by J. L. Weil
A muscle popped at his jawline. “This is no place for a human, princess.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Besides, he can’t see anything, right? No reaper marks. No trouble.”
“Let’s hope not,” he said skeptically.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I countered. My hands were still pressed to his chest. I dropped them when I realized I was still touching him, but I did so regrettably.
He sighed. “It means some humans see past the veil of life and death. Some have a stronger intuition and are able to open their minds to the possibility of the world beyond this one. It can also depend on how much death has touched their souls. If someone has had a near-death experience or lost a great love, it tends to unlock parts of their minds, allowing them to see what is normally hidden.”
Fan-freaking-tastic.
I hadn’t expected to be at odds with him so soon after last night. It made the afterglow I’d been riding all day dim. “Well, he doesn’t seem to think anything is out of the ordinary, so I guess I lucked out.”
His eyes stayed on me, before he nodded. “Stay out of trouble, will ya?”
“I’ll try.” As I turned to leave, I stopped, angling my body back toward him. “You don’t need to babysit me tonight.”
A rueful smile quirked his lips. “I’ll stick around all the same.”
My stomach tightened, and a chill moved through my blood. One step forward, two steps back. That was the definition of my relationship with Zane. “Suit yourself.”
As I spun around to rejoin Parker and Zoe, Zane grabbed my arm. “One more thing in case I don’t get the chance later.” He leaned down, sweeping his lips across my cheek. “Happy birthday, princess,” he whispered in my ear.
I shuddered and instinctually leaned toward him, but he’d already moved back. I stumbled a little, losing my balance. His lips curved.
Dazed and somewhat irritated, I made my way over to Parker and Zoe. As soon as I was within yelling distance of Parker, he jumped all over me. “I don’t get it, Pipes. You’re a smart girl. What are you doing with a douchebag like that?” Obviously, Zane rubbed him the wrong way, but I couldn’t blame him.
I blinked. “We’re not together,” I said, but his eyes were still brimming with doubt and anger. “It’s complicated, okay?”
“Whatever.” Parker was having none of my lame excuses.
“Look, I don’t want to fight with you. Can’t we forget Zane and have a good time?” Not that I could ever truly forget about Zane. It wasn’t possible, not when we were in the same room, but Parker didn’t know that, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him.
He downed the drink next to him at the bar. “It’s a good thing it’s your birthday.”
“That’s right. Now, let’s dance.” I tugged on his hand. “Come on. You know you want to.”
Zoe was frowning at me from her seat at the bar. I think I’d just stolen her dance partner, but since I was the birthday girl, I deserved first dance.
Pulling Parker onto the floor, I told myself to ignore Zane, to pretend he wasn’t here. I slipped around the bodies, searching for an open space. The club was packed tonight, and I loved it. Letting the music rule me, I stepped up to Parker and draped an arm around his neck. I started to move, but unlike most adorable dweebs, when they danced, they kind of stood there and let the girls do all the work. Not Parker. For a geek, he could move.
My perfect partner in crime.
Loosening his muscles, he quickly picked up the beat, matching his rhythm with mine. I swayed with the music, and then whirled in a circle. Pleasure brought a rosy glow to my skin. I knew my body was luminous, a reaper by-product. Parker didn’t seem to notice. I’m sure the strobe lights helped, but I was happy to see the joy in his eyes.
Or maybe I was mistaking joy for something more…
His hands settled on my hips. “You still got it.”
My mouth, unpainted and soft, curved up and teased out the dimples on my cheeks. “I forgot how well we move.” The words came out raspy, like I was trying to sound sexy but failing miserably. So not my intention.
I didn’t know how many songs we danced to. That was the thing about places like Atmosphere; you got caught up in the music and hours flew by. All around us, bodies glistened with sweat and people laughed. When I glanced around it was like a rainbow—the guy to my left with a purple Mohawk, the couple beside us whose veins shimmered red, and the girl behind me who looked like a living Rainbow Bright.
