Page 28

“I come here for you!” I snap, and he rears back as if I slapped him.

“What?” he whispers, and I can hear the disbelief in his voice, his eyes wide as he looks at me as if he's never seen me before.

“You saved me. You found a girl in the woods, and instead of being the villain you're so convinced you are, you helped me.

You brought me back to your house and fed me, gave up your bed to let me sleep.

Do you know how easy it would have been for you to hand me over to your father on a silver platter?

The guys weren't even in this realm yet.

I told you I was beastless and defenseless, and you chose to protect me.

" For every step I take toward him, he matches me, stepping backward, away from me, but he can only run so far.

Eventually, he will have to face me.

Tears fill my eyes, both in frustration and sadness, as I look at him, willing him to see what I do.

He's not the villain, just someone who was misguided by a man he should have been able to trust.

He huffs a laugh, shaking his head.

“I had no idea who you were, or that he was looking for you.”

“Don't pretend that would have made a difference, it hasn't so far!"

His eyes narrow, and I know I've hit a nerve.

Good.

“I’ve killed people, Serena,” he hisses through clenched teeth, taking a step toward me as if he might intimidate me.

He should know better by now.

“So have I!” My voice rings out around the clearing, reminding me of the late hour. Thankfully, we're far from the village and anyone else; it's just us out here.

Ryker’s quiet for a minute, and I think I caught him off guard.

“That’s not the same, and you know it.”

He tries to move away again, and this time, I let his cloak drop before darting around him to stand in his way.

“I’m not doing this with you, Serena. I’m not good for you.

I’m not good for anyone. You have mates who are good, who love you.

You don’t need me.” His voice is low by the end, hardly more than a whisper and nothing like the man I've come to know.

I hate this. Hate that he thinks he doesn't deserve love or anything in life all because of his father.

“You don’t get to decide that,” I say, shoving him back toward the center of the clearing. I won't let him run away from this, from me. “You can’t just deem yourself unlovable based on choices that weren’t your own and expect me to follow suit.”

“Stop it!” he shouts, looking down at me, and I glare back at him. “You don’t know what I’ve done, how many people I’ve hurt.” His chest heaves, and his eyes are wild. “You don’t know the monster.”

I hold his gaze, not backing down.

“I don’t see a monster.”

He’s so much taller than me that I need to use my shadows, but they jump to my aid as I press up on my tiptoes and seal my lips to his.

Ryker freezes, and I expect him to push me away. I know this is a long shot, but I can’t help the way I feel, regardless of his past. I know he’s good. I feel it the same way I feel a pull to him that I can't explain.

He doesn't move, not to kiss me back or to move away, and I try to swallow my bruised ego as I pull back, but he doesn't let me go far. His arm bands around my waist, pulling me to him so that we’re chest to chest. Our breathing mixes as he looks down at me as if he's never seen me before.

His eyes trace over my face with such intensity that I have to fight the urge to look away as a blush colors my cheeks.

It was just a kiss.

His eyes dart back down to my lips as I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. It's a nasty habit, but I can't help it, not when he's looking at me like that.

"I..."

Fuck, I don't know what I was going to say, but I don't need to worry about it as he leans in, once again pressing our lips together, gently, almost tentatively.

Oh gods, his reaction suddenly makes a lot more sense as he presses harder, his free hand cupping the back of my head, his fingers digging into my hair.

He's never kissed anyone before.

No, few people dare to get close enough to me, let alone be crazy enough to kiss me.

I can't stop the laughter that bubbles up inside of me and feel the smile on his lips that are still pressed to mine. He didn't sound upset, but I have no doubt he thinks I'm crazy.

I know that, though; I've known that one fact all my life, but if that means I get to kiss Ryker, be his first kiss… well, I don't think I ever wanted to be sane, anyway. That sounds boring.

I've felt drawn to him from the moment he stumbled across me in the woods. I thought it was insane. I couldn't be drawn to a stranger, but here we are. There's no denying it now, and judging by the way he's kissing me right now, I'd bet I'm not the only one who feels it.

I wrap my arms around his neck, no longer worried I'll scare him away. No, he can say whatever he wants, but I know the truth.

It's almost as if I can feel his emotions; his need to protect me pulses like it has a life of its own and the excitement he feels with me in his arms, but almost as strong as both of those, is the loneliness that claws at him, trying to remind him that he'll be alone again soon.

It breaks my heart and steals the air from my lungs, knowing how deeply he feels that, how much he believes he's not worthy of anything but being a tool for Draven.

The need to kill him, to free Ryker and the whole realm consumes me. I can taste it, just as sweet as the taste of Ryker.

My shadows move on their own accord, pressing me higher so that Ryker no longer has to lean down to meet my lips.

That's exactly what we've been striving for, me using my shadows as an extension of myself. It happens, but usually only when I'm in danger. Not to help me better kiss a boy—well, not a boy, I guess. Not if the hard length pressed to my thigh is anything to go by.

I need to be closer, to feel more of him and for him to feel more of me.

With the new angle, it’s easy enough to wrap my legs around his waist. Ryker doesn't hesitate to drop his hand to my ass, holding me to him.

I don't even attempt to bite back my moan as his fingernails dig into the soft material of my pants, biting into the soft flesh of my ass.

I press against him, and it's his turn to moan, though it's really more of a growl.

Either way, it's hot as fuck and leaves me feeling feral.

Unable to resist, I run my hand through the hair at the base of his neck. Fuck, it's even softer than I thought it would be.

He groans as he tries to pull me impossibly closer, his fingers pressing harder into my skin to the point he might leave a mark. I hate to admit it, but the thought only excites me more.

I need him.

We push and pull and kiss and explore each other until my lips feel raw, and while I can't see them, I imagine they are red and puffy in the best way. I don't want to pull away, afraid he might never let me get this close again.

I couldn't bear it if that were the case. I know he doesn't believe me, but there's no way I could forget about him now. I'll fight for him the same way I am, Lyle, the same way I would for any of my guys, because a life without them isn't something I can imagine.

He pulls away first, but I feel his hesitation, and I wonder if it's for the same reason. I need him to know.

“I lo–”

He presses a hand to my mouth, silencing me for all of two seconds before I try to bite him, and he drops his hand to my waist, my legs still wrapped around his. Shaking his head, he huffs a laugh, a smile pulling his lips up.

“You shouldn’t. I’m not good for you, Serena,” he says, letting his forehead drop against mine. His eyes fall closed, and he holds me close.

Draven did a number on him, and it breaks my heart to know he thinks so poorly of himself when I’ve seen the good in him time and time again.

But I won't let Draven have control of him.

I'll save Lyle and Ryker because I can’t live without either of them; I don’t want to.

“Too late.”