Ebony Rising (The Raven Queen's Harem 2)

“You infected him, Morgan. With the Darkness.”

Chapter 21

Dylan

Earlier That Night…

Gifted with intuition and instinct, I know the minute dinner is over that Morgan has plans. She leaves the dining room quickly, declining dessert. We stare at one another for a moment and excuse ourselves. We all have work to do and mine, first and foremost, is to make sure Morgan is safe.

I’m aware she’s longing to leave the house. I’m also aware of Anita’s visit earlier in the day. I’m not surprised when she exits her room after dinner, dressed to go out.

I am stunned by her beauty.

Her legs.

Her hair.

The curves of her hips and the swaying fringe of her dress as she walks down the stairs.

I watch as Damien speaks to her. I watch Sam watch her. The second she touches the doorknob, I’m gone, shifted into my original form. Sleek feathers. Sharp beak. Wide wings.

I alight from the window in my room.

*

I’m the only guardian that has retained the ability to shift from raven to man. As the sentinel, it’s my job to keep a close eye. I trust Morgan. I have faith in her, but the Darkness is powerful.

It will take a champion to resist the Morrigan’s tests. They’ll come in a variety of forms. Money. Success. Beauty. The Darkness will take any slip to work her evil and since Morgan is not fully reinforced with the help of a mate, a breach is likely.

I follow the cab through the city streets, landing on a water tower when it stops. Morgan exits the car and meets with her friend. There’s a man with them—I sense a familiarity with Anita. I also feel Clinton nearby.

From my perch above the city, I wait.

*

The Darkness rose while Morgan was inside the building. Now, she’s on the street below, in the shadows of the alley. Her lust and desire are amplified. I expect Clinton to follow her outside—he’d triggered something—but it isn’t him. It’s the blond.

I’m about to shift when the door opens. Clinton performs his duty and sends Morgan home, following soon after. The other man? The one she kissed? Something has transpired. I feel it.

Pushing off the ledge I fly through the city, following a different cab to a different place. There, the man is helped inside by his sister. I can smell the death on his skin already.

It’s familiar.

It’s ancient.

It’s the Darkness.

Chapter 22

Morgan

The guardians are already in the library when I arrive. Clinton shuts the door behind me and I make uneasy eye contact with each man before finding my seat.

“What happened?” I ask, feeling the dull ache of concern in my chest.

“The Darkness jumped the barrier.”

“I felt her,” I confess. “Something happened with Clinton’s music and it’s like I just slipped. I could hear her speaking to me. It was like she was there. Xavier and I got caught up in it. She disappeared when Clinton arrived.”