For the first time, Raven Hallow felt like home. Maybe it was that I’d finally accepted who I was. Maybe it was having Parker here, a piece of my old life. Or maybe it was a combination of everything. Parker. Zane. Atmosphere. Me.
Parker’s head lowered, his forehead pressing to mine. His long lashes fluttered against my cheek, and I giggled. The next thing I knew, his lips were on mine. I couldn’t say I was surprised, because deep down I knew he had a crush on me. Maybe it was more than a crush. What surprised me was I didn’t push him away immediately, which Parker took as encouragement.
His lips pressed more firmly to mine. There was nothing wrong with Parker’s kiss, and actually this wasn’t our first. I remembered it being just as sweet…except it didn’t steal my breath away. There was no jolt of power rushing through my veins, heating up my blood. I didn’t lose myself, forgetting the world around me.
He wasn’t Zane.
And if I could think of Zane at a time like this, no one’s kiss but his ever would. He’d tarnished me forever. Kissing Parker made me think this was the calm and pleasant future Zander and I had to look forward to. No curl-toeing, heart-pounding, body-surging lip-locking. After the other night, I wasn’t sure I could settle for anything less.
It was a sobering thought.
As gently as I could, I broke off the kiss and stared into Parker’s wonderstruck gaze. “Parker, we can’t,” I said, placing both palms on his chest to keep him at arm’s length. It wasn’t my motive to hurt him, but I would hurt him all the same. The knowledge splintered a piece of my heart, but it was unavoidable. I refused to lead him on, to ensnare another in this twisted triangle I found myself in.
“Why not?” he asked, leaning in to make another attempt for my lips.
I was having none of it. He might have caught me by surprise before, but not a second time. I pushed harder against his chest. “Parker!” Alcohol and the ambiance of the club made him bolder than normal.
“What gives? I thought you had feelings for me.”
“I do. Of course I do,” I assured. “You’re my best friend—”
“Don’t you dare pull the friend card,” he said. “What about the, Parker, I miss yous or the I love yous?”
All around us, people continued to bump and grind, but I didn’t care. Most of them were oblivious to the squabble quickly turning into an inferno. “I meant them…as a friend.”
“That’s such bullshit,” he snarled. “I know it. You know it. I don’t understand. What happened? One day you’re into me and the next you’re not? I gave you time because I thought that was what you needed.”
“It was,” I said in a small voice. I wasn’t sure he heard me.
“And now you’ve decided you don’t have feelings like that about me. Is it because of him?” His finger shot in the air toward the back of the club. Distaste rolled off his tongue. Any ideas I had about Parker and Zane being friends were quickly becoming unrealistic.
I swallowed. “Who? Zane?” It was a stupid question.
He thrust frustrated fingers through his unkempt sandy hair. “Oh please, don’t play the innocent act with me. I’m not an idiot or blind. I’ve seen the two of you together. You have a thing for him.”
Tension settled between us like a well-worn blanket. He was right, but it was way more than a thing. “It’s not that. I’m engaged,” I blurted, and my hand flew quickly to my mouth. I swear the room went silent, but mostly it was in my head.
He blinked, shaking his head in confusion. “
What?”
“I’m engaged, Parker.”
He looked like I cracked him across the cheek with my open palm. “You’re shitting me.”
“I wish,” I muttered, knowing nothing I could say would soften the pain on his face.
“I don’t see a ring,” he stated, eyes darting to my fingers and back to my face. “How can you possibly think you’re in love with that douchebag? You deserve so much better.”
I shook my head, taking a step forward. “I’m not engaged to Zane, Parks.” But boy did I wish I were. It would have been believable.
Confusion clouded his whiskey eyes. “Then who? If you’re making another lame excuse because you don’t have feelings for me, just be big enough to tell me. Don’t lie to me.”
I wanted to stick to as much of the truth as I could without revealing what I was. “I wouldn’t lie about something like this. I swear. It’s Zane’s brother, Zander.”
“He has another brother?”
“Yeah,” I replied flatly.
“Now I know you’re lying. Zane, I could have believed. You’ve been making googly eyes at him and fawning all over him since I got here. It’s sickening.”
