Never More (3 page)

Raven was reacting to Amanda the way Robin had reacted around Michaela, and still did for that matter.

Could that mean what he hoped,
prayed
, it meant? Had Raven found his truebond? And if so, to what lengths would he have to go to in order to keep her safe?

Without a word the cop turned to her computer, the sound of tapping keys loud and clear. While she was distracted, Raven pulled out a small black feather and blew it out of his hands so quickly not even the mortal’s cameras would be able to detect it.

They’d decided to concentrate on the women first. Ruby and Amanda were human, but because of Ruby’s ties to Oberon and Robin, she was considered the most vulnerable. While Snod was a traitor to the Dark Queen, any chance to nab Michaela would not go unnoticed. She’d send her men to the women’s cell first, then deal with Snod.

“They’re not in the system.” The cop stared at them both without expression. “You sure we have them here?”

Robin smiled seductively at the woman. “Alas, I fear so. Are you quite certain they aren’t in your system?”

She seemed unmoved by Robin’s beauty and charm. “Yup.”

Raven shrugged, secretly terrified. There were gremlins in the Black Court who could erase any trace of the women from the humans’ systems. “They could have gotten the station wrong when they made their phone call.”

Robin sighed. “Knowing my Michaela, that is entirely possible.” He tapped his black nail on his chin. “Could you perhaps see if they are being held somewhere else?”

“We’d really appreciate it,” Raven added.

The cop grunted and began tapping on her keyboard.

Robin gestured for Raven to step away from the window for a moment. “They’re here. I sense her.”

“I know.” The black feather landed in Raven’s hand, soothing at least one of his fears. “We can get to them now.”

Robin nodded, glancing at the female cop before going invisible.

“Follow the feather,” Raven whispered before he, too, disappeared in a swirl of blackness.

Raven broke apart, each tiny bird drawn to the feather as it floated through the police station. Locks and bars meant nothing to him as he maneuvered through the jail, the whisper of the feather pulling him ever onward.

When the feather landed in front of one particular beige door, Raven pulled himself together.

His father quickly appeared at his side, and with a simple hand gesture disabled the cameras focused on their hallway. “We don’t have much time.”

“I have all I need right here.” Raven picked up the feather and pressed it against the lock, working it until he heard a satisfying click. He opened the door with a flourish. “Your maiden awaits, good sir.”

Robin’s eyes sparkled as Michaela came barreling out of the room, throwing herself into Robin’s arms. “You came!”

“Of course I did,” Robin crooned. “Don’t I always when you are involved?”

Michaela giggled. “Evil man.” She wriggled until she was tucked comfortably under Robin’s arm. “Come on out, guys. We’re busting out of this joint.”

Ruby stepped out, muttering something about being
so
dead, followed by Moira. The redhead glanced around and seemed disappointed to find only Robin and Raven there.

“Can I come too?”

Raven stared into the room, mesmerized by the wicked gleam in Amanda’s sapphire-blue eyes. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a loose side braid, little wisps dancing free here and there to give her a softer look. She wore a sleeveless turtleneck dress in midnight blue that hit her mid-thigh and a pair of knee-high black boots. “Amanda. I hear you’ve been naughty.”

Her brows rose. “Do I know you?” Her gaze took him in from top to bottom. “Because I think I’d remember you.”

Well. That hurt. “We met briefly at the Dunne farm right before you left for your party.” And he’d wanted to fling her over his shoulder and carry her off into the night, hide her away were no other eyes would see her. But instead he’d followed his father to Shane’s workshop, where Robin’s small group of friends were having their own gathering.

Shane’s workshop smelled like cigars and fine whiskey, and Raven’s pockets were several hundred dollars lighter, but he’d never had so much fun playing poker in his life. It hadn’t been interrupted until Robin announced that the women were in trouble.

Leo had remained behind reluctantly, informing Aileen and Sean what was going on. Duncan and Jaden were forced to head to the police station in their car.

Raven and Robin were not bound by the same rules. They’d immediately flown to the jail, arriving within seconds of each other.

Amanda sniffed dismissively. “Oh, right. Goth boy.”

Raven’s eyes narrowed. Goth boy? That’s all she thought of him? He gave her his best, most wicked grin, and cupped her chin in his hand. “I’m not the one sitting in a jail cell, mademoiselle.
Vous es un petite rebelle, non?
”

Amanda shivered under his touch. Someone liked it when he spoke in French. He’d remember that.

“Flirt later, ditch cops now.” Ruby grabbed her friend by the arm and began frog-marching her toward the door.

