Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Raven

“When will she be back?” Dhol asked, stowing her bag in the vehicle.

“You think I’m coming back after all this?” Raven countered.

“If Arenk and Laro would let you go, I’d keep you,” Dhol admitted, his gaze steady on her.

“Not happening. Laro will bring her back at the end of the week,” Arenk interjected.

Dhol held the door open for her, his eyes losing their spark as the vehicle pulled away. She watched him through the mirror as they left, his hands deep in his pockets.

“Was he good to you?” Arenk asked.

She nodded.

“If you want to talk about what happened—” he started.

“I’m okay.”

“What did you guys do?”

She turned to him. “He introduced me to the pleasures of anal play.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Oh.”

“But you left me there. You knew what could happen, so it shouldn’t be a shock. Right?”

He stayed silent for the rest of the drive, until they reached his place. As Raven stepped inside, she noticed a change in the air. The scent was different—vanilla and citrus with a hint of cinnamon.

She followed the scent to the bed and checked underneath.

“What are you doing?” Arenk asked.

Finding nothing, Raven lifted the comforter and sniffed. Nothing. A phantom scent. The door beeped and swung open.

“You’re back. I wanted to surprise you,” Laro said.

She wanted to rush into his arms, just like she wanted to with Arenk. She missed them, but they had abandoned her.

“Did everyone in the barracks want a turn?” she asked.

Laro’s face fell, and he rubbed his neck. “We need to sit down and talk about everything.”

She noticed a new bottle on the table, filled with a brown liquid. As Raven approached, the scent of cinnamon was strong.

“There’s nothing to discuss. I’m useful, and you’re using me. That’s it.”

“Did General Dhol tell you that?” Laro asked.

“No, but he’s been more upfront than either of you. If I weren’t useful, I’d be in a lab like the rest of my people. So, let’s not pretend it’s different. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him.

“I hope you both enjoyed what you got from me, but it’s not happening again. The shop is closed, although it seems it doesn’t matter,” she said, examining the bottle.

“All this happened before or after he introduced you to anal play?” Arenk asked, his jaw clenched, and Laro’s expression hardened.

“Before. He is a general, the General Dhol, so he was quite persuasive. He’s skilled in more than just warfare.”

“So, everything meant nothing,” Laro said.

“You both mean to me as much as I mean to you.”

Laro’s expression softened. “Then I know we mean more than anything.”

“Anything but your position.”

“That’s not true,” Arenk said.

“Tell me about this,” Raven said, thrusting the bottle into his stomach.

The room fell silent. Arenk and Laro exchanged glances. Arenk looked away. Laro took her hands and squeezed them tight.

“That’s not important—”

She pulled away. If looks could kill, they’d be dead. Arenk slammed the bottle on the dresser.

“You’ll meet her tomorrow, so let’s cut the crap. You can have all three of us, but we can’t have anyone but you? That seems unfair,” Arenk said.

She approached him slowly, trying to control the anger coursing through her. Raven picked up the bottle and took a big gulp, then another.

“You don’t know what unfair is,” she said, heading for the bathroom.

Before she could reach it, he grabbed her and spun her around. “We’re not done talking. Don’t ever walk away from us.”

“Or what? You’ll pass me off to the nex—”

Arenk knocked the bottle from her hand and pulled her close, her chest pressing against his, his gaze burning into hers.

“I took no pleasure in that. I never wanted to share you with anyone but Laro. So adjust your attitude before I remind you who you belong to, because it seems a week at General Dhol’s gave you a sense of authority you don’t have.”

“Looks like your new girlfriend gave you a nice power trip. You may rule her, but you don’t rule me.”

“Both of you need to calm down,” Laro said, placing a hand on Arenk’s shoulder.

“What were you two doing while I was gone?” Raven asked.

Arenk stayed silent, but his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I got your room ready at my new place,” Laro said, smiling as he pried her arm from Arenk. “Sit, both of you,” he said, pulling out a chair.

Arenk inspected the bottle and then placed it on the table with a few glasses. “Conversations go better over drinks.”

Raven took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. She was no closer to her goal. Her one plan had been ruined when Dhol took the imprint paper.

Dhol had also made it clear he wouldn’t help her. What would Tori do? Ice clinked against the glasses as Arenk poured a drink for each of them.

“I’m sorry,” Arenk said, sliding a glass towards her.

“For what?” she asked.

“I shouldn’t have made such a big decision without discussing it with you first. It won’t happen again,” Arenk said, lifting his glass to his lips.

“I should’ve stopped it instead of just standing by and letting it happen. I’m sorry,” Laro said.

