Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

43. Chapter 43

Chapter forty-three

Raven

I rest my back against the tile wall of Locke’s shower, letting the hot water rain down over my skin.

Surely, I didn’t have anything to do with those candles. Contrary to what Kingston and Locke have to say, there’s no way I’m a witch. I’ve never had any sort of magical powers in my life. If I did I would have been able to pull Bethany up from that cliff without an issue. I don’t have the power to create fire from nothing. The only power I had was behind the camera. I controlled the outcome. Everything else in my life was beyond my control. My family. My location. My feelings for Locke. His secret. But what do I know? I don’t even know who my real parents are.

I close my eyes and tilt my head back until the creak of the shower door alerts me that I’m not alone anymore.

Locke’s glorious naked body steps inside the shower and my breath catches in my throat.

“Hey.” His eyes travel over me before coming back to my face. “You alright?”

No.

“You mean finding out you’re a wolf? My parents have lied to me my entire life and I could possibly be setting shit on fire without knowing it?” I lean my head back again. “I’m dealing.”

“You know that you set the yard on fire the other day?" He takes a step to me.

“So that’s why half of the yard is black?” I almost laughed.

“Yeah, Declan said it was after you climbed out the window.”

“Sorry,” I look up to the ceiling. “I guess I’ll need to try to work on that.”

I feel the light touch of his fingertips on my chin. He tilts it down a fraction. “It’s ok to not be ok, Raven.”

I don’t say anything but allow him to maneuver me under the spray.

“Tilt,” he commands.

I tilt my head back, allowing the water to wet my hair.

His thick fingers brush through it and he takes his time washing the dark strands. Neither of us speak. He washes me. Then I wash him, before we do what we both need. Sleep.

“I’ve got to head to campus. Why don’t you stay here today.” Locke presses a kiss to my neck, before I roll over to face him sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Can’t. I have class.” I yawn.

“I know, baby. I just meant you should rest. I can email you what you miss.”

“Are you showing preferential treatment, professor?”

He chuckles. “When it comes to you? Yes.”

I let my finger trace along one of his tattoos, soaking in his words.

“I got to run, but Nyko will be here this morning. Declan had a meeting, but he’ll be back before me most likely.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I scoff.

“But you’re getting one.” He narrows his eyes. “And you will stay in this house.”

“Ok, dad,” I deadpan.

“Behave, Rae. I don’t need to lose my shit on campus,” he says. “As soon as I get back, I have someone coming over I want you to meet. She can help us make sense of all this.”

“Ok.” I tuck my hands up under the pillow and lay my head down. “Don’t worry. I won’t go rogue.”

“Good.” He presses a kiss to my hair. “If something happens to you…” he trials off, leaving the statement open ended.

I glance up and meet his eyes. “Same.”

A heavy weight settles over me as I watch him leave, and I have this inevitable feeling that when he gets back tonight, nothing will be the same.