“I do not make googly eyes.”
He crossed his arms. “At least admit how you feel.”
“Fine. I have feelings for him. Is that what you want to hear?” I yelled.
Hurt slashed across his eyes. I reached out, intending to lay a hand on his forearm, but he stepped back. Pivoting, he stormed off the dance floor.
“Shit,” I swore to no one in particular. “Parker!”
His didn’t even break his stride.
Chapter 16
How did I ever find myself caught in a love tangle? Not with two guys, but three? WTH? In high school, I couldn’t even get a date to prom. I felt stupid as shit. I could have handled the situation with more care. Parker was my oldest friend, and it wasn’t his fault my feelings had shifted in a big way. Or that I was as unavailable as someone could get.
I was afraid of losing him.
Without a second thought, I took off after him. Where did he think he was going to go? I caught a glimpse of the back of his shirt as he barreled through the doors. The last thing I wanted was Parker running around the streets of Raven Hallow at night. Alone.
Pushing my way through the crowd, I had both hands on the metal door when I felt someone following me. It didn’t stop me. Outside, the sky sparkled like crushed diamonds in space, and the air was cool and clean as mountains. Yet, it wasn’t the unexpected crisp air that caused my skin to goose bump. “Zane, I don’t need your help,” I said over my shoulder, not slowing my pace.
He ambled out of the shadows and into my line of sight. “Of course you do.”
“You’ll only make things worse.”
“Tough shit,” he said, sounding a bit sharper than normal.
“You don’t understand. I hurt him.” My voice caught as the fast techno beats faded in the distance.
“Oh, I saw. The whole club saw. Anyway, he’s a big boy, princess.”
I stopped in my tracks, and it took him a step or two further to realize we weren’t shoulder to shoulder. “I wouldn’t expect a jerk like you to understand.”
He wore that damnably knowing expression. “A jerk, huh? You didn’t think so last night.”
“Argh! You’re driving me crazy.” My eyes scurried along the street in front of me. Buildings lined both sides of the intersection, but there was no Parker in sight. There were, however, quite a few intoxicated partiers stumbling around, making me slightly nervous. “Where the hell did he go?”
Zane never got the chance to utter the snappy comeback on the tip of his tongue. Out of nowhere, a figure flew from around the corner and bum-rushed him. At first I thought it was a hallow or a reaper. But… It couldn’t be. My eyes widened in disbelief. Parker?
Sure as shit. Parker’s fist shot in the air, zooming past Zane’s cheek as he sidestepped out of the way. I blinked, about to intervene, but Zane beat me to it. He had Parker pinned against the wall, his eyes going smoky, the veins circling them the color of ink.
I stood there for a moment with my mouth hanging open. What was going on? I felt like I’d walked into an alternate universe. Someone must have slipped something in Parker’s drink. He was never aggressive or physical. My eyeballs couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Feeling seven shades of awkward, I stood there dumbfounded at two very different guys for whom I cared deeply, just different kinds of deep.
Zane pressed his forearm into Parker’s chest. Parker groaned in pain as he pushed against his restraints.
“Zane! Let him go,” I finally said.
“I’m keeping him from hurting himself,” he replied.
Parker didn’t seem to mind or notice his feet weren’t touching the ground. “This is what I don’t get, Pipes. What do guys like him have that I don’t?”
Zane’s eyes roamed down at Parker’s shirt and then back up. “For starters…a fashion sense, and a decent haircut.”
“Zane,” I snarled. “Shut up.”
“What? He asked,” Zane retorted.
Parker laughed, but not in a good way, more like he was about to lose his shit. “You don’t deserve her.”
Zane narrowed his eyes. “That, we can agree on.”
If Parker noticed anything odd about Zane’s eyes, he did an impeccable job hiding it. “She was mine first,” he barked.
Zane growled.
