Page 72 of Dark Souls

The Raven

“M orninnnn1gggg,” I said in a singsong voice, chirpier than I usually felt at this time of day. I’d been up for hours thanks to our sunrise chat and had a great start to my day. I was so proud of Luka for going straight to my grandma that I celebrated by torturing Belladonna. Then I had a shower, singing and dancing to my favourite playlist. Read in the library. And I’d just come down for breakfast in time to catch my grandpapi before he headed to the Academy.

Grandpapi looked down at his watch in surprise while Grandma Maddy frowned at my overly enthusiastic mood. “You are smiling before eight in the morning. Have you even had any coffee yet?”

“Didn’t need it. I am high on life.”

“We can see that.”

I took a seat at the table and poured myself a black coffee, even though I really didn’t need it. Luka’s blood was enough to keep me satisfied, and my energy levels were at an all-time high.

“Where’s Luka?” Grandma asked.

“Therapy.”

Grandma smiled softly but Grandpapi raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Wow, I didn’t expect you to say that. Good for him.”

I nodded, feeling hopeful that Grandma Alina could help him in some way, whether it be to support him to see himself as worthy or to turn his humanity back on. It didn’t matter to me. I just wanted him to be happy. It hurt to see him so deflated this morning when he expected to feel so much more. But I knew in my mind that Luka would find peace one day and until then, I could be happy for both of us.

My new phone vibrated on the table and I opened a message from Grandma.

He did well. It took a lot from him, so I left him in the room to relax. I’m sure he will be back soon. Do you need a session after everything that’s happened, sweetie?

I smiled as I replied.

No. I’m good. Thank you though. For helping him. You are the best.

He’s a remarkable person, Ilaria. I can see how much he loves you. But this won’t be easy for him, or for you. He has a lot to work through.

I know, but I’m not going anywhere. I just want him to find peace and start living the life he deserves.

And he will, but it will take time. I know you will be patient with him. He knows that too. Have a great day, sweetie. Love you.

“Princess, there is something I need to talk to you abo–” The sound of joyous squealing cut Grandpapi off just before the doors flew open and Hana and Ronnie stumbled into the room. We all froze, staring at the scene. Ronnie had Hana flung over his shoulder, her ass up in the air and a playful smile on his face. Hana was wiggling and hitting his back but laughing loudly until she realised they had an audience. Ronnie put her down reluctantly but kept his arms wrapped around her as they duck-walked towards the table. His eyes were now back to their dark brown, which held a secret gleam that was never there when he was human. Hana couldn’t stop giggling, her face turning the shade of beetroot as she dropped her head and hid her embarrassed face behind her red hair.

“Good morning,” she muttered, holding the back of a chair. Before she could pull it out, Ronnie beat her to it. She blushed even harder. “Thank you.”

Before he pulled out his own next to her, he bent down and kissed her lips. It was brief but full of doting affection. Grandma Maddy smirked across the table at me, clearly enjoying their display, but I was too shocked to smile back. Something had drastically changed between them, literally overnight. They were now so comfortable with each other and I couldn’t understand–wait.

Hana leaned over to his chest and fiddled with a silver chain that hung around Ronnie’s neck. It was a strange piece of jewellery with a heart shape on one end that allowed a bar on the other end to be hooked through it. Ronnie chewed at his lip, a look of instant arousal written all over his face as she peered into his eyes.

Oh my god .

“You’ve bonded. Ronnie, you’ve given Hana your soul, haven’t you?” I blurted it out before I could stop myself and they both looked at me with alarm, remembering there were other people in the room.

“Um.” Ronnie smiled sheepishly but looked at Hana to confirm it.

“Yes. He did.” She grinned.

“Wait. Does that mean you have your demon back? Is the spell on the sigil broken?” I slammed my hands on the table with excitement.

Hana started nodding and I screamed with happiness.

“Jesus,” Grandpapi groaned, holding his hands over his ears.

Ignoring him, I zoomed around the table and pulled Hana up from her chair, hugging her tightly. I wasn’t normally one to dish out affection so openly, but I was just so fucking happy for her.

“I’m stealing her for a minute.”

Grabbing Hana’s hand, I marched us out the veranda doors and into the castle grounds. When I found my favourite bench by the rose bushes, I sat down, tugging her down next to me. I felt it was my duty as her sister to check how she was feeling about it all, even though it was obvious she was okay. But she’d never had anyone to talk to about… anything, and I wanted that to change. I wanted her to know she could talk to me.

