Authors: J.L. Weil

White Raven (27 page)

BOOK: White Raven

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Chapter 28

I sneezed.

“How are you feeling?” Zane was kicked back on a chair in my room, his hands propped behind his head.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question, I would be a millionaire. “Same as I was the last time you asked.”

His brow arched.

It wasn’t like I didn’t know I was damn lucky to be alive, or that I wasn’t grateful for those who sacrificed themselves for me. I was. And I should’ve been suffering from post-traumatic stress or depression, but I wasn’t. Physically, I’d never felt better in my entire life, and my mental state…well, it was working through some pretty deep shit.

“Have you thought any about what you’re going to do with TJ?”

I was sitting on the middle of my bed, thinking that it was far too sunny outside. Only two days had passed since Rose’s death, and it felt wrong for Mother Nature to be so cheery. “Yeah. And as much as I hate to admit it, you were right.”

“Of course I was,” he stated matter-of-factly.

I gave him a bland look. “Don’t make me hate you.”

“It would be better if you did.”

“For who? You?” I replied flatly.

“Piper.”

“Forget it.” Why the hell had I thought it was a good idea for him to stay at Raven Manor for a few days until I figured everything out? I was beginning to regret that decision…for many reasons, and not just because he was forcing me to deal with things I didn’t want to. Only Zane’s family was informed of Rose’s passing; they were the only ones who knew of my new role in life. And that was how it was going to stay for as long as possible.

We all agreed we needed to keep Rose’s death on the down low. If it got out, the rebels would come at me hard and fast, and I was nowhere near ready to deal with the repercussions. This gave me time. And boy did I need time. It was a double-edged sword. I needed time to learn what others had a lifetime to hone. I needed time to decide what I was going to do. I needed time to ensure that TJ was safe. And I was out of time.

I hated lying to TJ and sneaking around with Zane. No one knew Zane was spending his nights with me. Not in the same room, but in the same house. Well, maybe not the entire night. His arms were the only things that chased the nightmares away. My morals felt like they had vanished. My mom would not be proud, but that was what she got for leaving me to deal with this gargantuan mess on my own.

I felt stuck.

If I left Raven Hallow with TJ, I would be dragging my problems along with me. I wasn’t stupid enough to think that once I left this island, I would be safe. They wouldn’t stop hunting me, not until they got what they wanted.

My power.

A power I knew virtually nothing about. I didn’t know how to control it. I didn’t know how strong I was. I didn’t know if I could do this. Lead a race of supernaturals?

And there was no telling who they’d hurt along the way. I had too many people I cared about back in Chicago to subject them to danger.

“You know you can’t leave now.”

I swear he could read my thoughts. “I know. It’s just a lot harder to send him away than I thought.”

He scooted the chair across the room so he was directly in front of me. Then his hands shot out, grabbing my ankles and tugging me toward him. I didn’t even try to resist. It would have been pointless. If Zane wanted me closer, there was nothing that would stand in his way.

“Is this your way of telling me you want my undivided attention?”

His hands moved up on my thighs. “I can’t imagine what you are feeling. Okay, that’s a lie. I can feel what you’re feeling, but that’s not the point.”

I tilted my head to the side, regarding him, curious what this was about.

“I want to make you a promise. There are many things I can’t give you, but…”

Didn’t he know I didn’t care about those things? I cared about him, for whatever crazy reason.

“…I will be your sword. I will be your shield. I will defend you until my last breath. This vow I swear freely, to be your weapon as long as you shall live.”

I almost fell off the bed. Holy shit Batman.

I don’t know what I expected him to say, but that had most certainty not been it. A monsoon of emotions slammed inside me, encompassing every space of my body, and I knew my skin was glowing. “Zane, what did you just do?”

There was a flare of intensity in his eyes that he tried to hide with a one-shoulder shrug. “Now you’re stuck with me.”

My eyes tapered, and the muscles in my legs tightened. “Explain.”

“Does everything have to have a rational explanation?” he asked dryly.

“Does everything with you have to be so secretive?” I countered. My innards were still buzzing with… I wasn’t sure what it was, but I felt more connected to Zane than before. It was bad enough our souls were aligned; now what?

“Call it insurance. It’s an ancient ritual rarely used anymore, a bond of duty. It will allow me to sense if you’re in danger.”

I shook my head, confused. “Why would you do that?”
A bond? Until I died?
It seemed so permanent, especially for someone who spent so much time pushing me away.
That two-way soul connection we had was telling me there was more to it.

His eyes searched mine. “Do you really need me to spell it out for you?”

I swallowed, breaking the sweltering eye contact, and pressed my lips together. Was he finally admitting he had feelings for me? But that wasn’t all I wanted from him, a never-ending duty to protect me. Still I would take whatever I could get…for now.

He placed his hands on my hips. “A war is coming, Princess.”

I lifted my head. “And which side will stand?” I asked.

Zane caught a piece of my hair and wrapped it around his finger. “I think that’s obvious. Yours.”

My heart accelerated slightly.

All I saw was Zane—the guy I was falling for. In that moment, everything changed. I knew what I had to do. What I was born to do.

Piper and Zane’s story continues…

BLACK CROW

Coming in 2016

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