An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 45: Grains In An Hourglass

WARREN HALE

The ride back to my house was quiet. Corvina was turned away from me, staring out the window, or perhaps she had fallen asleep—I couldn't tell. A song played on the radio, which I had turned down minutes ago in case she was sleeping. I didn't want to wake her up.

In the silence that encompassed me as I drove the car down the streets of London, I reflected back on tonight. The proposal had gone so much better than any of us had expected, and I was over the moon at the prospect of my best friend being engaged. It came with the bittersweet feeling of knowing that the woman I had always seen as a little sister, was all grown up now. She was someone's fiancee.

A smile bloomed on my lips as their smiling faces came to my mind. They deserved all the happiness in the world—a happiness they found when they were together. Jace and Ahvi were endgame, I had known it ever since we were kids. It was quite obvious that Jace considered Ahvi more than just a friend, more than just his best friend's sister. It took him long enough to finally realize it too, but it was all worth it in the end.

"Eman and Ahvi invited me for coffee," Corvina's voice broke through the silence, startling me. I glanced at her briefly as she shifted in her seat before turning my attention back to the road.

"Really? What did you say?" I asked. Em and Vi were trying their best to make Corvina feel like she belonged in our little family, and I couldn't be more grateful to the two of them.

"I told them I would love to but now, I am wondering if it was the wrong decision." I heard her sigh.

"Why?" I frowned slightly, turning left.

"I am not going to be in London for long. I will leave once I am sure Trent is no longer a danger to any of you. Is it worth it building friendships that might not last?" she questioned. My shoulders tensed. I had been avoiding thinking about what I would do when Corvina left, when she decided to go back to NYC. Hearing her confirm my fears made my stomach churn in the worst way possible, a lump lodging itself in my throat.

"About that, Raven. We haven't discussed what will happen once you go back," I forced the words out, past the lump. She didn't speak for a long moment, and I turned to find her staring at the ceiling of the car, head resting against her seat.

"Warren..." she trailed off. My grip tightened around the wheel at her tone.

"Don't say that we will part ways when you leave because I won't have it. I will absolutely not let you disappear on me again." My voice held a tinge of desperation and panic but I was past caring. She couldn't do this to me—not when it took me twelve fucking years to find her again.

"Pull up over there." She pointed down the street. I glanced at her in confusion but she didn't elaborate. Sighing, I did what I was told. I pulled the car into park and turned to look at her.

She twisted her body so it was facing me, wincing a little and my hand instinctively found her leg. "Be careful," I whispered, stopping her from moving. When she looked at me, there was so much sadness in her grey eyes, I felt it in my heart as my own.

She raised a hand, bringing it to my cheek and cupping it. Her thumb stroked it gently and my eyes fluttered closed.

"You're the best man I have ever met, Warren. You're the only one who has kept me alive all these years," she said, her voice soft but her touch softer. "But I don't know how much time I have left-"

"What?" My eyes flew open, a different sort of panic seizing me. Corvina merely smiled.

"Eman told me today that if I repented, I would be forgiven for all the sins I had been forced into for all these years. So, I want to repent, Warren. But before that, I want to take down Trent. He is a danger to the Encore clan, and I-I know I haven't known you and your friends for long but I can't let anything bad happen to any of you. You don't deserve it." She inhaled sharply, tears pooling in her eyes.