Amanda’s gaze was glued to Raven. “But he speaks
French
.”

Ruby just marched faster. “Bye, icky jail cell.”

“You are no fun anymore,” Amanda pouted.

“How do we do this?” Raven whispered toward Robin. Amanda wasn’t aware that there were fae among them, and unlike a Sidhe, Raven couldn’t cloud her mind.

“Leave that to me,” Michaela purred. She held out her hand. “Amanda?”

“Hmm?” Amanda turned back toward Michaela.

“Hold my hand?”

Amanda sighed and reached for Michaela. “I swear, you were so strong in…the…cell…” Amanda slumped to the floor.

The rage that filled Raven was unexpected. If anyone other than Michaela had done that, he’d…

He’d…

What in the fuck was wrong with him? This was
Michaela
. She’d rather pull her own arm off than hurt someone, so why were his claws out?

“What?” Ruby rushed to Amanda’s side before Raven could move. “How did you do that?”

Michaela shrugged. “I’m a nurse. I know how to put someone to sleep and not hurt them.” Michaela shot Raven a knowing look. He must have done more than freeze for her to look at him that way. “But we don’t have much time left. I have the feeling something bigger than a ticket is coming.”

Robin glared at the cameras before shooting Raven a look he had no trouble interpreting:
Hands off Michaela
. “I’m certain they will have police in here any second now.” A lie, of course, to keep the women calm. Both Robin and Raven could sense what lay beyond the walls of the police station, and damn if Raven would allow anything to harm Amanda. “Wait here, and I shall return with Snod.” He was gone in a flash, and back almost as quickly.

Snod looked roughed up, but smiled when he saw Michaela. “Hello, lady.”

“Hello, Snod.” Michaela hugged the huge, ugly man. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”

“We need to go.” Raven closed his eyes, searching for a source of free-flowing air. If he could pinpoint another door that led outside, he could— “There.” He picked up Amanda and slung her over his shoulder. Her sweet scent surrounded him, almost causing him to stumble. He’d never scented anything quite so wonderful before. He wanted to just stand there, hold her and breathe. “Let’s go.”

He couldn’t allow the women to get hurt. Moira wasn’t on her land, so her leprechaun powers were limited. Ruby was human, as was Amanda. And while Michaela was scary strong, she was new to her Tuatha Dé powers and could just as easily hurt herself as help.

No. It was up to Raven and Robin to get them out safely.

Moira tugged on his sleeve before they’d gotten two steps. “Duncan says he’ll pave the way for us to leave out the front door, but he’ll need Robin to take out the cameras again.”

Robin bowed. “Consider it done.”

“I forgot you could speak to your mates.” Raven shifted Amanda’s weight and followed Moira. “They couldn’t have been far behind us.”

Moira grimaced. “And they’re right angry with me too.”

Seemed like it wasn’t just Michaela who would be sporting a red butt before the night was through.

Robin was first through the door, waving his hand like a king greeting his subjects. The frying circuitry fizzled and popped, the camera links dying as the Hob strode nonchalantly toward the front door of the station. “Good evening, Duncan.”

“Good evening, Robin.” Duncan, his tone strained and his gaze unfocused, shivered as Moira put her arm around his waist. “You are in so much trouble,
amoureaux
.”

“I know. Now let’s get out of here, hmm?” She slowly backed up, Duncan keeping the few cops in the room under his spell until they were all out the door.

“I love the Sidhe,” Raven sighed.

“Let’s go, birdbrain.” Jaden Blackthorn had the door of a huge SUV open, waiting for passengers.

“We’ll meet you there.” Robin and Michaela disappeared with a wink and a smile.

“Show-offs,” Jaden grunted. He quickly helped Moira get Duncan into the car. “Why is he so tired?” The concern in Jaden’s voice, the way his hand lingered in Duncan’s, showed how much the smart-mouthed vampire loved his bondmate.

“I don’t know,” Moira, his other mate, replied. “Holding three humans shouldn’t have done this to him.”

Raven sniffed. Ah, there they were. He’d sensed them but hadn’t smelled them until now. “Take Amanda.”

“Why?” But Jaden didn’t argue. He sniffed as well, his eyes going wide as he picked up on what Raven already knew: there were redcaps nearby. He took the blonde woman in his arms and carried her gently to the car, placing her in the backseat with Duncan and Moira.

Raven kept his gaze glued to the dark spot across the street. If they thought they could hide from the Raven Lord, they were sadly mistaken. “I spy with my little eye something that begins with R.”

