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But becoming a full-fledged raven would open his eyes to more darkness than I could shield him from.
A heavy breath blew from my lungs, and I curled my hands into fists. I’d been waiting two years for this day, for the right and privilege to protect humans from the threat they never knew about, never saw coming because of glamours and magic.
Like any underaged novice, I couldn’t take the written and physical exam until eighteen, and then I had to endure a year of fieldwork with mentors.
My year was up, and I passed the field exam tonight.
I grabbed a comb off my dresser and raked it through my snarled locks, catching my reflection in the full-length mirror in the corner. Fresh bruises formed along my arm from the dux demon’s painful grip. At least my complexion wasn’t that pale, porcelain shade a lot of redheads had, or the marks—and all my scars—would be a lot more visible. Instead, I’d inherited a light olive tone from one of my parents, whoever the hell they were.
A faint knock rattled my door, and I tossed my comb back on the dresser before crossing the room. Roxie no doubt stood in the hall, dying to tell me about her final test in a dramatic fashion only she could.
“Let me guess, your exam was crazy—” My mouth clamped shut as Axel lingered in the hall, a crooked smile hitching up his lips as his gaze roamed over the copious amounts of my bare skin on display.
Heat spread over me, but I didn’t bother covering myself. He’d already seen it all, despite the rules. “Ax, what are you doing here?”
Romantic relationships between mentors and novices were frowned upon. That didn’t keep a lot of us from partaking in some illicit activities together, though.
He lifted his arm and leaned against the doorjamb, the dagger tattoo on his bicep greeting me. “Just wanted to say congratulations on finishing your training and passing your final test.”
“Did you forget you already said that in the cemetery?” I tapped my temple. “Did you take one too many hits to your noggin lately?”
“I thought you deserved another round of applause for your stellar performance.” Axel sucked his bottom lip into his mouth before slowly releasing it. “Maybe we could have a private celebration now that you’re legal.”
A snort burst out of my mouth, and I twisted my wet hair off my shoulders, leaving trails of water down my chest. “I’m nineteen. Iwaslegal when we hooked up.”
“Yeah, but you’re not a trainee anymore, and Coltrane won’t have my ass for even thinking about touching you.” He moved away from the hall and took a step into my room. His spicy cologne and the way his green irises danced reminded me of why I’d fallen for his charm in the first place. “We could hang out and watch a movie or something.”
“It’s midnight.” I resisted the urge to wince at my less than convincing protest.
He stepped farther into my room and pushed the door closed. “As a raven, you’ll be awake most of your nights. You should start preparing now.” One of his hands slowly trailed up my bare leg, his fingers slipping beneath the towel.
My breathing became shallow, and I didn’t stop his fingers from drawing lazy circles on my skin, creeping closer and closer to my inner thigh. “It’s already been a long night, though. I should get some sleep.”
Axel’s voice dipped to a husky whisper. “Do you reallywantto sleep, Tate? Or would you prefer something else a little more fun?”
Heat spilled through my lower half, and moisture gathered between my legs. If his touch went any higher, he’d feel it. And then hedidskim higher, his fingers brushing over my damp center. A groan vibrated his chest as lust pooled in his gaze.
My lids fluttered, and my head tilted back, suddenly aching to have him wrapped around me, buried inside of me while I let him drown out the dark thoughts and fears building over the horizon.
But instead of Axel, Hawk materialized in my mind.Histouch made my knees weak, and those werehisfingers teasing my throbbing core.
Hawk and I had become close shortly after I arrived here. We’d slept in the same bed multiple times without either of us making a move. I was too scared to, afraid I’d lose him as a friend if he didn’t feel the same.
Pain tore my heart open whenever I watched him with another girl or heard of one of his conquests. Hawk wasn’t shy with the opposite sex and flirted with pretty much anything with lady bits.
I gripped Axel’s wrist and reluctantly forced his hand away. “Not tonight, Ax.”
He sighed and rolled his neck as if the muscles had cramped up, but he didn’t resist my rejection. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
“Why would I be nervous?” My voice hit a shrill pitch on that last word. I turned my back on him and rummaged around in my drawers for pajamas. So I had to let a witch put a spell on me to give me extra strength and speed. I wasn’t freaked out about having a nightworlder use magic on me at all.
Laughter echoed in my mind at the awful lie I tried to tell myself.
“It’s not bad.” Axel leaned against the wall next to the door. “The Calling spell will be over before you know it.”
I snatched a pair of shorts out. “But the spell doesn’t last forever. I’ll have to get it done again.”
“Not for a few years. They’ve made adjustments, and it lasts much longer than the incantation they originally used on the first ravens in Chicago over a decade ago.” Axel pushed off the wall and shortened the distance between us, resting his hand on my tense shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”
