Page 4

The Potens Ruby.

We found it, and now he wants it. Yet… I don’t have it, and neither does Brax.

Eldon does.

“I haven’t found it,” I grumble, wetting my bottom lip as I watch Erikel’s gaze darken further. “Search me if you have to,” I goad, and Brax scoffs.

“Like fuck will any of these men search you to find out.” The cords in his arms coil tight, his veins protruding as he stares every single one of Erikel’s men down. Including the big guy himself.

My heart races as a part of me pleads for Erikel to make a move and give me a final excuse to let off some steam, but despite my hopes, he turns his back on me with a shake of his head and a wave of his arm.

“Keep searching, men. There’s nothing of use to me here right now.”

TWO

BRAX

Aconstant tremble runs through my body, refusing to relent. I’m so caught up in my own thoughts, freaking out, it’s leaving me incapable of grasping everything happening around me. I don’t know which way is up, where to turn, or how to proceed. This is more than I think I can handle.

Us.

It’s me and Raven.

Just me and Raven.

My friends, my brothers… fuck.

I haven’t had to function without Eldon for longer than I can remember. Now, with Creed and Zane gone, too, I don’t know how to think. They’re just as much a part of me as I am them.

There’s a reason I’ve always been open to sharing a girl with them. I can’t handle the duty of making her happy, keeping her safe, and everything else that comes along with providing for the woman you want by myself.

Now here I am.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

How am I supposed to be enough for her right now? I’m not even enough for myself.

Glancing down at Raven, my chest tightens. She needs me. Technically, she needs all of us, but she’s stuck with me as her only option, so we’re both going to have to compromise. It won’t be for long. I swear it.

“Follow me, Soul Dancer,” Erikel calls out without looking our way. I remember the last time he used that nickname for Raven and I fucking hate it.

Her lips pinch as her nostrils flare. With narrowed eyes, she puts one foot in front of the other, following his order, but not before reaching for my hand to keep me at her side.

We trail after him and his men, stepping through the gateway they created instead of taking the narrow entrance we originally used to get in here. We appear outside a moment later. The sun has set, leaving only the moon to glow down upon us.

I’m surprised by how many students are already out here. Gathered in small groups, everyone looks uncertain, defeated, and exhausted. If that’s what everyone else looks like, I dread to think of what they see when they look at me. I’m trying my hardest to hold myself together, but it’s easier said than done.

Raven points to the left and I follow her line of sight to find Leila and Grave huddled together on a boulder. They’re sitting side by side, their thighs pressed against one another as they quietly talk.

I squeeze Raven’s hand, indicating for us to head that way, but Erikel suddenly whirls around to face us. His brows are knitted together as he looks down his nose at us.

“Where are the others?”

“Who?” I grunt, hating how tight Raven clings to my hand, her emotions pouring into me. I want to take them all away, every last one, but I can’t, and that’s a hard pill to swallow.

“Don’t play dumb with me, boy. The rest of the necromancer’s brothel,” Erikel snarks, and my whole body goes rigid with anger. My teeth grind together as I try to breathe through it, but I just want to lash out and take this fucker down.

“We split up inside, trying to find what you wanted,” Raven answers, and his gaze quickly shifts to her as he assesses the truth of her words.