Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(12)

I keep my eyes on the house until Effie peels away from the curb. Then I turn away, but not before Rhyland uncrosses his arms and stares down at his hand. His hand that, only minutes ago, was gripping my arm.

I place my hand over the spot where he gripped me. Beneath the fabric of my shirt, my skin feels  …  well, sparkly and tickly and familiar.

Strange.

Lowering my hand, I roll up my sleeve and inspect the skin. For the craziest moment, I swear the veins under my skin move, like ribbons twirling in iridescent water. But when I blink, my skin is normal again.

I resist a gulp as I roll down my sleeve, my insides raveling tightly with my nerves. All of this-the scorching heat his grip brought and the brief illusion of my veins moving underneath my skin-seems like magic.

Witches magic.

And the last time Rhyland had a witch use magic on me, I ended up looking evil in the eye and tasting the scent of death.





4





I remember the day I realized just how dangerously cruel Rhyland could be. It was in the middle of my junior year, and it had been snowing all day. The entire town was a giant snow globe of glittery frost and Wonderland magic. I'd always loved snow days and had been in an upbeat mood after I walked to school that evening with the snow crunching under my boots. I didn't use my super speed, wanting to savor the crisp winter's air and the snowflakes tumbling from the minty green sky. Unfortunately, my lollygagging resulted in me being late.

By the time I arrived at school, the hallways were empty, the students and teachers already tucked away in their classrooms. 

Worried I'd get marked absent, I hauled ass to my locker to put my backpack away and gathered my books, pausing as voices hissed from around the corner of the hallway.

"It's going to happen today whether you like it or not." The growling voice belonged to a male, but I couldn't place a face to it.

"It's too soon," someone replied. "It's going to end in a disaster."

No, not someone. Rhyland.

I grabbed my books, ready to get out of there before he came around the corner and spotted me alone.

"It's not my call to make," the growling voice snapped. "I just wanted to give you a heads-up so you'd be prepared to do what you're supposed to. This needs to be done, Rhy. If it isn't, then we'll never know."

"And what happens if she gets killed?" Rhyland bit out. "Then what will we do?"

My blood turned as cold as the icicles trimming the rain gutters outside of the school. Killed?

I started to turn to bolt, but then they materialized around the corner. Rhyland spotted me first and stopped dead in his tracks, anger flicking in his eyes.

He said killed. Who could get killed?

I should've ran. The day would've gone so much better if I had. But I panicked and froze.

The guy with Rhyland slowed to a stop, too. He was about twenty years old, too old to be a student at school and too young to be a teacher. He was wearing a jacket with a silver and purple crown emblem-the emperor emblem.

What was Rhyland doing with an emperor? Better yet, why was an emperor hanging out at the school?

The emperor's expression was a mixture of uneasiness and curiosity as he assessed me with his head tilted to the side, strands of dark hair hanging in his red eyes. Red eyes meant power. A lot of fucking power.

"Raven?" red eyes asked curiously.

I shifted my weight, stepping back and keeping my lips sealed. First rule of surviving in the vampire world: never give a stranger your name. How he knew my name was a frightening mystery in itself.

He said killed.

A smile spread across the stranger's face. "You've grown up since the last time I saw you."

"I  … " Confused, I looked to Rhyland. A stupid move, something I realize the moment I did it.

A predator smirk rose on Rhyland's face. "What's the matter? You look nervous."

I wasn't nervous. I was freaking out. I knew I couldn't show it. Knew if I lost my composure, whatever was about to happen would be ten times worse.

The emperor held up his hand. "You don't need to be afraid, sweetheart. I won't bother you."

A silent yet lingered at the end of his sentence.

I held my breath as he passed by, his shoulder grazing mine. When he was gone, I released it, only to realize Rhyland was still standing there, watching me like a vampire ready to bite. So yeah, basically watching me like his normal self.

"Did you hear what we were talking about?" His head was slanted to the side as he studied me.

I swiftly shook my head. "No."

"Liar." The words poured off his tongue like bitter, outdated blood.

"I'm not lying," I lied.

He stepped toward me. "Then why are you shaking?"

I stepped back. "Because you're here."

"You're afraid of me." It wasn't question.