Mae POV
Kieran takes the lead, guiding Raven and her mates out of the living room. I let out a sigh of relief. That was stressful, and I am glad to be out of the spotlight. I let my shoulders slump a little and try to relax. I am about to sit on the couch when Kieran turns to me.
"Are you coming?" He asks.
"Do you need me to?" I ask.
"It will be a good way for you to learn about the pack security," Kieran says. "Plus, I like it when you are around."
Kieran's blue eyes widen and he looks like a lost puppy. How can I say no?
I wipe my sweaty hands down my skirt and nod. Kieran holds his hand out for me, but before I can take it. Raven loops her arm in mine. I give Kieran a pleading look, but he only shrugs his shoulders. Raven tightens her arm in mine, and it is clear she is not going to let me go.
Kieran leads us through the pack house. He is mostly speaking to Leo, explaining the security measures that are in place and the changes that he has made since the rogue attack. Raven nods her head every now and then, but I can tell she isn't really paying attention.
To be honest, I am not paying attention either. My mind keeps wandering to Tish, and I wonder if she is okay. My fingers are itching to check her location on my phone again. I want to know if she has moved or not. But I don't dare check my phone in the presence of the Queen.
So, instead, pretend to be interested in what Kieran has to say.
Raven yawns loudly, and I can't help but glance at her out of the corner of my eyes. She gives me a little wink and stifles a giggle. But the men don't find her actions as humorous.
Leo turns to Raven and growls at her, but she waves his anger away with her hand.
"Raven," he groans. "We need to know what the recusants want with your brother. You could be next."
"They will always be after me," Raven rolls her eyes. "We can't possibly rid the world of all of them. We just need to be more careful."
"What do you think we are doing here?" Oliver pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. "We are making sure the North Pack is being more careful."
"I am sure my brother knows what he is doing," Raven dismisses the concerns of her mates.
"A high-profile prisoner was taken," Leo growls. "He obviously isn't being as careful as he should be."
This catches my attention. "Who were you keeping prisoner?" I ask Kieran.
Kieran refuses to meet my gaze and ignores my question, but Oliver doesn't. He pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and looks at a list of names.
"Some recusant named Jameson," Oliver informs me.
"You were keeping Jameson prisoner?" I gasp in shock.
Kieran turns to me in anger. "What did you expect? He assaulted you."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask.
"He was here on a need-to-know basis," Kieran says coldly.
"And I didn't need to know," I whisper.
"It was better if you didn't know," Kieran responds.
"What if he is the one that took Tish?" I blurt out.
Raven steps between Kieran and me. "Who is Tish?" She demands to know.
"No one important," Kieran responds, and I am hurt. He knows how much she means to me.
Raven turns to me and looks me up and down. "Who is Tish?"
I glance at Kieran. I am not sure how to answer the question.
"Don't look at him for help," Raven snaps at me.
I look down at my feet, trying to avoid Raven's gaze. "She was my roommate."
Raven spins around and growls at Kieran. "What did you do?"
"It's not what you think," Kieran tries to defend himself. "She was already a familiar."
That information doesn't seem to settle Raven's anger. In fact, her beautiful face turns beat red as she looks between the two of us.
"She was a familiar to who?" Raven demands to know.
Kieran turns his neck to the side awkwardly and refuses to look Raven in the eyes. "To a rogue that she worked for."
Raven throws her hands up in the air. "For fuck's sake, Kieran. What were you thinking? She could have been working for them all along. Did you ever think about that?"
"Mae wouldn't come without her," Kieran spits. "I was not leaving my second chance mate behind."
"Second chance mate?" I question. "What does that mean?"
"It means he had another mate before you," Raven spits out, and my heart breaks.
Kieran meets my eyes, but he doesn't say anything. I can see the guilt in his eyes.
"You brought a human onto pack lands knowing she was working with rogues," Raven snaps at Kieran. "How could you be so stupid?"
"Tish wasn't working with the rogues," I jump to defend her. "I would have known if she was."
"Did you know she was a familiar?" Raven turns her anger on me.
I shake my head, and Raven scoffs loudly. "Then you know nothing."
Kieran growls at his sister. "Don't take that tone with my mate."
"I will take whatever tone I see fit," Raven yells at Kieran. "You are not only putting yourself in danger but me as well. How could you be so stupid?"
"Tish wouldn't work with the rogues," I say as tears drip down my cheeks. "I know her better than that."
"No offense," Raven begins. "But you are just a human that doesn't understand our world. You wouldn't know if your friend was being used against the throne."
"Wow," I say aloud. "Just a human."
I spin around on the heels and try to storm away, but Kieran grabs me by the arm. "You haven't been dismissed," he whispers. "Raven might be my sister, but she is still the Queen."
"And I am just a human who doesn't understand how things work," I hiss at him.
Kieran wipes his hand down his face. "She didn't mean it like that," he defends his sister.
"Of course not," I say through gritted teeth.
Raven snaps her fingers, gaining our attention. "You are dismissed," she says to me coldly. "I need to speak to my brother in private."
I go to leave, but Leo follows me. "I know my way around," I say.
"Leo is going to be your armed guard," Raven informs me. "We can't have you running off."
"Whatever," I respond before stomping away. I can hear Leo's footsteps following closely behind me. I want to run, but it is no use; he could catch me easily. I am stuck with an armed guard.