Read The Raven Series 2 for Free Online Page B

“Zane.”
    Shocker. “Aren’t you supposed to take orders from me?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Problem solved. “Well then, let’s get one thing straight. Don’t ever call me ‘ma’am.’ I’m not even eighteen yet,” I said without flinching, making sure to catch each of them in the eye. “And I don’t need an escort. I’m just going for a run on the beach. Capish?”
    The Men in Black doofuses didn’t object. They stood with their hands looped in front of them, feet slightly apart. Satisfied we were finally on the same page, I took a little band off my wrist, bound my hair back with a couple twists, and kicked off in a brisk jog.
    The air was sizzling for the end of July and the sun was bright. I never tired of watching the way the light, sun or moon, played over the water. Forgoing music, I liked listening to the subtle and lulling sounds of the ocean. I paced myself, the sand kicking up off my heels. Five minutes in, I heard a squawking overhead. Cranking my neck, I blocked the sun with my hands, only to see two hawks circling in the sky above.
    I frowned. So much for ditching my security detail. Apparently Zane’s word held more weight than mine. Could be he scared the piss out of them. I didn’t precisely have the threatening tactic at five-two with sunny blonde hair.
    They underestimated me. Another time, I might have shown how much, but not today. I had an overwhelming amount of information to absorb about reapers, but I did know that Red Hawks could morph into…pretty much anything— living thing that is. I guess that explained why neither Agent Tightass nor Agent Stick-up-his-butt put up much resistance about me leaving the manor. How very sneaky and annoying of Zane to stick me with two reapers who could virtually follow me everywhere—even in the bathroom.
    What a horrifying thought.
    But now that I was thinking about Zane—good or bad thoughts—there was no stopping my brain.
    I was as confused as ever on where Zane and I stood. Was I being completely foolish thinking there could ever be something between us? Probably. Did it stop me from hoping? Not a chance. Underneath all this sarcastic, broken, tragic exterior was a girl who believed in love, who desperately wanted to be in love. But I was slowly coming to terms with the fact that it might not be in the cards for me. I tried to pretend it didn’t matter, but it did. I didn’t know if I had it in me to set aside my feelings for duty.
    Could I pretend to not have feelings for Zane?
    Could I hide those feelings when he was around?
    Could I allow myself to feel for someone else?
    Mom and Rose had made the ultimate sacrifice for me, and I wanted to be selfish. I wanted it all. Love. Happiness. And to not get killed. Supposedly, the only way to do that was to marry Zander and join our families—the ravens and the crows.
    So I was constantly told.
    But every time I was near Zane, it was harder and harder to deny the need to be closer to him and to keep the feelings I couldn’t control from sweeping over me. I tried to think of TJ’s safety and the responsibility bestowed upon me. It was scary thinking about the number of people who were relying on me.
    An upheaval was in the works, and I was at the core.
    Joy.
    My union with Zander could be the key to ensuring peace between sectors and keeping the hallows from destroying our world. If the hallows joined forces with the defiant reapers, we were all royally screwed.
    It would have been easier if Zander wasn’t a decent guy.
    He just wasn’t the one I wanted—the one that made my heart patter.
    I cringed, thinking I might be strapped to a loveless marriage. If I wasn’t so hung up on Zane…if I could give Zander half a chance…if my soul wasn’t linked to Zane’s… None of it mattered. I couldn’t change the past, but my future was still undecided. There had to be a way to govern the sectors without having to give up on love. Things might have always been done in such order, but maybe