Page 6 of A Court of Ravens
“You’re stronger than you think. And way more badass.” Cyn squeezes my hand, her gaze practically daring me to disagree.
I nod, sucking in a deep breath. “I know. Every time I think I’m over it, something like this happens and it’s like I’m stuck in the past.” I wrinkle my nose. “It’s like trying to walk off a broken leg.”
“We’ll get you a cast made of steel. And whiskey,” Cyn adds, a grin tugging at her lips.
I smile. “Steel and whiskey. Sounds like the title of my autobiography.”
But the damage? It’s a wound as wide as Galway Bay. Suddenly, the scent of blood fills my nostrils. My hands are slick with it. His mouth is frozen in something between a scream and disbelief. The vision claws at me, but it blurs just as quickly.
I blink hard, the image twisting into the last guy I dated. His easy smile and the way he called me “trouble,” like that’s supposed to be a compliment. That’s where the memory lands, safe and dull by comparison. My pulse steadies, the confusion in my head retreating into the dark corners where it hides.
“You okay?” Cyn asks, her brow raised in a way that says she already knows I’m not.
“Peachy,” I deadpan. “Just revisiting my personal highlight reel of ‘What the Hell Was I Thinking?’ starring my ex. It’s a lot to unpack.”
Cyn snorts. “Emotions are fucking messy. But they’re also what make you strong. And you? You’re stronger than I’ve ever seen you. Come on, spill.”
I let out a shaky laugh. Then drag a hand down my face, deciding whether to bury this under another layer of sarcasm. But Cyn’s seen me at my lowest, and this? It’s confusing. “It’s not just that I’ve let things happen to me. It’s like my life doesn’t even feel like…mine. Like someone else has been pulling the strings all along, and I’m the one bleeding for it. The worst part?” My voice drops, quieter now. “I think I’m starting to remember who’s been holding the strings. I know it sounds fucking crazy.”
“Reflection is good. Drowning in it? Not so much. You know, for someone who’s kicked as much ass as you have, you’re really letting your inner badass gather dust.”
I can’t help but snicker. “My inner badass is on a sabbatical. Indefinite leave.”
“Well, she’s being called back to duty. Effective immediately.” Cyn raises an eyebrow, giving me her challenge. I notice the room suddenly feels warmer, almost as if the temperature is responding to her confidence. A few moments ago, the room was cool, but now, it feels like it’s been heated by a thousand candles. Her smile is calm and collected, like she’s somehow making the air bend to her will. I shake my head because that’s insane. “Bet you can’t jump back into the dating pool before we leave this island. The water’s fine. I promise.”
I shoot her my best I’m-not-buying-it look. “You’re betting me to get laid?That’syour grand plan for my emotional revival?”
“I’m suggesting you dip a toe. Or whatever else you feel like dipping.” She snickers. “I’ll even make it interesting. Bet you won’t seal the deal before I do.”
Her audacious challenge sparks a rebellious flame, wanting to prove her wrong and to myself that I’m not defined by the past. “You’re on, witch.”
Her laughter rings out. My shoulders relax, the tension melting away. There’s something about her presence, like a breath of fresh air. I forget about everything, even the gnawing ache of the past.
Cyn mock punches me in the shoulder. “That’s the spirit. The loser buys the winner a bottle of the good stuff.”
I smirk. “Prepare your wallet. You’re going down.”
“Ha! We’ll see about that. May the best slut win.”
I shake on it, grateful for her wild ways. I never imagined my recovery would start with a bet on lust. But with Cyn? Anything is possible.
She wraps me into a hug, her arms squeezing the air from my lungs. Suddenly, the room feels colder. I glance toward the window. For a split second, I’m sure I see someone levitating outside watching us. When I blink, they’re gone.
But then…that voice.
-Felicity, we neeed to talk. Viceeee will kiiiill you. You can’t wait to claaaaim your place. Meet me. Meeet meeeee at…-
It buzzes inside my mind, scraping the edges of my thoughts like nails on glass. The words aren’t mine. I want to fight it, shove it back into whatever dark corner it crawled out of.
The voice is louder now, like it’s pressing on the inside of my skull, trying to carve its way out. -I see you.-
I squint at the window, trying to focus on whatever I’m not seeing. The sky is grey. Empty. Nothing unusual. It makes me wonder if I’m losing it.
Cyn’s arms tighten around me, warm and solid.Real. The voice—whateveritwas—flickers out, like a spark smothered too quickly to catch.
I exhale slowly, but it doesn’t feel like enough. The silence is too thick, too still, like something is out of reach, waiting for me to look away from the window.
-The fae can hear your thoughts. You need to get better at shielding. They’ve always known your secrets. And soon, you’ll know ours, too.-
