Ravage (Royal Fae Academy #1) - Lacey Carter Andersen Page 0,3
I slip past the hallway filled with guest rooms and offices. I ignore the kitchen, the living room, and make a beeline up the stairs to my room at the far end of the top floor hall. I’m bound and determined to call my brother all night if that’s what it takes to get him to answer.
But when I open my bedroom door, I freeze in surprise. The massive bay windows have been thrown open wide, and the wind smashes the shutters against the walls. Rain drenches the sitting area, and the thunder seems to swell into my darkened room.
With careful steps, I cross the room and close the windows, sealing out the angry storm. I turn to find my lamp to switch the light on and see a shadow move beside the bed. Using my powers, I reach out for the mind of whoever was stupid enough to break into my house, ready and willing to kill the fool. But when I touch the mind, it’s not only familiar, but filled with pain and fear.
Racing around the bed, I collapse onto my knees. My brother lies on the floor, his hands painted red as he grips his bloody stomach. His skin is pale. His pupils are wide and filled with pain.
Never in my life have I seen my brother like this. He’s always seemed so strong, so untouchable, and for a minute I can’t seem to move or speak. I just stare and stare at him, as if all of this is an illusion I can’t escape from. And then reality comes crashing down.
He needs me. He’s in shock.
“Rayne,” I whisper, then silently promise him that this time I’ll be strong so he doesn’t have to be.
His mouth opens into a grimace that’s almost a smile. “I—I wasn’t…I didn’t know if you would make it in time.”
In time? A strange tightness squeezes my chest and throat. We’re fae; we have nothing but time. I don’t know how Rayne got hurt, but he’ll live to see another day. Even if it kills me to see him like this.
I’m surprised when tears blur my vision. “I’m here now and everything is going to be okay. I’ll call a witch. She’ll help patch you up, and you’ll be—“
“No,” he whispers, and the word slides around us like it’s torn away.
I ignore him and grab my phone, sending a quick text to a witch not far from our house. In seconds, she responds that she’s on her way. A Bloodmore hurt enough to need healing would send any witch running.
“Lady Uma is on her way. You’re going to be okay,” I tell him, then reach out and stroke his face, hoping my touch will bring him back to reality, will remind him of who he is and that this too shall pass.
“I’m dying.” His words drop like stones between us.
I know I’m smiling as tears spill down my cheeks. “I know you’re hurting, but you’re not dying.”
“Esmeray, listen. They wanted me dead. They—planned this.”
Someone did this to him? My stomach twists. “It doesn’t matter what they wanted.”
He winces and withers on the floor, and I drop my hand, wishing more than anything that I could take his pain away.
Then, at last, he collapses back, panting. “When I’m gone, you’ll have to become the senior Bloodmore. You’ll have to take my place and lead the family.”
Every muscle in my body stiffens. “That’s never going to happen!”
Never. My brother will always be around. We’ll always be together.
Reaching behind him to my rocking chair, I snatch a blanket off and move closer to him, pressing it against the wound in his stomach. His hands fall away, and his gaze grows glossy.
“Feed on me,” I tell him. “I can be happy!”
I reach for positive emotions, but only find misery and fear. I grit my teeth and try like mad to think of the things that make me smile. I think of how, before Rayne hit his growth spurt, some people thought we were twins. As his little sister, I drank it in every time someone pointed out our similarities. Even though his eyes are blue and mine are grey, we have the same light brown hair, and even the same bone structure, down to our noses and lips.
And I was proud to look like the person I loved most in this world. I smile at the thought and let my emotions flood out of me in a way I never do. Always I hold back. Always I