“Whoa,” I said, stepping up so I was in both of their faces. “Hold it right there. I am not and will never be someone’s possession. Is that clear, you Neanderthals?” I glanced back and forth between them. I contemplated knocking their heads together to get my point across, but by the looks on their faces, I doubted it would have made a difference.
They ignored me.
Parker rolled his shoulder, but it did no good. He wasn’t going anywhere Zane didn’t want him to go. “Get your hands off me,” Parker hissed.
Danger shadowed Zane’s face. “Why, so you can make a fool of yourself?”
A thread of fear finally showed in Parker’s eyes.
Wow. This was not the kind of birthday I’d had in mind. Fighting with my best friend. Zane and Parker butting heads. What next?
I decided it was time to call it a day and hope tomorrow this would all be a bad dream.
A girl can fantasize.
It became clear bringing Parker had been a mistake. The knowledge of that mistake was painful. I was making them in abundance, one right after the other. “Okay, here’s the deal. Parker and I are going home, and I’m going to try to forget this night ever happened.”
Footsteps echoed down the side street behind me, but I didn’t think anything of it, not until the breath from my lungs turned cold, billowing in the air. My eyes immediately found Zane’s and saw the same alarm register in his.
Hallows.
Oh, goodie gumdrops.
“I think your birthday surprise just arrived,” Zane muttered dryly.
Time stopped, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. I looked up, knowing what awaited us. Or so I thought.
Estelle stepped out under the streetlight, her almond-shaped eyes twinkling under the glow. There wasn’t an ounce of warmth or kindness, emphasizing my confusion. Behind her were a few Casper the not-so-friendly ghosts.
“Estelle?” I said stunned. “Where have you been? Crash has been looking for you.”
“Ah, the devoted older brother. He worries for nothing.” I didn’t like the sneer in her voice, and neither did Zane.
He dropped Parker to his feet, positioning himself in a way so he stood between Estelle and me. “Considering the kind of company you keep, I’m thinking he has a right to be concerned.”
“That’s the thing.” Static crackled in the air, and a reddish-white light radiated from Estelle as the four hallows closed in ranks behind her. “You never know what you have until it’s gone. Mortals always take advantage of life.”
My stomach twisted. “You and I both know I’m no mortal.”
“Piper?” Parker rasped. “What the hell is going on?”
“Oh, I know,” Estelle said. “You’re the White Raven.”
Well, shit. There went my element of surprise.
I’d been warned that rumors had been circulating about my newly gained status, but there was something in Estelle’s hazel eyes that led me to believe she knew more than she was letting on. It made me leery. Revealing I was the White Raven was risky, but in order to keep Parker safe, I was willing to take the risk. “Am I supposed to be impressed you figured out my secret?”
Her lips curved in a sickening grin. “It was never much of a secret. Not to me. One raven down and one to go.”
I felt the shock of what she implied quake through me—Zane’s and mine—it jolted inside me. “Y-you killed Rose,” I accused, hardly believing it was possible. My brain stopped functioning. Estelle had been a friend; at least, I thought she’d been.
But, as I let the idea simmer, all the cracks and missing pieces came together.
Parker head was bouncing back and forth, trying to understand what was happening.
Zane’s jaw locked, and his stance changed. He was coiled tight, ready to strike. A chorus of hisses rang from the four ghosts at her side. Things were getting hot up in here.
Estelle clucked her tongue, eyes on Zane. “Don’t get any ideas, Death Scythe.”
“All I’ve got is ideas…on how to kill you. And I promise you, if you touch her, I will kill you,” he said darkly.
“Kill?” Parker echoed. “He’s not serious, is he?”
Estelle pretended as if Parker didn’t exist. “No, I don’t think you will. It’s why I brought these guys. To keep you busy.”
He flexed his fingers. “Only four? I’m offended.”
Once the disbelief wore off, the force of it slammed into me, burning a hole of outrage and anger so bright I knew my entire body was lit up like the Chicago skyline. My ears roared with uncontained fury. Someone was calling my name, but I was past the point of hearing.
Her hazel eyes darkened, turning the color of coal, and I knew from the flickering of her outline what was about to happen next.