Jaden pushed Ruby into the passenger seat. “I’ve got them. Take care of yourself, birdbrain.”

“Oh, I will. And them too.” Raven cracked his knuckles. “Feathers are about to fly.”

Chapter Three

Amanda yawned and stretched. Man, she’d needed that little nap. She’d been far more stressed than she’d realized. She sighed happily, lulled by the gentle sway of the vehicle…

Wait.

When did she get into a vehicle? Were they hauling her ass off to real jail? Because she
so
wasn’t ready to be Big Bertha’s bottom bitch.

Amanda sat up, terrified she’d find herself staring at chicken wire and cuffs. Instead, she saw Jaden Blackthorn driving sedately down a country road as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Seated next to him was Ruby, who was staring glumly out the passenger window. Duncan and Moira were next to Amanda, cuddling together. Duncan seemed pale and weary, but he held on to Moira like she was his favorite blankie in the world.

“What happened?” She wanted to rub her eyes but didn’t want to ruin her mascara. The raccoon look was so not her. “How did we get out of jail?”

Jaden and Duncan exchanged a quick glance in the rearview mirror. “The charges were dropped,” Duncan eventually said.

Uh-huh. If that was the way they wanted to play it, that was fine with her. Duncan had probably thrown some money at some people. The dude was uber-rich, after all, and wouldn’t want his spouse to languish in prison for the rest of her life.

Or at least the rest of the night.

Amanda yawned. “Who were the guys who opened the door? They sure as hell weren’t cops.”

“That was Robin and Raven.” Jaden’s tone was cautious, but she couldn’t catch a glimpse of his face. He was keeping his eyes on the road, so the only thing she could see in the rearview mirror was his forehead.

“You know. Mr. Ooh-La-La.” Ruby shot her a knowing look. Like Amanda could ever hide from Ruby when she was interested in someone. And Amanda was, surprisingly, interested. A goth who spoke French and had the whole bad-boy vibe going was definitely outside her normal dating pool, but maybe it was time Amanda dipped her toes into the tide. The tame sameness of her exes proved even the deep end was too shallow for her. Maybe it was time to ride a wave or two.

“What about Snod?”

“Robin took care of him.” Moira patted Amanda’s hand. “Don’t worry, everything is fine.” She turned back to her husband with a huge yawn. “When do Oberon and Cassie arrive?” Moira’s voice was as sleepy as Amanda felt.

“Same time as Liam, my sweet. In a few days.” Duncan kissed the top of Moira’s head.

Oberon and Robin “Puck” Goodfellow. Amanda was having the time of her life with this crazy family. No wonder Ruby adored them. Amanda doubted she was ever bored living with them. “Are they cousins?”

“More like brothers from a different mother.” Jaden pulled into the driveway of the Dunne farmhouse, where Ruby and Amanda were staying. Jaden, Moira and Duncan had their own home a few miles away, closer to Omaha, as did Leo and Ruby. “But they’ve been close for years.”

“Probably bonded over their names.” Amanda grinned. “I mean, who names their kid Oberon, right?” She leaned forward, putting her hand on the console between the two front seats. “Come on. Admit it. He got his ass kicked in school, right?”

Silence.

“Does he get called Obi-Wan a lot?”

Nothing.

“Jeez, this is a tough audience.” She sat back, startled to see Duncan staring at her with wide eyes in a pale face. “What?”

He shook his head and stared out the window as Moira began to hum a funeral march.

“What? Is he a scary mob guy or something?” Amanda laughed…then realized no one else was. “Are you serious?”

“Oberon is…very powerful,” Duncan said cautiously. “I wouldn’t shorten his name without an invitation.”

“One which no one has received ever. Not even Cassie, his bo—er, bride, shortens his name.” Jaden pulled to a stop outside the farmhouse. “Look, he’s my boss’s boss, and one scary-ass dude you don’t want to mess with.”

“Plus, he’s family.” Ruby twisted in her seat so she could see Amanda as Duncan and Moira began untangling themselves in preparation for getting out of the car. “Cassie helped save Shane’s life. She’s a healer of sorts.” Ruby bit her lip, and Amanda knew she was trying to hide something from her. Ruby would never be a great poker player. Everything she thought was all over her face. “Please, Mandy? For me? Be nice.”

As if Amanda would do anything to seriously embarrass Ruby. “Would I do anything to embarrass you?”

Ruby’s eyes narrowed in irritation. “Jail.”

“It was worth it.”

“Devil dress.”

“It got you Leo, didn’t it?”

