Page 100 of Facade

I walked up to him and craned my neck to meet his eye. He towered over me, my head barely reaching his chest in his gargoyle form. The worry in his eyes scratched at the portion of myself I had to lock away—the love I still felt for Malachai. In these three years, we’d grown close. I'd almost say he'd become my best friend. To see Ryker hurt twisted a knife in my heart.

After he'd dispatched the final Werewolf, he went back for Evanee and found her passed out on the ground, back in human form. The roar he released shook my bones to the core. Even the clouds darkened, snuffing out the moonlight.

It’s the first time I’d ever seen panic in his eyes.

Once I assessed her, I knew what was going on. But the way he cleaned the blood from her mouth and neck, the dirt from her bare feet and hands, made my breath catch. The box I locked my own memories in opened a little further, letting pictures of Malachai flit through my mind.

Something sounded in the trees. Ryker’s head snapped to the side, his keen ears picking up on more than I could.

“Could it be Freesia?” I whispered. Ryker shut his eyes and breathed in deeply through his nose. Thunder boomed in the distance.

“No,” he growled, eyes wholly silver. “Aniah, hide!”

I took off inside, blowing out all of the candles, then squatted down at Evanee’s bedside, ready to throw my body on hers, despite what little good it would do. One look at her told me there was no chance of her waking up soon, the steady rise and fall of her chest consistent with the past couple of days.

No other sounds reached my ear from outside the cabin.

Ryker ducked in, quickly shutting and barring the door behind him. He was back in his human form, black pants loose on his hips.

“Aiden’s found us,” he whispered. “They’re about a mile out. There was a Werewolf scout near the pond—I took care of it.” His glowing eyes danced from the door to the small window, to the back of the cottage, mapping an escape.

“Ryker, you have to go. I’ll distract them and—”

“No!” he snarled. My lips pressed into a thin line.

“I’ve helped you get her back. I can’t leave Malachai. Not if there’s a chance he’s under a similar spell. If I get into trouble, I can call for help.” I held up my arm where that invisible thread linked me to Thaddeus.

Ryker gritted his teeth, his gaze lingering on Evanee.

“Go. I can take care of myself.” I offered sympathetically.

A howl sounded not far off. Ryker looked out the darkened window, then gave a curt nod.

He moved quickly throughout the room, gathering supplies and placing them in a satchel.

“I’ll cover you with a cloaking spell as long as I can.” I quickly peeked out the door, rain splattering against my cheek. Movement caught my eye deep in the tree line.

“Ryker, you have to go now,” I said urgently.

He nodded solemnly, then leaned down and gently scooped Evanee into his arms. Her head fell onto his shoulder, arms loose at her sides. He ever so slightly leaned his head toward her, then stopped—the motion so small, I might have missed it had I not been watching. A small frown tugged at his mouth as his gaze roamed over her. I cleared my throat and placed the satchel he’d gathered across Evanee’s legs.

“She’ll remember who you are. Just give her time. Now go!” I started weaving my hands and chanting the cloaking spell, the sapphire ring lighting as I pushed my hands out and up. “It won’t last long. Good luck, Ryker. Keep her safe.”

“We will see each other soon. I’m coming back for you,” he said intently. I nodded my false agreement, letting him believe it as I followed him to the door.

Wings spread from his back, tail lashing out in an arc as his height grew. His skin became one with the night, save for the star-like spots all over, the same as Evanee’s. Mesmerizing—truly a creature to behold.

One last look in my direction, his iridescent eyes lighting up even brighter, and I saw the inner battle taking place. He and I had been together since everything happened three years ago. We leaned on one another when the emotions from our losses threatened to drown us. We picked each other up when either of us felt there was no longer any point to all of this. Until we received word from an anonymous source that Evanee was alive. Then everything had changed.

“Go!” I urged, my arms shaking from holding the spell, magic draining fast.

Expression hardened, Ryker pushed off, his broad wings sending a gust my way as they beat hard into the oncoming rain.

Thunder cracked as he flew higher, my spell keeping them inconspicuous until they were out of harm’s way. I did not, however, cloak myself.

Once he was above the storm clouds, I dropped my hands, panting. I leaned against the door frame with casual ease, an eerie calm spreading through me. My gaze was set firmly on the forest to keep them from searching the skies.

My pulse stumbled when it wasn’t a Werewolf to exit the dense woods—but a large, familiar form walked toward me, with eyes that always reminded me of sunshine on bright summer days.