Page 60 of Raven's Dawn

“Neither am I,” Amara said. “But my queen isn’t going in there alone. So long as you were planning on going in, do gràs.”

“Eight and nine then,” Jeremy said. “Rain?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but my brother spoke first. “She’s out. I’ll take her place.”

Jeremy looked at him, and then at me. “Is that the plan?”

“Absolutely not,” I said.

“Why’s that?” Amara’s eyes turned on me. The massive pupils made her condescending stare more volatile than usual. “If ye don’t handle getting high well, then he’s probably right. Ye oughtta stay.”

“He’s not right.” As much as I’d tried to stay civil with this woman, I couldn’t take it anymore. “He’s talking about one time, when I was fourteen, smoked too much weed, and had a panic attack. That says nothing about how I’ll handle this now.”

“Don’t start this,” Jake said. “You freaked out the first time we all tripped too. And I’ve tripped a thousand more times than you have.”

“You and I both know you have not tripped a thousand times,” I said. “But that’s not even the point. Regardless of who has the most drug experience, I have ten years more experience practicing magic than you do, and the guys need me.”

“Not if you wanna sit it out.” Graham gingerly trailed his hand down my arm.

I wrenched it back. “Well, I don’t.”

“They’re all grown men who can fend for themselves,” Jake snapped. “You’re safer out here, so that’s where you’re staying.”

“Ye really are,” Amara said. “We don’t need ye in there. Best for ye to?—”

“I think it’d be best if you stopped acting like you know me,” I cut her off, though my rage wasn’t really at her. “Both of you.” I looked between her and Jake, then landed on Graham. “And if you just stopped acting like my knight in shining armor. I’m saying I can handle it, so I fucking can. Now stop telling me what to do.”

“I wasn’t telling you what to do, mo—” Graham began.

“You were. You all were, and I’m tired of it.” I turned to Jeremy and Laila. “You’re the gods. Do you think I can handle it?”

“If you say you can, I’m not arguing,” Jeremy said.

“You’ve got a better head on your shoulders right now than I do, and I’m still going,” Laila said. “So yeah, I think you’re fine.”

“You gonna argue with your icons, Graham?” I shot him a pointed look.

Graham raised his arms in surrender. “I was just?—”

“Yeah, fuck off,” I said.

“You’re full of shit.” Jake’s tone darkened, sharpening with each word. “I know you. I know how sensitive you are. You can’t handle this, Rain.”

“For one, stop infantilizing her. And for two, stop yelling.” Laila rubbed her temples. “You’re killing my vibe, man.”

“If she says she’ll be fine, she’ll be fine,” Graham said. “I’ll make sure of it.”

That was intended kindly, I knew it was, but it pissed me off in a way I couldn’t put into words. He agreed with me, though, and that was good enough for now.

“You didn’t make sure of it when she vanished into the cave of cannibals earlier.” Jake’s voice was getting louder and louder. “You let me in there with you. I got dosed too. I’m a part of this, and I know my sister. I know she can’t handle this. I know?—”

“And I know that you missed out on the last ten years of my fucking life.” I whipped around to face him. “Whether you like it or not, I learned to live without you. And as you so kindly pointed out about the guys, I am a grown ass woman. I do not need you hovering over me twenty-four fucking seven, dude. You’re the kid here. Whether you like it or not, you’re eighteen years old, Jacob.” I turned to Jeremy. “He’s out. That’s all there is to it.”

“But—”

“That’s all there is to it,” Laila agreed, looking up at Jeremy. “Right, baby?”

Eyes washing over us, he nodded slowly. “Right.”

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