The Ravenous Dark, page 40
"I haven’t," Bailey confirmed somewhat reluctantly before spearing Ronan with a sly look. "That only happens when you come to mind."
Ronan flushed, and Bailey allowed the sight to distract her from her more troubling thoughts. The strange urge to see Raphael earlier made more sense after hearing Ronan's story.
He fed on me. Dick.
She wanted to inquire more about Kent's experience. Did it only take one time to become addicted? What were the other side effects of being fed on? But asking meant telling Ronan about her time with Raphael.
Ronan cleared his throat. "There's one more thing I need to tell you."
Bailey took a deep breath and straightened the line of her shoulders, unfolding her arms. "Yeah, me too," Bailey admitted with a rise of dread. "You, first."
"If we can't figure out who's really behind the rabidus curse, I'll need to leave the court."
"What?"
Ronan hissed at Bailey to quiet her voice before explaining. "Fighting the draw of the dark magic and the soulmark at the same time weakened me. I'm losing control of my shadow magic."
Bailey's heartbeat banged against her ribs. "But you're not fighting the soulmark anymore… right?"
He leaned forward and kissed her. "No," he reassured, hand cupping her cheek as he pulled back. "But I fear the damage is done. All it takes is one slip-up in front of the wrong person. If they discover it's me, they'll kill me and my entire household." Ronan shuddered as if in pain. "And then what would happen to you? The best solution—the only solution—is for me to leave."
"Then I'll go with you."
Ronan rested his forehead against Bailey's. "Thank you," he rasped. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."
"Me either."
Ronan pulled away with a laugh, shaking his head at her cheek. A piece of Bailey settled as they drew helplessly into another suspended moment. Tonight, we'll settle things with the soulmark once and for all. The marking. The binding. Anticipation simmered inside her as she nestled farther into his side.
"What did you need to tell me?" The happy color on Bailey's cheeks faded. Ronan's finger hooked under her chin and tilted her face to his. A worried frown took up residence on his face as she stayed silent. "It's all right; you can tell me."
Bailey took a deep breath.
Might as well tear the Band-Aid off now.
Then the darkened ambiance Ronan created sifted away. The pair blinked in confusion before turning their gazes to the man sliding into their booth. Jax passed them a caustic grin. His hair was stuck up at odd ends, and his eye was glassy. The stench of alcohol wafted from him in copious amounts. Enough to make Bailey's nose scrunch in distaste.
And then her eyes drifted to the man who trailed behind him and stood at the table's end. It was Raphael.
"I've been looking for you, brother," Jax said, pointing his finger at Ronan. "We need to talk."
XXV
The foursome exchanged long looks, ratcheting up the tension as no one ventured to speak. Ronan's hold on Bailey tightened minutely, as Jax chuckled. He swept his hair back as it fell in his line of sight.
"Sit, Raphael," Jax said without looking at him.
Raphael hesitated but then slid into the seat across from Jax on Bailey's side. Her skin prickled with unearthly awareness at his nearness, and a silky phantom voice whispered at her to move closer to the demon. Bailey blushed as vivid memories of their time together assaulted her.
"Are you all right?" Ronan asked.
Bailey uttered some strangled noise and took a drink of her beer. It was room temperature and flat, and the hops were exceedingly bitter on her taste buds. She took another quick drink as she felt Raphael's cool gaze rake over her.
"It's good to see you're finally paying attention to people," Jax commented, leaning both forearms on the table. "Can it be my turn now?"
"Jax." Raphael's tone was edged with kind warning, but it made no difference. Jax held up a hand to silence Raphael, his turbulent regard unrelenting.
Ronan leveled Jax with an indifferent expression, but Bailey knew better than to believe him truly unaffected. Not when his hand reached for hers and laced them together underneath the table.
"If you're here to speak about what I think you are… my answer hasn't changed," Ronan said.
The table rattled as Jax's hand slammed down on it. Bailey jumped in surprise, her eyes widening farther as the lights across the bar briefly flickered. The she-wolf set her drink down calmly, sights narrowing on Jax.
