Page 99 of In Darkness We Claim

I always knew this thing with Harper would be dangerous, but now I’m wondering if I should risk everything just to keep her. That thought consumes me as I run the laps as Xander instructed, though the burn in my lungs is enough to quieten them for a bit.

Instead, as I do during every training session, I focus on why I’m here, working my arse off the way I am. I repeat all of the goals I have in life—graduate as High Crow, gain a high-ranking Order position, then become the youngest ever Obsidian Council member. Each pound of my foot propels me closer to those goals.

“Radley,” Xander shouts as I’m finishing my last lap, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Into the ring with DeWitt.”

He points to where Bram is standing in the middle of the training ring we use, bouncing from one foot to the other with a maniacal grin on his face. Two Pledges stand beside the ring, panting heavily whilst holding their middles, after he took them both on at once.

This is where Bram is in his element, having spent more time in fights than most of the Crow Pledges combined, which is why Xander has him train others—though he does watch on, shouting pointers and criticism.

It’s not my first time sparring with my friend, and despite being exhausted from the laps I’ve just done, I know he won’t go easy on me. Not that I’d expect him to.

“Don’t worry, I won’t mess up your pretty face. Don’t want Harper coming after me,” he jokes as I climb into the ring and pull on the boxing gloves left in the corner.

“You won’t get close enough,” I fire back, though we both know that’s not true. I know my own strengths, but like any good Crow, not only am I aware of my weaknesses, I know everything about my opponent. He’s a better fighter than me, so I’ll have to find a tactical way to beat him, or at the very least, hold my own.

We touch gloves as Xander shouts for us to begin. I shift my weight, my back foot finding purchase on the dusty canvas, when suddenly, Bram’s fist slams into my gut. The impact steals the air from my lungs in a ragged gasp, a sharp, burning sensation blooming in my core. I ignore it as best I can, hopping out of the way as I aim for his head in retaliation.

I see him anticipate it, his body coiling just in time. As I stumble, a jarring impact lands against my ribs, and a ragged grunt escapes my lips, the sound sharp and loud in the sudden stillness of the room.

“Come on, Lawson. You’re moving slow as fuck. Is all the sex getting to you, old man?” Bram taunts, as he lands another blow to my chin.

I stumble backwards, but recover quickly, propelled forward by his teasing tone and the urge to silence his cocky attitude. A sigh of relief escapes me as my fist connects with his ribs, the dull thud a small victory. I relish in his groan, but it’s abruptly cut short. A blinding flash of pain rips through me as his blow lands on my kidney, followed by a stinging impact against my opposite ribs.

Fuck, I’m going to be bruised tomorrow, I think to myself, as Bram gives me that psychotic grin that suggests he’s enjoying this way more than he should.

We spar for much longer than I would like before Xander calls time on our fight. He doesn’t give us any feedback, just throws a disappointed glare my way before stalking out of the training room as I try to catch my breath.

I climb out of the ring, my body screaming at me with every step I take. Bram, however, like the psycho he is, remains in place, shouting for someone else to take my place. The crowd that had gathered to watch us fall silent, as nobody wants to face him when he’s in this mood, but the junior Pledges in particular know that taking him on is a good way to prove themselves.

As a nervous-looking first-year Pledge climbs into the ring, I grab my things and head back to my room. Each step makes my body feel heavier, and I want nothing more than to soak in the bath and rest my aching muscles.

I open my bedroom door and freeze, shocked to see Harper is sitting on my bed, wearing one of my T-shirts. Her school books are spread out around her, and she looks deep in thought, her pen resting against her lips. She looks up when she hears me enter, a bright smile spreading across her face that quickly falls as she rushes off the bed and over to me.

I close the door as she reaches me, resting her hand on my sore cheek. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Her thumb, smooth and warm, glides across my lower lip, sending a surprising shiver rippling down my spine. The soft scrape of skin on skin is almost imperceptible. When she withdraws her hand, I see a tiny, glistening bead of blood bloom on her fingertip.

My shoulders protest with a sharp ache as I shrug, the muscles burning. I draw her thumb into my mouth, the coppery tang of my own blood filling my senses as I suck it from her skin before saying, “Just training. Bram didn’t go easy on me in the ring.”

Anger flashes across her face as she narrows her eyes on me. “I will have words with him tomorrow,” she states fiercely, looking cute as hell when she’s trying to be threatening.

“I look forward to seeing that,” I tell her, which makes her smile. “Until then, I need to soak in the bath.”

She grabs hold of my hand and pulls me towards my ensuite, and I’m once again grateful that as High Crow, I have the only room with a bath and a walk-in shower. “Come on, I’ll run it for you.”

“Only if you join me,” I tell her with a wink.

She rolls her eyes at me, but we both know she’s not going to turn me down. For once, I’m not even referring to sex. I’m so fucking tired, I don’t have the energy for anything more than just holding her and soaking in the tub.

Even the feel of her silky skin against mine in the water isn’t enough to push away the exhaustion that seems to have seeped into my bones, and my eyelids start to droop as I hold her close. Her rhythmically stroking my arms that are wrapped around her slender waist only makes it worse.

Harper helps me from the bathtub, and uses a fluffy towel to dry us both off. I don’t bother to protest, I’m literally that tired. I just let her dry me as if I’m not capable of doing it myself, before she guides me over to the bed.

After clearing all of her books away, she holds the duvet up so I can slide under it, and I pull her in beside me. She’s barely snuggled into my side before the world goes black, and I let sleep pull me under.

The guttural scream tears through the quiet night, jolting me awake. My eyes snap open as chilling whimpers echo in the darkness. My heart hammers against my ribs, and I blink rapidly, trying to clear the haziness from my eyes enough for them to focus. A sliver of moonlight slices through a gap in the heavy curtain, and it’s just enough to make out shape outlines.

Another shout startles me, and the bed beside me shakes as Harper begins thrashing around. She’s rolled over to the far edge of the bed, so she’s too far away to hit me, but I can still feel her violently trembling.