My stomach dropped, power twisting and hissing deep inside.
“Unfortunately.” She sighed, rubbing the angry marks on her neck; they looked brutally similar to the ones I’d endured. “A total shock.”
“Kidnappings have a way of surprising you,” Dax muttered.
I elbowed his ribs. “Do you know who did it?”
She shook her head, fine brown hair swaying against her shoulders. “Same masked attackers that ambushed you. Can’t interrogate ash.”
My palms turned to fists on top of the table, the previous anger now sharpened.
Meaner.
Cleaner.
No heat, only the hunger to hurt back.
It was one thing to attack me. Targeting my family was begging for revenge.
She bit her lip, a long sigh blurring the palaver image. “That’s not even the worst part–”
Heavy knocks on my door froze us all.
I pressed a finger to my lips and hurried to open it, my thundering heart already telling me who was on the other side.
Ryker greeted me with a formidable frown that made my chest burn. “I know you don’t want to see me right now, but–”
His gaze jumped from me, to Dax and Evie’s palaver. His shoulders relaxed. “So you already know.”
I jutted my chin out. “Yes.”
I wanted to say more, but not in front of Dax and Evie. I didn’t want them to hear the hurt when I finally roared.
He lingered in the doorway for one breath more than needed, like he wanted me to stop him.
I didn’t–but I cursed myself for wanting to.
He left with a nod and yearning in his eyes, and I shut the door with both regret and satisfaction.
Dax raised a questioning brow at me, but I waved him off, sitting back down with a heavy sigh caving my chest.
The thunder in my chest lingered even as I felt the distance between Ryker and me growing.
“I don’t know how you stand him.” Evie wrinkled her nose. “He’s so cold.”
No, he was hot and incandescent and annoying. “Same way you stand the Dragon.”
Evie’s brown eyes lit up. “He saved me from those attackers.”
She still had that air of mountain innocence, but even I could admit Evie’s stay in the Capital had been good to her. She had a healthy rosiness to her cheeks, more meat on her bones, and a confident twinkle in her eyes that warmed my heart.
“It’s his duty.” Dax raised his brows. “It’s like congratulating someone for breathing.”
She furrowed back at him. “You protect your fiancee lately?”
“We haven’t officially met, I’m afraid.” He grinned, but it had a sharpness to it.
“Evie, what happened?” I asked firmly before this went on in circles longer.