“Firstly, I am so happy for you, Hana. How are you feeling?”

She puffed a breath out through her lips and looked around the gardens. “Honestly, like I’ve been reborn.” She peered at me anxiously, her green eyes shimmering under the sun. “This isn’t weird, is it? To talk to you about this?”

“God, no. Hana, you’re my sister. I want you to talk to me about anything. I know it may seem weird to you because of Ronnie and my history, but I don’t see it that way. The Ronnie I knew months ago wasn’t the same person as that man in there. He is entirely yours. In a way, the human Ronnie really did die that day and this version of him feels so much more like the man he was always supposed to be. Which kind of makes him a stranger to me, if that helps you to understand this better.”

She nodded. “Yeah. It does. Thank you.” Her lips twisted up into a devious smile. “It was amazing, Ilaria. I never knew sex could be like that.”

I tapped my feet on the floor, bouncing my knees up and down as I struggled to contain my excitement. “I truly am so happy for you right now, but I thought you guys were going to wait? I thought you said it was going to take time to trust him.”

“I thought so too. But then Leif told us last night that he had the spell to summon Casmira, so whenever I was ready, he could do it and then Ronnie could give his soul to her and break the spell. And my first thought was, she’d get him before me. And that just didn’t sit right with me. I love my demon, but she hasn’t been through what I have. She was locked away while I was abused. So I knew, as soon as she met Ronnie, she would have sex with him. She would have no reservations about making him hers. Call me selfish, but I just found the idea of it so unfair. I stood up and stormed out of the room and went to my bedroom without any explanation to Leif or Ronnie. I was so angry. Angry at Wesley for tainting something that was supposed to be for my mate and angry at myself for allowing him to hold me back from having what I had always wanted. My bond. I hadn’t even kissed Ronnie. And it just made me furious. Ronnie came to check I was okay and I… well, I practically jumped him. The poor man.”

“I doubt he minded.” I smiled.

“We kissed. Passionately. And it was everything . But when I tried to take it further, he stopped me. He was concerned that I was rushing into this and wasn’t sure I was ready. But his rejection just sent me spiralling. The moment his lips touched mine, I wanted him. He wasn’t Wesley. He was mine. But I was worried I’d disappoint him. I was scared that I would have flashbacks or freak out at him when he started touching me. I didn’t really know how to tell him what I needed. We got into a fight. No, actually, it was more me screaming hysterically and him trying to calm me. I ended up kicking him out of my room. I cried, feeling so many complex emotions and when I finally calmed down hours later, I forced myself to have the courage to apologise and be honest about what I really needed from him. When I opened the door, I found him sitting on the floor with his back to the wall. He’d given me space but never left.”

My heart swelled for her, knowing how much that would have meant.

“And that’s when everything just melted away. A sense of calm washed over me and I just knew he was my safety and I could trust him. I talked. He listened. And then… things just naturally progressed. He was everything I never knew a man could be, but everything I needed. It was sweet and sensual. It was intense. It was beautiful.” Her eyes welled up with happy tears. “He made love to me like I wasn’t broken.”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “That is because you are not.”

“It was the best night of my life. We sealed our bond, and I’d never felt so happy, but I couldn’t share it with Casmira like I should have. And when the sun started to rise, I knew I wanted her back. I didn’t want to wait any longer. So we called Leif. He came and summoned Casmira. She pounced on Ronnie like I knew she would.” Hana giggled, which made me laugh too. “And he gave her his soul. The moment we shared control again was the moment I knew this was my second chance at life, and I wasn’t going to waste a single minute of it.”

“And the chain Ronnie is wearing? What’s that about?”

Hana blushed. “A present from Casmira. My demon… she’s a little dominant.”

I raised one eyebrow with a smirk. “It’s a collar?”

“You tug on one end and the heart glides up into a choker. So it turns into one, yeah.” Hana chuckled. I raised my hands, showing there was no judgment from me. That was hot, and I thought about getting one for myself. Luka and Heathen would love to strangle me with that. “How do you think Luka will take it? That Ronnie and I are bonded?”

“As long as you don’t divulge any details, I am sure he will be happy for you, Hana.”

