Page 74 of Black Onyx

I’m pulled away from my thoughts as Ryu nods beneath my hand.

“Maybe you guys can work on communicating better with each other so you know it's safe when you come out?” I suggest.

“Try,” he growls. “Reaper agrees.”

“Thank you, I want to see you more, but we need to know it’s safe.”

Ryu nods.

“What the fuck is going on right now?” Kill asks.

“Is he talking to you?” Rival exclaims.

“Yes, and I’m fairly sure he can communicate directly with Reaper, too,” I reply.

“They’re willing to work together so Ryu can come out more?” Storm asks, hope in his tone.

“Yes.”

“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day. Ever since what you said to him about it being so difficult, constantly suppressing a piece of who he is, it’s been playing on my mind, and I’ve been trying to think of a way to help.” Mayhem admits.

“It might be a long road, Reaper’s been ignoring him for a long time, and Ryu is hurt by that,” I say, and receive a huff Ryu in annoyance that I’ve just shared that with them, “oh hush you. You know they’re family. They want the best for you, and sharing real feelings is a part of that.”

“I still can’t get over how easily you're talking to him. Were you scared at all?” Loki asks, finally finding some other words than fucking hell.

“No, I probably should have been, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.”

Ryu growls at that, like the thought of causing me harm is absolutely abhorrent to him, and I pat his nose gently, silently letting him know that I know he will never harm me.

“Off subject, but we know for sure that the Headmaster set us up, so what do we do?” Mayhem asks.

“We have a conversation with him,” Killian grins.

“I think that’s a good idea, and why waste time? We’ll do it as soon as we get back.” Storm agrees easily.

“We’re not going to the Shadowlands?” Loki questions.

“No, I think we need to get to the bottom of this first and why the Headmaster wants Farren dead.” Storm replies.

“Plus, I’m even more doubtful that there was even a job in the first place,” Mayhem interjects.

“Good point. Alright, then, let's get going.” Loki says.

I turn back to Ryu, “Do you think you could let Reaper back out for me? I don’t think you’ll fit on a horse, and remaining stealthy wouldn’t be that easy with a dragon.”

He sends me a picture of him flying high in the clouds and then suddenly disappearing.

“Okay, that’s pretty fucking cool.”

“What is?”

“He can camouflage himself when he flies,” I explain, “we still need Reaper out. I promise that you can come out again soon and not just to fight.”

“I’ll second that,” Storm adds, “I promise that we will make sure that Reaper lets you out, so long as you promise not to go straight into fight mode and communicate properly with Reaper, so you know what’s going on and if you do need to come out fighting.”

Ryu takes a deep inhale, no doubt smelling, to see if Storm is telling the truth. Once satisfied, he nods, closes his eyes, and light envelops him.

Chapter Twenty-Five