The Raven Queen

by Emma Jayne Mills

  “Is she okay?” Jax demanded, halting Zane’s speech.

  “She’s fine, she wasn’t there. Despite her father’s best efforts, she refused to show,” Zane assured him. “However, Connell was sharing prophecy information among the alphas in the area.”

  “That’s what went missing,” Cole finished.

  “It is,” Zane nodded and flicked through the brown casefile he held. “Connell obviously wants the info retrieved and has sent his own operatives after the rogue. Familiarise yourselves with his face, but we’re not going after him. We want the prophecy info only. As the raven queen’s warriors, we have a greater need for it than them. Have either of you spoken to her recently?”

  “No phone calls,” Marco answered and Jax shook his head. “Just texts. Since revealing her raven to our parents she’s been flat out. My Dad and Gran are carting her around like a fucking show horse. Alphas demanding introductions and all kinds of crap. She’s been bitching about it in her texts.”

  Jax barely withheld the snarl his wolf spat out. “We need to move in, it’s time to take her before someone else does. Until she knows what she’s capable of she’s vulnerable.”

  “We go after the prophecy first, it could disappear at any second so that must be our priority. I agree though, it’s getting chaotic out there, we can’t take the risk of someone getting to her while she’s unprotected. It’s time Aurora joined us.” Zane handed the case file on the rogue to Marco and looked at Jax. “Will she put up a fight?”

  “Absolutely,” Jax smirked. “Once she knows the full story, she’ll be fine.”

  “You hope,” Marco added, passing the file to Cole after a quick glance at the photograph inside.

  “Yeah…” Jax rubbed his darkly stubbled chin and looked out of the window.

  “Coming into land, boss,” Hunter announced through the radio headsets they all wore.

  The team checked and concealed their weapons. Going into an area populated by humans meant staying under their radar. Their missions often took them into dangerous situations for themselves, human lives were just as important though and staying undiscovered was always a priority.

  Aurora would be difficult, Jax knew, but she should be with her warriors now that things were changing. They had information that she needed and he hoped, vice versa. With her razor-sharp mind and tracker training she was an asset in her own right, she would be a strong addition to their team. Plus, he was ready to be back with her, he needed to be by her side, to protect her himself. Not that she would accept his protection, but he could work on that.

  “Everybody ready?” Zane continued to deliver instructions, while Hunter landed the helicopter (known as Gloria) on the rooftop helipad of an office building. “Our target was last seen entering the building opposite thirty minutes ago. CCTV hasn’t picked him up leaving, so we’re working on the assumption that he’s still inside. Our priority is the book. I don’t give a shit about the money, Connell can get that back himself, but we need that information.”

  “What about the rogue?” Hunter asked, pulling on a black jacket to cover the handgun he had in the holster strapped around his shoulder. “I know you said he’s not of interest, but whoever hired him might be.”

  “Good point,” Zane responded. “If it looks like he knows anything, we take him, let Marco loose. If, as I suspect, he’s just the delivery guy, he’ll have no idea who hired him, so won’t be of use to us.”

  They moved as a unit, across the rooftop and down the stairs of the building to the floor underneath, before taking the lift to the ground floor. At the entrance of the building they split into two teams, veering off in opposite directions. Jax, Marco and Hunter crossed the street and entered the other building through the main entrance. Zane and Cole moved to the back of the building and began a sweep from that end.

  A commotion in the hallway of the second floor caught Hunter, Jax and Marco’s attention. They stopped, listening to the raised voices and the unmistakeable sound of someone getting a beating. Jax let out a snarl and quickened his pace. He should have known, who else would Connell send if not his best trackers?

  “What the fuck is up with you?” Marco jogged to catch up and shoved his friend in the shoulder.

  “She’s here,” was all Jax said before speeding off around the corner towards the noise.

  “Shit!” Marco picked up his sister’s scent then and radioed the rest of the team. “Second floor, we’ve got trouble.”