She nodded with a smile. “I am so glad he has you, Ilaria. You haven’t told him, have you?”

She looked nervous and terrified all at once. I frowned deeply.

“Told him what?”

“About what Wesley did to me?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t think it was my place to discuss your personal trauma.”

“Good. Thank you.” She exhaled a breath, looking around the gardens before she held my gaze. “Please. Never tell him.”

I swallowed my own emotions, hating that I was being asked to keep a secret from my mate, but it wasn’t mine to share. If Hana wanted to keep this from him, she should have that right.

“It’s not that I’m ashamed,” she quickly explained. “I just know how much this will kill him. He spent his life trying to protect me, and he gave up everything, lost himself, to keep me safe. He will blame himself even though he couldn’t have stopped it. He already carries too much pain to be burdened with mine. I need to protect him for a change.”

I nodded with understanding. Those reasons I could get behind.

“I won’t tell him. The only people who know what happened are Ronnie, me and my mum and none of us will say anything.”

“And your grandma, Alina.”

I smiled. “You’ve been speaking to her?”

“Yeah. I’ve had two sessions. She’s a lovely lady. She’s helped me a lot already.”

“That’s amazing, Hana.”

We wandered back to the castle and my heart flipped when I saw his tall, deliciously broad frame filling the doorway with his arms folded across his ripped chest. His inked biceps bulged from the sleeves of his t-shirt, and I licked my lips as I devoured the length of his body with my eyes.

“Where have you two been?” Luka asked with a small smirk.

“Just having a girl talk.” I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed his lips as he peered down into my eyes with an expressionless mask. “Are you okay?”

His red eyes flicked over to Hana and narrowed slightly. “You’ve got Casmira back?”

I didn’t miss how he breezed over my question.

“Yes.” She smiled, trying to hide her apprehension. “This morning. How did you know?”

“Heathen could sense her. She’s okay?”

“Never been better.”

He nodded once, pleased with that answer. “Good. We will start combat sessions together tomorrow, here on the castle grounds. Every morning at sunrise.”

He flung his arm over my shoulder and turned us to walk back inside as I peered over my shoulder to catch Hana rolling her eyes.

“Combat sessions?”

“Luka used to train me every morning when we were on the run from the slayers. Is it still really necessary?” Hana groaned.

“Yes.” Luka’s sharp reply offered no room for argument.

“Fine. So are you just going to ignore the fact that in order for me to have Casmira back, Ronnie and I must be fully bonded?”

“Yes,” he answered again, his jaw ticking.

I scoffed, looking back at Hana as the three of us walked through the foyer. She shook her head with a smile. When he heard us coming, Ronnie came out of the dining room with my grandpapi.

“Are you headed to the Academy now?” I asked as Grandpapi hovered in front of us, rubbing his stubbled jaw.

“Actually, no. I’m taking the day off. There is something I have been meaning to talk to all of you about, and now I have you all together, I think we should head into my office.”

He climbed the stairs, expecting us all to follow without any more of an explanation. We all looked at each other, clear confusion on our faces. I shrugged my shoulders, grabbed Luka’s hand and started leading them up the stairs behind him. My heart beat with trepidation because when my grandpapi called you into his office, it meant it was serious and for your ears only. That put me on edge.

Once we were all sitting on the sofas, me and Luka on one and Hana and Ronnie on the other, he sat in his armchair and clasped his hands together, bringing them up to his lips as he stared at us all.

“Grandpapi, what is going on? You are starting to freak me out.”

He looked directly at Luka. “Tell me about the raven.”

“What?”

“The raven that brought that hidden camera to Ilaria. Ilaria said it was your pet?”

Luka frowned, peering down at me in question.

“I met it at the manor once. Well, I think it was the same one. It helped me to find the cellars,” I explained.

“It isn’t my pet,” Luka said bluntly. “It came and went as it pleased. I never believed it was always the same one. But… it has helped me. Many times. After what it did in the cave, I started to wonder if it was actually the same creature this whole time but that seemed impossible. Why do you ask?”

Grandpapi leaned forwards and pulled a purple sheet off a large object on the table between us all, revealing a cage with a raven inside. The bird flapped its wings and cawed as its beady eyes took in its surroundings and our faces.

I glanced over at Grandpapi. “Is this the same raven?”

He nodded. “I captured it. After we found you two, I went back to the Knowlton manor to look around. It was there.”

