“The sickly-sweet scent?”
Oleks tightened his hold on me. “You could smell it? That is what you need to avoid. Do not let that near you.”
“Raven?” Maverick’s voice cut through our conversation.
I offered Oleks a gentle kiss to his cheek before pulling back from him and turning.
I could not dispel the immediate relief of seeing Maverick. Of his copper hair in disarray as he jogged the passageway towards us. Of his bright hazel eyes sparkling in relief. His mask gone. His entire face on display, creating a picture in my mind of who Maverick was. Maybe it was the separation that made him seem less approachable, but without it, I could feel the warmth that radiated from him. Maverick wasn't a cold person by design. It was by choice, by necessity. He was a man who had lost his triplet, George. Who had fallen to Ivan’s torments. Who had been thrown into the game with Levi, the one he thought responsible for George’s death, only to realize that it was his other brother’s, Enzo’s, choices that ultimately began the chain of events.
“Maverick,” I greeted warmly. I expected him to stop, but he didn’t. Instead, he grabbed hold of me, lifting me off the ground, into his arms.
Rubbing his face against mine.
The show of affection at odds with everything I remembered him to be.
“Brother, control yourself,” Enzo said from behind him, walking up. Their energy had completely swapped since I firstmet the two brothers. Before Enzo had seemed easy-going, but the man who stood before me was a statue sculpted in distrust and anger.
Maverick grunted, a shocked gasp leaving his lips as if he had just realized what he'd done. He set me on the ground none too gracefully, and it was only Oleks's sturdy arms buckling around my waist that kept my knees from giving out.
“Hey, Enzo. It's good to see you,” I attempted.
“Unfortunately, I can't say the same to you.”
His words were sharp, electric prods thatburned. But I numbed myself to them. Controlling my emotions, pushing them further and further down. Until I couldn’t touch or reach for them.
I am the shadow. I am the shadow.
Levi came up from behind Enzo, grabbing onto his shoulders and shaking him. “Shut the fuck up. It's only because of her that you're alive, that I don't fucking throw you overboard into the sea. You would think after the entire encounter that we all went through together that you would have understood. You owe her. And yet, here you are, sullen and pouting because you're stuck on a ship and headed toward a new country. What did you plan to do? Go back to Violencia? Head back to the prison? Turn yourself in? Did you really think that was gonna go over well?” Levi’s typically soft and southern voice was heated and ragged as his previous anger appeared to compound with his growing annoyance.
Enzo shrugged out of Levi's hold. “I certainly didn't expect to be going to war,” he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “All I wanted was to keep my brother safe and for us to survive that fuckingMasquerade. And now here we are, headed towards another game, possibly worse, with no fucking rules in place. And all because she had a goddamn child. Everybody hasgoddamned children. What does is fucking matter? How isshespecial?”
His heated wrath was pinpricks across my nerves. I didn’t want him here if he had no interest in it. But before I could say as much, Maverick spoke up.
“Brother, cut it out. It's not her that you're mad at. She doesn't deserve this.” Maverick stepped back and allowed Levi to take his place. “I’m glad you’re okay Raven, but I hope you’re ready. When we land, I imagine we won’t have much time before everything starts up again.”
Enzo cut his hypnotic amber eyes to mine. In their depths, I saw a cornered creature, a lonely man. A brother who'd lost too much to bear. I didn't blame him for his anger, I just didn't understand it. Why were we going to war? What had I missed while I was once more swallowed into the depths of unconsciousness?
“Enzo, you don't have to do this,” I said.
I could practically see the sadness painted on Enzo’s face, in the brush of his downward brows, the tightness of his lips, the indigo shadows that crept under his eyes. “I have no choice, Raven. But Maverick’s right, I’m not angry with you. I’m sorry. I just…” He turned his gaze to Maverick.
He just doesn’t want Maverick to be in danger.
“I understand.” Reaching forward, I took one of Enzo's hands, squeezing it in both of mine. The move appeared to shock everybody in the passageway. But no more than Enzo himself. I knew that Enzo was still heartbroken, guilt ridden and simply trying to survive, trying to keep his brother alive. And it made sense to blame me. I didn't know exactly what was happening yet, but all signs pointed to the fact that being Cherished wasn’tgood, even if the title was wrapped in a pretty bow and given a special name. Being Cherished meant our choices weren’t our own.
AndIwas Cherished.
A SacredCherished.
I was terrified at what was to come. But I could only hope that each and every one of the men here—that Julian, that Griffin, that everyone who I had met along the way—would be safe. That I wouldn't be the reason more people would die.
Releasing Enzo, I stepped into Levi’s waiting arms. Allowed him to scoop me into them. To remind me that even in the chaos, there was a safe haven I could melt into.
“I’ve got you darlin’.”
Levi would be my rock. My strength. My outlet.
He would help me get back to my daughter. To Jayce.
