Ravage (Royal Fae Academy #1) - Lacey Carter Andersen Page 0,7

thing I want to think about is Esmeray right now. She’s our best friend’s sister, and there’s nothing pure about the way we feel about her. When we were young, there was just a connection. A love and devotion for her like she was our own sister. But when we came back to visit her, those strong feelings changed, and there was nothing brotherly about them anymore.

We’d planned to tell Rayne the truth when she got old enough. But somehow, we always put it off. We always thought we’d have more time. But now, he was gone, and we’d never have his blessing.

It makes my stomach turn just to think about it. One moment all I can do is picture the way they’d said Rayne had died. I’d known something was wrong that night. I’d thought that if I’d gotten to him soon enough, he’d be okay.

But I was wrong.

The next moment I’m thinking about Esmeray. I’d suspected Rayne had gone to our hometown, so I’d checked out his favorite club, hoping he’d gone there for help. When I’d walked into the club, I’d instantly sensed her there. It’d been years since I’d set eyes on her, but the familiar, almost undeniable pull had made me wind deeper and deeper into the club.

And then, I’d stopped.

Across the room was a woman, instead of the girl I remembered. Her hair had looked so damn soft, falling down her shoulders. She’d sat tall and confident, radiating a sexual energy that made my blood boil. The dress she’d worn was criminal, not something one of our kind should have been out in, but it suited her long legs just fine. The red dress had dipped low in front, showing off far too much cleavage for a room full of other men.

I’d been pulled closer to her. Her face was like a memory of the girl I’d known. Her brows dark, arched over wide grey eyes. Her lips large, with the strangest pouty quality I’d never noticed before.

And then she’d put her hand on the other man’s thigh.

Something inside of me had snapped. A rage unlike anything I’d felt in my life had me wishing I was a dark fae, that I could kill the man with a thought and leave him a soulless body. Never had I imagined that our beautiful Esmeray would be touching other men.

But seeing her there, a twenty-one-year-old woman with long legs, full breasts, and a pouty mouth, I’d raged not just at the man but at myself. Had we imagined she’d spent the last few years playing in the graveyard with her ghosts? No, our beautiful woman no doubt had enjoyed her share of men’s beds.

“Hi, Bron!”

I freeze, coming back to reality. I realize I’m breathing hard, my fists clenched. Anger and jealousy are raging within me like a storm. But luckily for me, I had walls around my emotions so every fae here wouldn’t be aware of my turbulent emotions.

A woman races up to me. A blonde with painted lips and a long flowing dress. She looked like every light fae at this school, pretty, but unremarkable. “I’m so sorry about Rayne.”

I stare at her. Why was she sorry about him? I’m pretty damned sure if she knew him, she didn’t know him well. But then, I guess her response was just the kind of thing people felt they had to say.

She shifts, as if uncomfortable. “He was a good man.”

“Yes, he was,” I say and wait, sure of what’s to come.

She twists a piece of hair around one finger. “I was thinking, if you wanted me to come over and--”

“That’s okay. Thank you though.”

She looks disappointed, but it was better that I be direct with her than lead her on. Nothing was ever going to happen between us.

“Okay, maybe some other time.”

“Maybe,” I say, but my tone says no.

Then I turn and keep walking, my thoughts turning. Before we’d realized what Esmeray meant to us, my friends and I had our share of women. But from the day we felt that pull to her four years ago, on our last visit home, there had been no other women but her. No matter how often women flirted and offered themselves to us, we were waiting for Esmeray.

But now what do we do?

Something changes in the air, and suddenly I look across the expansive courtyard. A woman walks beside a man, a bag slung over her shoulder. She wears dark jeans and a black tank top. Sunglasses conceal