Chapter 221 — Looking For Me?

Chapter 221: Chapter 221 — Looking For Me?

~ Raven ~

Raven’s heart gave an irritating little jump at the sound of Cassian’s voice, and her wolf responded immediately to his familiar touch.

Behind her, Deb let out an excited squeal.

"Oh!"

Cassian turned toward her with a glare sharp enough to make most people reconsider their existence.

Deb immediately raised both hands.

"What? I didn’t do anything!"

Cassian glanced toward Isolde, apparently expecting her to intervene.

Unfortunately, Isolde was looking between them with a smile so thoroughly pleased that Raven briefly considered strangling her.

When Cassian continued looking at her, the woman merely shrugged, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Unbelievable.

"Cassian," Raven said, pulling his attention back to her. "Let go."

He released her wrist immediately.

However, when she turned toward him, Raven found herself momentarily distracted by his expression.

He looked genuinely apologetic.

There was something almost unfair about seeing Cassian Blade like that. She was accustomed to his confidence, his irritating composure and the way he always seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

Seeing him look uncertain about how to approach her was entirely different.

And Goddess, why did the bastard have to be so beautiful?

Her heart skipped as his pale eyes settled on hers, and for a moment Raven hated how easily his presence could affect her.

She forced herself to remember why she was angry.

"Raven, about what happened at the training court..." Cassian began, watching her carefully.

She folded her arms.

"What about it?"

He exhaled quietly. "It wasn’t entirely my fault. Dante came at me, and—"

"Oh, don’t even start."

Cassian stopped speaking.

Raven stared at him, thoroughly unimpressed by the explanation.

"I know what happened the night we kissed, Cassian."

Something shifted in his expression, although he said nothing.

"And I’m not interested in hearing you pretend you played no part in what happened afterward," she continued. "Whatever problem you and Dante have with each other, the two of you still decided to behave like complete idiots in front of half the academy."

Cassian’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t interrupt her.

"I told you how I felt about that fight, and if you honestly think I’m going to forget everything because you’ve decided to explain yourself, you’re mistaken."

For several seconds, Cassian simply looked at her.

Then he gave a small nod, his expression still unusually serious.

Unfortunately, someone else had been paying considerably more attention to their conversation than Raven would’ve liked.

"YOU TWO KISSED?!"

Raven froze.

Oh, Goddess.

Deb was staring at them with her mouth open.

"You actually kissed?!" she demanded, looking between them with an expression of absolute disbelief.

"Deb," Isolde began, already laughing.

"No, wait! I need to understand this!" Deb turned toward Cassian again, looking as though she’d just discovered something impossible. "You kissed someone? Voluntarily?"

Cassian closed his eyes briefly, and Raven wished she could disappear.

Deb clasped her hands together, positively glowing with excitement.

"I seriously cannot wait to start at Valerius next year. If things like this happen here, I’ve been missing out on so much!"

Cassian’s eyes opened.

His expression changed immediately.

"Deb."

She looked at him. "What?"

"If any boy tries to touch you when you get here, I’ll break his limbs."

The sudden edge in his voice was accompanied by a brief flare of Dominant aura that made Raven instinctively straighten.

Deb, however, looked thoroughly offended.

"Excuse me?!"

Cassian regarded her calmly. "You heard me."

"Who the hell died and made you king?!" Deb demanded, pointing accusingly at him. "Firstly, you’re not my father. Secondly, you have absolutely no authority over whom I decide to spend time with!"

Isolde burst into laughter.

"And thirdly," Deb continued, determined to make herself perfectly clear, "I don’t remember asking for your permission!"

For a moment, Cassian looked as though he was preparing to argue.

Then he apparently decided against it, rubbing his forehead before turning away.

Raven could only stare at the three of them.

She’d come here to check on a recovering friend, and somehow she’d ended up witnessing what seemed to be a weird family argument about boys, a discussion about her supposedly being Cassian’s girlfriend and an attempted apology from a man she’d been determined to avoid.

Meanwhile, Isolde was laughing so hard that Raven was beginning to worry she’d exhaust herself again.

Cassian finally turned back toward her.

"Can we speak privately?"

"No."

He frowned. "Raven."

"I have things to do, Cassian." She glanced toward the doorway before returning her attention to him. "The Renewal Concord is approaching, I’m barely keeping up with my training, and I don’t have time to stand here arguing with you."

His expression tightened, but he didn’t try to stop her.

Raven had almost reached the door when Isolde spoke.

"Actually, Raven, there’s something you should know."