“Fine,” Ruby huffed. “Needle-nose pencil dick.”

“Hey, now.” Amanda shook her finger at Ruby. “He earned that.” And besides, it was her fault that Ruby had gone out with the teeny-weeny-pricked asshole in the first place. Amanda was the one who’d double-dog dared Ruby to go out with Bobby in the eleventh grade, though she’d long since apologized. Ruby’s crush on the guy had sent her into hiding, and Amanda had only been trying to help her. Unfortunately, Bobby had done the unforgiveable. He’d bragged all over school that Ruby was a lousy fuck, humiliating Amanda’s best friend.

In retaliation, she’d double-dog dared Ruby to put up some posters she’d designed all over school.

That double-dog dare led to the Pencil Dick Poster Incident that had gotten Ruby two weeks’ suspension and a stag trip to the prom. That, too, had been worth it. Amanda had ditched her date and spent most of the night dancing with her BFF. Ruby had eventually forgiven her, and Amanda had done her best to use the power of the double-dog dare only for good.

And Leo was very good for Ruby. Her friend glowed whenever Leo’s name was mentioned, and when Leo was in the room? Ho-boy. They could power a small town with the loving energy they generated.

Now if only Amanda could find a guy who lit her up inside like Leo did for Ruby, she’d be one happy woman. It would be even better if that man was somehow related to Leo. She secretly wished that she still lived close to Ruby and could see her whenever she wanted. Phone calls and Skype were okay, but just calling her out of the blue for a shopping trip and a latte just wasn’t possible anymore. Amanda missed that, more than she’d thought she would.

“Hey.” Ruby poked Amanda in the forehead. “Where did you go?”

Amanda smiled, knowing it looked weak and sad. “Just…I miss you, yeah?”

“Aw.” Ruby gave her an awkward, one-armed hug over the seat, almost strangling her. “Me too.”

“Think Mrs. Dunne would be willing to adopt me?”

Ruby laughed, the tone evil. “I have a better idea.”

“Oh?” Amanda wiggled free, wondering what the hell Ruby was up to. “And that would be…?”

“I double-dog dare you to ask Raven out on a date.”

Amanda blinked. Since when did Ruby dare her? It was always the other way around. “Ruby…”

Ruby sighed. “He has the prettiest eyes, doesn’t he? So blue. And he’s related to Robin, which makes him family.” Ruby shivered. “If I wasn’t so in love with my husband, I’d seriously take a ride on that bad boy.”

Amanda gasped, trying not to laugh. “You naughty thing, you.”

“Totally.” Ruby wagged her brows. “So. You double-dog dared me to snatch Leo. Now
I’m
double-dog daring
you
.” She leaned forward, her grin smug.

“You know I’m not really into goth guys.” And Raven had goth written all over him, from the dark hair with a single, vibrant red streak right above his eyes to his black clothing and even blacker fingernails. Even his name was goth. Who named their kid Raven, anyway?

“But none of the accountants and Vikings were working for you. Why not take a walk on the dark edge of midnight? See if Raven is everything you’ve been missing. Who knows? He could be your…” Ruby’s gaze turned misty. “Your everything.”

Damn it, but Ruby wasn’t just right. She was echoing everything Amanda had been thinking about. None of the men she’d dated had made an impact at all. “Tell me this before you send me to swim with Mr. Sharky. Is he a good guy?”

Ruby nodded, her expression turning serious. “Yup. One of the best. He may look all goth and emo and shit, but he’s actually a good person who’s had a hell of a life up until now. He’s come out of it stronger for it too. I trust him, and so does Leo.”

“So he’s got the BFF stamp of approval, huh?” That actually raised Raven in her estimation a hell of a lot more than the French did.

The blue eyes didn’t hurt, either.

Maybe she should accept Ruby’s dare. She was only here for two weeks, then the wedding would take place and Amanda would be on her way back to D.C. and her boring, Ruby-less life.

When she thought about it that way, there was only one answer she could give. “I accept.”

“Yes!” Ruby’s fist-pump almost clocked Amanda on the jaw. “Leo owes me twenty bucks!”

Amanda laughed and followed Ruby into the house, trying to hide the nervous flutters in her stomach. It was only two weeks, right?

Raven waited until the car pulled away before ducking into the shadows provided by the police station. He pondered summoning his flock, but his ravens would be at a disadvantage at night. Their intelligence could make up for their lack of nighttime vision, but he wouldn’t risk them when he didn’t really have to.

It was only three redcaps, after all. Nothing he hadn’t faced before. It would be almost too easy to take them down.

