Gage held his ground.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I’m never leaving the man I’m destined to be with for therest of my life.” He let the next part hit like a door shutting. “And Scar will be my husband in three days.”
Silence.
“You’re a user.” Adrian’s tone was darker. “Just like all the rest of them.”
Gage’s stomach twisted. He knew the change in a man’s voice the moment he was about to do something violent.
“Please don’t make me do this,” he said, trying one last time to keep this from turning into a fight. “I am a Raven, but I’m not evil, deadly, or inhuman.” He softened his voice. “I’m sorry if you think I led you on. I swear to you that wasn’t my intention, but—”
“No buts,” Adrian snapped.
“Please Adrian. Don’t do anything you’re going to regret,” Gage said firmly. “My fiancé will kill you if you attack me.”
That must’ve been the wrong thing to say because Adrian charged at him with an angry shout.
“Damn you!”
He tracked the beat of Adrian’s wet feet crossing the floor, heard the angle of his breath lower as if he were going to tackle him.
He waited until the last possible second before he jerked to the side and shot his knee up with trained accuracy.
He connected with the center of Adrian’s sternum, making him fold around the impact. Gage spun and swept Adrian’s legs from under him and let gravity do the rest.
Adrian got back up, swinging wild.
“Stop this, Adrian! Enough.”
Gage planted his feet, hooked an arm under Adrian’s, and turned his hips, using leverage instead of strength, and threw Adrian into what should’ve been open space.
He heard Adrian hit something that made a sharp, cracking sound.
Then a splash.
Gage froze, waiting for Adrian to break the surface, waiting for gasping, coughing, thrashing.
When he heard nothing, Gage dove in the direction Adrian fell in.
The pool swallowed him, and he combed through the water until he found skin, then a limb.
He gripped Adrian under the arms and hauled him up, forcing Adrian’s chin above the surface.
Adrian’s head lolled around on his shoulder.
Oh my God.
He swam them to the edge, muscles burning, and got Adrian’s body against the wall.
With one hand clutching Adrian’s armpit, he climbed out first, before he heaved Adrian up and onto the tile.
“Adrian,” Gage said, slapping his cheek. “Adrian, wake up.”
No response.
He dragged his fingers over Adrian’s face and scalp, finding a seeping gash in his wet hair at the back of his head.
He gulped hard.
