Chapter 127 — Take a Walk With Me

Chapter 127: Chapter 127 — Take a Walk With Me

~ Raven ~

Raven let out a breath as the Headmaster’s door closed behind her.

The afternoon light had shifted while she was inside, falling lower across the corridor floor. She glanced toward the windows, surprised by how much time the questioning had taken.

It would have been nice to leave with something other than more questions.

Melissa was an Arden. Seven members of her family had died two years ago, and the Moonless Court was connected to their deaths. Now they had come looking for Raven, and the Crown couldn’t explain what had killed the one operative who might have told them why.

Before letting her leave, Harrow had also informed her that they would be keeping track of her movements and anything unusual occurring around her.

He had said it politely, as though that made it less irritating.

Raven started down the corridor. She had spent most of her life having to account for where she went and what she did. Getting into Valerius was supposed to mean she could finally make decisions without someone from Blackthorn questioning them.

Now Bellringer broadcast her business to the academy, the First Circle wanted her at its gatherings, and the Crown intended to watch her.

Apparently, even the inside of her own head wasn’t private.

Enough.

She couldn’t deal with everything at once, but she could start with Melissa. As soon as she had some privacy, she would use the communication mirror.

There was only so much she could learn from officials who refused to explain themselves, and she wanted to hear what had happened from Melissa herself.

She understood now why Melissa had avoided the subject. Raven still needed answers, but she would have to be careful how she asked.

Then she needed Isolde. Whatever the First Circle wanted from her, Raven still had to find out whether Stillheart could detect the interference she suspected.

And there was Nikolai.

She slowed at the thought of him. He had been there when Melissa’s family died. Whatever the Crown refused to tell her, he had lived through it.

There was no guarantee he would answer her questions either, but she could ask him herself. She didn’t need Harrow’s permission for that.

Raven lifted her head, knowing at least where she would start.

Kieran Blackthorn stood farther down the corridor.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

She turned and walked the other way.

"Raven."

She kept going, muttering a curse under her breath.

"Raven."

His voice sharpened, drawing the attention of two students near a noticeboard. Raven stopped and closed her eyes briefly before turning around.

Kieran was already approaching.

"I need to speak to you."

Of course he did. Apparently, one rejection hadn’t been enough for the House.

Raven stepped closer, lowering her voice before he could continue.

"Whatever proposal Blackthorn sent you with, the answer is still no. Your brother already has it, and your House can fuck off."

Kieran stared at her.

"What proposal?"

She almost told him not to waste her time, but something in his expression made her pause. His eyes searched her face before his brow drew together.

"What did Alaric offer you?"

He doesn’t know?

"Ask him."

She turned away, but Kieran followed.

"I’m asking you."

"And I’m leaving."

"What did he want, Raven?"

She glanced at the students by the noticeboard. Neither had made much progress with their reading.

"Blackthorn protection," she said quietly. "I refused it. Now leave me alone."

"Alaric offered to protect you?"

"The House," Raven corrected. "He said House Blackthorn wanted me formally placed under its protection again."

Kieran went quiet.

She had expected another demand, perhaps an argument about her refusal. Instead, he stood looking at her, his mouth tightening.

"When was this?"

"It doesn’t matter."

"What else did he say?"

"Ask your brother."

"Did Aldric know?"

Raven frowned. The question had come quickly, and Kieran was watching her more closely now.

"I don’t know."

"Did Alaric mention him?"

"No."

She tried to leave, but Kieran stepped into her path.

Raven stopped.

"Move."

"Tell me what else he said."

"I’ve told you enough."

She stepped around him, and he moved with her.

Her patience gave out.

"If Alaric hasn’t told you, take it up with him."

"You don’t get to bring this up and then walk away."

"I didn’t come looking for you."

Pressure gathered around him, making her next breath harder to take. Raven looked up at his face as the students by the noticeboard edged away. Someone approaching from the stairs slowed, then turned into another corridor.

Kieran seemed not to notice.

"What exactly did he say about the House?"

Raven’s expression hardened.

"Get out of my way."

He stepped closer instead. She knew that posture, the lowered voice and the expectation that she would give him what he wanted if he made refusing uncomfortable enough.

She held her ground.

"I asked you a question," he said.

"And I told you to move."

His aura pressed harder against her as his hand rose toward her arm.

Heat suddenly swept through the corridor.

Kieran stopped before he touched her, and Raven turned as a much heavier pressure followed it.

Dante was walking toward them.

There was no grin on his face. His gaze was fixed on Kieran’s raised hand, and the weight of his aura made Raven’s skin prickle despite the warmth spreading through the hall.

Kieran’s pressure vanished.

His weight shifted back before he caught himself. Raven saw his eyes flick toward Dante’s hands, then watched his own hand drop and close into a fist.

By the time Dante reached them, Kieran had straightened, his expression carefully blank. Only the whiteness of his knuckles gave him away.

The few students still nearby had gone silent.

Dante stopped beside Raven. His eyes moved over the narrow space between her and Kieran before settling on the Blackthorn heir.

"Blackthorn."

"Prymont."

Kieran held his gaze, though his shoulders looked rigid.

Dante turned slightly toward Raven.

"Is he bothering you?"

"He was trying."

"We were having a conversation," Kieran said.

"It’s over," Raven told him.

Kieran looked back at her. For a moment, she thought he would demand an answer again, even with Dante standing beside her.

"Alaric said the House wanted you under its protection?" he asked. "Those were his words?"

Raven had already answered that. She wasn’t doing it again.

She looked past him and waited for him to move.

His jaw tightened. He drew breath as though to say something else, but his eyes shifted toward Dante, who hadn’t looked away from him.

Kieran closed his mouth.

After another long look at Raven, he turned and walked down the corridor.

She watched until he reached the turn.

He hadn’t argued with her refusal or tried to convince her to accept. Once she mentioned Alaric, he had barely seemed to hear anything else.

She was used to the twins knowing exactly what the other was doing, particularly when it concerned her. Yet Alaric had approached her on behalf of House Blackthorn, and Kieran apparently hadn’t known a thing about it.

Whatever he had originally wanted to discuss, he had left without mentioning it.

Raven turned back to Dante.

His aura had already faded, taking the heat with it. He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at her, and she became uncomfortably aware of how their last conversation had ended.

She had accused him of being jealous. He had laughed far too loudly, ruined her hair and walked out of the court.

Now he had found her with Kieran.

Raven braced for a comment. He couldn’t possibly let this pass without saying something irritating.

But Dante remained quiet, studying her face.

She shifted under his attention.

"What do you want?"

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Take a walk with me."