"I don't know what this is about," Bailey lied calmly. Ronan spared no detail about Jax's obsession with claiming more power from the Otherworld. "But there's certainly no need to get upset." She glanced pointedly at the bar's lights.
Jax didn't acknowledge Bailey.
"I can take it all away, you know," he told Ronan. His voice was soft, like a lullaby, even as his hazel eye sparked with indignation. "All your new... tricks."
The lights above them flickered and dimmed again before returning to their ambient blaze a few moments later. Bailey squeezed Ronan's hand. Jax knew. He knew, just like Ronan feared.
"Then do it," Ronan spat with causal vehemence. Jax paled somewhat as Ronan inclined toward him. "It's a cancer. Poison."
Time stretched thin as the men stared one another down in taut silence. Bailey held her breath, waiting for it to end.
"You were supposed to be my brother," Jax accused Ronan.
"I am your brother," Ronan insisted. His face twisted with his mental torment. "And as your brother, I'm telling you it's over."
Jax stood abruptly and leaned halfway over the table. It left the two's faces only a hand's width apart. "It's over when I say it's over."
Bailey lurched back at the sudden aggression and doubled down on her glare. Jax's gaze flickered to her and returned it. Bailey forcibly kept herself seated, unwilling to make a scene by launching herself at Jax and beating some sense into him.
"You're a mess, Jax," Bailey spat. "Go home and clean yourself up."
His top lip curled in disgust. "Acting as his guard dog now?"
Ronan jumped up, dislodging Bailey's legs from his lap, and letting go of her hand to cock a fist back. Bailey gasped and acted in turn without a second thought. Grabbing a handful of the back of his shirt, she yanked him down. Ronan landed with a grunt and shot her a perplexed look, cheeks flushed with anger.
Bailey returned the look with a single shake of her head and stood slowly. She itched to slap Jax as he smirked vindictively at them.
"I'm his girlfriend, actually," she said. "Now, why don't you go home, like I said. You reek of alcohol, and your attitude is just as bad." Jax looked ready to protest, but Bailey unleashed a growl that sealed his lips shut. "Get it together," she hissed. "You're embarrassing yourself, and on top of that, jeopardizing everything, and for what?"
Jax wavered and rocked back unsteadily on his heels as he belched behind a closed fist. Bailey sat and waved a hand to clear the stench.
"I'm jeopardizing everything?" Jax huffed, straightening his spine with effort to sneer down at them. "Do you even know what he—"
"I know everything," Bailey cut Jax off coldly.
"Is that right?" Jax looked to Ronan, who tipped his head in minuscule agreement. His jaw twitched with barely concealed irritation. "Anyone else then?"
"Jakob."
Jax blanched. His throat bobbed with uncertainty as he digested the information. "You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then you're a fool. More than I ever thought you were before," he managed to choke out. The heat from his gaze fluctuated from confused and disappointed back to anger as he faced the duo. "Enjoy your time together… however long that may be."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Bailey demanded when Jax turned to leave.
"No secret stays safe for long. Not in the Dark Court." Jax lifted one shoulder in a shrug. His regard was only for Ronan as he spoke next. "As you've proved."
Ronan stiffened. "You might contemplate refocusing your attention on something that will actually bring value to your life." Ronan dragged his gaze to Jax's right arm, letting it linger until his friend stiffened in belated understanding. "Maybe then you crawl out of this hole you've dug yourself in."
Jax spun and left. Bailey followed his exit with a wary eye, noting how the eyes of the bar followed. An excited murmur rumbled through the patrons once Jax was carted up the elevator.
"Well, that was interesting," Raphael drawled.
Ronan's head snapped in the demon's direction while Bailey's body locked up in surprise.
"You should leave," Ronan replied.
A dark chuckle lifted the hair on Bailey's arms. "Should I? What do you think, Bailey?"
Mother fu—
"You should go," she echoed. Then sent him a sidelong glance that promised pain on an obscene level if he uttered one suggestive remark.
