Read Online House of Ravens by Keary Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

so
obvious and apparent that he and Lillian have some kind of budding
feelings for one another.
    In the end, it’s very difficult for me, but
I tell him that I think he should go to the Institute. I have to
let the two of them take a chance at finding happiness
together.
    It’s also not a shock when Trinity chooses
to live at the Institute. She may have volunteered to be my escort
to Court and my trial, but she still seems to hold some kind of
resentment toward me. I don’t think I’ll ever know the reason
why.
    I stand next to Cameron as he watches her
pack up her things and walk out the door. He’s only wearing a pair
of boxers, the scars on his chest exposed. The one that reads
TRAITOR where Jasmine carved him up and the raven Cyrus branded
into his skin. I don’t think he even notices he’s hardly
clothed.
    “ This isn’t fun,” he
admits. He never once looks away from Trinity. “But I’ve spent too
long hoping she’d see me.”
    “ You’re amazing, Cameron,”
I say as I lay my head on his shoulder, sliding my hand into his.
“Someday, you’re going to find someone who’s going to be just as
fun and warm as you are, and it’s all going to be amazing. And
worth the wait.”
    “ Thanks, Liv,” he says as
he lays his head on top of mine and watches the door swing
closed.
    I have to admit, I’m kind of bummed when
Samuel decides to move out, as well. It sort of feels like he’s
abandoning me. But I’m pretty sure he’s far too interested in
Francesca; he’s being a total Kask. I have to remind myself that
they’re still individuals, and I have to not be a hypocrite. No
matter what House the members choose to reside in, they’re all
important and still part of my family.
    As I stand out of the way five days later,
watching as everyone moves their stuff in or out of the Estate, I
track the bodies.
    At the Institute, we have Lillian in charge,
with Nial at her side, and Samuel, Trinity, Francesca, Rowan,
Holland, May, and Obasi under her care. Here at the Estate, we have
Ian and Rath, of course, as well as Anna, Markov, Cameron,
Christian, Danny, Lexington, Smith, and Leigh. This leaves us with
three empty bedrooms here at the Estate, and one empty one at the
Institute. Amazing, with how many members we have, that we still
have room to grow, now that we have another House.
    I think I have most of their names down now.
Leigh is the curvy beauty, brought to us through the King’s
recruiting game. Smith is the severe man with the sharp features
and the bleached blond hair. Holland could almost be Elle’s twin.
They’re both tiny and blonde and quiet. She was the young woman who
was volunteered by the House of Allaway. Rowan is the young,
twelve-year-old boy who was forced to Resurrect by Sebastian.
    I have a lot of work to do to get to know
them all. But it will happen with time.
    “ How are you feeling about
all of this?” I ask as Ian walks up behind me, sliding his hands to
my hips as if there was no other place for them to be.
    “ I have to admit, I kind of
hoped Markov would choose to move to the Institute,” he says into
my hair as he presses a kiss to my head.
    I laugh at this. “He’ll surprise you. He’s
unexpectedly…protective.”
    Ian nods. “I can see that. But really, it’s
not been as bad as I anticipated it to be. I think after spending
time with good ol’ Cyrus, they all don’t seem nearly as bad as they
used to.”
    I can agree. Compared to Cyrus, we’re all
just tame puppies.
    “ I saw you talking to Danny
earlier,” I say. He technically has a room here at the Estate now,
but I’ve yet to see him spend much of any time in it. He still
spends most of his time outdoors with the aid of sun goggles. He
once agreed to join my House on the condition that I don’t ask
where he disappears to during the day.
    There are so many secrets our kind
keeps.
    “ Yeah,” Ian says as he lets
me go and stands at my side, his hands tucked into his pockets. “He
doesn’t say much,