  “Should we go after him?” Hunter wanted to know.

  “Yes, we should definitely go after him!” Marco set off after Jax with Hunter on his heels.

  Rounding the corner, they came upon Jax, arms folded, legs hip width apart and eyes fixed firmly on the woman, who was yet to look in his direction. Aurora was all in black; skin-tight black trousers, heavy black boots, black vest under a black jacket and she was currently making their target regret every decision he had ever made.

  “Is that her?” Hunter leaned in to whisper in Marco’s ear, Marco nodded in response. “Is her partner going to be a problem?”

  “Only if Jax decides he feels like killing his brother,” Marco answered.

  “Fantastic!”

  Aurora didn’t seem to have noticed them yet, but there was no doubting her partner had. Caspian had assumed much the same stance as Jax, at the other side of Aurora and the man she was currently kicking the crap out of.

  “You’re going to hand it over, jizz stain. Because if you don’t, I’m going to take that hand of yours, you know, the one you couldn’t keep to yourself earlier and shove it up your arse. Sideways!” She yanked on the man’s arm, twisting it backwards, she forced it out behind him and up in the air, causing him to yelp in pain. “Then, I’m going to cut off your dick and staple it to your head!”

  “She’s quite something,” Hunter whispered, awestruck as Aurora lowered the man’s arm, secured it behind his back and shoved his chest into the wall. She kicked her leg out, spreading his with a flick of her foot and held out one hand to Caspian, who had uncrossed his arms and was ready with a set of handcuffs. The man’s hands were fastened behind his back in seconds, then Aurora held him in place with one hand and turned to face Jax with a look of disdain.

  “Are you going to stand there all afternoon with your mouth hanging open or can I help you with something?” The irritation she felt was obvious in her manner and she did nothing to hide the scent of anger and hatred that poured off her.

  “What makes you think I’m here for you?” Jax grinned, falling back into their old banter as though no time had passed between them.

  “Well, thank fuck for that,” her smile was sweet with sarcasm. “Because that shit could’ve been awkward. Caspian, someone to see you.” She grabbed the elbow of the man she had taken prisoner and walked him away from Jax, towards the other end of the hall. As she reached the end, she called over her shoulder to Marco. “Good to see you, bruv. I’ll ring you soon, been pretty fucking hectic lately.”

  “What do you want, Jax?” Caspian stepped into his brother’s line of sight as Aurora disappeared with the man they had been looking for.

  “Not here for you either, Cas.” Jax stepped around his brother and went after Aurora, throwing over his shoulder an instruction for the others to check the apartment.

  Hunter moved into the open apartment, where they assumed the man had been hiding. Bumping into Jax’s mate and having her get to the rogue first was something they hadn’t counted on. Hunter had to admit, it had been hot as hell to watch the feisty female kick the shit head seven ways from Sunday, but he was now back on track and ready to continue their mission.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Marco hissed at Caspian.

  “On a job,” he said, turning, and following his brother.

  “Fuck!” Marco swore as they hurried to catch up with Jax and Aurora.

  Meanwhile Zane and Cole headed Aurora and her captive off at the top of the stairwell, bringing the situation to a head. Aurora had hal
ted, cocking her head to one side in mild interest at the strange feeling she gained from the men who cut her off.

  “Aurora, it’s good to finally meet you.” Zane raised his hands, submissively, instantly recognising Jax’s mate from pictures and video they had seen. “We’re on the same team, he has information we need in order to protect you. The prophecy…”

  “The prophecy, I might have known,” she said, to herself. “Listen, Oso, I’m tired of hearing about that fucking prophecy. So, what do you say we skip the crap and get straight to the part where I beat the shite out of you? Then we can all go on with our day.”

  She reached out to Caspian, who had caught up with them and now stood a step behind her. He linked their fingers without hesitation. With the other hand, she shoved the captive to the floor, pointed at him and snarled at him to stay put.

  “Stay!” She ground the words out forcefully, her voice powerful and strong.