“Why did you capture it?” Luka growled, shifting his body forwards on the sofa to move towards the cage protectively.

“Because…” Grandpapi sat forwards, matching Luka’s position. “I don’t believe that is really a raven.”

“What? What do you mean?” I frowned, exchanging baffled glances with Hana and Ronnie. Luka was the only one who didn’t look surprised by my grandpapi’s words, as if he had already come to the same conclusion.

“Ravens are intelligent and curious creatures, but never before have I seen one do something as clever as that necklace stunt. I ran some tests. I took one of its feathers and detected the presence of powerful magic at play. This is no ordinary raven. In fact, I don’t think it is a raven at all.”

I glanced over at the cage, my lips parting as I stared at the strange creature. It cocked its head and beat its wings.

“The magic I sense is a transmogrification spell, meaning this is not its true form. When a transmogrification spell is used, it changes an object or person into something else entirely. You know how humans roleplay witches and say things like, ‘I’ll turn you into a toad?’” Ronnie nodded. “It’s one of the oldest spells around, but there is an unwritten rule within our community that we don’t use it on people. Morally, it is just frowned upon. Mainly because it traps the original form as if it is frozen in time and the spell is hard to reverse without dire consequences.”

“Meaning?” Luka stared at the bird, his nostrils flaring. “It won’t survive if it is turned back?”

“It depends.”

“On what?”

“On a number of factors. How long it’s been under the spell, the purpose of its change and, of course, what it was before. If it is strong enough, it may survive the reverse. But there is no guarantee.”

The bird cawed loudly as if it was trying to say something, and my chest tightened with empathy for the animal—or whatever it was. Luka rubbed his hand across his jaw as he stared at it, deep in thought.

“This creature has a strong connection to you, Luka. It is your choice. We can let it go, leave it in this form, or change it back to find out who it really is. But you must understand the risks that come with that.” Grandpapi stood up and walked over to the window. “I’ve already interrogated Belladonna. She knows nothing about the raven, so I know she didn’t cast the spell, and I doubt it was her father either.”

Luka stared at the raven for a few silent moments and then lifted his head to look at Grandpapi. “Do it. Change it back. If this isn’t its true form, it must feel trapped. I know I would rather be free than under a curse, even if freedom means death.”

Grandpapi nodded and walked over to the cage. I sat back, tapping my fingers against my thigh as he opened the latch and the raven flew out. It took a few swoops around the room. Hana lifted her hands to her lips while we all watched it soaring, wings spread wide around the perimeter before it landed on the floor in the corner. Luka stood up and walked over to it, and we all followed, keeping a little distance behind him because we didn’t want to spook it to take off again.

“Still sure?” Grandpapi asked, standing beside Luka and staring down at the bird.

“It’s not trying to escape,” Hana said. “It seems to be agreeing with this.”

“Do it,” Luka repeated and Grandpapi lifted his hand and started chanting in Latin. His eyes glowed purple and a beam of light expelled from his outstretched hand and surrounded the raven. The intensity of his magic grew thicker and the ball of energy became too bright to continue to stare at. I shielded my eyes until the magic slowly crackled away and when I glanced back, I couldn’t believe what I saw happening.

The raven’s smooth feathers transformed into flesh and its dark wings twisted and contorted back into enormous arms and broad shoulders. The sound of crunching and clicking filled the air as its joints snapped back into place with brutal force. Seconds later, a naked male form hunched over on his hands and knees, wheezing painfully as his lungs fought to remember how to take a human breath. His body trembled as his hands dug into the wooden floorboards and I noticed his nails were caked with dark blood and ash. The smell in the air became potent with charred flesh as I took in his blistered and split skin, the weeping burn marks and black smears of soot that covered parts of his body.

I slammed my hands over my mouth to stop the gasp of sympathy from leaving my lips when I realised how badly he was injured. His skin screamed with raw agony just from its appearance, so I could only imagine the kind of pain he was in.

Long, deep red hair, almost a shade of burgundy, hung towards the floor, shielding his face from view. And then he slowly lifted his head and glanced up. We were all met with leaf-green eyes, unfocused and shocked. Not a sound passed his cracked lips.

Hana and I let out a loud gasp at the same time, because there was no denying the family resemblance. Luka stood rigid a few steps ahead of me and I glanced at his back, wondering how this could be true. He seemed frozen in time.

