“I remember when you tossed Kier aside,” I taunted. “He joined me while I was traveling through the Moroi realm shortly after that. The things we got up to . . .”
I jerked my head to the side a second before the whip cracked next to my ear.
“Ever worry that Kier or Samara are going to wake up one morning and regret letting you slither into their bed?” I grinned as Draven snarled and took a step towards me, only to whirl around as Ryker’s dagger plunged into his ribs. He smashed the handle of his whip against the lycan’s head, but Ryker just laughed as he yanked the blade out and danced away.
“Stop!” Rynn screamed and tackled Ryker. The two of them rolled across the ground.
For a split second, Draven’s sole attention was on them. I seized the opening, and he froze as my dagger pressed against his throat. “Stay the fuck away from, Rynn,” I breathed into his ear, “because I’ve never liked you either, prince.”
Rynn wrenched the dagger away from Ryker and ended up on top of him, something I was fairly certain she was only able to do because he’d been more concerned about accidently stabbing her while they tussled. Her mismatched eyes fell on the dagger against Draven’s throat and then met mine. “Let him go,” she demanded.
“He leaves. You come with us,” I said calmly. “That’s the only way this ends with him still breathing, but you are coming with us.”
“Don’t,” Draven rasped. “He can’t kill me. It’ll mean war.”
“Will it?” I laughed and pressed the blade harder against his skin until blood dripped down his neck. “You’re not welcome in the Velesian realm, and yet here you are, trying to kidnap a member of the Alpha pack. Seems to me you’re the aggressor. Do you really think Samara will go to war over you?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
I smiled in victory at Rynn, whose shoulders slumped. As stubborn as she was, Rynn would always sacrifice herself to protect her friends.
“Fine.” She shoved off Ryker, stomping on his stomach before stepping away.
He glared at her before jumping to his feet and stepping to her side. Rynn bared her teeth but didn’t move away. Instead, she crossed her arms and gave me a pointed look before sliding her gaze to the dagger. I smirked but pulled the blade away, making sure to leave a fairly deep cut.
Half a second later, my head snapped to the side and I staggered back, laughing even as I saw stars and swiped at the blood leaking from the corner of my mouth, courtesy of Draven’s fist.
“No hard feelings then?” I called after him as he rigidly walked over to Rynn.
Ryker moved to stand between them, but Rynn shoved him aside.
“Back off,” she snapped. “You’ve won. I’m going with you. Go wait over there.” She pointed next to me.
He just gave her a bored look and remained rooted in place. Something passed between them before Rynn muttered under her breath and grabbed Draven’s arm, pulling him closer to the water. Ryker stared after them, rubbing that same spot on his chest until he caught me staring and then promptly dropped his hand.
Annoyance flickered through me. He was hiding something. No, not just hiding. He was lying. Ryker had never lied to me before. Maybe Warrick was right and Rynn was going to be the downfall of our pack.
“Are you sure about this?” Draven didn’t bother lowering his voice. Even if they whispered to each other, Ryker and I were only ten feet away and we’d be able to hear it.
“Yeah,” Rynn said, resignation clear in her voice. “Thank you for being my friend, Drav.”
Ryker growled at the casual use of the nickname, and I slid a glance at him. “Sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?”
Both Rynn’s and Draven’s eyes fell on us.
“I’ll be in the woods.” Ryker turned and walked away.
“This journey back is going to be fun,” I muttered. “Rynn! Let’s go!”
Draven wrapped an arm around Rynn and gave her a sideways hug. She patted his arm and they broke apart, but he remained on the shoreline as Rynn stalked past me. “You’re an asshole, Bastian.”
I grimaced at the way Draven’s scent clung to her. Fucker had done that on purpose.
“Till next time.” Draven gave me a cold smile.
“Looking forward to it.” I gave him a mocking salute before trailing after Rynn. It was time for us to have that chat now.
Four hours later, I still hadn’t gotten any answers out of Rynn. Neither had Ryker, although he’d barely tried. Not long into our journey back, he’d shifted into his wolf form, and other than periodically snarling at Rynn when she’d gotten pissed at him for getting too close to her, he had been silent.
