Awakened

death.”
    “That’s a bunch of hogwash!” Stevie Rae said. “You killed Jack as a sacrifice to Darkness ’cause it gave you control of Kalona’s soul. You know it. I know it. And Rephaim knows it. That’s why he was up there watching you from a distance. He wanted to be sure you didn’t do anything too terrible tonight.”
    I watched Stevie Rae stand up to Neferet and recognized the strength and the hopelessness I saw in my BFF, because I’d felt both things the times I’d stood up to Neferet, too—especially back when it was just me against her and an entire school full of vamps and fledglings had no clue that she was anything less than perfect.
    “He has utterly twisted her,” Neferet said, speaking to the regathering crowd. “They should both be destroyed at once.”
    My gut lurched and, with a certainty I felt only when I was being Goddess-led, I knew I had to do something.
    “Okay, that’s enough.” With Stark moving restlessly at my side and keeping his gaze trained on the birdguy, I moved closer to Stevie Rae. “You gotta know how bad this looks.”
    “Yeah, I do.”
    “And you really are Imprinted with him?”
    “Yeah, I am,” she said firmly.
    “Did he attack you or something?” I asked, trying to make some sense of it.
    “No, Z, the opposite. He saved my life. Twice.”
    “Of course he did. You’re in league with the creature and allied with Darkness!” Neferet turned to face the watching fledglings and vampyres.
    The green glow surrounding Stevie Rae intensified as did her voice. “Rephaim saved me from Darkness. He was why I survived accidentally invoking the white bull. And just because most of these folks can’t see what you’re doing, don’t ever forget that I can. I see the threads of Darkness that follow your command.”
    “You sound very familiar with that subject,” Neferet said.
    “ ’Course I am,” Stevie Rae said angrily. “Before Aphrodite’s sacrifice I was filled with Darkness. I’ll always recognize it; just like I’ll always choose Light over it.”
    “Really?” Neferet’s smile was smug. “And that’s what you’re doing when you choose this creature? Choosing Light ? Raven Mockers were created in anger and violence and hatred. They live for death and destruction. This one killed Anastasia Lankford. How can that be mistaken for Light and the Path of the Goddess?”
    “It was wrong.” Rephaim wasn’t speaking to Neferet. He was looking directly at Stevie Rae. “What I was before I knew you was wrong. Then you found me and pulled me from a dark place.” I held my breath as the Raven Mocker slowly, gently, touched Stevie Rae’s cheek, wiping a tear away. “You showed me kindness and for a little while I glimpsed happiness. That is enough for me. Release me, Stevie Rae, my Red One. Let them exact their vengeance upon me. Perhaps Nyx will take pity on my spirit and allow me to enter her realm where someday I will see you again.”
    Stevie Rae shook her head. “No. I can’t. I won’t. If I’m yours then you’re mine, too. I’m not gonna let you go without a fight.”
    “Does that mean you’ll fight your friends for him?” I shouted at her, feeling like everything was spinning out of control.
    Calmly, Stevie Rae looked at me. I saw the answer in her eyes before she spoke in a sad but firm voice. “If I have to, I will.” And then she said the one thing—the only thing—that finally made sense of the whole crazy mess, and it changed everything for me. “Zoey, you would have fought anyone to protect me when I was filled with Darkness, even when you didn’t know for sure if I’d ever be myself again. He’s already Changed, Z. He’s turned from Darkness. How can I do any less for him?”
    “That thing killed my mate!” Dragon bellowed.
    “For that, as well as for a multitude of other offenses, he must die,” Neferet said. “Stevie Rae, if you choose to stand with the creature, then you choose to stand against the House of Night, and you will deserve to perish with him.”
    “Okay, no. Hang on,” I said. “Sometimes things aren’t just black and white, and there’s more than one right answer. Dragon, I know this is terrible for you, but let’s all just take a breath and step back for a second. You can’t really be talking about killing Stevie Rae.”
    “If she stands with Darkness she deserves the same fate as the creature,” Neferet said.
    “Oh, please. You just admitted that you stood with Darkness, and Zoey