The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 58

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 58

Genevieve kissed me back just as fiercely. Just as desperately. It was a kiss unlike any other, and I was lost in her. Lost until I heard a familiar voice.

"Ahem."

Genevieve twitched in shock as Riva's telepathic voice rang out in her mind, and I pulled back to glare at the Werecat Queen.

"Kinda busy at the moment, so you can just go get very lost!"

Riva swished her feathery tail, her eyes sparkling suspiciously.

"I'm a Werecat. It's impossible for me to get lost."

I sighed. "I know, I know. So, what now?"

Genevieve looked at Riva wonderingly. "Rahvin, who is this?"

"Riva. The annoying Queen of Werecats. Also known as Terezah."

Riva's ears flattened, and the sparkle in her eyes went to ice, making me hastily take a step back.

"Probably shouldn't provoke her." Genevieve said mildly.

"Yeah, probably shouldn't. But it's fun. And she deserves it."

"You, little kitten, have begun to restore Balance. I will hunt the fallen Werecat and finish it, but first I need to scour your memories, to learn all I can about it."

Genevieve grinned at me being called a little kitten, but I couldn't defend myself, I was too busy considering what it might mean to have Riva scouring my memories.

"How about I just tell you everything?"

"No. I must know everything, all details, about the creature you faced."

I opened my mouth to argue, but then felt Riva in my mind. It was similar to when she spoke in my mind, but somehow far more intrusive. I dropped to my knees as I felt her sifting through my thoughts, emotions, and memories.

It was an invasion so deep, so stunning, I could barely breathe. Then I felt her begin to look at my connections, my emotions, to Genevieve. And Kiera. It was much too much, I felt my control snap, and I launched myself at her with a ripping snarl.

There was a silver flash, like a terrible bolt of lightning striking down, and then my airborne flight was halted in a jolt by a hand on my throat. I gasped for air as the steel grip crushed my throat, kicking my feet futility in the air, trying vainly to pull free.

Riva had transformed into her human form, her one, outstretched hand holding me off the ground by my throat. Her eyes were twin pits of blazing silver, power crackling and snapping from them, filling the air with hair-raising sounds. That same silver power crackled angrily throughout her long, silver hair. Despite my terror and rage, a distant part of my mind realized she could kill me any moment, but hadn't. Which meant she probably wasn't going to kill me.

"Little kitten. Do you dare try to walk two Paths at once?"

I gurgled at her. She lowered me, letting my feet touch the ground, and relaxed her grip enough I could pull in some air. I used that air to wheeze angrily at her.

"What are you even talking about?!"

Riva looked over at Genevieve, then back to me. "You love her. You have loved her for years. And yet, you allowed yourself to fall in love with the Healer traveler. Do you understand the consequences of such twin Paths?"

I dig my fingers into her hand, trying to pull her fingers off my throat. It was like trying to pull apart steel bands.

"Look, if we're just going to talk, can you please release your hugely unnecessary death grip on my throat? I kinda need to breath and stuff."

Riva stared at me. I tried staring back, then remembered her seeing my thoughts and emotions about Kiera and Genevieve, and felt my cheeks heat up. No girl, not even a Werecat, should see that deep inside a boy!

"I will go to Kiera. And Luna. It may take years to correct the imbalance you've created, but they will be safe where I'll take them. You, now. What to do with you." Riva said, sounding both a bit worried, and irritated at the same time.

"Don't do anything with, or to me! Don't you think you've done enough?! I just want to live free!"

Riva didn't seem to register my words, looking over at Genevieve with a question in her eyes.

"And you. A kitten both wiser, and more foolish than many I've met, what will you do with this wandering Werecat?"

Genevieve swallowed, her expression a mix of wonder and nervousness, and something else I couldn't understand. I could relate, talking with Riva was certainly not a calming, normal event.

"I don't really know."

"I will return in one human year. We will reconsider the Path you both face, now. Use that year to learn, to understand, the forces that are coming. Use that year to plan how the two of you will face it." Riva said, letting go of my throat and walking away.

"Hey! You can't just...just do and say all that and then walk away!" I yelled after her.

Riva continued walking towards a nearby alley. I took one step after her, but froze as a silent, piercing silver lightning bolt flashed across the sky overhead.

"Ok, you actually can just do that and walk away." I mumbled, backing away hastily.

The moment the shadows in the alley fully surrounded her, she was gone. There was no crack of thunder, no shockwave on the air, she simply disappeared.

"Wow." Genevieve breathed.

I gently massaged my bruised throat. "Yeah. Wow, she's such a pain."

Genevieve reached out and took my hand in hers. I blinked at the contact, looking at her questioningly. She laughed at my expression, tugging me towards an alley.

"C''mon. Let's get out of here. I don't really like this place."

I agreed. I didn't like Possum Hollow either. But somehow, walking through it with Genevieve at my side, it didn't seem bad at all.

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The end of The Wraith 2!