Page 81 of Raven

I slowed. “What?”

She shifted against me, barely conscious. “I lied. I’m not a nun.”

My boots stopped cold in the mud.

“What did you say?” I asked, but her head had already lolled to the side, out cold again.

I glanced at Faron, who raised his eyebrows. “Well. That explains the mouth,” He said.

We kept moving. But I couldn’t stop hearing her voice.

I’m not a nun.

Of course, she wasn’t.

She moved too well. Thought too fast. Reacted like someone trained—not sheltered in a convent. But still… hearing her say it, even in a haze of venom and fever, sent a jolt straight to my chest.

Why the hell had she lied?

Why had she been with the other nuns in the first place?

And why did it bother me so damn much?

* * *

The chopper came in hot—blades slicing the air like salvation.

Medics jumped out before the skids touched ground. I held Jude tightly as I rushed toward them, yelling above the roar.

“Spider bite. She's fading fast. No antivenom. She’s dehydrated, fevered, but strong.”

They took her from my arms, already hooking her up to fluids. I watched, frozen, as they worked over her. Oxygen. IVs. Cooling compresses. Voices barked orders I could barely hear.

Then—her hand reached blindly.

“Cyclone,” she rasped.

I was at her side in a heartbeat.

“I’m here.”

She turned her head slowly, eyes barely open. “Don’t let them take me back. Please.”

“Take you where?”

Her fingers gripped mine. “Not… back to them.”

My gut twisted. “Who’s ‘them,’ Sister Jude?” I knew she wasn’t a nun, but I didn’t think she wanted anyone else to know.

But she was already gone again—eyes closed, breathing shallow, hand slipping from mine.

The medic touched my shoulder. “She’ll live. She’s lucky you got her here in time.”

Lucky.

Damn right she was lucky. If it had been her and the nuns, she would have died.

I felt like I’d just opened a door to something bigger than either of us. I glanced at Faron. We won’t say anything about her not being a nun, I think this is a hell of a lot bigger than we even know.”

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