Page 118 of Facade

Malachai looked to me, brows drawn.

“I can’t. I don’t know. Please, just let him go,” I begged. Cressida cocked her head to the side, then snapped her gaze to the window. Within seconds, she shadowtraveled out of the room.

“Aniah, say nothing.” Chains clinked as Malachai lurched forward.

Nerissa cackled, the sound reverberating off the stone.

“Very well,” Laverna hissed.

She flicked her wrist toward Malachai, and his back arched, followed by a cry of pain as his red wings were pulled from beneath his skin and snapped.

34

Evanee

A heavy silence stretched between us, loaded with everything we weren’t saying.

Ryker only spoke when it came time to discuss a plan.

My responses were clipped.

I couldn’t face him. Not after last night. It was foolish to think things would slide right back to where they were before. As if three years hadn’t passed. Sweet moon, I didn’t know if he’d felt anything at all for me when we’d been together. What if I made it all up in my head? Every touch. Every smile, story, and laugh. What if he did those things to be nice to the broken creature I was? Blood drained from my face at that thought. I knew he wasn’t lying about why he saved me—doubt crept in anyway.

He hadn’t been around when I woke this morning, further souring my mood and creating an abyss of insecurity as I replayed that whole year we grew close. While I stomped around, I noticed a stable where two horses were housed and seemed well cared for. As happenstance would have it, a great distraction.

I busied myself with brushing the horses, their presence already calming my self-destructing mind. After an hour had passed and there was still no sign of Ryker, I decided a ride might clear my mind.

It would seem even with my memories, I didn’t know how to get the saddle on properly. It took forever. I scowled at the clasp I was fighting with on the saddlebag when his scent closed in around me, making me tense.

“Evanee.”

“What?”

“Dammit, Evanee—look at me!”

I froze—and hated that my body still reacted to his presence.

His fighting leathers clung to him in the most infuriating way—his hair damp, face freshly shaven, eyes fierce. Captivating. My knees threatened to buckle beneath that stare.

He growled low. “I’m not good for you.”

“Who are you to decide what’s good for me?” I snapped, a sharp laugh breaking free. “Everyone thinks they can. And they have. I never thought you’d be one of them.” My voice cracked. He stepped closer. My resolve stumbled.

“I’m not telling you what to do,” he said, rougher now. “But you have to understand—we were both broken, battling our own demons. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you—”

“Taken advantage of me?!” My hands flew up. “Great moon, Ryker! I think—even back then—I knew my own fucking mind and feelings. I fell in love with you.”

The words hung between us. Panic reared at the admission—I shoved it down.

“Not because you saved me or—or showed me kindness. It was because of the male you are.” My breaths were uneven. “From the moment I met you, there was… something. A pull I can’t explain.” I searched his face. “Tell me you didn’t feel it too.”

His jaw feathered as he looked away, silent.

Acid burned in my stomach. I stumbled back a step. This was a mistake. Being with him at all had been a mistake. My hand pressed to my forehead, a cold sweat spreading over my skin. He doesn’t want me. Oh, great moon, I really had mistaken his kindness for something more. Threw myself at him that night like a desperate—

No.

There was no point in beating myself up over anything that happened three years ago. It was in the past. Anger followed my embarrassment like a skur on the hunt. My gaze narrowed, fists tightening as my nails bit into my palm.