Raphael's mouth cut into a renegade smirk. "As you wish." Bailey blushed as Raphael rose and stepped out of their booth. "When you discover not everyone is up to the task of fulfilling your ravenous appetites, you're more than welcome back in my bed."
Bailey's answering growl got tangled up in her gasp. She shot Ronan a pleading glance, but his eyes were only for the smug demon.
"That's big talk coming from someone's second choice," Ronan remarked and slid an arm over Bailey's shoulders.
Raphael's eyes flashed dangerously; a nerve hit. "I'm no one's second choice."
One moment Raphael's eyes were rich brown, and the next, all-consuming black as his hypnotic stare latched onto Bailey. He held out a hand to her, and an inexplicable pull tugged at her gut. She clenched her teeth together as traitorous want slithered through her veins, but the sensation was fleeting.
It must be the bond he created when he fed on me.
Noting her resistance, his hand dropped to his side with a scowl.
"Apparently, you are," Ronan quipped blithely. "For the record, once she's had a taste of me, no one will compare." Raphael scoffed and then departed on swift feet.
Bailey flushed as a new wave of want flooded her. The possessive curl of Ronan's fingers around her shoulder, combined with his bold statement, made her run hot all over.
She twisted to face Ronan once Raphael was far enough away. An explanation rested on the tip of her tongue, but before she could offer it, Ronan bore down on her. Taking her face in both hands, he angled her head back and kissed her with a passion that left her breathless.
Ronan ravaged her lips like a man starved. Bailey tried to keep up, but there was no reprieve from the demanding stroke of his tongue. She softened for him, ceding any pretense of control. He moaned at her surrender, deepening the kiss until it bordered on indecency. Bailey was dizzy by the time he finished.
"You're still in the clothes you were wearing yesterday." Bailey flushed with guilt and averted her eyes. His breath tickled her ear as he leaned in close once more. "Shall we fix that?"
Bailey's lips parted slowly in pleased surprise. Ronan smiled.
"Come back home with me. We'll take a shower and get you cleaned up, and then...."
Her heart trembled. "And then?"
His smile widened.
Butterflies ran rampant in Bailey's stomach as they entered his household's apartment suite. Many of the ravens lounged in the common room, enjoying their evening breakfast. Coffee perfumed the air, with the sweet scent of pastries underlining it. As the door closed behind them, the eyes of the room turned to see who had entered.
All conversation stopped.
"As you were."
The raven shifters immediately followed Ronan's directive, their conversations picking back up in earnest.
Bailey caught Ana's eye as Ronan led her down a connecting hallway. Her eyes were bright with delight as she watched them go.
"My room's just at the end." Ronan gestured to the last door of the hall. The hint of a blush colored his neck as they neared. Bailey smothered a grin as he cleared his throat and next gestured to a door on their left. "This is my office."
"It's nice that it's so close to your room," she noted. “You must get a lot of work done.” Ronan nodded and stepped out before her to open his bedroom door. A lump of nerves caught in the back of her throat as he left space for her to enter.
She stopped only a few steps inside.
"This isn't what I expected your room to be like," she said. Bailey turned slowly, her gaze running over every inch of the room.
"Been thinking of my bedroom?" He murmured, stepping into her peripheral vision. A smirk curved her lips.
"Always," she answered. "You've always seemed fond of black; I suppose I assumed your room would match."
Ronan offered her a shrug. "Appearances are everything in the Dark Court." He toed off his shoes and swept them back toward the door with his foot. The bag with River's belongings he set aside as well. Bailey hastily mimicked the move, tossing her shoes near his. "But behind closed doors, I prefer a more relaxed environment to wind down in."
Her observations narrowed to the wall to her left, where a collection of pictures hung on the wall. "Who are all these people?" She asked, walking over to inspect the collection. Smiling and laughing faces greeted her from every direction, and all were portrayed in black and white.
"My family." Bailey passed him a wide-eyed glance. "It's quite extensive."
"Is everyone in your household family?"
"At least half, and cousins mostly at that. The rest are representatives of the other raven shifter clans."