Raven felt a searing pain in her chest. She glanced at the condensation-covered glass in front of her. A drink might help, might numb the pain. But would she still be in control? Did it even matter?

All she knew was that she didn’t want to feel like this anymore. Useless, helpless, betrayed, and torn. Raven knew she had to give it one more shot before she went down that road.

“I took your advice,” she told Arenk. “I asked him, and he said he couldn’t risk me calling and giving away your location. Can you guys help me find another way out? I need to find someone. She’s waiting for me.” A tear escaped before she could stop it.

They exchanged glances, and their faces said it all.

“Raven, we agree with General Dhol. It’s too risky,” Arenk admitted.

She picked up the glass and downed it. It stung, but it was nothing compared to her emotional pain. Raven grabbed the bottle and poured another. “I get it. Are we done here?”

“We wanted to know how your week went, aside from your newfound hobby,” Laro said, grinning.

As she sipped, the warmth spread through her. Part of her wanted to lash out at them, but something told her to keep her cool and return the smile.

“It was okay. I mostly stayed at the house, except for a trip to town and a party. He was more of a gentleman than I expected,” Raven said, pouring another round for everyone.

“What party?” Arenk asked.

“I’m not sure. They said it was a party for the generals.”

“Did you see the sparring match?” Laro asked.

She shook her head.

“I heard General Hokji was defeated by a woman in his own home. I would’ve paid good money to see that,” Laro said.

Images of her holding blades and talking with General Hokji flashed in her mind.

Raven froze. “Was it a sword fight?”

“So you did see it?”

“He showed me his swords and said he was a master,” she said, taking a sip from her glass.

More memories flooded her mind, of her spinning, the sensation of pressing a blade against a body. The urge to slice and cut, to dominate.

Arenk looked at her. “Only a few men in this country hold that title. Women aren’t allowed to learn the arts, but rumors always get blown out of proportion.”

“Whoever it was, they’re calling her The Blade Dancer. Quick strikes with movements as smooth as water,” Laro said.

Raven smiled. “A legend in the making. I’m sorry I missed it.”

That couldn’t have been her. She was terrible at hand-to-hand combat in class, though she did score high.

No one complained. Most people knew about her sister and how desperate she was to find her, so they let it slide. She reached for the bottle and knocked the cap off the table.

As she bent down to pick it up, Raven noticed a ring of cards hanging from both of their belts. She had seen a similar set on Dhol at the stream. She needed a closer look at those cards.

The guys chatted about their week and how it went.

After finishing her drink, that familiar sensation started to creep up. Was Dhol right? Were humans weak when it came to the flesh?

The sun began to set, and they continued to drink and chat until the bottle was nearly empty. Then it hit her: turn a weakness into a strength.

“What’s so funny?” Arenk asked.

“How unpredictable we women can be,” she said, sidling up to Laro.

Her hand slid up from his glass-holding hand to his shoulder. He shivered slightly.

“I can vouch for that,” Laro said. “Did you just remember how good General Dhol is in bed and decide you want to be with him full time?”

They laughed.

“We didn’t go that far,” she said, straddling Laro’s lap. “But he is good at reading and strategy.”

“Why didn’t you? I hear he’s quite persuasive,” Arenk said.

“If I tell you, you’ll probably think I’m weak.” She looked at them both. “Never mind,” she said, getting up from his lap.

His hand pulled her back down. “Tell us.”

“I was tempted, but all I could think about was the two of you. It felt like I was betraying you, and I couldn’t do it,” she said, looking at them.

Laro slid his hand into her hair. “That doesn’t sound weak at all.” He kissed her.

Raven looked to her side, and Arenk was there, standing over them. He leaned down and kissed her.

Honesty and emotions could lay the perfect groundwork for deception. Infiltration and seduction were her best subjects, even though she hated using those skills.

She was so good, she never lied about her feelings for her target. It broke her heart when the target realized they’d been deceived.

“I thought we weren’t doing this again?” Laro asked.

“We’re not. I don’t know if I can trust either of you with my heart, but I think I can with my body. I’ve missed you both,” she said.

He pulled away and lifted her off his lap. “What’s a body without its heart? I understand why you feel this way, but I want all of you. I will earn your trust again.” He looked at Arenk. “I’m calling it a night.”

The door closed behind him. She hadn’t seen that coming.

“Are you going to turn me down too?” she asked, looking at Arenk.

“We’re not turning you down, and we don’t just want you for your body. We want to be worthy of your love and loyalty,” he said, stroking her cheek.