That’s why she wished he’d let her stay and watch him change into a raven. She’d thought a lot about it, and she might try to touch him—to tame him. “After all,” she’d told him the day after the Goddess had forgiven Rephaim and gifted him with the form of a human boy during the hours between sunset and sunrise, “I tamed a beast once before. Maybe I can do it again!” She’d expected Rephaim to smile and laugh, like he usually did—he seemed so happy around her. But he hadn’t. He’d gotten all serious and taken her hands in his and said, “When I was a Raven Mocker I had some humanity within me. You have to remember I am different now. When I’m a boy, like now, I’m completely human. When I’m a raven, I’m nothing but a beast. I don’t know you. I don’t know me. I know only the sky and the need to ride the wind.”

That had scared her. And she’d told him so. She didn’t hide stuff from Rephaim—they were too close for that.

“But you always come back to me. Doesn’t that mean something of you is still inside the raven?”

He’d looked sad, but he’d told her the truth like they’d promised. “When I am a raven I am a beast. I don’t know love. I don’t know you. Please don’t make it into something it’s not.”

“But you come back to me!”

“Stevie Rae.” He’d cupped her face in his hands. “I think that’s just because of Nyx’s magick.”

“Like she put a GPS in you so you could find me?”

“GPS?”

“Modern magick that helps you find your way home.”

He’d grinned. “Yes! Nyx put a GPS inside me so I can find you.”

Stevie Rae kicked off her blanket and looked at Shaunee’s empty bed. She should try to stay awake and be sure Shaunee was okay. It would be terrible to lose her best friend, and even though Erin and Shaunee had been having problems, that didn’t change the fact that up until just a few weeks ago, they had been inseparable for the entire time they’d been at the House of Night. There was a big difference between fighting with your BFF and having your BFF die.

Stevie Rae’s mind automatically went back to the night Erin had coughed up her life’s blood and died. Zoey had been with her every second. It’d helped. Shaunee being there for Erin had to have helped her, too. And now Shaunee was doing the right thing—she was watching over her friend’s pyre until after dawn.

Stevie Rae rolled over and stared at the blackout curtain, trying to keep her eyes open—trying to fight the energy drain that happened naturally to red fledglings and vampyres when the sun was in the sky. It wasn’t impossible for her to stay conscious during the day. It was just hard. Really hard. Her eyelids fluttered. Maybe she’d rest for just a little while. She’d hear Shaunee come in and wake up again and check on her…

The door opened so quietly that it almost didn’t wake up Stevie Rae. She lay on her side, facing the window, struggling to come fully awake. Shaunee’s being so quiet, Stevie Rae told herself groggily. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk. Maybe she just wants to sleep. Stevie Rae decided that she’d roll over and open her eyes, but not say anything—just let Shaunee know she was there and awake (kinda) if she needed to talk. She started to turn over and suddenly there was a weird crackling sound just above her shoulder. She tried to sit up and the crackle changed to an even weirder hum as an electric shock, like static electricity on steroids, zapped through her, pressing her down on the bed.

Instantly awake and completely freaked out, Stevie Rae tried to sit up again, saying, “Shaunee, somethin’s wrong over here.”

Even though there was nothing above her, electricity shot through her again! Still on her side, Stevie Rae pressed herself into the bed, trying to stay away from whatever invisible danger was hovering above her. “Shaunee!” she yelled. “Help me!”

“She ain’t here. She’s still bawling at Erin’s pyre. Fucking hypocrite.”

Stevie Rae’s breaths came in little pants of panic as she recognized his voice. “Dallas, what are you doin’ in here?” Automatically, Stevie Rae began reaching out for the protection of her element, but Shaunee’s room was on the third floor of the dorm—too many feet above the earth for her element to help her without the aid of a cast circle and Zoey’s boosting power.

He stepped into her view, a dark silhouette against the black drapes. She could see that he was holding one of his hands up, palm open, toward her. That palm was glowing. With his other hand he reached out to grasp the thick cord that knotted the drapes in place. “Let’s just say I’m here to start my payback.”

Stevie Rae tried to get off the bed. An electric field crackled and zapped through her, making her cry out in pain and cringe back. “Dallas, this is crazy! Shaunee’s going to be here any second.”

“It’ll be a second too late for you. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure Shaunee gets what’s coming to her, also. First, it’s your turn.” His eyes were flat. His voice was filled with hatred. “I’ll kill her fast, with just one quick zap. But not you—you deserve to suffer. You cheated on me with a fucking freak of nature—now fry for it!”

Dallas tugged hard at the cord, untying the blackout drapes. Pulling his half of the curtain open, but being careful to keep himself covered, he stepped back.

Daylight flooded into the room through the open, uncovered window, directly onto Stevie Rae.

It was like she had stepped into the mouth of a furnace. The electrical field pinned her to the bed as the sunlight began burning her skin. Stevie Rae covered her face, writhing in agony, and she began to scream.

Then everything turned super crazy.

There was a terrible screeching, so loud that it penetrated through Stevie Rae’s agony.

“Ahhh! Get the fuck off me!” Dallas was yelling and staggering around the room.

The electric field that had kept her prisoner evaporated and Stevie Rae rolled off the bed. She pressed herself against the side of the bed, escaping into the cool shadow.

Dallas lurched past her, obviously trying to get to the door, but the huge raven’s attack was relentless. Completely shocked, Stevie Rae watched the bird draw Dallas’s blood, raking claws over his upraised arms as he beat the air with massive wings and shrieked in anger.

The door burst open and Shaunee ran into the room.

“Stevie Rae! What the—”

Dallas grabbed her, holding her before him, using her as a shield.

“No, Rephaim, don’t hurt Shaunee!”

The raven drew its claws in at the last second, just grazing the side of Shaunee’s face as the momentum of his attack had him hurtling past her and into the wall.

Dallas shoved Shaunee away from him and at the bird and then he ran, darting through the door and slamming it closed behind him.

Shaunee scrambled across the floor to Stevie Rae. “Ohmygod! Your skin! Oh, Stevie Rae, you’re burnt bad! Don’t move—don’t move. I’ll close the drapes and get help.”

Stevie Rae grabbed her hand. She was panting in pain, but she forced the words. “Let Rephaim out first. He’ll be scared.”

Shaunee didn’t have to look for the raven. He flew at them, skimming above them so close that Stevie Rae felt the air he stirred. He landed on the footboard of the bed. Perching there he peered down at Stevie Rae, cocking his head.

“Go on,” she said, trying to sound calm and normal. “I’m okay. Go on outside.” Stevie Rae lifted her hand, making a weak gesture toward the open window and ignoring the fact that her hand—her arm—and she was sure her face—were all scorched bloody. “Shaunee’ll take care of me now. I’ll see you at sunset.”

He cocked his head again and made a soft croaking sound.

Stevie Rae thought he was the most beautiful bird she’d ever seen.

“I love you, Rephaim,” she said. “Thank you for saving me.”

As if that had been what he’d been waiting for, the big raven spread his wings and soared out the open window.