“Who is it?” Ronnie whispered, placing his hand protectively on Hana’s shoulder when she started sobbing hysterically.

“Zoran,” she whispered. “Our brother.”

Grandpapi moved quickly to the sofa and grabbed a throw, passing it to Hana. “Put this on him. I’m going to get some herbs and healing lotions for his wounds and something for him to drink.” He disappeared from the room quickly as Hana hurried forwards and fell to the floor, carefully attempting to place the blanket over Zoran’s muscular shoulders. He groaned in anguish through gritted teeth and Hana whimpered on seeing her brother in so much pain. He shook his head, slowly sitting back on his heels and draped the throw over his lap instead, covering his modesty.

“Zoran, is it really you?” Hana asked.

He reached up and touched the back of his unsteady hand to her cheek, studying her face. I couldn’t stop staring at him, unable to believe how alike he and Luka looked. They could have been twins, except Zoran had no tattoos or piercings, just long wavy hair that fell below his shoulders.

“мо?а сестра (my sister),” he croaked. His voice was so deep and hoarse. I felt the pain it must have taken to speak those two words all the way to my toes. “порастла си (you’ve grown).”

Hana broke down into more tears and lifted her hand to his face tenderly, stroking the flesh that wasn’t covered with burns and cuts.

I stepped forwards carefully, reaching out for Luka’s arm. I gazed up at his face and swallowed hard. Luka was a statue of stone-cold disbelief. He hadn’t moved. He hadn’t reacted. I wasn’t even sure he was breathing. His cold red eyes bore down on his brother as if he wasn’t really seeing anything at all.

“Luka?” I whispered, trying to pull him out of his shock.

Zoran turned his head to look up at us, and his face became taut with painful emotion as he met Luka’s glare. His chapped lips pressed firmly together and every muscle in his face strained as he tried to stand on his feet. Hana beckoned Ronnie over and they both helped him take a few unsteady steps towards us. With only the blanket wrapped around his waist, Zoran’s full height and size when standing put even Ronnie to shame. He was a titan of a man and the power that rippled off him even in his weakened state was terrifying.

Zoran stopped, letting go of Hana and Ronnie and, with determination, stood on his own only a few inches in front of Luka. He lifted one hand and placed it on Luka’s shoulder. They stared into each other’s eyes for a few silent seconds as the rest of us watched on with our hearts beating out of our chests. Zoran moved his hand up to the nape of Luka’s neck and slowly tugged him forward. Their foreheads touched.

“Сада си сигуран, брате. Ту сам. Врати се.” Zoran spoke in hushed tones, his native language sounding so beautiful and meaningful as my eyes watered and I struggled to hold myself together.

“What did he say?” I whispered, unable to peel my eyes away from the two brothers.

“You are safe now, brother. I’m here. Come back,” Hana sobbed, leaning into Ronnie’s chest as she stared at them too, as if this was a trick of the mind.

I felt it before it happened. Deep in my soul. The intensity of heartbreak and grief, of anguish and pain, of happiness and love; they all rushed through me like a broken dam at an alarming rate, causing me to stumble back and grip the wall. And then everyone else saw what I felt because Luka’s stoic mask crumbled. Something momentous awoke inside him. His humanity surged back, reattaching itself to his soul and his heart. His chest rose, and a fractured, painful noise tore free as he reached for his brother. Trembling, he grasped his shoulders and pulled him closer.

My own heart felt like it was breaking with him as I watched his strength and detachment dissolve. His knees buckled, and Zoran held him tighter, keeping his body from falling despite the state of his own. Luka’s red eyes closed, and he buried his face into his brother’s shoulder, his muffled breaths coming out as ragged gasps. Ronnie threw his other arm around me, pulling me close to him and Hana, which made me realise just how much of an emotional mess I was, too. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hid half of my face behind one hand and watched my mate come to terms with all that he’d lost–and everything he had just rediscovered.

After what felt like a lifetime, Luka lifted his head, opened his eyes and looked over Zoran’s shoulder directly at me. For the first time, I found myself staring into the most stunning, captivating green eyes that were so complex that they shifted as the light flickered over them. Layers of rich emerald, moss and jade sparkled behind fresh tears and at that moment, I felt the fierceness and gentleness of the man they belonged to. They represented everything he was.

They were the eyes of my soulmate.