The Raven Series 2 (14 page)

Chapter 15

At first glimpse, Atmosphere was like any other club, liquor poured from the ceilings, bright lights flashed in time with the bass, and partygoers filled the dance floor. From personal experience, I knew this particular club was a supernatural sanctuary. This time when I strolled through the metal doors, I knew I wasn’t drugged or drunk. The marks glowing on their wrists weren’t a figment of my imagination, but reaper identification.

I glanced down at the inside of my arm, thinking the little white raven stood out like a beacon. But the vibe of the club put me in the birthday mood. It was a weird feeling knowing I was one of them—hell, I was the leader.

Zach came up between Zoe and me, putting an arm around both of us. “Girls, try to behave. I’d rather not have my face messed up tonight.” And then, with those words of wisdom, we watched him get lost in the crowd, looking for some girl to prey on. The Hunters charm was legendary.

“You ready to let out your inner stripper?” Zoe asked, shaking her little tush.

“Inner stripper?” Parker said, leaning in near my ear. His voice tickled the hair on my neck. “I’d pay to see that.”

I elbowed him lightly in the gut. “Not tonight, you won’t.”

“We’ll see. If there is one thing I’ve learned about going out with you, Pipes, it’s you never know what may happen.”

I rolled my eyes, not because what he said was preposterous, but because it was true.

Zoe’s dark eyes gleamed at Parker. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”

That’s what I was afraid of. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Zoe taking such an immediate liking to Parker.

“What kind of place is this?” Parker asked, taking in the scene. And what a sight it was.

I held onto the railing, surveying the sheer energy of the room below. “A very different kind of place,” was my answer.

He bumped his shoulder lightly into mine. “Not so different from a few of the sketchy joints you’ve dragged me to. At least I’m not getting the serial killer vibe.”

I glared at him.

“What’s with the VIP treatment? You some big shot now?” He was teasing me, but…

I choked.

Zoe’s smile widened and she laughed.

I hadn’t noticed until Parker said something, but I was drawing unwanted attention. More whispers. I could only imagine what they were saying, and it was becoming clear that my days of hiding were numbered. I was going to have to step up into my official roll as the White Raven soon.

“Uh-uh,” Zoe sung. I didn’t like the texture of her tone, like I’d done something wrong.

Tingles danced along my skin.
Oh boy. Here comes the fun.
My eyes allied with Zane’s as he walked toward me, a silent, watchful shadow in the dark club. Everything from his cool eyes to the chill in the air surrounding him was a warning. He was a formidable force I had yet to understand. A good head taller than most, he stood out in the crowd for an entirely different reason than I did.

But damn, he looked good. And that was the God’s honest truth. Zane in dark jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt stretching across his broad chest was absolutely mouthwatering. His hair tumbled over his forehead, and he had a half grin on his face.

I hated how often my cheeks flushed, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him or stop thinking about last night. Nothing had happened, but what was unnerving me was how much I’d wanted
something
to happen. And I couldn’t get the image of him sleeping next to me out of my head.

I knew the second he noticed Parker beside me. The smile on his face went glacier, his body tensing and then relaxing, as if determining Parker wasn’t a threat.

For a moment, no one moved.

“What’s he doing here?” Zane said.

Parker stiffened beside me, and my hand itched to smack the eyeballs out of the back of Zane’s head. It was hard to believe this was the same guy whose arms I’d spent last night wrapped in, or how quickly he could go from sweet to douche. “Don’t be a jerk,” I hissed.

Too late.

Parker and Zane were in the throes of a heroic stare down.

“Asshole,” Parker coughed under his breath.

Zoe laughed, amused by Parker.

Zane widened his stance, biting back a growl. I flattened my hands on his chest and pushed him backward toward the nearest dark corner. “What the hell was that?”

A muscle popped at his jawline. “This is no place for a human, princess.”

“Don’t you think I know that? Besides, he can’t see anything, right? No reaper marks. No trouble.”

