Free The Raven Series 2 by J.L. Weil

liar.”
    “And you’re a terrible friend.”
    “I deserve that. But it doesn’t change the fact that you do want me.”
    Taking a deep breath, I struggled with my temper. Anger was the only outlet to release the flare-up of hormones he enticed. One minute he was telling me to stay away, and the next he was kissing my brains to mush. “Why are you here? Or did you just come to torment me?”
    His blue eyes were bright as he stared at me. “You make it seem like I take sick pleasure in hurting you.”
    I raised a brow. “Don’t you?”
    He snorted. “Hardly. You’re not the only one who suffers. We just deal with it differently. I can admit that I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. You’re beautiful. But…your safety comes before my wants.”
    My mouth opened, but nothing came out. Hearing him admit that he wanted me took my breath away. Yes, I felt it, but hearing the words had an entirely different effect on my body. I swallowed. “What about what I want? Doesn’t that count for something?”
    He grinned. “I thought you didn’t want me.”
    I rolled my eyes. “If we’re going to keep things in the friend zone, you have to stop doing that.”
    His cool breath washed over my heated face. “What?” he replied, feigning ignorance.
    It wasn’t cute. “I don’t know. Whatever this is you keep doing. Flirting with me. Giving me those looks. Touching me.”
    “It’s a lot harder than it sounds,” he murmured in all seriousness.
    Eventually, something was going to have to give. We were either going to have to admit what was brewing between us or stop seeing each other, because I wasn’t positive how much of the yo-yoing I could handle. Looking at him, my heart toppled and I didn’t see how we could be only friends. The feelings I had for Zane were deepening by the day—the hour—by the minute.
    “You never told me why you came,” I said, changing the topic before my lips decided to go back for seconds…and thirds.
    He backed up a few steps, giving us both air to breathe. “Tomorrow your training begins. I wanted you to understand what will be expected of you and how we’re going to avoid merging our souls.”
    “Can’t wait,” I grumbled, walking to the double doors and stepping outside. The summer’s night air was what I needed to clear the last remnants of Zane from my head. I lifted my face, letting the silvery moonbeams wash over me. “What’s the plan, teach?”
    He stood beside me on the balcony, overlooking the gardens. “We’ll be around other reapers who are training and sharpening their skills. As long as we make sure you combat against them, we should be okay.”
    “But not you?” I asked, turning my head slightly toward him.
    He looked dangerous under the moonlight. “No. I will be there to instruct you, guide you, but using our abilities at the same time could expose the link between our souls.”
    And for reapers, it was all about the soul. It might have sounded like a piece of cake, but I learned that the easier something appeared, the more difficult it actually was. “Right. That would be disastrous. Why?”
    “In the eyes of all the sectors, you’re engaged to Zander. We must not do anything to entice doubt of your commitment to him.”
    I hadn’t even come to terms with it. Here was to hoping those acting skills I learned in sixth grade drama class would come in handy. “And you think we can do this?” His confidence would put my rising anxiety to rest.
    “I believe in you.”
    That made one of us. “Won’t people think it’s strange that I’m suddenly training?”
    “Not at all. It’s expected of you. You’re the next White Raven. It’s stranger that you haven’t been training since birth.” Zane’s eyes flitted to the shadows seeping among the gardens below. “Time is essential. Like most secrets, they become exposed. It is only a matter of time before the sectors learn of Rose’s death. Already there are whispers.”
    I was