The two of us, alongside the raven, watch as the rains come in and not until the flashes of a few distant lightning bolts does the raven leave us in search of shelter from the storm.
She lifts her head to make eye contact. Her once light brown-green eyes have permanently changed to a darker shade, reflecting the transformation that’s occurring within her.
Chapter 33
Lux
By the time my phone buzzes with a text message, River and I have been cuddled together in his office for some time. It’s not until it goes off again that I catch the time to realize it’s been almost an hour. I lean to the side and pull my phone out of my pocket to check the notifications.
Stevie: Just getting off work.
Stevie: Coming back to River and Sebastian’s manor.
“My sister is on her way back,” I tell River. “I’m glad you have one of your guys tailing her.”
“I’m glad you feel better about it,” he says.
“And as long as I’m here, I feel like she’ll want to be here anyway.”
“You two are close, aren’t you?” He slides a hand along my face, threading his fingers through my hair.
“We are. She lived with me for a while after she graduated until she made enough to buy her own place,” I tell him. “I was sad to see her go, because growing up it was just the two of us. We always had each other’s back no matter what.”
He smiles. “Like me and Sebastian. We may be cousins, but we grew up like brothers. We’ve always been there for each other.”
“That’s probably why they’re both supportive of—” I pause. “What we do.”
“We?”
“Yes. We.” I lean in, bringing my lips to his for a soft kiss.
His hand cups the back of my head, holding me steady, and his tone takes a serious note. “Stevie should officially move into your bedroom in the East Wing. I want you to stay with me.”
“You have quite the possessive side, don’t you?” I smirk playfully.
“And that surprises you?”
“Not anymore.”
“Just got off the phone with—” Sebastian halts his words when he spots River and me. “Sorry, I didn’t know. Wait, Lux is in here,” he says, quickly glancing over his shoulders where the wall of monitors is.
“I know about the cameras, Sebastian,” I say, melting into River’s embrace. “It’s all good.”
His brows furrow, as if he’s perplexed by how I’m okay with it.“Okay?”
“How’d it go with Christian?” River asks, changing subjects.
“We’re all set to head to Spain,” Sebastian explains.
My posture straightens with surprise. “Wait, what?”
“Andrew fled the country once he got wind the police were looking for him.”
“So he went toSpain?”
“We believe someone tipped him off before the police intervened.”
“Andrew’s family has some estate in the country.” Sebastian leans his arms against the desk.
