JUNE

I am nervous after everything that had occurred while we were in London. I've been attempting to think of a way to tell Clay that I'd like to visit New York City during the next summer vacation. It was originally a concept Brie and I had before our lives were turned upside down. I think I won't make the request for a while; I'll first aim to ace all of my tests.

I am so used to running wild and never asking for permission for anything, what is wrong with me and why am I so afraid to ask?

"Hey!" Startled, I look up to see Clay standing at the island in the kitchen. He laughs as he looks at the table to see all my schoolwork laid out everywhere. I just roll my eyes and let out a little laugh.

"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you. How's studying going?"

"Okay so far, I'm just ready to get this year over and done with." I respond.

"How about you?" I ask, knowing this guy doesn't study, everything comes to him so naturally.

"Meh." He laughs.

I feel like my heart is about to stop every time he smiles. He gives me such anxiety that I feel helpless around him, yet I wouldn't have it any other way. He walks over and hands me a mug filled with delicious coffee as he leans down to kiss me. I smile at his generous thought and decide to take a break.

"Want to jump in the pool with me?" I question him, knowing no one is home.

"Thought you would never ask." He laughs as he strips off his shirt. He pulls me close and takes my tank top off and unbuttons my shorts, leaving me there in my bra and panties. He smiles as he opens the door.

He grabs my waist and throws me into the cool water, jumping in after me. He wraps his arms around my waist and slowly kisses me.

"I can't wait to marry you," He smiles.

"Oh yeah? Why is that?" I question with curiosity.

He smirks and says, "Well for starters, Brie and Logan will have to move out so we can have the whole house to ourselves,"

I start to laugh, "This house is big enough for all of us, we all could raise our own families here. Plus I like having them here with us."

"Fine, they can stay, but marrying you just means you're stuck with me forever."

"I like the sounds of that," I kiss him and let the universe consume us.

****MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE****

"I warned you not to return until you had them!" The woman in black shouts.

"We're sorry, my queen. We've tried, but we'll keep trying, I promise." After telling her, the two male vampires turn to leave.

"Interrogate the Lycans, they will tell you where she is," She yells at them.

"We have tried, but they are too frightened to speak. They fear her. She has destroyed everything."

"You all will fear me, if she isn't brought to me soon," She turns around.

The woman in black doesn't stop trying to find a means to get the man she claims to love back.

*BACK IN THE TOWN OF CLADWELL*

The last week of class was largely devoted to final exams. As I leave my final exam, I see Clay standing near the stair railing. He never seems to pay attention, which is funny to watch as all the girls swoon over him. He smiles and looks up, the angel wings on his chest barely peeking out from the collar of his shirt.

"Hey beautiful," He says as he leans down to kiss me, "Ready to go home?"

He takes my hand and motions for me to follow him to his car as I nod. Given that Brie and Logan have already left, we take our time. I get butterflies as we stroll hand in hand through the courtyard. I still have a hard time getting used to the glances of all the girls who want him and are envious of me. Before moving toward the lake, we make a pit stop at the coffee shop to have iced coffees. We exit Clay's car once he has parked it. He puts his arm around my shoulder as we converse while seated on the car's hood and discuss how the wedding will go. This is where I first realised who he really was; that night, I should have been scared away, but my curiosity overrode my fear and drew me closer to him. I glance out across the lake. We decided to go after some time had passed and we had finished our coffee. I go upstairs and put things away when I get home. When I go back downstairs, Logan and Brie are in the kitchen, but Clay isn't there.

"Where's Clay?"

"I had him run to the store to grab some stuff for dinner." Brie responds.

"Oh okay." I take a seat at the kitchen table with the two.

"So have you talked to Clay about wanting to visit New York?" Logan asks.

He can tell that I'm shocked. I'm furious as I turn to face Brie even though I shouldn't be surprised that she would inform him.

"You told him?" I ask with frustration.

"Well yeah, he is my boyfriend and Clay's best friend, he could help us convince your soon to be husband to go." She tells me.

I get up and walk over to the kitchen island because Logan in particular, might have tripped up in front of Clay at any moment. I'm so furious right now.

"Raven, calm down, Clay won't know anything about our plans unless you tell him, but this was our plan before you and he became a thing, so I think we should still go." Brie says trying to calm me down.

"I don't mean to get in the middle of your plans but Clay in no way shape or form will agree with this, because of everything we all have been through especially you Raven." Logan puts his opinion out there in the open.

"Shut up!" Brie and I both shout at him.

"I'm just saying. Look what happened when you guys jetted off to London." He says again, putting his hands up like we just pointed a gun at him.

"God just stop, Frigidus." I say and Logan freezes in place.

"Raven unfreeze my boyfriend." Brie says laughing.

I'm shocked that the guys still don't know that I always do this because I've performed it in front of them numerous times. I guess they just didn't pay attention. I then hear him,

I spoke too soon

"What the fuck?" Clay shouts.

"Jeez Clay calm down." Brie laughs.

"Calm down? Unfreeze him, what the hell is wrong with you?" He looks at Logan who is still frozen in place, then looks at me. "How many times have you done this?" He demands.

"To you guys? Never, this is a first, to people around, plenty. After everything we have been through, I find it very therapeutic. But you never seem to notice. To you, you think I only use magic when danger is around." I look at him, holding back my laughter, I find it funny but he thinks it's not.

"Unfreeze him now!" He barks.

"Fine, Regelo," I say waving my hand in front of Logan, "Happy." I raise my brow and walk away, heading upstairs. Logan unfreezes and Brie is still laughing as I walk up the stairs.

As I enter the bedroom I can feel Clay right behind me.

"What is wrong with you?" He shouts.

"Clay seriously, it's harmless and I'm just having some fun. Since Sergeant Clay has been on my ass about all this magic, I never get to have to enjoy any of it." I stand firm and roll my eyes.

God, he can be such an asshole sometimes.

He walks towards me and pulls me close and kisses the top of my head

"I'm sorry." He looks into my eyes.

"Fine, but you need to stop telling me what to do. I'm not some doll that you have to protect. I can do things on my own."

"Okay, I'm sorry," He says softly and kisses my forehead. This is my moment, I take the chance to explain New York.

"There's something I wanted to talk to you about?" I tell him.

He sits at the edge of the bed and pulls me onto his lap and holds me tight. I kiss his cheek and he smiles.

"Brie and I had plans to visit New York this summer before you and I became a thing. I still want to go but I want you to come too. Logan is coming also." I finally tell him.

The evident expression on his face prompts me to get up and move away from him. I can tell you it's not going to end nicely. He's angry, and I watch as his eyes grow darker and the veins in them become more visible. However, I always made a promise to myself that I would never allow anyone to tell me what I could or could not do. I was letting him know that I didn't need his permission and that I wanted him to join us out of respect. But based on the way things are going, I'm sure he's about to freak out.