Raven smiled as he allowed his claws to grow, becoming the talons of his namesake. When the redcaps moved, so did he, the dark swirl of feathers hiding his flight.

Raven followed the car the redcaps piled into, right up until he’d confirmed that it was, indeed, heading for the Dunne farm. He grinned, eager for the battle to come. While chasing Oberon he’d barely been able to wet his claws, and by the time he found the High King…the High King had sort of found himself.

Raven swooped, his sylph heritage allowing him to flow through the crack in the window. The overwhelming stench of overripe mushrooms filled his senses. If he’d been in his man form, he would have gagged.

Instead, Raven did what sylphs do best. He sucked all the air out of the car, blocking the cracks and crevices of the vehicle so that no air could fill the vacuum.

The redcaps began gasping, turning red in the face. Their hands went to their throats as they struggled for breath, desperately undoing buttons and zips as the last of the air was sucked out of the car. The car began to slowly crumple in on itself, the pressure of the air outside forcing it to buckle with a metallic screech.

The driver lost control as the steering wheel tried to impale him. The doors became lethal combinations of metal and glass, striking the redcaps with deadly precision. Two of the redcaps were impaled immediately, the doors of the rear of the vehicle collapsing quickly until the car appeared to have a wasp waist.

The redcap in the front passenger seat began desperately trying to squeeze through the glassless window, straining Raven’s hold. He allowed the redcap to depart, slamming air back into the car like a freight train.

The driver gasped his last as the force of the returning air broke every single bone in his body.

The redcap on the ground watched as the car lumbered to a halt on the side of the road, the tic-tic-tic of the cooling engine the only sound for miles.

Raven slipped out of the deathtrap he’d devised, flowing together in a flutter of wings until he stood over the redcap. “Hello, Boneass.”

“Bone
arse
,” the redcap grumbled. He slowly picked himself off the ground, shaking as he faced Raven. “Lord MacSweeney.”

Raven’s brows rose. “Ah, I see you didn’t get the memo.” He grinned, allowing the flash of Goodfellow green to show in his gaze. “At my father’s request, I’ve changed my last name.”

The redcap blanched at the mention of the Hob, but surprisingly he stood his ground. “You betrayed our queen.” The redcap clenched his fists, but Raven could scent the sweat that began to pour off of him. “You need to die.”

“Not today, Boneass.” Raven swept his arms wide. “Think you can take me?”

Probably for the first time in his life the redcap did something smart. He stood still.

“No?” Raven sighed, lowering his arms. “I’m almost disappointed.”

The redcap growled. “We aren’t the only ones she sent.”

Raven chuckled softly. “I know that. You’re the cannon fodder. The real attack will come from someone whose brain cells don’t squeak when they rub together.”

Bonearse took a step back. “We don’t take traitors lightly.”

Raven took a step forward. “And I’m not as nice as my father.” Before the redcap could react, Raven struck. His talons sank into the soft belly of the redcap, pumping him full of the black ooze all of the Hob’s children held inside them.

The redcap screamed, falling to the ground in unspeakable agony.

Raven crouched next to him. “You should have stayed in the car.” He stroked the redcap’s hair back from his face as his body twisted and writhed. “You would have died more quickly.”

Raven smiled sweetly as the redcap sputtered. Black-tinted blood foamed over the redcap’s lips, tinting them charcoal. “I can make this stop.” He crooned nonsense sounds, the chirruping sounds of his ravens coming easily to his lips. “Do you want it to stop, Boneass?”

The redcap nodded, not even wincing at the way Raven mangled his name. “Pl-please.”

“Aw.” Raven focused on the poison, slowing its course through the redcap’s body. Unless he willed it, the redcap would still die, but it would be a gentler death than the one he’d originally planned. Maybe he was getting soft, but if the redcap gave him what he wanted he’d let him die quickly. “Now, tell me who else she sent.”

The redcap gulped. “If I do…”

“You’re dead anyway, Boney. But you could die sweet, or you can die hard. Your choice.”

The redcap pondered long enough that Raven was ready to send the poison boiling through his system once more. Before he could, however, the redcap caved, and the name sent a shiver down Raven’s spine. While Raven had never gotten along with his half brother, the two had been coldly polite to one another the few times they’d met.

Sayyid Bapep was half Hob, half Djinn, and so feared in the Black Court his name was heard in whispers and only spoken when no shadows were present. Only Raven had as dark a reputation as Sayyid, and Sayyid’s was less than his only because Raven had taken on assignments no other dark fae would touch.