"How do you decide who gets to join?"
"When a raven wishes to retire from court, we send word to whatever clan they came from. Those eighteen and older can petition to be part of the household, with two references from present or former courtiers."
"That's… thorough."
"The Dark Court isn't a place for the weak of heart, body, or mind. When someone is accepted, they have a year trial before being fully admitted and can take on household responsibilities."
Bailey glanced at Ronan, who'd come to stand at her side. His hands were folded behind his back, and he gazed proudly at the faces smiling back at them. Her heart warmed.
"You're a good leader, Ronan."
His expression transformed to one of solemn regard. "I was a good leader. The past few years, I've struggled. The Otherworld has taken its toll on me, and it's affected my ability to lead. Without my brother’s and cousin's help, we'd be in a far worse position at court."
"That can't be true," Bailey protested, facing him fully.
"It is. To deny it would only put my family at risk."
A sinking realization hit Bailey as he finally looked her in the eyes. "You were always going to leave, weren't you? Even if none of this ever happened with your shadow magic and rabidus curse."
He nodded. "I've toyed with the idea for months now, and with what just occurred with Jax...." Ronan's expression hardened as his voice trailed off meaningfully. "I know his threat to expose me as the shadowmancer is empty. He won't. We have too much history."
"Not willingly."
Ronan's lips thinned. "What worries me more is that his tongue went unchecked in his temper while in front of Raphael." Bailey winced. "Which is all the more reason for me to go, and soon."
"Us," Bailey corrected softly and reached for his hand. Ronan's worry melted away. "Where will we go first? Paris?"
For a moment, he simply stared at her. His astonishment at her acceptance morphed into gratitude before he brushed his lips against hers. Bailey gave a dreamy sigh and leaned into it. A parade of tingles broke out over her skin at the innocent touch.
Too soon, he pulled back, brushing her hair behind her ear. They locked eyes, and Bailey's mouth ran dry. A storm was gathering in his gray eyes that promised her the world and more. He slipped his hand around hers.
"First," he drawled. "We shower."
Bailey discreetly pinched her thigh as he guided her to the other side of his room. The small bite of pain reassured her that this wasn't a dream, yet she couldn't help but still doubt it.
The weeks she spent waiting for him to be ready had felt like months. Months riddled with heartache, uncertainty, and shame because of one mistake.
She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from voicing her fear and breaking the moment. If it was a dream, she didn't want it to end.
Ronan opened a pair of doors that revealed a walk-through closet, which led to an en suite bathroom. Bailey slowed her gait and inhaled deeply. His scent filled her nose and lungs in the most satisfying way.
"Come on." He tugged her hand as he flicked on the bathroom lights.
She blinked in surprise. "Wow. You went full Nordic spa in here."
Textured black tile took up the entirety of one wall, including that of the shower. The rest was done in a flat white with birch accents.
"I had to put black somewhere," he teased as he watched Bailey ogle the copper soaker tub. "Unfortunately, the bathtub takes an age to fill. I thought we could shower instead." Bailey sent him an arch look over her shoulder.
"If you wanted me out of my clothes, we could have done that in the other room. Besides, I showered already." For five minutes, she tacked on in her head while holding back a cringe at her rapid exit from Raphael's earlier.
The dubious expression Ronan passed her made her blush. "I think you missed a few spots." Her blush deepened as he entered her personal space, leaning close until his lips brushed against the top of her ear. "Let me help you get undressed."
His hands were already on the bottom of her wrinkled top, inching it up her torso as his fingers dragged up the length of her sides. Bailey's breath hitched as her top was stripped off and tossed to the side. She followed his movements through lowered lashes. His sultry gaze met her head-on, nearly burning her from the inside out.
The back of his knuckles chased up her spine, stopping midway to unfasten her bra. She gulped as it glided down her arms and onto the floor. Without missing a beat, Ronan dropped to his knees next.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered. Ronan glanced at her, his hands already on the waistband of her pants. His fingers playfully caressed the skin beneath them.
