Tempting Raven (Curse of the Vampire Queen #1)(20)

"We'll see," he says with that stupid smugness I grew up hating.

I smack him on the back again, just because I can.

He chuckles, and then mumbles, "Man, he's going to have his hands full."

I literally have no clue who the he is that he's referring to. Or maybe this is all just a dream? Perhaps I'm passed out in the car from the blood boost and none of this is really happening.

I feel awake, though. Awake for the first time.

Man, I'm such a weirdo. How do I come up with this shit?

I continue to question if I'm dreaming until Kingsley reaches the end of the hallway and enters my mom's office. Then the dream theory becomes a hell of a lot easier to believe.

I blink and blink again at the upside-down image of my parents, Nadine, Kingsley's parents, Rhyland, and at least half a dozen strangers filling up my mom's spacious office.

"Whoa, this is a trippy dream," are the first words that leave my lips.

My mom promptly frowns. "What's wrong with her?"

Kingsley sighs. "I think she's on something."

"Tattletale," I hiss. Then I prop my hand against his back, lift my head, and brush my hair out of my face to get a better look at the scene.

Almost everyone is looking at me worriedly, except for Rhyland, who's staring down at his clenched fists, and his mom is staring at him with extreme concern. Well, and Nadine, who's glowering at me. That seems normal, though. Maybe the only thing normal about this entire situation. 

My gaze shifts to my mom. "This is a dream, right?"

My mom shakes her head, appearing more on edge than I've seen her. "No, honey, it isn't. This is very real."

I rub my eyes, not fully trusting her. "Are you sure? Because this is really weird, and weird usually equals a dream."

"Okay, now I'm really curious what kind of dreams you have," Kingsley says with amusement.

I lift my hand to swat him again.

"Don't even think about it," Kingsley warns with a trace of laughter in his tone.

I pause, then lower my hand. Not because I'm scared, but my mom looks so upset.

"This isn't a dream, Raven," my mom clarifies again, then sighs. "Kingsley, you can put her down now."

"Are you sure?" Kingsley asks. "With how bratty she's acting, I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to run."

I pinch his back hard.

Shaking his head, he sets me down on the ground then steps back with his hands in front of him. "She's all yours," he tells my mom then positions himself in front of the doorway like he's some freakin' tough-ass bouncer.

I give him a dirty look, and he grins.

Shaking my head, I look back at my mom. My phone is vibrating wildly from inside my pocket, probably with messages from Effie and Anders, wondering what the hell is going on. I'm right there with them, equally as confused.

"So, if this isn't a dream, then what's going on?" I ask. "And why are all these vampires here?"

"To keep you safe." A breath eases from my lips as my mom takes my hands in hers. "Raven, honey, before I try to explain to you what's going on, I need you to tell me what you took tonight."

I glance around the room, hyperaware that everyone is watching me. And while that contentment still exists inside my veins from the blood boost, I'm starting to feel a bit of apprehension stirring deep inside my chest.

"Um  …  Can I take a rain check on telling you?" I ask with a hopeful smile.

"Oh, my God, this is so fucking ridiculous," Nadine mumbles, shaking her head. "Her over me. Her."

"Nadine," my mom warns. "You were warned."

Sighing tiredly, my dad stands up from the leather sofa he's been sitting on and moves beside me. "Raven, whatever you say-whatever you took-no one's going to be upset with you."

"I know that," I say. "You guys would be hypocrites if you were."

The crease between my mom's brows gradually vanishes. "Oh, God  …  please tell me you didn't  …  didn't drink emperor's blood."

A deep, throaty growl reverberates around the room.

What the shit?

"There's no way you can get upset with me," I tell her quietly. "Not when you've let Nadine do it."

My dad lets out a string of curses while another growl rumbles across the room.

What the hell is that?

"I'm not upset  …  I'm just  … " My mom presses her fingers to the brim of her nose and shakes her head. "Whose blood did you drink?"

"I don't kn-"

The words die on my lips as Rhyland jumps to his feet and chucks the coffee table against the wall, shattering the metal structure into a thousand pieces that rain into the air. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," he growls, a vein bulging in his neck. "This isn't how this is supposed to go. She just has to keep fucking with me, doesn't she?"