  “Shit!” Cole’s knees buckled at her demand and he shot out a hand to steady himself on the wall.

  Aurora dropped Caspian’s hand, intending to pick up her rogue and simply walk around the men, now that they were incapacitated. Zane, narrowly managing to resist the power of Aurora’s demand, took a shaky step forward, forcing her to rethink. He staggered another step and it was the only threat she needed. Crouching low, hands braced on the floor, she flicked out her leg and swiped at Zane’s ankles, throwing him off his feet before he could register her movement.

  “Rory, stop!” Jax’s own alpha voice halted her as she was aiming another kick at Zane. “We’re not here to fight.”

  “That’s a shame, because I’ve got a fair few punches with your name on.” She straightened, unaffected by his power and faced him.

  “He’s our mark, we didn’t know you were coming for him too.” Zane got to his feet. “We need the book he took.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aurora snapped.

  She was clearly unaware that the book, if she even knew of its existence at all, had been stolen. Jax’s mind wandered and he drank in everything about her. All the changes, all the old familiarities that he missed. She was everything he had always been in love with and more.

  “You clip your fringe back now,” Jax observed.

  “It helps me see more clearly. I was blind for an exceptionally long time,” she quipped.

  The heat between them electrified the air suddenly, their bodies were instinctively drawn to each other, the bond swirling invisibly around them. Their eyes locked and held. Seconds passed, minutes. Jax risked a step in her direction, she snapped out of her trance and drew her weapon.

  “Not another step,” she warned, pointing the handgun at Jax.

  “Woah! Hang on now, wild thing, can you use that thing?” Jax teased, raising his hands in surrender.

  “Oh, that’s right, I’m just a clueless girl, aren’t I? How could I possibly know what to do with this thing?” Aurora waved the weapon around precariously, pointing it in every direction, while letting out a girly giggle. “I should be careful, could have someone’s…”

  Aurora let off a shot, the round ricocheting off the wall, sending paint and plaster flying and embedding itself in the floor. The men all dove for cover. Jax didn’t move a muscle.

  “Oh, no, silly me…” she feigned a flinch, flicked her hair with her free hand and another shot hit the ceiling. Wide eyed she looked at Jax. “Oops! I did another one.”

  Biting her bottom lip, she fired again and the bullet pinged off the handle of the door, hitting the door with a force that splintered the wood. “I should probably put this away before I hurt someone.”

  “Admit it, wild thing, you missed me.” Jax was unperturbed by her display. If anything, he was impressed with her control, her shots were clearly going exactly where she intended.

  “With every shot so far, but practice makes perfect. If you just give me a minute to get warmed up, I know I can do better.” She grinned and the fire in her eyes that was only for him ignited.

  -You look so fucking hot right now.

  Jax’s voice in her mind wasn’t a welcome intrusion. She hadn’t expected the silent connection to him to have grown stronger, but that’s exactly what had happened. What had once been a one-way communication between them was now working both ways.

  -You can hear me, can’t you, Rory?

  “This is not happening!” she hissed, shoving her weapon in the back of her waistband. “Caspian, get him to the car!”

  “On it, gorgeous.” Caspian flashed his bother a grin, when he growled at the term of endearment. He hauled the man up from the floor and leaned in to place a kiss on the corner of Aurora’s mouth. “See you out front.”

  “I’ll be right behind you, handsome.” She smiled when Caspian kissed her, but her eyes hadn’t moved from those of her true mate.

  Jax’s chest heaved and he began to breathe deeply, calming the animal inside him that called for its mate. He’d known it would be hard when he finally saw her again, but he thought he’d have time to prepare, this wasn’t good. While she wasn’t unresponsive to him, she was hostile. It didn’t help that all he wanted to do was rip her clothes off and claim her right there in the hallway.

  “In your dreams, arsewipe!” She plucked the thoughts from his mind and he couldn’t hold back the grin. She turned to Cole, who had recovered from his reaction to her command. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” He managed a weak smile. She returned a genuine one.