“Let’s hope not,” he said skeptically.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I countered. My hands were still pressed to his chest. I dropped them when I realized I was still touching him, but I did so regrettably.

He sighed. “It means some humans see past the veil of life and death. Some have a stronger intuition and are able to open their minds to the possibility of the world beyond this one. It can also depend on how much death has touched their souls. If someone has had a near-death experience or lost a great love, it tends to unlock parts of their minds, allowing them to see what is normally hidden.”

Fan-freaking-tastic.

I hadn’t expected to be at odds with him so soon after last night. It made the afterglow I’d been riding all day dim. “Well, he doesn’t seem to think anything is out of the ordinary, so I guess I lucked out.”

His eyes stayed on me, before he nodded. “Stay out of trouble, will ya?”

“I’ll try.” As I turned to leave, I stopped, angling my body back toward him. “You don’t need to babysit me tonight.”

A rueful smile quirked his lips. “I’ll stick around all the same.”

My stomach tightened, and a chill moved through my blood. One step forward, two steps back. That was the definition of my relationship with Zane. “Suit yourself.”

As I spun around to rejoin Parker and Zoe, Zane grabbed my arm. “One more thing in case I don’t get the chance later.” He leaned down, sweeping his lips across my cheek. “Happy birthday, princess,” he whispered in my ear.

I shuddered and instinctually leaned toward him, but he’d already moved back. I stumbled a little, losing my balance. His lips curved.

Dazed and somewhat irritated, I made my way over to Parker and Zoe. As soon as I was within yelling distance of Parker, he jumped all over me. “I don’t get it, Pipes. You’re a smart girl. What are you doing with a douchebag like that?” Obviously, Zane rubbed him the wrong way, but I couldn’t blame him.

I blinked. “We’re not together,” I said, but his eyes were still brimming with doubt and anger. “It’s complicated, okay?”

“Whatever.” Parker was having none of my lame excuses.

“Look, I don’t want to fight with you. Can’t we forget Zane and have a good time?” Not that I could ever truly forget about Zane. It wasn’t possible, not when we were in the same room, but Parker didn’t know that, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him.

He downed the drink next to him at the bar. “It’s a good thing it’s your birthday.”

“That’s right. Now, let’s dance.” I tugged on his hand. “Come on. You know you want to.”

Zoe was frowning at me from her seat at the bar. I think I’d just stolen her dance partner, but since I
was
the birthday girl, I deserved first dance.

Pulling Parker onto the floor, I told myself to ignore Zane, to pretend he wasn’t here. I slipped around the bodies, searching for an open space. The club was packed tonight, and I loved it. Letting the music rule me, I stepped up to Parker and draped an arm around his neck. I started to move, but unlike most adorable dweebs, when they danced, they kind of stood there and let the girls do all the work. Not Parker. For a geek, he could move.

My perfect partner in crime.

Loosening his muscles, he quickly picked up the beat, matching his rhythm with mine. I swayed with the music, and then whirled in a circle. Pleasure brought a rosy glow to my skin. I knew my body was luminous, a reaper by-product. Parker didn’t seem to notice. I’m sure the strobe lights helped, but I was happy to see the joy in his eyes.

Or maybe I was mistaking joy for something more…

His hands settled on my hips. “You still got it.”

My mouth, unpainted and soft, curved up and teased out the dimples on my cheeks. “I forgot how well we move.” The words came out raspy, like I was trying to sound sexy but failing miserably. So not my intention.

I didn’t know how many songs we danced to. That was the thing about places like Atmosphere; you got caught up in the music and hours flew by. All around us, bodies glistened with sweat and people laughed. When I glanced around it was like a rainbow—the guy to my left with a purple Mohawk, the couple beside us whose veins shimmered red, and the girl behind me who looked like a living Rainbow Bright.

