chest. “I said, I now believe that I’m carrying around the Master Corvus. The spirit hasn’t accepted that truth about himself yet.”
“Oh.” My shoulders slump, and I drop my chin on his bent knee. “He’s very stubborn.” Tilting my head slightly, I glance back at him, curious what changed. “What made you finally accept what I’ve been telling you?”
Ethan runs his hand from the top of my head to the ends of my hair, then he traces his finger along my slouchy sweatshirt’s collar. “This.”
I glance down as he tugs the sweatshirt off my shoulder to reveal the feather tattoo on my shoulder blade. “My feather?”
But Ethan’s gaze snaps to mine, his brow furrowed. “When did it turn white again?”
“It did?” I crane to see the tattoo, then give up. I can only see it in the mirror. “I have no idea. And what does the Master Corvus have to do with it?”
Ethan shakes his head, a mystified look on his face as he slides his fingers across my tattoo. “He’s the only one who can see it, Nara.”
“What?” I turn to face him so fast I almost spill my coffee. “What do you mean? I see it just fine and so do you. Also, pretty important question. How do you know that you’re the Master Corvus, yet he doesn’t?”
Ethan shrugs. “I know things he doesn’t because part of my thoughts are sectioned off from him. I don’t know how it works, but it just does. He hates that my mind is strong enough that I can keep some things from him if I want to. For once the tables are turned though. I apparently got a flash of one of his memories last night.”
My heart pounds double time. “What did you see?”
“It’s not what I saw, it’s more like information came through.” His fingers trace my tattoo. “This is how the angels mark those worthy of being Corvus, Nara. It’s invisible to everyone but the Master Corvus. Once the Master Corvus chooses who to give a part of himself to, a feather surfaces as an outline on the new Corvus’ shoulder blade, then it changes to a black feather—”
“Before morphing into a sword,” I finish for him. “I know I’m not Corvus, and apparently you aren’t responsible for this feather on my shoulder, so why is it visible?”
Ethan slides his thumb down my tattoo, a possessive look reflected in his eyes. “We weren’t wrong in our assumption about your tattoo, Nara. When we connected in that coach’s closet and I wished with all my heart to claim you as mine, the Corvus heard my thoughts.” His blue eyes snap to mine. “Your feather would only have risen to the surface if he claimed you, but he didn’t give you a part of his Corvus self.”
I swallow and grip the coffee cup tight. “What does that mean? Was he claiming me for you then?”
Ethan sets his mouth in a grim line. “I doubt he was being charitable to me. It would be a first. That’s the extent of what I got from the memory. It was enough to tell me for sure that he’s the Master Corvus, but not why he raised your feather.”
I might not know why I have it, but since the feather surfaced because of the Master Corvus…. “Maybe that’s why I knew where all the Corvus are in the world. It was never me. It was the feather.”
Ethan leans back against the railing and sighs. “If he didn’t give you a part of himself, then how can that be?”
He has a point. I chew my lip and ponder. As we sit there in silence, lost in our thoughts, the rising sun slowly snakes its rays through the banister and up the stairwell. The beams hit the lights on the Christmas tree just right, reflecting blue, red, teal, and purple colors along the wall across from us.
“Look, a Christmas rainbow,” I say quietly, pointing to the spray of color.
As Ethan nods, our heat kicks on and some of the tree limbs move with the vent pushing warm air up through them. The colors on the wall bounce and jostle around. When I see the red color juddering back and forth on top of the purple, the two colors together make me think about the map Ethan and I burned.
I grab Ethan’s thigh and squeeze. “I just had an idea. I think I might know what I was supposed to see on that map with the purple and red marks.”
“You do? What?”
“Well, remember that the pur
ple marks I put on the map represented areas around the world where unusual phenomena had happened not long after a natural disaster event had occurred—which we know might have been possible tears in the veil. And the red dots that my feather plotted on the map are supposed to be the Corvus all over the world, right?”
He nods. “So how are they connected?”
“What if, by putting these two together, we could possibly create a resource of information to help the Corvus narrow down an area where a possible Inferi might take over a human?”
Ethan looks intrigued. “So instead of hunting a wide range and hoping to run across a human inhabited by a demon, now a Corvus could be more proactive and precise in how he or she hunts?”
“Exactly. It would take computer resources or a group of dedicated people to track events and such like I did…” I pause while my brain flies through the possibilities of this new technique. “All the data crunching could possibly be centralized at the Order—I know they have computer skills, since they tracked me through mine. Then the Order could send out alerts for potential demon activity in specific areas for the Corvus to keep under surveillance.” I grin in my excitement. “It’s not foolproof, but something like this could cut down on the amount of time demons can hide inside people before they’re discovered by a Corvus.”
When I take a breath, Ethan’s eyes are shining with pride. “That’s just brilliant, Nara! Why has no one else thought of this?”
I spread my hands wide. “I only thought of it because I saw the veil tearing. Seeing that happen more than once, and then talking to Madeline about what causes the veil to thin, made me wonder about the correlation. I didn’t know what to do with the information I had compiled until just now.”
Desire Page 18