She stopped and looked back.

"What now?"

Isolde’s smile faded slightly. "I’m not certain I’ll be participating in the Concord."

Raven turned around completely.

"What?"

"The healers haven’t cleared me for anything yet," Isolde explained, adjusting herself in her chair. "Apparently, spending several days unconscious has consequences."

Raven frowned.

"But you’re First Seat."

"I’m aware."

"You’re supposed to represent Valerius."

"And I’d rather like to, but my essence is still recovering." Isolde glanced down at herself with mild irritation. "I can barely walk around without somebody telling me to return to bed, so I doubt the healers will be particularly enthusiastic about letting me compete."

Raven studied her pale face.

She’d known Isolde wasn’t fully recovered, but somehow she hadn’t considered what that might mean for the competition.

Isolde shrugged.

"Besides, you’re Second Seat. If I can’t participate, I’m sure you’ll manage."

Raven stared at her.

"That’s supposed to reassure me?"

"I thought it might."

"Well, it bloody doesn’t."

Isolde smiled faintly. "You’ll survive."

"That seems to be everyone’s favorite thing to tell me whenever they’re about to make my life difficult."

Cassian’s mouth curved slightly, although he wisely chose not to comment.

Before Raven could complain further, Deb interrupted again.

"Wait, wait. Second Seat?"

She turned toward Raven with renewed fascination.

"Raven is Second Seat?"

"Unfortunately," Raven muttered.

Deb looked between her and Isolde in disbelief.

"First Cassian’s girlfriend, and now Second Seat? Who exactly are you?"

Raven gave her a tired look.

"Someone who’s beginning to regret coming here."

Deb ignored that entirely.

"Why haven’t I heard about you before? Which House are you from?" She studied Raven with growing curiosity. "Your family must be important if you’re already ranked that highly."

Raven’s expression changed slightly.

For a moment, the familiar discomfort of being questioned about her family threatened to surface, but she had absolutely no intention of discussing House Blackthorn with a girl she’d only just met.

Instead, she folded her arms.

"Actually, I have a better question."

Deb blinked. "What?"

"What the hell are you even doing at Valerius? Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere else?"

Deb looked almost offended.

"My sister was unconscious for days!"

"So?"

"So I came to see her!" Deb gestured toward Isolde as though the answer should’ve been obvious. "Our family was worried sick, and I wasn’t going to sit at home waiting for someone to tell me whether she was alright."

Raven glanced toward Isolde.

The older Marchmont looked considerably less amused now, although there was a faint warmth in her expression.

"And now that she’s awake," Deb continued, "I’m staying long enough to make sure she doesn’t do something ridiculous and end up unconscious again."

"That’s very considerate of you," Isolde remarked dryly.

"I know." Deb looked positively pleased with herself.

Raven almost smiled.

For all her irritating behavior, Deb clearly cared about her sister, and Raven found herself understanding a little better why Isolde seemed so fond of the troublesome girl.

She was about to respond when Isolde suddenly stiffened.

The change was so abrupt that Raven stopped speaking.

Isolde’s smile disappeared, and her eyes moved toward the doorway before slowly sweeping across the visiting area.

"Isolde?" Raven asked, noticing how pale she’d suddenly become.

The woman didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she sat perfectly still, her expression growing increasingly strained.

Then she spoke.

"He’s here."

Raven stared at her.

"Who?"

Isolde swallowed, her attention shifting toward something Raven couldn’t see.

"The Dreamwalker."

Raven’s stomach dropped.

"What?"

"I can sense him, Raven." Isolde’s voice had become frighteningly serious. "He’s here."

Cassian reacted immediately.

Whatever amusement remained in his expression vanished as he stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the visiting area.

Raven looked around too, suddenly remembering the terrible pressure inside that nightmare and the sound of the Dreamwalker’s laughter.

But there was nobody else in the room.

Only the four of them.

Cassian moved closer to the doorway, studying the corridor beyond it before turning back toward Isolde.

"There’s nobody here."

Isolde shook her head, looking increasingly alarmed.

"No. I’m certain of it."

Cassian frowned, his entire posture becoming alert.

"Where?"

Before Isolde could answer, a quiet chuckle interrupted them.

Raven turned toward the sound.

It had come from Deb.

The girl was standing exactly where she’d been moments earlier, watching the three of them.

But something about her expression had changed.

Her earlier excitement was gone, replaced by a strange, knowing smile that slowly widened as their attention settled on her.

Then she tilted her head.

"Looking for me, guys?"