Growls rent the air. If they hadn’t been deep enough to quake the earth, to rattle bones, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Don’t make me ask again.
Body trembling, teeth chattering, I rose to my feet. Heat rippled off the demon.
“River, wait!” a voice called, a voice I’d recognize anywhere, a voice I wasn’t sure how to feel about anymore.
The jelmadag hissed, the ridge of fur along its spine standing on end. Permission to extinguish your boyfriend? I don’t appreciate the way he’s looking at me—or you, for that matter.
Lifting my head, I caught the outline of him. Tall, disheveled, black shirt, black boots, dark hair. Ryder. He’s always like that.
Fine. Get on.
Are you snarling at me? I coughed. My lungs were burning. You’re bleeding.
I’ve bled worse.
You’re hungry.
I can find a horse.
When’s the last time you flew? Do you even remember how?
Angel of Water, do not push me. I will take you where you need to go.
An arm’s length away, Ryder halted. “Baby, we can get out of here right now, away from all this. Please.”
Flashes of crisp blue uniforms descended into the pit. Eyes. Help. It was over.
“No pulse,” I heard one of them say.
Gunnar sprinted to Freyja, dropping to his knees, and held her sobbing in his arms. Olivia leaned over a railing, head bowed, shirt torn, but alive and breathing.
The shadows had fled.
A tingle of relief and pure exhaustion washed over me.
“Ryder.” I swallowed, and it was like gulping down sandpaper. “I need you to make me a promise now.”
His throat bobbed.
“Show me you’re that guy, the one you say is still there deep down inside. The one who gave me my necklace, the one who kissed me in the spirit realm, the one whose heart still beats.” Make this worth it, I wanted to say. Don’t give me this title for nothing. Murderer. “Surrender to the Eyes. Clean up this mess. Remember why you said you came here. For me.”
Gnashing his teeth together, he nodded.
I wanted him to hold me so badly. But I just turned and gripped the flowing tendrils of the jelmadag and hoisted myself onto his rippling back.
Are you ready?
A furnace of heat blazed around me, warping the air, warping him—emotion welled in Ryder’s eyes, streaks of green cutting through the black.
Would mine suck up the darkness like that, too? After all, I’d done worse than kidnap.
I’d killed.
Yes.
On a steaming exhale, we launched into the air, a flash of matted fur and leathered wings.
I stole a long glance at the pit, and when the Eyes flocked around Ryder, their spears aimed at his heart, he slowly put his hands behind his head.
