“What’s wrong with our friendship?” he asks with a crooked smile as he continues to wipe his palms, his throbbing erection glaring me in the eye as I attempt to ignore it.
“Well,” I bite my lower lip hard, trying to find something to say that doesn’t sound ridiculous. “Is our friendship similar to what you have with Darrio and Daxdyn?”
Again, he simply smiles at me as he makes slow work of tucking his junk back into his boxers. I let my eyes drift to the shining ceiling, feigning shyness suddenly.
“I don’t recall a particular instance where Dax watched me beat off, if that’s what you mean.”
“Har har. You’re real fucking witty.” My arms cross over my chest, and I force myself not to give one last longing look at his bulge before he zips up his dark jeans.
There’s a predatory sway in his steps as he begins to cross the room, closing the minimal distance that’s between he and I.
His palms splay above my head, caging me in as he looks down at me. Warm breath kisses my lips as he studies me. “Stop worrying about our friendship, beautiful. Our friendship is fine. Great. Bestfuckingfriends.” There’s shining humor in his hooded eyes but I can’t find it in me to smile. My breasts push against his smooth chest with every heavy breath I take. A war is breaking out within my soul and mind.
If I leaned in less than half an inch, his soft lips would be on mine.
My tongue rolls across my lips and he watches that movement closely.
“Okay.” I nod continuously, attempting to convince myself as well as him. “I’ll stop worrying.” It hurts when I swallow dryly. “Thanks for being my friend, Ryder.” The words are spoken pointedly. A message hidden within them.
I asked him to be my friend. We continue to push and pull at our boundaries but I really, truly do need a friend. I need someone I can count on in this insane realm, in my insane life.
And Ryder needs me more than he needs to get laid—I think.
His head dips just minimally, his lips almost skimming mine.
“You’re welcome,” he says on a gravelly whisper.
My eyes flutter closed from the spark of contact that’s tingling through my lips.
But then he’s gone, storming back across the room to pull on his boots without another word.
Chapter Seven
Shuddering Annoyance
A slouching tan backpack is slung over Ryder’s shoulder as he opens the iron gate with a terrible screech. The sun burns across the lush green grass as my boots grind into the earth. It’s early. The warm colors of dawn are just beginning to bloom across the sky. We need to give ourselves as much time as possible before the heavens bleed red.
I’m not too worried about it now. Ryder can just teleport us, or I could always fly us if things get bad.
But it’s still a worry in my mind that things could go bad again.
We begin walking, our backs to the sunlight, our boots carrying us closer and closer to the forest up ahead. A heavy streak of blood leads our way. I note a small, mangled and half-eaten human ear as I step past it and my thoughts wander to the man who was banished the day before.
“The nix gain strength and power with every life they take.” Ryder’s attention tears from the bloody mess as if he’s pushing it from his mind. “I think we should work on your magic this morning.” Ryder pulls back a thin branch for me and I duck my head under his arm as I walk deeper into the woods.
I’m faintly aware of the hum of power within me. I always feel it swirling through my veins but it’s just there in the back of my mind now. An afterthought.
“I think Darrio and Dax are the priority right now.” My gaze shifts over the distance as if I could pick them out among the endless tree bark.
A laugh filled with condescending confidence skims across Ryder’s lips. “They are. We can do both. You need to know what your powers are, Kara.” He pauses as if he expects me to agree. I don’t. I continue my trek into the thick forest. “I think you’re afraid to know. Aside from your wings, you haven’t really asked about your powers.”
“Because I’m a little more worried about our friends.” My voice is even, meticulous.
“Look, I get it. It’s terrifying not knowing who you really are. Living your whole life as one thing only to find out you’re something entirely different.”
With that, I do turn on him. Maybe we’ve spent too much time together. I give the prince of Juvar my fullest attention as I spin on him with controlled anger.
“Really? You woke up one day knowing you’d either save the world or destroy it? That responsibility fell on you as well?” His wide blue eyes soften. His hand raises as if to touch me, but I back away from him. “Do not pretend to know what I’m feeling, Ryder.”
