Chapter 145 — Moon Goddess?

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 — Moon Goddess?

~ Raven ~

Cassian stared at her.

Raven waited.

He looked at her for several seconds before his eyes narrowed slightly.

"You met the Moon Goddess."

"Yes."

"The Moon Goddess."

"That’s what I said."

Cassian looked toward the infirmary door, then back at her.

Raven frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I’m trying to decide whether I should call the healer."

"Oh, fuck off."

His mouth twitched.

"I’m serious!" Raven insisted. "I was in this strange place. There was nothing beneath me, just darkness and these little lights everywhere. Then something appeared, and I swear, Cassian, I thought I was going to die. But the Moon Goddess came, and she saved me. She actually spoke to me! She told me—"

Raven stopped.

Cassian was staring at her.

Not his usual unimpressed stare, either. His brows had drawn together, and he was watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite place.

"Fine. Don’t believe me."

"I didn’t say I don’t believe you."

"You’re looking at me like I’ve lost my fucking mind."

"I’m trying to understand what happened."

"Well, so am I!"

Cassian fell quiet.

Raven looked away, frustrated. She had barely understood what happened herself. Trying to explain it aloud only made the whole thing sound even more ridiculous.

But the pain had been real.

So had Selena.

She glanced at Cassian again.

He was watching her with that same serious expression, and Raven suddenly found herself unwilling to answer any more questions about the Between.

"How long was I asleep?"

Cassian hesitated.

"A few hours."

"A few hours?" Raven looked toward the window. "What did the healer say? Am I alright?"

"She said the medication was working. She wants to examine you again now that you’re awake."

Raven glanced down at the blanket.

"And what exactly was wrong with me?"

Cassian’s expression changed.

"You were given something."

She looked up.

"Given something?"

"A drug," Cassian said. He hesitated briefly. "The healer gave you something to counter its effects."

Raven went still.

A drug?

She had known something was wrong with her body. The heat, the way she had struggled to think clearly, the terrible need to find Cassian.

But someone had drugged her?

Her thoughts returned to the Dreamwalker.

He had been inside her mind earlier, making her suffer until she could barely move. Afterward, she’d woken in her room feeling as though her body no longer belonged to her.

Had he done something else to her?

But how?

Raven looked at Cassian.

He was the only person she had told about the Dreamwalker who knew enough to understand what she was afraid of. She needed to explain what had happened in the Between, too, but she couldn’t do that with anyone else listening.

"Cassian, there’s something—"

"Raven."

She stopped.

He was looking at her differently now.

"What?"

He glanced down at their hands, then back at her.

For once, he didn’t seem to know what he wanted to say.

Raven frowned.

Cassian Blade was many things. Hesitant was not usually one of them.

"What’s wrong?"

"There’s something I need to ask you."

Her stomach tightened.

"About what?"

He opened his mouth.

The infirmary door swung open.

"She’s awake!"

Dante entered before Raven could respond.

He stopped beside the bed, his gaze moving over her face.

"How are you feeling?"

Raven blinked.

"Better."

"Better?"

"I’m not dying anymore, if that’s what you’re asking."

Dante pulled a chair closer.

"That’s a start."

He sat down and glanced at Cassian.

Raven followed his gaze.

Cassian was still sitting beside her, his hand resting near hers on the blanket.

His jaw tightened.

Raven pressed her lips together.

Oh, Goddess.

Dante leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Any pain?"

"A little headache."

"Anything else?"

"No."

He studied her for another moment before nodding.

"Good."

"Yeah good," Cassian muttered.

Dante looked at him.

"What’s your problem?"

"Nothing."

Raven looked between them.

Cassian leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening as he looked toward the door.

She was beginning to suspect he had been serious about wanting to speak to her alone.

Before she could tell him they could talk about it later, the door opened again.

Rowan stepped inside.

"Raven?"

She turned.

"Rowan?"

His gaze moved over her before settling briefly on the two chairs beside her bed.

"I heard you were here."

"Apparently, everyone has."

He approached the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

Raven gave him a look.

"That’s the third time I’ve been asked."

"Then you should have an answer ready."

Despite herself, she smiled.

"I’m fine."

Rowan studied her face for another moment.

"Good. I was told something happened to you, but nobody seemed to have a clear explanation. I’ll look into it and—"

"Raven."

Nikolai appeared in the doorway, interrupting Rowan.

Raven looked past him just as Cassian turned toward the door.

The irritation vanished from his face. He stared at Nikolai for a moment, then settled back in his chair, completely expressionless.

Raven pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

All four Cardinals.

Again.

For a moment, she was back in the infirmary after the Hunt, with powerful wolves gathered around her bed and everyone looking as though something terrible had happened.

Although this time, Cassian seemed considerably less pleased about having company.

Nikolai stopped on the other side of the bed.

"How are you feeling, Raven?"

She stared at him.

Dante let out a short laugh.

"What?" Nikolai asked.

"Nothing," Raven said quickly. "I’m feeling better. Thank you."

Nikolai nodded.

She hadn’t seen him looking quite this tired before.

His face appeared leaner, and there were faint shadows beneath his eyes. Even his usual composed expression seemed harder for him to maintain.

"Have you been resting?" Raven asked.

Nikolai appeared surprised by the question.

"A little."

"You don’t look like it."

Dante glanced at him.

Nikolai gave Raven a faint smile.

"I could say the same about you."

"I’m the one in the infirmary."

"An excellent point."

He looked toward the others.

"We should establish what happened. Whatever she was given, someone needs to determine where it came from. I’ll speak with the Headmaster. The rest of us can—"

"I’ve dealt with it," Cassian said.

Nikolai turned toward him.

"You have?"

"Yes."

Rowan frowned.

"What do you mean, you’ve dealt with it?"

"Exactly what I said."

Cassian glanced toward the door.

"She’s awake. She’s recovering. You can all leave now."

Dante slowly turned his head.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Since when did you become the fucking healer?"

Rowan looked between them.

"Blade, we’re here to check on her."

"And you’ve checked."

Dante leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable.

"Then I suppose we’ll stay a little longer."

Cassian’s eyes narrowed.

Raven stared at the ceiling.

Goddess, give me strength.

The door opened right at that moment.

"Raven!"