Page 49 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Brenna

B renna leaned into Emrys, enjoying the heat of the fire on her thigh and the warmth of a male at her back. The noise of chanting and dancing blended into a chorus, and energy flowed through her. Shouting from the tree line broke the hum of Samhain and she twisted to see what the commotion was.

Meara stormed out from the darkness, her shadows swirling around her feet. Brenna tensed at the display of magic. Cerne followed, and when he saw the eyes of the celebration upon them, he dropped his voice and spoke into Meara’s ear.

“Is everything okay?” Emrys whispered against her ear.

“I’m not sure,” she said, stretching to see better.

Meara crossed her arms and turned away. Cerne threw up his hands and stalked off.

She scanned the crowd and her eyes landed on Brenna.

Shoulders hunched, she made her way through the clearing to reach their gathering.

Around them, voices rose once more and the disruption was forgotten.

As Meara reached them, Brenna spied the golden head of Luce ducking out from the trees and disappearing into the crowd.

“What was that?” Ayala asked.

Meara ground her teeth together, sinking down to sit beside Brenna, and finally said, “I was speaking with Luce and Cerne made some assumptions. Of course neither one would listen to me.”

Brenna reached out and squeezed her hand. “That’s frustrating.”

“He can be such a fool,” Meara said, looking over her shoulder at Cerne’s antlers bobbing above the crowd. They dipped back as he drained another cup.

“Don’t I know it,” Ayala said with a giggle, taking another draught of her cider.

Meara rested her forehead on her arm for a moment. “Look, I have a headache. I think I’d rather go to bed.”

“Did you get anything to eat?” Brenna asked, her voice rising.

Shrugging, Meara stood. “I’m not hungry. I’ll be in our rooms. Don’t stay too late.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Brenna asked, beginning to rise.

“No, stay here and enjoy yourself. At least one of us should have a good time.” Meara sighed, disappointment pulling her mouth into a frown. “I’ll see you later.”

Once she was gone, Brenna leaned her head against Emrys' shoulder. “Why do they insist on maintaining this hatred?” she asked. “Surely, Cerne cannot hold Luce responsible for his father’s actions, and Luce cannot hold Cerne responsible for being loyal to a friend.”

“But they can and they will,” Vasara said, taking a long drink.

“Why can’t they let it go and get along?” Brenna continued.

Ayala scoffed. “I don’t think you’re going to find a way to end a feud that has been festering for a quarter century.”

Frustrated, Brenna exhaled and turned, huddling closer to Emrys and resting her temple against his chest. His palm moved up her back, tangling into her hair.

Vasara and Ayala went to dance, and Harin rose to watch, leaving Brenna and Emrys watching the flames.

“Do you want to take a walk with me?” he asked, his low voice suggestive.

A thrill of anticipation raced through her veins.

Nodding, she allowed him to pull her to her feet.

With a hand on his forearm, she followed his lead as he strolled around the perimeter of the celebration.

They ducked into the tree line, and she averted her gaze from a couple embracing nearby.

He led her deeper, and she clung to him.

“What do you think will happen with the human war?” she dared to ask, her worries pressing in now that they were away from the light and life of the celebration.

Emrys shrugged. “They may march on us, and we will send them home soundly beaten. That will be the end of it.”

“Will the fae attack the human cities?” Brenna asked tentatively.

“Why? We have no reason to,” Emrys said. His matter-of-fact reaction comforted her. She slipped her hand down his arm and twined their fingers together. Emrys turned their joined hands, looking down at the fine veins under her golden skin. Her heart sped up as she imagined what he might do.

“Your sister seems to have learned to wield her magic craft,” he said .

Brenna nodded. “Yes, finally. I’m really proud of her.”

“She can summon shadows?”

“It seems so.” Brenna’s pulse thudded in the quiet. They had strayed far from the gathering. “Perhaps there is more to her magic, but we will have to wait and see.”

“How has her disposition been toward you?” He glanced up at her, those russet eyes questioning.

“She’s relieved, I think, to have overcome the challenge.”

“Has she been cheerful?”

Brenna laughed. “Meara is never cheerful. Even as a child, she was cautious and serious.”

Gathering her to him, her back pressed to his front, Emrys brushed a hand over her shoulder, pushing her golden curls over her shoulder to reveal bare skin. “You are quite different.”

Pulling her lip through her teeth, she nodded. “Yes, but she is my other half.”

“The dark to your light,” he murmured.

Brenna frowned, not liking the comparison. Meara may wield shadows and look at things with a critical view, but she was also loyal, protective, and incredibly smart. Unsure of how to communicate this, she changed the topic. “Do you like living in the high court?”

“Yes. Argyro is fair and he loves his people. He can be harsh, but not without reason. He is more of a father to me than my own.” His fingers lingered on her bare shoulder, trailing across her collarbone. “What about you?”

“What about me?” she asked, playing coy as a way to avoid questions she knew she was not supposed to answer.

His arms came around her waist and pressed flat into her stomach, his breath on her neck. “Where is your family from?”

All thoughts of secrets drained from her head as he brushed his lips over her neck. “Um, we were raised by a human mother, and we’ve only been away from her a few weeks. Meara wants to go back soon, but I’m not sure.”

“And your fae family?” he asked.

She shuddered. “No idea.”

“Interesting,” he purred, finally giving her what she wanted as he dragged his sharp teeth over her skin. She arched, offering easy access as an embarrassing moan escaped her throat. “You want me to bite you, don’t you?”

No words formed, all she could manage was a strangled hum. She waited for the pain of his bite, but instead he spoke against her skin. “Come to Court Tara with me.”

“Why?” she said sluggishly.

“I want you safe.”

“I am safe here. And I have my magic to defend myself,” she protested weakly.

His hand trailed up her ribs, along the side of her breasts, and up to her throat. “Don’t stay with Aletris. She is callous and cold. I want you with me in the high court. I want to know you better.”

Brenna’s breath came out in short huffs, her entire body shaking with overwhelm. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good,” he said, turning her in his arms. For a moment, he cradled her jaw and their gazes connected, before his fingers pried her mask from her face. She reached for his, tugging the black silk off as he lowered his head.

His lips met hers. Every reservation melted away, and she gripped his shoulders to steady herself.

His free hand tangled in her hair, sending fireworks radiating through her body.

Every nerve sung, lit up like the blazing bonfires behind them.

She moaned as he tipped her chin back and nipped at the delicate skin below her jaw.

Slowly, his tongue ran across the crook of her neck.

The moment he sank his teeth into her skin, her groan turned to a guttural growl. The pain and pleasure blurred her vision until she saw nothing but the glow coming from her own skin and felt only the pull of his mouth on her neck.