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Staring at her, the feeling in my gut rebuffed the notion. Even if she was, the metal would still affect her, still make her weak, blocking her powers, putting her at a handicap. Yet it might be the best cover to lure me in. My need to help others still was there, even when I thought it died with Lucas and Kek.

Reaching over the table, I wrapped my hand around hers, tugging it to me, feeling the goblin metal clawing for my powers near her wrist. I swept over the deep red jeweled ring, a metal insignia twisted around it.

“What are you doing?” Raven’s forehead crunched.

“What’s this?”

“A family heirloom.” She tried to pull her hand away, but I gripped it tighter.

“And who is your family,exactly?” I tipped my head.

“Why do you care?” Her defenses slammed up. “I’m just the obstacle keeping you from your destiny to avenge, right? Why bother getting to know each other now?”

“I’ve tasted your pussy, Raven. Think we’re past that.”

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. I could practically taste heat moving up her body. A flicker crossed her gaze until she shut down her response.

“And why is it you are the only one who isn’t distressed by goblin metal?”

“It hurts me.”

My lips pinched, realizing how long I ignored this.

“Not as much as it should.” My fingers slid under the cuff of her sweatshirt. She tried to jerk away again, inhaling sharply. Just grazing her wrist, the magic had my fingers coiling back. It wasn’t fake, but it also had something unique about it. Different. Another energy source I couldn’t place wrapping through it, almost like a buffer.

Odd.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean?” she snapped.

“It’s notonlygoblin metal, is it?” I stared into her green eyes.

Her eyes danced between mine, seeing there was more to my questions, an accusatory ring to them. “You think I’m pretending? This isn’t real?” She motioned to the cuff.

“I know it’s real, but I also can sense there is more to it you’re not telling me.”More to you, you’re not telling me. “By now, you should be barely able to stand. It should be sucking out your energy far more than it’s doing. So tell me the truth, Raven.All of it.”

She watched me, and I swear I could feel her scraping through my sentiments and feelings, plucking out exactly my train of thought. “Are you accusing me of something?”

“Should I?”

“Wow.” A harsh scoff pinched her lips as she yanked her arm from my grip.

“Then tell me.” I leaned on my forearms. “Why do you have it on? Who put it on you? Does it still block your powers, or have you been lying to me?”

She glowered at me. “Yes, it blocks my powers.”

“Why are you affected so little?”

She shifted in her seat, not looking at me. “It does affect me.”

I glared at her. “Don’t fucking lie to me, Raven.”

“I’m not!”

“You should be almost incapacitated by now.” I practically seethed out my allegation. “Why are you not? Don’t you think I deserve the truth by now?”

She stared down at her arm folded on her lap, mulling over her thoughts. I could feel her lowering her guard as her mouth opened to speak.