Page 211 of Wrath of the Fae

forty-one

Raven:

‘R-Raven?’ my sister stammers with eyes as wide as saucers. ‘Is… is that you?’

‘Hello, sister,’ I reply with a smile.

Rhea looks good. Not as good as I had hoped, but well enough to satisfy my doubts. I have worried about her.

Her hands slam over her mouth as she bursts into tears. Then she runs at me and leaps into my waiting arms.

‘You’re alive!’ she sobs, crushing me in her embrace.

‘I’m alive,’ I assure her, holding her close.

She lifts her face. Her cheeks are soaked with tears of joy. She feels my face as if checking I’m real and not some trick of her imagination.

‘It’s me,’ I assure her.

Her eyes drift over my shoulder to where, sat on the edge of the balcony with their legs dangling over the side, are Reid and Cyrus.

They look back at us, chatting quietly to themselves and smiling their troublesome smiles before returning their focus to the city below.

‘You’re all okay?’ she weeps with a trembling lip.

‘Yes. We’re all okay.’ I plant a kiss on her forehead.

Her eyes scan me. I know I must look frightening.

I was terrified of myself when I first saw my reflection.

The black and gold markings remain on my skin, which is still pale and ghostly white.

My wings are still feathered, and my eyes pulse gold constantly.

The stolen light in my body that keeps the darkness at bay makes them that way.

Thanks to my Mates and their continued donations.

The corner of my mouth twitches into a sly smile as I think of them giving me their blood to keep me balanced.

For a price, of course.

One I am more than willing to pay.

I look back at them, and they meet my look with a delicious smile and a wink, feeling my reaction to my thoughts through our Bond.

‘Where have you been?’ Rhea asks, wiping away her tears.

I return my focus to her as the boys mumble amongst themselves.

‘Around,’ I reply.

She looks shocked all of a sudden. Excited, almost.

‘They will want to know you’re back!’ she gasps. ‘They want you as their queen! Elders and scholars are trying to figure out how to bring you back. They’ve worked endlessly. They will be so happy!’

I grab her hand as she turns to the door and keep her with me.

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