For the first time, Raven Hallow felt like home. Maybe it was that I’d finally accepted who I was. Maybe it was having Parker here, a piece of my old life. Or maybe it was a combination of everything. Parker. Zane. Atmosphere. Me.

Parker’s head lowered, his forehead pressing to mine. His long lashes fluttered against my cheek, and I giggled. The next thing I knew, his lips were on mine. I couldn’t say I was surprised, because deep down I knew he had a crush on me. Maybe it was more than a crush. What surprised me was I didn’t push him away immediately, which Parker took as encouragement.

His lips pressed more firmly to mine. There was nothing wrong with Parker’s kiss, and actually this wasn’t our first. I remembered it being just as sweet…except it didn’t steal my breath away. There was no jolt of power rushing through my veins, heating up my blood. I didn’t lose myself, forgetting the world around me.

He wasn’t Zane.

And if I could think of Zane at a time like this, no one’s kiss but his ever would. He’d tarnished me forever. Kissing Parker made me think this was the calm and pleasant future Zander and I had to look forward to. No curl-toeing, heart-pounding, body-surging lip-locking. After the other night, I wasn’t sure I could settle for anything less.

It was a sobering thought.

As gently as I could, I broke off the kiss and stared into Parker’s wonderstruck gaze. “Parker, we can’t,” I said, placing both palms on his chest to keep him at arm’s length. It wasn’t my motive to hurt him, but I would hurt him all the same. The knowledge splintered a piece of my heart, but it was unavoidable. I refused to lead him on, to ensnare another in this twisted triangle I found myself in.

“Why not?” he asked, leaning in to make another attempt for my lips.

I was having none of it. He might have caught me by surprise before, but not a second time. I pushed harder against his chest. “Parker!” Alcohol and the ambiance of the club made him bolder than normal.

“What gives? I thought you had feelings for me.”

“I do. Of course I do,” I assured. “You’re my best friend—”

“Don’t you dare pull the friend card,” he said. “What about the,
Parker, I miss you
s or the
I love you
s?”

All around us, people continued to bump and grind, but I didn’t care. Most of them were oblivious to the squabble quickly turning into an inferno. “I meant them…as a friend.”

“That’s such bullshit,” he snarled. “I know it. You know it. I don’t understand. What happened? One day you’re into me and the next you’re not? I gave you time because I thought that was what you needed.”

“It was,” I said in a small voice. I wasn’t sure he heard me.

“And now you’ve decided you don’t have feelings like that about me. Is it because of him?” His finger shot in the air toward the back of the club. Distaste rolled off his tongue. Any ideas I had about Parker and Zane being friends were quickly becoming unrealistic.

I swallowed. “Who? Zane?” It was a stupid question.

He thrust frustrated fingers through his unkempt sandy hair. “Oh please, don’t play the innocent act with me. I’m not an idiot or blind. I’ve seen the two of you together. You have a thing for him.”

Tension settled between us like a well-worn blanket. He was right, but it was way more than a thing. “It’s not that. I’m engaged,” I blurted, and my hand flew quickly to my mouth. I swear the room went silent, but mostly it was in my head.

He blinked, shaking his head in confusion. “What?”

“I’m engaged, Parker.”

He looked like I cracked him across the cheek with my open palm. “You’re shitting me.”

“I wish,” I muttered, knowing nothing I could say would soften the pain on his face.

“I don’t see a ring,” he stated, eyes darting to my fingers and back to my face. “How can you possibly think you’re in love with that douchebag? You deserve so much better.”

I shook my head, taking a step forward. “I’m not engaged to Zane, Parks.” But boy did I wish I were. It would have been believable.

Confusion clouded his whiskey eyes. “Then who? If you’re making another lame excuse because you don’t have feelings for me, just be big enough to tell me. Don’t lie to me.”

I wanted to stick to as much of the truth as I could without revealing what I was. “I wouldn’t lie about something like this. I swear. It’s Zane’s brother, Zander.”