Read The Raven Series 2 for Free Online

you’ve got?”
    What did he expect? Not only had he caught me off guard, I wasn’t really in the “dating” mind frame. “Sure?” I replied.
    “Look. We’ve got to start somewhere. I know this is awkward, but there’s no avoiding it.”
    Touché. “You’re right. I’m not normally so flaky. I promise.”
    “Really? Because I find that hard to believe.”
    I stared blankly at him.
    “I’m joking,” he laughed.
    “Good, because I was seriously thinking about standing you up.”
    The smile lines around his lips deepened. “You’re going to make a helluva banshee.”
    I shrugged. “We’ll see. One day at a time.”
    “We have a lot to talk about, but I want you to know I’m here. For whatever you need. A shoulder to cry on, a punching bag to hit, or someone to listen. I don’t want things to always be strained between us. It would be easier if we got along.”
    “You’re right. It would be easier. I need a little time to figure things out—”
    “Like Zane?” he interjected.
    Dead air.
    What did I say? No? I was a sucky liar, so what was the point? Denying I had feelings for Zane would make me look like a fool.
    Zander frowned. “If you want things to be easier, try spending less time with my brother.”
    Ouch .
    Just when I thought he was a softy at heart, he goes and zeros it out with a comment like that. Made my kitty claws want to come out. It could be he was testing me to see if I would automatically jump to Zane’s defense. Truth be told, it was exactly what I wanted to do, but I bit my tongue, which took effort. “I’ll take it under consideration,” I said.
    He nodded, and with one last glance down the hall toward my open bedroom door, Zander left. If every confrontation with him was going to end like this, we were doomed. Even in the ground and Rose was causing me strife. I slumped against the wall as a pang hit me in the temples. These migraines recently plaguing me were only getting worse.
    Shoulders heavy with responsibility, I kicked off the wall and headed back into my room. Zane was sprawled out on my bed with his hands linked behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Wisps of dark curls lay over the lines of thought creasing his forehead.
    “You lied,” he said as I plopped down on the window seat.
    I glared at him, tucking my legs underneath me. Don’t tell me he was going to start harping on me too. “What about?” Not that I really cared all that much.
    He turned on his side, propping his head on his hand. “You’re not okay. I can feel the tangle of emotions you’re trying to hide.”
    Uncertainty. Fear. Sadness. Anger. Lots of anger.
    Yep. They were all there inside me.
    I hugged my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knees. “So, what if I did? Things are already messy.” My emotions wouldn’t be a jumble if I didn’t want to attack him with my mouth every time I saw him.
    “And about to get messier.” The words came out of Zane’s mouth like ice.
    “What do you mean?”
    “We’re going to have to be more careful, especially now that you’re expected to hone your powers. There’s no one to guide you. Many of the elders have the basic knowledge of your skills, but not the full extent. Your training will test the symmetry of our souls, which is a problem. A big problem.”
    “Do I even want to know why?” I mumbled.
    Sitting up, he swung his long legs over the side of the bed, which he made look all too inviting. The seriousness of his expression told me I should get my head out of the gutter and stop thinking about him on my sheets.
    “With the upheaval of rogue reapers and increase of hallows, the last thing we need is for the monarchy to crumble,” he said. “There is an order that needs to be followed, one that’s been in place for centuries. Your marriage to Zander, Death’s firstborn, solidifies the monarchy’s lineage.” Death was the sector overlord for the Black Crows. That much I understood, but there were so many rules I didn’t