Page 44 of Shaped by Darkness (Beasts of Extinction #3)

“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been difficult. I’ve watched so many people die at Draven’s hands.

Watched them turn into monsters that have no idea who they are, with no hope of saving them.

” His head snaps up and even with his eyes on Serena, I see the fire that blazes in them, the pain that it’s caused him.

I force myself to keep looking, to see the damage I had a hand in.

“Saving Lyle means I failed those people, and I think that was what scared me the most. I didn’t want to know there was something that could have been done, a way we could have saved them.

” His shoulders sag, and the fight seems to leave him as he sighs with his whole body.

“But it’s not about me, or any of us. This is about Lyle, and if Ryker says there's a way we can save him. We owe it to him to try.”

Serena is across the room so fast that I almost miss the tears that shine in her eyes as she flings herself into his arms. He catches her with ease, and I’m not sure what it is, but something changes.

He seems complete in a way I’ve never seen him before.

It makes sense, given the fact that I’d only ever encountered him after Serena disappeared.

I don’t have a mate, and I never will, but I can imagine it must be hard to lose someone who feels like a piece of you.

It’s no wonder he left to find her; I can’t say I’m not grateful he did.

Clapping rings out behind me, loud and rapid. I turn to find Theo jumping around with a huge smile on her face.

“Aww, you guys are all so cute!” Theo squeals, and I think she’s genuinely excited.

Serena pulls back, looking up at Garrett with a smile, and he reaches out to wipe away a stray tear that rolls down her cheek.

How I wish I could do the same, to so easily allow myself to be what she needs, for it to be up to me.

“How did you find us?” she asks, her brows pulling down before she looks to the twins and Blair as well.

Blair answers, tapping his chest. “The bond.”

Serena barks a laugh, and the sound is almost sarcastic, before she shakes her head.

“Don’t rely on that thing too much. The night of the attack, I followed it and ended up in the wrong damn village.

” Her eyes find mine across the room, and she’s right, but I can’t help but be grateful it worked out that way.

I know she’s remembering that night. I’m sure we all are.

So much happened and is still happening because of that.

My mind flashes back to the feeling of her in my arms on the horse as I tried to take her to safety. The way it felt like my heart was breaking as she screamed and cried for those she loved, as my father had his fun with them.

I never want to see her like that again.

The memory of her breaking down is quickly followed by the way she called the shadows, her sadness and fear replaced by anger and determination as she went after my father.

I’m not sure what she would have or could have even done had she gotten her hands on him, but it was enough that my father didn’t dare risk it.

I’ve never seen him flee; he’s always been the most powerful. He made sure of it by any means necessary. But that night he ran from a girl who had no training and no control.

That’s why I agreed to train her. That’s why I believe she can save her other lover, because she did the impossible, and she doesn’t even know it. She has no idea just how strong she must be.

“Okay, now that everyone’s here, I think we can get started,” Theo says, pulling me from my thoughts. She walks into the dining room and jumps up on the table to sit facing everyone, and I have to bite back the urge to tell her to get down.

Everything on that table is replaceable.

“With what exactly?” Serena demands, her patience running thin.

“With the past. I thought you and Ryker would like to know more about your childhood.” What? There’s no way I just heard her correctly. “And your parents.”

The room is quiet for a moment as I attempt to process her words.

Parents, as in plural.

Not just my father, but my mother?

“Did you know my mother?” I’m across the room in just a few steps, the words pouring out of my mouth before I can stop them. I shouldn’t let myself get my hopes up, not after all this time, but I can’t help it. I’ve always wanted to know who she was, what she was like, even just her name would do.

Draven always referred to her as ‘a useless whore’.

“Of course I do. What kind of dryad would I be if I were unaware of our lady Aranyani?” Theo asks, looking at me like I’m crazy, and right now I kind of feel like I am.

There’s no way she just said who I think she did. There has to be a mistake, or maybe they just share a name?

My mind is running wild, the possibilities swirling like crazy as I stagger back a step.

A hand rests on my biceps, and I almost pull away before I feel that it’s her. Turning around, I find Serena beside me, concern filling her eyes as she looks up at me.

“Who’s Aranyani?” she asks, her voice soft and unsure.

“The goddess of the forest,” Theo answers as if that should be obvious, and I guess for her, it is. “Ryker is a god.”