  “I’m not!” Hunter snarled, angrily, rounding the corner and coming level with Marco, both men looking weak and dishevelled. “That was some fucking powerful shit you threw at us there, bird girl.”

  “Wasn’t aimed at you, blondie, no offence.” She winked at Hunter, who couldn’t help but lose all his anger and grin back.

  “What was that, Aurora?” Marco demanded. He’d felt alpha power before but nothing had forced him into submission as quickly as his sister’s voice. He’d dropped to his knees in the hallway, steps away from Hunter, both of them whining in pain.

  “Don’t make me roll my eyes at you, Marco,” she said. “You know damn well what it was. Like I said, it wasn’t aimed at you, sometimes I don’t know my own strength.”

  “I like her,” Hunter declared with a grin. She returned the grin, cocking her head to the side again and seeking his animal, just below the surface. Lion, she mentally noted.

  “So, this is the team, huh? Heard a lot about you fellas from my brother. From him,” she tilted her head to indicate Jax. “Not so much.”

  Aurora aimed her question at Zane but it was Jax who answered, daring to take a step towards her.

  “This is your team,” he stated and moved another step towards her.

  In a split second, she had the pistol back in her hand and aimed at him, stopping his movements. Aurora flicked a glance at her brother. “Is this more prophecy shit? We’re going to have words about the fact you knew about this, Marco. Yeah, I’ve figured that much out for myself. What I want to know is, what else have you been lying to me about?”

  “Aurora, it wasn’t like that. Give us time to explain to you,” Marco attempted, but it was pointless, she wasn’t ready to hear it. She huffed out an annoyed breath in response.

  “We need the information the rogue took from your Father’s card game last night.” Zane ventured and she inclined her head towards him.

  “There was only money taken,” she blinked and aimed her gaze back at Marco. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Baby, listen,” Jax began.

  “Who’s baby?”

  “Rory, please,”

  “I don’t have time for this.” She looked back at Zane. “Are you in charge here?”

  “I’m the commander, but Jax…”

  “Well then, commander,” she interrupted. “I’ve still got two more rogues to track before I get to go home, kick off these damn boots and put my feet up. If you have legitimate business with my prisoner, I sugg
est you take that matter up with my father. Those two can tell you where to find him.” She indicated Jax and Marco with a lift of her chin. “I’ll let him know you’re coming. Until then, finders’ keepers!”

  The men watched, dumbfounded as she put away her weapon, issued a warning to Jax, that if he followed her, she would shoot him, and disappeared in a blur of movement before they could register that she’d gone.

  “Is she a fucking vampire?” Hunter’s voice was hushed and filled with awe. “No shifter moves that fast, not even Jax!”

  “She’s powerful,” Zane nodded. “I doubt she even knows her own limits yet.”

  “I can’t wait to test them.” Jax grinned and ran after his mate, his own speed something of a talking point among his teammates.

  Maybe that was why he had been granted it, to keep up with his raven queen. Blindly tracking her scent, he shouldn’t have been surprised when she met him head on, just inside the door to the building. She grasped the lapels on his jacket and shoved him hard against a nearby wall. His back slammed into the solid surface, plaster crumbled and fall to the floor under the impact of his body. No words needed to pass her lips. The silent threat was obvious through the fury in her look. His mate was not in any way pleased to see him.

  They stared, unblinking, into each other’s eyes. For a few blissful seconds, the hollowness they shared closed the hole that was carved deep into their souls. Their anguish at their absence from one another eased. The uncertainty disappeared. The emotions stopped circling. Only heat, passion, and uninhibited love remained. Until she moved first.

  Relaxing her grip, she smoothed her hands over the crumpled material and stepped back a pace. His body reacted to her touch automatically, demanding that he reach for her, pull her back against him. He didn’t. This was her moment and he would let her have it. She smiled and licked her lips, closing the distance once again. With her mouth hovering over his, he could feel every breath she took.