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“I was actually asleep this time. It was weird as hell for the shadows to infiltrate my dream and pull me here, but I have no clue if Brax was sleeping.”

“Not to worry,” Peta says with a wry smile. “I can’t imagine how disorienting all this is for you.”

I stand tall with a sense of pride. The fact that Marieta and Peta care for Raven as much as Zane’s father seems to step up and shelter her is heartwarming. She deserves this unwavering appreciation from all of us. Even if she is hesitant to accept it.

“Is it safe to say he’s not being an asshole while we’re not there?” Zane questions, diverting the conversation as we take the steps up the porch. Raven pauses at the top, not ready to head inside yet, and I know it’s because she’s hoping he might appear any moment.

“Oh, he’s definitely still an asshole, but he’s also nothing shy of a saint right now,” she admits, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear as she smiles at Marieta. “This is hard for him, trying to hold down the fort without being able to lean on any of you guys. It’s not easy having to handle me and all the drama that follows me by himself, and he’s trying to be everything for me all at once. He’s trying to understand, not be harsh, and to lighten a souring mood when and wherever necessary. All of it.” Her gaze drifts back out to the bleakness surrounding us. “Maybe he deserves to sleep for a while without having to worry.”

“Am I going to have to fight him when I get back because he suddenly thinks he’s funnier than me?” Zane asks with a smirk, and she grins at him but shakes her head.

“He’s not trying to replace anyone. He’s just…”

My heart aches for the pair of them as much as it does for the three of us stuck here without them. It’s not the norm to be trapped in the Realm of Shadows, but it’s not easy to take on the academy as a duo instead of a five-person team.

“We know what you mean, Little Bird. We can see it too, and we appreciate it,” I finish, reaching out to stroke her arm in comfort.

“Appreciate what?”

Everybody’s head whips around to see Brax standing a few steps away with his arms folded over his chest and his eyebrow raised in question.

“You,” I answer, giving him a challenging look that makes him roll his eyes as he steps around us and casually heads inside.

“Come on, we have a lot to talk about, and fuck knows how much time I have until I wake up,” he grumbles. Marieta and Peta gape at him as the rest of us grin. At least when the five of us are all here together, he gets to be his usual grizzly self.

Raven beams at the back of his head as she follows after him and Marieta turns to me with wide eyes. “Is he always so…”

“He’s an asshole, Marieta. Your son is a grumpy asshole, but we love him anyway,” I say with a grin, making Peta smirk as Marieta shakes her head in disbelief.

It is a little amusing to see how calm and collected Marieta and Peta are compared to Brax, but I guess they haven’t lived the life he has, endured the pain and heartache of losing his parents, only to find them again. No one can prepare for that, and no one can be mad about how he deals with it. Unless it affects Raven, then I’ll handle the gargoyle myself.

Heading inside with everyone, we find Brax sitting at the dining table, stretching his arms over his head as he yawns. Fucker’s asleep and still has the ability to be tired. Crazy as hell.

“Would you like some cocoa?” Marieta asks, and Raven nods eagerly in response before I take her hand and lead her to the table.

I take a seat, pulling my little bird into my lap, and Brax silently stands to help both Marieta and Peta at the stove. I expect Raven to clamber out of my lap and claim her own seat, but instead, she settles against me, cupping my cheek to stare into my eyes.

“What’s going on? I could feel your heart racing like crazy out there,” she asks, keeping her voice low as I gape at her.

I want to tell her. I know I should. I’ve told her about all my the other visions that have involved her, but how the fuck do I explain this one?

She cocks a brow, the challenge clear in her eyes, and I sigh. “I had a vision.”

Her tongue runs over her bottom lip as she waits as patiently as she can for me to explain more, but the words fail me.

“His vision wasn’t the happiest of dreams,” Zane interjects, a tight smile on his face, which only seems to leave Raven even more curious.

“You died,” Creed mutters, grimacing at Raven. His words were likely harsher than he intended as he tried to take the burden from my shoulders.

“Oh.”

I blink at her and blink again. She remains cozied in my lap, her palm still pressed against my cheek. Oh…

Just, oh?

“Raven, any luck with Ari?” Marieta asks, interrupting the conversation as she places two mugs of hot cocoa down in front of Raven and me while Peta carries his own and one for Zane beside him. Brax takes his seat with a mug in his hands, and Creed glances around to see his still resting by the stove.

“Get it yourself. I’m not your maid,” Brax grunts, earning an eye roll from everyone.